Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: George Pazin on December 04, 2001, 06:22:16 AM
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With the new format & Ran's mention of 211 participants registered, it seems to me to be a good time to do a new version of this classic thread, rather than wait for the old one to be reformatted.
I'd especially love to see more info from those out there in the biz - the old thread was awesome, but a few of the notable posters seemed reluctant to shed some light on their backgrounds.
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My info:
George Pazin
Age: 34
Home: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Email: sunflowr@usaor.net
Occupation: T shirt printer
Just started playing the game about 5 years ago - always wanted to, felt I couldn't afford it, both time & money-wise. Was right on both accounts, but that didn't stop me. Got interested in golf course architecture after reading Geoff Shackelford's The Captain. Came across this site after doing a search on Mike Strantz some 20 months ago. Like many esteemed posters before & after me, became hopelessly addicted.
One piece of advice: Get out there, meet fellow posters, play some golf with them, & sit down & have a few drinks or lunch with them. The outing at Inniscrone/Applebrook, followed the next day with a wonderful round at Lehigh with Ray Cross & John the Super(sorry, I'm blanking on his last name), & lunch with Ran, John, Mark Fine & the empassioned Pat Mucci ranks right up there with other memorable experiences from my life.
If you're ever in the 'Burgh, please don't hesitate to email or call (412-369-7769 work - I'm usually there) - I'd love to play a round or grab a beer.
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UPDATE:
Damn, it's been a fun and life-changing 9 years since the above post. Got married, have an amazing 6 year son, had my knee rebuilt - and I now I rarely play golf. :( I'm sure that will change shortly - that's what I keep telling myself, anyway. My email changed from above - tshirts@nauticom.net is your best bet now, but I'm still a (kind of pathetic) t shirt printer. Not much, but it's my baby.
Advice still holds, 9 years later: get out and meet your fellow posters. I'm happy to say I've met quite a few of the people on this thread, and many others who didn't post on here, and to a person, they've all been terrific. Can't wait till I get overseas and meet some of my friends across the pond and on the other side of the world.
:)
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P.S. Don't be mislead by the "Junior Member" thing - I think I'm currently the 43rd most prolific poster on the site for fiscal 2001. Hopefully no higher than that on the most annoying poster list, too.:)
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My info:
Tony Nysse
Age: 20
E-mail: anthonynysse@yahoo.com
Home: Grand Rapids, MI
Occupation: Turfgrass Student
I am currently in the second of two years at Michigan State University's Turfgrass Management program. I'm a second generation (to be) turf manager with my dad being a super for the past 30 years. Been working on a golf course for the past 9 years. This past summer, I interned at @Friar's Head in Long Island, NY doing the bunker construction with Jeff Bradley and green contours with Mr. Coore. (Amazing Summer!! ;D ) I am a golf architecture guru. I am a huge fan of the Raynor's, MacDonald's, Tillinghaust's, Ross', Thomas' and of course, the Great Doctor. Because of my love for the old style, I loved working for C&C this past summer. Got to walk Shinnecock, Winged Foot(East and West) National, GCGC, Bethpage, The Creek, Westhampton CC, Engineers and of course Friar's Head this summer...you can't find a better collection in the world for golf courses than Long Island. Golf's Holy Grail!! I collect scorecards as a hobby and have some 900 different cards, many of which are profiled here. I played 4 years of varsity golf and currently play to a 2 handicap. Don't know what I'm going to do about the future....golf course construction VS maintenance.....opinions welcomed!!
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Good morning to all!
I've been lurking since finding this site while preparing for a trip to Crystal Downs in September. I have really enjoyed the discussions and hope to start jumping in from time to time...
Peter Herreid
Age: 39
Hometown: Bellevue, WA
E-mail: bellevue4@hotmail.com
Occupation: Dermatopathologist
I have had the good fortune to play a lot at Stanford GC and Yale GC over the years, which is the foundation for my interest in the "Golden Age" of GCA. Atlhough I live in Bellevue, I am a member of Pumpkin Ridge down in Portland, and would love to meet and "hit the links" with anyone venturing up to either Seattle or Portland (425-562-6230).
I would love to know how to post pictures from a KodakPicture CD, or from a floppy. I've checked the help section, and searched responses for this, but so far, I can't find any info...
Thanks, Peter
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Welcome, Peter!
The first thing that needs to happen to post pictures on the web, is for those actual images to RESIDE somewhere on the web, i.e. your Yahoo Briefcase, file storage site, a server, etc.
Once those images are there, you can simply create a UBB link to these files, assuming you have the correct web address and filename. What is UBB you ask? I haven't the foggiest idea...but if you go to Google.Com and type in "UBB CODE EXPLAINED" in the search box, you will find some very easy instructions for including this special code in a post here on this website, and viola! ...your pictures will appear.
BTW...UBB code is used for posting images, file and sound links, and using things like BOLD and ITALICS...it is pretty cool stuff, and is just about universally accepted on discussion thread like the one used here at GCA.
Good luck!
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Peter,
Here is a try at UBB code...
To include an image, you simply put the put the UBB indicator in front of the URL link, which is a set of [] brakets and the phrase IMG located within...and then at the end you include the same tag, but put a / in front of IMG within the brackets. Also, make sure there are NO SPACES between your URL and the UBB code tags.
Real image (hopfully):
(http://www.efleisher.com/golf/fleisher/Golf-Other-CaravanLicensePlate.jpg)
Pretty cool, eh?? ;)
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Ken Cotner
Age: 42
Home: Charlotte, NC
Married, one daughter age 8 (going on 13) :D >:(
Occupation: COO investment advisory firm
email: kcotner@sterling-capital.com
Golf taking a back seat to family and other stuff (Ran, just wait until McK is a couple years older!), but I have enjoyed learning and watching the battles on GCA.
Y'all give me a shout if you pass through NC.
KC
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I'm originally from Bristol, CT, though I havent' lived there since 1975, when I left to study turf at the University of Maryland. I have since lived and worked in golf course maintenance and construction in Maryland, Florida, North Carolina, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the Philippines, Portugal, and France, making me one of the more widely travelled supers. (Hey, I could never hold a job!) No one here ever heard of any of the courses I worked at. I am currently superintendent at a private, 36 hole club just outside of Paris. Golf de Joyenval was brilliantly conceived and splendidly executed by the late, great, Robert Trent Jones.
I have always been a crap golfer, and I hardly get out much anymore. I lurk here on a daily basis, but only post when I have something to say, which puts me in the minority on this site. (That's a joke, son).
I regret that I don't get to see more of the courses that are talked about here. If I did, I could make pithy and perceptively witty observations about them to make me feel clever.
Oh, and to Anthony Nysse - You sound like a bright young lad, full of promise. So, look out, Here come some Free Advice! Don't throw your life away being a maintenance superintendent. Go into the construction end. It is eminently more rewarding, both creatively and financially. Get just enough maintenance experience to learn what you need to know, which is surface drainage, in a nutshell. You get that part right and your courses can't go wrong.
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Steve (Etienne, en Francais, n'est ce pas?),
There are a lot of well-travelled golfers here, so list the courses you've worked at and we'll tell you if we've heard of them. I think you'd be surprised how many people have heard of them.
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John D. Bernhardt, age 48
P. O. Box 52309 Lafayette, Louisiana 70505
email jtiger@tcac.net
member Oakbourne Country Club, Lafayette, la Dick Wilson
University Club in Baton Rouge, Jim Lipe
Occ: Oil and Gas Investments, Attorney, currently developing a golf course.
Loved and played the game since age 10. I really enjoy and have gained a great deal on knowlege from this site. It has been a pleasure to meet and play golf with many of the fine men(golfers) who are contributors to the site.
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To Scott Burroughs,
Je crois qu'il soit "Stephane".
But since you asked where I have worked, here are some obscure places.
Pequabuck Golf Club, Bristol, CT
Pinehurst Country Club, Pinehurst NC (OK, so that's a gimme, but it was only one summer while I was a student and a long time ago.)
Woodmont Country Club, Rockville MD
Lakewood Country Club, Rockville MD
Bardmoor Country Club, Largo FL.
Sapphire Lakes Country Club, Sapphire NC
Gary Player Design Co. Sandton South Africa, (under whose banner I was at: Lost City, Bophuthatswana, but only during surveying, routing, clearing site lines, that sort of thing, then El Zaudin, Seville Spain and finally Alta Vista, Cebu City Philippines)
Antalya National Golf Club, Belek Turkey
Le Meridien Penina, Portimao Portugal
Golf Las Americas, Tenerife Spain
Golf de Joyennval, Chambourcy, France.
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Jason Henham
Age: 28
Home, Melbourne, Australia
E-mail: jasonh@mgandg.com.au
Occupation: Accountant
Like many service professions, accountants are required to keep daily records of their time, charging to clients accordingly. The problem for me is that our Admin Manager refuses to add GolfClubAtlas as a charge code and my productivity is suffering!
I've been lucky enough to play all but a couple of Melbourne's sand belt courses and although RM West would be the best, Kingston Heath is my favourite.
I'm also fortunate enough to be working in Washington, DC for three months early 2002, followed by a couple of weeks travel through Nj, NY, and New England late April, and a further 2 weeks in California early May. I sincerely hope that I get the chance to meet and play with some of the regulars here.
I'm a member at one of Melbourne sand belt courses (I can say that now can't I Paul Daley?), Long Island Country Club, so when you make the trip down under, be sure to let me know. You're all most welcome.
Jason
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Some of you know me, and can attest that the rest of you probably don't want to. :)
Here's my thumbnail bio:
John W. Conley, Jr.
Born 3/25/68
Graduate of Edina (MN) High School (1986), University of Minnesota (1990), and the Crummer Graduate School at Rollins College (1994).
Moved to Orlando to attend b-school and stayed. Married Dana 4 1/2 years ago, son Jack (JWC, III.) due in January.
Attended college on the Chick Evans Scholarship, earned in part from my years caddying ("He isn't a member, Grandma. He's a caaaaah-deee.") at Interlachen CC, where Bill Kidd was always so good to me - even when he had reason not to be!!
Unattached, in what is easily one of the best cities to be unattached in. I've played 101 courses within an hour of my home in the last 9 years and many more around Florida.
Being the low qualifier at my site (Deer Run, Victoria) should have been the springboard of my competitive golf career, but my competing in the 1991 Minnesota Amateur at Seth Raynor-designed Minnesota Valley is unfortunately the highlight. 81-85=MC.
Coming to O-town? Let me know.
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I'm Chris Kane, 17yrs old (youngest on GCA?), from Melbourne, Australia. In my final year of school.
I'd like to think I'll be off single figures in the near future.
Favourite Course is Royal Melbourne West, with everything else at least ten lengths behind.
In a few years time, I hope to take a break from study and travel to Europe, playing the courses of GB & Ireland while I'm there. Until I do that, my education won't be complete.
If I had one round of golf left, I'd be at Cypress Point in a flash.
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Name: Bradley Anderson
Occupation: Golf Course Supt
Club: Midlane Country Club
Address: Wadsworth, Illinois
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This seems to be as appropriate of a place as any to make my first post on the new format so here goes:
Steve Pozaric
34
St. Louis
Lawyer (a corporate law person who avoids courtrooms like the plague)
As with Jason, lawyers also must keep track of time and frequenting discussion forums such as this, Golf Aficiandos & VWVortex are not condusive to a high billing day.
A lurker, mostly, as I do not have the background with regard to many of the courses that are discussed. I have found that I like the older courses due to the fact that they often seem to possess more character rather than "eye candy" & like to walk. So here I am.
Steve
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Till Rich's idea of linking Profiles to personal info gets implemented, I thought I'd bring this back up to get some info on some of the new posters.
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Here's the link to the original old-board thread:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/board/ubbhtml/Forum1/HTML/000687.html
for newbies wanting to know who we are (and oldbe's who want to check it out again).
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Bill Vostinak
The big 5-0 last year
Orthopaedic Surgeon
redandoc@hotmail.com works
Allentown, PA
Lehigh CC
7 Hcp currently
Look me up if in the area (Philly to NYC). Please.
Always eager to meet and play with Archies. Never tire of so many aspects of this greatgame except maybe the professional golfer BS and hype.
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Since my Long Lost Twin Brother ;) just posted, I should be next. BillV and I met a couple of years ago and were stunned at how much we had in common.
John Vander Borght
Hitting the big 5-0 this year. Yes, it was a long time between our births. ;D
Software Consultant and Golf Rules Official
johnborght@att.net for now
Soquel, Ca (just moved from Portland, OR on 9/11)
Pumpkin Ridge and Pajaro Valley
7.5 index and rising
I started out reading the Golfweb Rules forum and got hooked by the architecture one. Thank to John M I found GCA and wish I had enough time to read everything in it.
Love to meet fellow GCAers, if you are getting out to the Monterey Bay Area, get in touch.
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Kelly Blake Moran
Golf Course Architect
Started playing golf at 8 years at Odessa (Texas) Country Club. Went to school at University of Texas and Texas A&M. Like all good Texas boys, have played Hogan apex blades since the beginning. Like all good Texas boys will go see Willie Nelson on Sunday when he comes to Reading.
Worked for Bob von Hagge for 11 years; partner, before starting my own practice.
Currently living outside Reading PA. Member at Moselem Springs.
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Mike Vegis
Public Relations Director, Kiawah Island Golf Resort
(Revised 1/8/10)
52 years old, married with a 11-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter (I'm done!). I've been playing the game since I was 4, working at our country club in Battle Creek, Michigan (Riverside CC), while in high school. Currenty carry a 13 handicap index.
After craming a 4-year engineering degree into 6 years at Michigan State University, I decided engineering wasn't for me. Went to Washington and got a job on Capitol Hill. Spent 5 years as Legislative Assistant to former Congressman Mike Oxley (R-OH) (you've may know that name from the "Sarbanes/Oxley" accountant full employment act) then 5 years as Legislative Director to former Congressman Don Ritter (R-PA). Worked mostly on Energy and Commerce Committee affairs (specifically on the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance). Also was campaign strategist for two of Ritter's reelection campaigns.
Ten years is a long time on Capitol Hill and I had no desire to run for office (although the NRCC wanted me to do so in Michigan against former congressman Howard Wolpe (D-MI)). I wanted to have some fun while still getting paid for it so I headed to Miami and got a job as Director of Marketing and PR for Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. For the next 8 years I sailed the Caribbean on Tall Ships while schmoozing with the press. Met my wife "fishing off the company dock" as she was a Windjammer passenger. Met her on St. Lucia, got to know here on St. Kitts and St. Barts. During my time with Windjammer, I took my 2 week vacations each year in Monterey working on the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (the former tournament director, Lou Russo, is a family friend). I worked contestant registration, hospitality, photography, even bag transportation -- you name it, I did it...
Windjammer was fun but didn't pay very well. My wife (before we were married) worked in Charleston and loved it. I used to vacation on Kiawah back in the early 80s and loved it. We wanted to move to the Lowcountry to raise our family. So, I begged my way into the best job in the world at the most well run, well thought out resort in America.
Kiawah's hotel, the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, has a AAA Five Diamond and a Forbes (nee Mobil) Five Star (as does its spa). In 2007, we added a $24 million clubhouse at The Ocean Course which finally brings the amenities up to par with the golf facilities and make Kiawah Island Golf Resort one of the top golf destinations in the world. I've never seen a better management team than we have here.
Hope y'all tune in to the 2012 PGA Championship will we'll host on The Ocean Course!
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Name: Brett Mogg (formerly known as Mothman)
Occupation: Golf Course Architect
Location: Singapore
Age: 36
Family: Married, 2 boys (age almost 4 and 16 months)
Handicap: See above
I have been involved with the architecture discussion groups for several years, pre-GCA, pre-bravenet, back in the Dan King days. I think the best day on the old , old DG was the day I took on "Torosay" in a fishslapping competion - you would have to ask Tommy Naccarrato about the details.
I have met a few from the DG, Tommy Naccarrato, Tom Paul, Jeff Brauer, Neil Crafter (yes it is I the "skankmeister") and Mike Duffy (among others). None of whom I might say are anything like I imagined. I have seen Steve Okula's surveying efforts in the Phillipines and played Jeff Brauer's efforts on Batam Island, lest they think those works are lost in the sands of time or remote location (or Larry Nelson's name).
All are welcome to look me up if you come this way, if not for golf then at least for a few soothing ales.
Cheers,
Brett
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Still waiting on a lot of new names...chipoat, spdb ,etc. :)
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Eric Shortz
Los Angeles, CA
Attorney
Los Angeles CC
For BillV and TEPaul in PA, Bucknell grad
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32 yo in Melbourne who is experiencing another (Sheesh!) career crisis, but as far as this site is concerned, I spent almost four years in SE Asia in golf course construction firstly as a surveyor and later assistant construction manager. Worked one course each designed by Palmer, Nicklaus and Weiskopf...
Not much work of that type at home, but that doesn't stop me dipping my toes in through sites like this...who knows, may yet get back into it.
Was a 12 h'cap at Yarra Yarra, but finances dictated that this couldn't last forever...
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Stan Dodd
Winters, CA- 60 miles north west of SF
Just moved in July to get out of SOCAL ratrace
48 years old
High School Principal
Member - Wildhorse GC in Davis CA
e-mail Whiteyd@AOL
Got turned on to site from a post on UKgolf guide.
I have got hooked! I find the reading really educational and would love to hook up with other posters for a game. Play to a 9, gets better in summer when school is out. Have always been fascinated by GCA. The good ones are artists. A couple of trips to Scotland have hooked me even more on the game and the experience. Our last trip my son and I played a match over 26 rounds of Scotlands finest. He beat me 3 up. I too am lurking and anxious to join in.
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- Chip Oat
- 51
- Investment mangement
- Born/raised outside Philadelphia; NYC for 30 years since college
- Played lots of Golden Age courses 1969-1990 before they were called that, before I really appreciated their design and before I became a parent.
-"classic" additions to my list in last 10+ years mostly from bi-annual Scotland trips, most golf now the regular weekend game at Rockaway Hunting Club
-Haven't seen any of the newer courses discussed on GCA except Stonewall, Friars Head and East Hampton; hear good things about Applebrook and Inniscrone.
-Favorite courses: the usual suspects - Merion, PV, RDGC,
NGLA, Shinnecock, etc. Played most courses of that ilk at least once except none in the midwest; also none in Ireland/England and only 6 or 7 in Scotland (I always go to Dornoch for 3-4 days on a 1 week trip).
-Hope to see after kids are grown: Pac/Bandon, American Club, Sand Hills, Chicago GC, Ireland, England, Australia, all Pete Dye courses, all Raynor courses plus all the usual suspects again!
-Not sure there will ever be time to get to know T. Fazio, Rees or Rob Jones, Doak, Hanse, etc.
-Outlier favorite: Bay Hill - go figure.
-Pretty good 8 (partners send the limo for me) and a lousy 6 (opponents send the limo).
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Name: Derek L. (my email gives it away)
Location: Minneapolis, formerly from Detroit
Age: 27
Occupation: Civil engineer in excavation & land development
Not a very good golfer, actually quite bad, however Doctor Mackenzie wasn't that great either. Been interested in golf courses since a young age, I can remember carrying home my bentgrass divots in my golf bag in hopes of using them to build a putting green. Since I have been visiting this site I have discovered that I am not the guru that I thought I was, but here goes. Probably have read over two dozen golf design books, own a dozen or so of my own. Subscribe and read GCN and GCMgt. Study plans whenever I get a chance. Experience includes grow-in and light construction at Oakhurst Golf and Country Club in Michigan, construction laborer/foreman at Shepherd's Hollow Golf Course in Michigan, and engineering consultant for Windsong Farms in Minnesota. Currently no projects on the boards but I am hoping to get my feet wet at some reconstruction designing and even some more consulting. That is all for now.
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My info:
Tom Leatherbarrow
Age: 33
E-mail:tleatherbarrow@hogarthpr.co.uk or tleatherbarrow@hotmail.com
Home: Surrey England
Occupation: Investor Relations Consultant
Home club: Banstead Downs
Favourite courses: Royal Liverpool / Walton Heath New
Handicap: 6
Play most of my golf now in SE England at various courses including Walton Heath - the New Course is a real favourite of mine.
Got interested in golf course architecture, primarily via being very opinionated (with no real justification as I have no professional qualifications whatsoever) about condition, routing, design and committee vandalism of various courses I have played over the years.
Worst experience was trying to persuade the President of one committee that two greens sitting side by side could easily be combined to great a huge double green and being told that it was an "old fashioned concept". Crap idea maybe but old fashioned I reject out of hand !!!!
Would love to hear from anyone that wants to play in South of England particularly our visitors from overseas. I would be delighted to show them round some of my favourites such as Deal, Littlestone etc
Tom
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Scary how things change. Looked up my old bio from two years ago, not only did I get older but........
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Several people have been noticeably absent/silent lately besides Pat: Gib, Tommy, Adam Clayman, Jim Lewis, Paul Richards. Maybe they're on trips of some sort. Or maybe there hasn't been any topics of interest to them lately.
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Tyler Kearns
Age: 22
Winnipeg, Manitoba
2nd year student of architecture @ Univeristy of Manitoba
Gained an appreciation for golf course design by growing up on a Donald Ross course, Elmhurst Golf Links. Have been playing golf for 16 years and play to a +1 handicap. Currently spend my summers working for golf course architecture firm Grant Golf here in Winnipeg.
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Dan Grossman
San Francisco, CA
Business Development Analyst
Current Handicap - 8
I have been lucky enough to be influenced by friends who like good golf courses. Over the last 3 years, I have taken trips to Scotland, Ireland, Bandon, Monterey, Los Angeles, Hilton Head, Florida, Portland and Palm Springs to see golf courses. It has been interesting to see the differences in classical golf courses (LACC North and Stanford, for example) versus the newly built ones (Long Cove, World Woods, Ocean Course, etc) in the United States. It is even more interesting to compare US golf courses to the ones I played in Scotland and Ireland.
I enjoy hearing what other think of golf course design, it makes me think about what I like and don't like about the courses I play.
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You may remember my evil twin brother Rich_Goodale who was a member on this site, received and then was denied first “Godhood” and then “Doyenhood” and then subtly moved himself into “Guesthood” for a while before disappearing without a trace.
The two of us are the result of an experiment gone tragically wrong. It all started when our mother’s kiln exploded and the eggs she had left to science ended up in the wrong hands (Dr. Evil, this means YOU!), and well, suffice it to say that Rich_ got all the money and I got all the brains.
We were both born in 1971 with the bodies of 25 year olds, and the social skills of dribbling infants. Rich_ has regressed on all fronts since then, while I have just begun to date. My wife’s not happy, but that’s life.
We both golf at Cinnabar Hills and Royal Dornoch and anywhere else anybody will have us. Both with an index of 4.83715 at both places (adjusted for USGA/SGU methods of computation and the phases of the moon). I assure you that GCA will be a kinder, gentler place now that I have assumed the mantle of my well-meaning but tragically inconsistent sibling. As Lyndon B. Johnson once said to me on a cold January day in 1969-Greeting!
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I'm not too sure who I am anymore but I think I still live on a farm in Pennsylvania somewhere, and sometimes I go play golf at a club called...aaah, ah, let me get back to you on that in a week or so!
Tom Pa..Pa..., Tom Paul, I think that's right.
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Name: Geoffrey Walsh
Occupation: Financial Analyst (JP Morgan)
Location: Glen Mills, PA
Family: To be married on 10/5 in Scranton, PA (plan to play Glenmaura Nat'l that morning ;D)
Handicap: 5.0
Grew up in White Plains, NY and moved to the Philadelphia area for college. While at college I developed a keen interest in golf architecture and then happened to coach a high school golf team that calls Merion and Gulph Mills their home courses. We played away matches at Philly Cricket, Philly CC, Huntingdon Valley, Waynesborough, Sunnybrook, etc. Needless to say, these courses only fueled my interest in architecture. In addition, Doak's book Anatomy of a Golf Course also had a big impact on me.
Finally, I moved to Glen Mills (PA) and became a Golf Digest panelist just as a new course was opening up. I happened to wander over there on the first day of play for 2001, without knowing anything of the course (I thought it might even be private). However, the course turned out to be a wonderful discovery. The Golf Course at Glen Mills is a treat to play and I learn something new about every day. Thank you Bobby Weed! The best part about the place is that it supports the troubled youth's of America (100% of the revenue goes to the school's scholarship fund) while providing exceptional golf. If anyone is in the Philadelphia area, please look me up. I'd love to get a GCA outing at Glen Mills!
Finally, my dad and I are trying to play the Top 100 while using the time to really get to know each other. It has been a wonderful experience and I welcome anyone's advice while we embark on this journey.
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Name: Doug Larson
Age: 33
Occupation: I have been a supt. for the last 10 years at a Ross and a Flynn in the Phila. area, but I have recently resigned to become involved with a golf course supply company.
Hdcp: 5.5-Been anywhere from a 0-6 over the last 15 years. Hope to commit to playing more with my new career.
Hometown: Soon to be Egg Harbor Township.
Email: DPL11@aol.com
I have been a golf and golf course architecture junkie as long as I can remember. I haven't decided where my homecourse will be yet, but I will probably return to my roots and play mostly at Wildwood G&CC(Stiles&VanKleek). I enjoy the site and have been lurking for quite some time, but plan on posting more.
I have played most of the greats in the Phila. area, which I think is obviously one of the most golf course blessed areas on the planet.
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Doug,
Where are you a super at? C&C's Hidden Creek....? ???
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Anthony,
I just left Manufacturers' Golf & CC where I have been for the past 4 years. A golf course that I will always love. I will be living about 3 miles from Hidden Creek. I have taken a tour with the Supt., and was blown away. What a superb golf course.
DPL
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Wayne S. Morrison
Merion, Pennsylvania
45 years old (hard to believe)
Director of a derivatives securities trading firm
Home Course: Rolling Green Golf Club
Member at St. Andrews Golf Club, Fife Scotland
On waiting list at Royal Dornoch, Dornoch Scotland
Handicap is 6.6, though I think the computer is messed up
I am fascinated by the history of the game of golf and golf architecture, so naturally I check out this site quite often. It is especially helpful for the book project I am working on, the golf courses of William Flynn. G. Shackelford, D. Wexler, J. Finegan, M. Hurdzan, C. Lagerman, J. Nagle and R. Forse, T. DeBaufre, and many others (particularly from this website) have been a great help. Anyone associated with a Flynn design or redesign that can assist with archival materials, contacts, and other relevant stuff would be of great help and certainly apprectiated. Growing up playing the game and living in the Philadelphia area, it is hard not to appreciate golf architecture and William Flynn. This project is a great joy and I am meeting wonderful people in the process; hard work but who's complaining? Best regards to all,
Wayne Morrison
610.664.9663
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Lots of new faces lately - care to fill in the blanks?
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Mike Beene ,Dallas,42 years old ,trial lawyer,mebeene@flash.net,married 17 years,only children are two mixed breed dogs(Tina Ballerina& Miss Pickles) Probably hit more balls than any one in town(including our tour pros)which proves I have no natural ability.Member at Lakewood which Bendelow staked out in 1912,Plummer revised in late fortys and Coore&Crenshaw restored in mid 90's.Fascinated by golf courses as a kid I wrote and received scorecards from numerous great clubs.Quit playing for 10 years while I learned law.Now makeing up for lost time.The real beauty of golf is the people you meet.
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I do not remember if I ever did the old one so:
David Wigler - I live in Farmington Hills MI (Suburb of Detroit). University of Michigan grad. Home Country Clubs are Polo Fields in Ann Arbor (Claim to fame is that Doak listed our 18th hole, in The Confidential Guide, as the worst #18 in the entire world) and Plum Hollow (Claim to fame is that we hosted the '43 Ryder Cup, '47 PGA Championship and are a Colt / Allison design). My e-mail is dlwigler@globalbiz.net. If you are going to be in the area, send me a mail.
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Michael Sweeney
Age: 39, married with 2 boys 4 and 6 years old
Home: New York City
Home Course: Yale Golf Club
Ireland "Home" Course: Enniscrone Golf Club, Co Sligo
I grew up in Philadelphia area and played on the St Joe's Prep golf team. I was fortunate to play Merion Golf Club as a guest numerous times with a golf teammate that I still visit at least once or twice a year. Our home course at St Joe's was Cobbs Creek, Hugh Wilson's only other design other than Merion East and West. I still think the West at Merion is very underated.
Moved to New York City after graduate school at Cornell where I played often on the RT Jones Course at Cornell despite the weather. I have been lucky enough to play many of the great courses around the Met area, especially out on The East End where we are just about to sell our second home to be closer to my wife's family in Connecticut. There is lots written here about NGLA, and I can only tell you that it is all true. It is my favorite course in the world, but I still have a lot more comparison shopping to do.
I am very open to taking GCAers to Yale so don't be afraid to ask. I have also played The Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda, and obviously CB MacDonald is my favorite architect. I joined Enniscrone in Ireland after taking a trip to Sand Hills last summer. At Sand Hills, there was a father playing with his son on a retreat and so I decided to create a similar atmosphere for my son's and I at Enniscrone, where we can get away from the daily pace of life and play golf in a remote corner of the world.
I also want to acknowledge Ran. I have a slim idea of how much work it takes to keep this going, and it is appreciated.
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-Scott Park
-Cary, NC, but have lived in DC, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Tokyo & SLC in the past 6 yrs
-Age- 33
-Married with 3 kids
-Occupation- Structure energy derivatives for energy trdg co.
-Handicap ~4
-Email - scott.park@pgnmail.com
-Favorite courses - Shinn, Oakmont and Somerset
-Next trip - Oregon in June
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Randy Trull
Lake in the Hills, IL (outside Chicago)
Age: 45
e:mail rwtrull@aol.com
Occupation: Golf Project Manager/ Owner's Rep.
Started out as a kid in West Texas operating dozer for my family's company doing soil erosion control & water conservation projects for the Gov in the 70's. Took a roundabout way to get there but ended up running dozer for Wadsworth Golf Construction on a Fazio project in '83. Fazio requested me on other projects across the country so I started traveling with Wadsworth doing Fazio [and many other] designer's projects (lived in 22 cities in 11 years).
I "hit the ceiling" as far as money was concerned as a shaper so I moved up to Project Supt. managing projects for several years. Aboout 5 years ago, I went into business for myself as an Owner's Rep, Consultant, Project Manager (whatever title the owner wants to put on it) for developers of golf projects.
I've been involved in construction of over 30 courses (18 of which are listed among Golf Digest's "best of" rankings). I won't list them all, but some that you may have heard of are:
Barton Creek Resort - Austin, TX - Fazio
Ventana Canyon Mtn - Tucson, AZ - Fazio
Shadow Creek - Las Vegas, NV - Fazio, Steve Wynn
Cantigny GC - Wheaton, IL - Roger Packard
Nevillewood CC - Pittsburgh, PA - Nicklaus
University Ridge GC - Madison, WI - RTJ Jr.
The Quarry GC - San Antonio, TX - Keith Foster
Buffalo Run GC - Commerce City, CO - Keith Foster
Half Moon Bay Ocean - HMB, CA - Art Hills
Trump International GC - West Palm Beach, FL - Jim Fazio, D. Trump
My current project is construction of a private course in Monterrey, Mexico (Robert von Hagge Design). I suspect we'll be taking bids from contractors on this project, called La Herradura GC, within the next few weeks and start construction in June.
Love this site and monitor it all the time! I don't get involved very often but many of the posts and opinions are extremely interesting and often make me see something from a different perspective, which is never a bad thing. I often travel so I tend to miss a few days and then go back and catch up so don't be upset if it takes me a while to respond to a direct question or topic.
Randy Trull
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Steven Biehl
West Lafayette, IN
Age: 21
Turf Student at Purdue University
Handicap: 11
Have been reading here for about 6 months. Read about this site in The Golfer magazine in an article about Pacific Dunes, and have been hooked ever since.
Courses I hope to play someday: Sand Hills, National Golf Links, Old Course, Cypress Point.
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John N. Gunning IV
25 years old
jg7236@hotmail.com
Las Vegas, NV
*Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
(University of Nevada-Las Vegas)
*Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
(Ohio State University)
Occupation: Assistant Superintendent/Stallion Mountain C.C.
I am originaly from Chillicothe, Ohio, just 45 minutes from Columbus. Yes, we were shoes their, we also have five McDonald's too. I played golf ever since I can remember, worked golf course maintenance through my junior and high school years. I have always wanted to be a landscape architect since I was in fourth grade, and by eighth grade I changed to a golf course architect. I got my first bachelors degree from U.N.L.V. in Landscape Architecture. Then I worked for Landscapes Unlimited(Golf Course Development) for about a year. I did the remodel for the U.S. Open at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, then I built Cascata G.C. in Las Vegas for MGM Hotels. Next I was back in Ohio getting another degree in Science in Agriculture (Turfgrass Science) from the Ohio State University. Long story short I am currently residing in Las Vegas while I job hunt in the field of golf course architecture. So if anybody can help me get my foot in the door of golf course architecture let me know. Also if anybody is in Vegas, give me a call and we will get together for a round of golf and a few cocktails.
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Here I go:
Name: Jeff Fortson
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Age:29
Family: Married (Adriana), one child on the way
Occupation: Golf Professional
Email: jfortson@hotmail.com
I have been playing golf since I was born. My father is a scratch player and used to be a good amateur player. I was a nationally ranked junior golfer in high school and went to the University of California, Irvine to play. I turned pro in 1997 and have been working in the golf business since then.
I still compete often and hope to someday play on tour, but I think that is every Golf Pro's hope or dream. Growing up I played with Tiger, Justin Leonard, Trip Kuehne, Notah Begay, Chris Riley, Jason Gore and many other well known golfers in junior and collegiate tournaments.
As for courses, I love old Golden Age type courses. Shinnecock is my favorite in the US that I have played so far and St. Andrews (Old) is my favorite internationally. Too many others to mention.
Jeff F.
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R. Cliff Stanfield
Age:27
Home: Don't really have one but I call Americus, Georgia home because of family....currently reside in Edinburgh, Scotland
Email: rcstanfield@hotmail.com
Occupation: Golf Course Architect/Student
Graduated from Auburn University with a Landscape Architecture Degree. Started with Landscapes Unlimited in Georgia at Hawks Ridge Course-Cupp and Hampton Village-Johnston. Moved on to work for the late Arhtur Davis, ASGCA at nights and construction during day. Later worked for Cupp Design and moved to Birmingham to project manage for Glen Day-Alan Blalock....then decided that I needed more design knowledge and packed up for Scotland MSC Golf Architecture Program at Edinburgh College of Art. Before leaving I worked the summer with Love Enterprises and enjoyed living on the island before coming to the windy cold island of Scotland. Best decision I have ever made!
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Joe Hancock
Age: 41
Home: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Email: jhancock42@attbi.com
Occupation: Golf Course Superintendant/ Owner
I'm back at Grand Island GC in Belmont, MI after developing my career in both NC and Northern MI. Active in local GCSAA chapter, and busy making changes on my own course(always!). From the Shameless Name Dropping Dept.: Grew up spending summers with Mike DeVries chasing crawdads in Crystal Lake(Crystal Downs) as our family cottages were 2 doors down. Mike and I still keep in touch and we played golf with Steve Smyers in February at Southern Dunes(Smyers kicked our butts). Also, early in my career, I was asked to spend a couple days with a photographer working for Pete Dye, while I was an Irrigation Tech at Landfall Club, NC. He was asking a lot of questions about fescues being used on putting surfaces in Northern MI., apparently one of his first solo designs. I'm sure Mr. Doak doesn't remember me, but I remember thinking it could be a big break for me as a Super to rub shoulders with such a young talent.
As I grow older and still loving the game, I find my desire to understand more and more keeps growing. Thanks Mike, for showing me this site and doing some wonderful design work right here in my own back yard so to speak.
Joe
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My first post to the forums (I've been lurking for awhile)
Name: Brad Swanson
Age: 32
Residence: Denver, CO
Profession: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Education: B.S. Biochemistry, Iowa State University
Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology, U of
Wisconsin-Madison
Started playing: 8 yrs old.
Played for Iowa State for a year. 2001 Club Champion at Green Valley Ranch GC, Denver (not much to brag about) current handicap 3-4.
I was seriously interested in golf course architecture all the way back to my high school years in little Ottumwa, IA. I grew up playing maybe one of the worst courses anyone on this forum has ever played. No range, no pro, hence I'm self-taught. The course that really sparked my interest in golf course architecture was the TPC at Sawgrass back in the mid 80s. My background growing up only allowed me to experience these and other great courses either in print or on TV. I've come to appreciate courses designed by Ross, MacKenzie, Flynn, Wilson, Maxwell, etc., but in all honesty, have only played a couple of courses designed by these architects (Bendelow/Ross Lakewood CC in Lakewood CO and Perry Maxwell's Veenker Memorial at ISU) mainly due to financial reasons :-* (Ph.D scientists are highly underpaid, especially as graduate students and postdocs). Luckily the universities I attended had nice courses associated with them (ISU's Veenker Memorial was a Perry Maxwell design that's been sliced and diced into disrepair, and University Ridge in Madsion/Verona cost a whopping $17 for a round as a grad student :). To be completely honest, I find the # of people here that are members of outstanding clubs to be somewhat intimidating, considering by background as a muni-rat, but I'll try to get my 2 cents in now that I've officially registered.
Any members in the Denver metro area (either residing or visiting), I'd love to arrange a round and talk golf and golf courses, anytime.
Brad Swanson
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Ian Andrew
Age: 36 (i think)
Born in England, Living in Toronto, Ontario
Golf Architect with Carrick Design for last 12 years
I try to stick to renovations mainly
Currently working with: Capilano, St. Georges, Rosedale
Hcp. 13, my kids will always keep my rounds below 20 (for now)
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Name: Larry Rodgers
Age: 44 and holding
Occupation: Golf Course Irrigation Designer
Handicap: 19
Home courses: Bear Creek, Golden, CO
Fox Hollow, Lakewood, CO
I have been monitoring and enjoying the posts and many times very reluctant to comment on some of the subjects. Current public projects can be found at LRDG1.com and can be downloaded for those in search of irrigation designs.
Other notable current projects include "La Reve" Las Vegas, "Jerry S. Rawls Red Raider golf course" Lubbock, "The Yellowstone Club", Big Sky and "Talking Rock", Prescott.
I truly am a golf architecture junkie and am amazed at the boundaries that are being explored today by the deasign professionals many of you post. I can say that Mr. Doak and his staff are creating one of the most unique projects I have ever seen in Lubbock. This course is sooo good that I will not let my staff do the site visits unless I am out of the country. I consider it an honor to have been selected on this project and all who are reading this need to put Lubbock Texas on your travel schedule early next year, Late May/June should be perfect for the bermuda to becoming alive.
Thank-you again for all of the good posts, when I can I will make every effort to post as appropriate.
Larry Rodgers
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Paul Daley: Left the pharmaceutical industry after 20 years of flogging pills for Wyeth (American Home Products) in Melbourne, Australia.
Nowadays, life revolves around being happily married to Penne, doing a little golf writing and publishing, plus rolling around the carpet with 'Pepper' and 'Heidi' - our two miniature Schnauzer's to take my mind of bouts of 3-putting.
Member of Huntingdale, Yarram, and the National (Cape Schanck) golf clubs. H'cap: 5
I enjoy plugging in to GCA, and reading how golf enthusiasts from all over the globe view their favourite pastime.
My favourite Australian courses: Royal Melbourne (West), Kingston Heath, New South Wales, Newcastle (Stockton),
and Royal Adelaide.
Email: fswing@bigpond.net.au
Looking forward most to my 1st game at:
(1) Cypress Point (2) Woodhall Spa (3) Pine Valley
Congratulation to the Morrissett family for setting this website up and inspiring much discussion. At the end of the day, anything that distracts from the harsh realities of life is a good thing. Golf is not really 'life and death' ... but lets not tell anyone!
Jason, you have joined a Sandbelt club: one that just so happens to be among the most under-rated of them all.
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Donnie Beck
Age: 32
Home: Fishers Island, NY
Email fisupt@hotmail.com
Occupation: Superintendent
I got started in the golf business in the spring of 1987. The superintendent of a local public course asked if anyone on the high school golf team wanted a summer job. At the time I had no idea of what I wanted to do, but $7 hr and free golf sure sounded better than flipping burgers or working in the mall for the summer. I worked as the starter on the 1st tee evenings and weekends (it is amazing what you see watching that many people tee it up on a public track, but that is another story). Once school finished I moved over to the grounds crew and this is were I found my real calling. I worked for Superintendent John Allen, and if it wasn’t for him I know I wouldn’t be where I am now. I continued working for John while going to a local JR college. After a few years I was offered the assistant superintendent position. We worked for New England Golf Corporation, which managed 4 courses at the time. It was a great opportunity because I got to go from course to course whenever they had any big projects going on. I continued working for them for about 5 years until I decided to go back to school. I ended up at Grayson College a small turf school in TX. The reason I choose there was after a few scholarships and pell grants I went to school for free. My time down there was great. I got to see another part of the country and our school wasn’t too far from the Dallas/Ft Worth area, so we took many field trips to courses in that area. While I was there I worked part time on the school’s golf course, and worked for a short time at New London Country Club when I was back home in Connecticut in the summer. Once I graduated from Grayson I ended up where I am now The Fishers Island Club. I worked 6 years as the assistant superintendent, and I am now starting my 3rd year as superintendent. You can usually find me on here looking around a few days a week.
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Home: I live in the sleepy hamlet of Burlingame, California in an old Spanish split-level with wife Amy, 4-year old twins Nicky and Katie, three cats and a mentally retarded golden retriever who thinks he is a cat.
Why Fred?: The reason for Fred Flintstone is that my kids insist I resemble him - which I'm hoping only means they watch too much television.
Occupation: I'm president of an international agriculture commodities marketing firm and the subject of a government study on the long range effect of nepotism in the workplace.
Occupation Part #2: Another idiot stupid enough to invest in, help design and serve on the board of a B-to-B Internet company. . . . 3 years later we are still going.
Occupation Part #3: Somehow, in 1994 I managed to convince an otherwise saavy managing editor of a 108 year old newspaper to actually pay me for a weekly rant about golf. My views are a bit much for the looney-leftist culture of the Bay Area, but my wife has agreed to let me continue until the hate mail turns into credible death threats.
Occupation Part #4: George Bahto's editor, valet and president of his fan club. Buy our book "The Evangelist of Golf" on August 1st or else.
Occupation Part #5: Neal Meagher's side-kick in which we are currently interviewing for design jobs. He brings years of experience and membership in the ASGCA. I channel the ghost of Seth Raynor and suggest where to put the Principal's Nose.
Occupation Part #6: (Unpaid activity?) GolfWeek panelist. Tommy Naccarato is on my telephone speed-dial. We both need help . . . . paging Dr. Katz. There is no point in mentioning coaching golf at my high school alma mater, we failed to advance to sectionals last Thursday by one shot. If the coach was worth a damn, we would have smoked them like a chimney.
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name: Brad Tufts
from: Marblehead, MA (20 mi. N of Boston)
attended: Marblehead HS '99, Middlebury College '03
occupation: salesman of Tuition Insurance
club: Tedesco Country Club
handicap: 0
age: 29
Married to fellow Midd grad Laura, no kids so far.
What should you know? Golf Digest Panelist, wrote my senior history thesis on American Golf Course Architecture. Lover of the Golden Age, Ross especially, and the hidden gem. Collector of vintage scorecards (I have about 2500 stymie-era cards). Tournament player, have made match play in the Mass Amateur in 2005, 2009 and 2010, winner of two club championships (and runner-up in 4 others, dammit). I've played over 550 courses in several countries and half of our states, and I'm always looking to add some more. Introduced at least three others to GCA at my insistence...Ryan Simper, Mitch St. Peter, and my brother Roger.
Please ask if you are passing through Boston and you want golf venue advice, a round at Tedesco, or to know if you are getting hosed on the price of Red Sox tickets!
I would also like to come back in a future life as John Mayhugh.
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Kyle Hegland
Student
Graduated from Michigan State's Turf Program
Currently waiting for school to start at the University of Arkansas, more turf.
I've been on this website for a little over a year now, I love it. I had the misfortune of having Tony Nysse as my roomate at Michigan State ;D. Many a good golf architecture discussion was inspired in that apt. I'm the one who's always bragging up Austin Golf Club and Crystal Downs. I worked at Austin Golf Club last summer, for Doug Petersan. One of my best friends is the foreman up at the "Downs" so I've had the privilege of seeing that place a ton, in all seasons and all conditions, I get giddy just thinking about that place. I'm currently in the golf architecture "hotbed" (thats sarcasm) of NW Arkansas, while I attend some more school, I love to hear what everyone has to say on this website. I look forward to future endevers on this site. ;D
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I'm not sure if I responded to the first installment.....
Craig Rokke
Age:38
cjroks@aol.com
West Chester, PA.
2 kids:Shane (20 mo.)and Ella(1 mo.) golf time is dwindling!
Went to Gettysburg Coll., w/ a short grad school stint
@Villanova.
Own Equipment/Party rental company
Unaffiliated club-wise, but wouldn't be adverse to changing that some day. Have played about 175 courses, sometimes breaking 80, sometimes flirting with the century mark. Depends what day of the week it is, I guess. Hope to have the opportunity to hook up w/ some of you this year.
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Chris Brewer - 32
Springfield, MO.
This is my second post and my first "registered" post. Brad Klein has told me about this site many times, but I'm glad I've finally landed.
I've been playing this game for 21 years. I was a PGA member for a few years and got the mini-tour bug out of my system early. I tired of standing in pro shop's waiting for the phone to ring, arranging clothing and clubs or being the unofficial suggestion box, so I left the PGA in 1993 for a wife and a life.
I thought I always wanted to work for Golfweek, but as fate should have it, I landed a job three years ago for a start-up called Golfweek's Superintendent News. It's been great to learn the golf course maintenance and architecture side of the game. I still find it amazing how little most club professionals (including myself at one time) know about golf course architecture or maintenance. As a rater for Golfweek's Top 100 Golf Courses, I find it amazing that once I begin talking golf course architecture with most PGA club professionals, their eyes begin to glaze over.
I have a wife, two children including a two year old who hits balls with me on a regular basis (no Tiger aspirations here).
First Golf Course Played: Huntington Park, Shreveport LA.
Last Golf Course Played: Falcon Ridge, Olathe, KS
Last Golf Course Rated: Hazeltine National
Current Golf Book: Brad's Donald Ross book...love it!
Looking forward to posting!
Chris
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Rod Johnson
Golf Course Superintendent
Pine Hills Country Club
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
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name: Peter Lavallee
residence: San Diego, Ca.
age: 45
occupation: Electronics Engineer for US Navy
hobbies: golf, homebrewing, cooking (in that order)
Was born and bred in New Bedford, Mass., the home of the Titleist. Started playing golf on the local Muni. which was half Ross (we always knew the older holes were better, we just didn't "get it" at the time). Worked as a Field Engineer for Sperry Corp. for 11 years, which gave me the opportunity to travel extensively and play at Bethpage whenever I was at their Long Island headquarters. Married a beautiful English girl, Janice Sullivan, in 1986, with the condition that she consent to a golfing honeymoon in Scotland. Also lived in England for 6 months in 1989, which gave us the opportunity to play many of the UK's best. Settled in San Diego in 1990. Took up cooking as a hobby to fight the boredom of a long cold winter while stationed in Sturgeon Bay Wisc.. Started homebrewing with the kit my wife gave me for a Valentines gift in 1993. We also collect golf art as a way of commemorating the events and places we've traveled to (1989 Brit. Open, 1988, 1992, 2002 US Open, ect.).
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name: Art Schaupeter
age: 36 years old
hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
occupation: Golf Course Architect (member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects)
email: Schaupetergolf@aol.com
I have been a periodic visitor for the past few months. I was reluctant to get involved because I didn't visit frequently enough to stay current, though I think that there is a wonderful exchange of thoughts and ideas on a diversity of subjects. I am equally afraid of getting involved and not being able to step away. When I have visited the site it has taken me awhile to leave. There is a lot of interesting stuff here.
As for who I am, I am a practicing architect based in St. Louis. I was Keith Foster's lead associate for nine years. I started my own firm in 1998, though I continued to work with Keith on a few select projects. Consider myself to be very fortunate to have worked with Keith. He had a very good understanding of historical architecture, and he immediately turned my focus that way when he hired me in January 1992.
I was the lead architect for Keith on Buffalo Run, Haymaker, Texas Star, The Bandit, Gateway National, Persimmon Woods, D'Andrea Ranch and Coral Canyon. Extensively involved in all other projects through 1999 (the advantage of working for a small firm).
Currently working on a new 18 hole daily fee course in Windsor, Colorado (construction to begin in June). Just finished my second solo design in the San Antonio area, The Republic, which will open this summer. My first solo design was The Buckhorn, north of San Antonio, which opened in 2000. A neat project as the owners, upon hiring me, proclaimed that they wanted to build a truly affordable ($25 green fee) daily fee golf course that didn't cut corners on the design quality. A great experience to go through. Would love to hear any feedback, positive or otherwise.
I am somewhat new to the computer and using it on a daily basis, but now that I have broken the ice, I will try to visit and contribute on a regular basis.
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Brian Belden
Age:32
Wife: Joanna
Daughter: 14 months old (Blake)
I've been playing golf since i can remember. I was raised on a Donald Ross course built in 1922 that i could walk to everyday. I'm still a member. The course is potentially going to take on a nice restoration project this fall. Restoration is being done by Brian Silva. Played college golf at the University of Akron. Fortunately our home course was Firestone C. C. Then wen't on a stint playing the mini tours for a few years. Got my amateur status back last summer after a nice three year layoff from tournament golf. Got interested in architecture a few years back. Now working for the family business of which I'm fifth generation. We are a brick manufacturing company in Canton, Ohio.
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;)
NAME: JAMIE BLACK
AGE: 21
STUDENT
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
BODGEBLACK@HTMAIL.COM
I AM CURRENTLY LIVING IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. I AM ON A ONE YEAR INTERNSHIP W/ LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PAUL VERLANDER.
I HAVE COMPLETED MY BA (Hons) IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND I HAVE ALSO COMPLETED THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS DIPLOMA COURSE IN GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE. (EXCERPTS OF MY DISSERTATION CAN BE SEEN AT "IN MY OPINION" SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE)
IF YOU CAN RECOMMEND COURSES IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION TO PLAY IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED OR WHEN I RETURN TO SCOTLAND IN JULY AND YOU NEED A HELP WITH YOUR WEST COAST GOLFING TAVELS I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP OUT.
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Doug Barton
43 years old
Married w/ 4 children
Annapolis MD
I am new to this site having been introduced by Michael Thomas when we were in Tryall last week. I am not very familiar with this type of communication, but I have enjoyed the banter. I have worked for the last 20 years at Landmark Land Co/Landmark National. We are a golf oriented community development company that has been fortunate enough to work on some interesting sites with some very talented people. The old Landmark Land first developed Oak Tree Golf Club in Okla. City and then went on to develop properties such as La Quinta, PGA West, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and many others. After the U.S. government destroyed the company because of its involvement in the S&L business, a number of us stuck together and started up a new company in the same business, Landmark National. Landmark National has developed 5 new courses including a 36 hole Pete Dye facility in Simi Valley, CA, Lost Canyons Golf Club and, in association with the developers of Kiawah Island, Doonbeg Golf Club in County Clare Ireland. We are very proud of both of these projects. I think that in time they will be considered two of the greatest golf facilities built in my lifetime. For the last 5 years, I have worked almost exclusively on the Doonbeg project. My responsibilities now are centered on getting Landmark involved in golf in Europe. All in all we have developed approximately 40 courses, probably 20 of them with Pete Dye. It has been a fun, interesting business.
I was raised in Okla. City, growing up working on the maintenance crew building Oak Tree. I had the good golfing fortune to live in Carmel Ca for 10 years and Columbus Ohio for 7 years, the two best golfing venues in America.
I’m not sure how regularly I will be posting but I sure have enjoyed reading everyone’s comments.
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Frank Pasquale
Age: 35
Hometown: Ronkonkoma, NY
Home Course: Spring Lake GC (Middle Island, NY)
Handicap: 1
I really enjoy this site, I have learned quite a bit . Would be interested in GCA outing, and meeting some of the people on here.
If anyone could offer some advice on the southwest of Ireland, I would appreciate it, since I am planning a trip there for late July.
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Residence and Business: Arlington, Texas
Occupation: Practicing Golf Course Architect (maybe if I practice enough, I will finally get one right) and member of ASGCA, served as President in 1995-6. Notable (?) courses include Cowboys (TX), Colbert Hills (KS), Giant's Ridge (MN), Champions (NB), Wild Wing (SC), Wild Horse (CA) and about 35 others. Started career in 1977 with Killian and Nugent in Chicago (where I grew up) at Kemper Lakes, and started my own business in 1984.
Currently working on the Quarry Course at Giants Ridge, The Wilderness (es) - one at Fortune Bay in Minnesota, and one in South Texas - when I felt sure the Texas one was dead in the water, I suggested the name to the other) D'OH!, a renovation of Indian Creek Golf course near Dallas, and the usual number of consulting projects in various places.
Home Club: Great Southwest- famous as the stomping grounds of Lou Duran, Brookhaven, and Brookstone (near Atlanta) all designed or redesigned by me. I also play many of the public courses around town I have designed. The obvious connection here is that I don't pay for golf very often!
Handicap: A "Texas" 12 (everything is bigger in Texas) Back tees, bottom of the cup, and usually fairways are just a rumor whenever I play.
Age:47
Marital/Family Status: Married 18 years, three kids (the boy is a golfer, and getting quite good) and Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Other: Avid Dallas Stars fan ( :( no playoffs this year) and model railroader (still creating landscapes - in miniature - on my off time)
I found Golf Club Atlas through Ron Whitten, who told me how he was being thoroughy criticized for something or other he wrote, and I wondered what the fuss was about! I became hooked, as I love to think and discuss golf architecture. I also need the typing practice.....
I have been appointed infomally to the ASGCA "give the internet guys hell (if they deserve it) committee in perpetuity......hopefully I contribute a real world perspective from time to time......
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Jason Hines
Olathe, KS
Occupation: Sell processed oat products
Married, 2 sons
Handicap: 13
Education: BA-Kansas U. BS-Texas A&M. MBA-Creighton U.
Member: Shadow Glen GC
Started reading GCA when looking for information on the golf courses being built in the sandhills of Nebraska. Enjoy the brotherhood and tradition of the game and really appreciate the minimalism and solitude of playing quiet courses. Dislike idiots in tank tops, high green fees for crappy courses and people who try and look better than they play.
Favorite Courses: Wild Horse, Gothenburg NE, Sand Hills Golf Club, Mullen, NE, Tierra Verde, Arlington TX, Luana Hills CC, Kailua HI and Keilir Golf Club, Hafnarfjordur Iceland
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Name:- Damian Donovan
Age:- 34
Home:- Narre Warren Victoria Australia
Married to Nicole, first child due to be born in August 2002
Occupation:- Investment Manager, Telstra
Home course:- Ranfurlie
Handicap:- 8
Played most of my golf from age 12 to 28 at a public golf course in Frankston (Centenary Park), probably one the longest public golf courses around at about 6,200m+. Most of the greens are postage stamps as well. Since then, have been a member at Amstel. Currently playing off the lowest mark I have ever had (exact = 7.9), though still only play once a week (Saturday), maybe less post-August!!
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Scott Curran
scottc@inreach.com
Age: 36
Married to wife Monica, no children yet.
Handicap: 7 (lack of play keeps number low, can't post, can't go up, right?)
Handicap with Tracy Golf & Country Club (play several courses in my area).
My father got me started by taking lessons in Manteca, CA when I was 9 years old. Played my first round at age 10 and have been hooked ever since. I in turn got my father to start playing when he was in his 50's and he has been playing regularly ever since.
Favorite local courses to play: Tracy Golf and CC, Stevenson Ranch, Diablo Grande, Wente Vineyards, Poppy Ridge, Stockton G&CC, Elkhorn CC, Brookside CC, Discovery Bay.
Career best score: 70 (-2) at Tracy G&CC A LONG TIME AGO!
Love the site and reading others opinions. I'm an extreme novice at golf architecture, but look forward to reading the opinons of others.
Scott
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Mike Leveille
39
Atlanta, GA
Married with 2 Year Old and 7 Month Old Daughters
Finance Attorney
michael.leveille@troutmansanders.com
Started playing golf as a kid at Santa Maria CC in California. My memory is that it is a wonderful course, with a great junior golf program - hopefully that has not changed.
Currently live and play at Laurel Springs GC north of Atlanta. Definitely a "built around the houses" course, and designed by Nicklaus :(, but I have a two minute walk to the first tee and it allows me to get out and play a little even though I have two young daughters.
I have recently become much more interested in golf course architecture and started lurking on this site a month ago. I have enjoyed the site immensely and feel like I have already learned quite a bit from the thoughtful discussions.
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Name: (not real) Greg Mitchells
Age: 36
Home: on the road in my gas-guzzling SUV
Occupation: G.C. Architect
I work for an architect (lurker) frequently discussed on this site. My duties range from design work to on-site representative and I am currently overseeing a couple of 18 hole projects.
I was turned on to golf through my grandfather(which might explain my abbreviated back swing) but was always more interested in the course than in my game. Knew from early on that I wanted to be in this profession and through the proper education, invaluable experience and some good luck have been fortunate enough to have begun my journey.
I enjoy this site and the dedication of its members. It is a great forum for any devotee of golf course architecture.
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Bernie Ebbers
age 71
retired ceo
married with 3 childern and 5 grand kids (grampa)
reside in the northeast
handicap 10
member of 2 golf clubs
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Hudson McVay
Age: 36
E-mail: hudsonm@ohiogolfguide.com
Home: Hilliard, Ohio
Occupation: Programmer
Have been golfing for 12 years now. Have been running a website for Ohio golf courses since 1998. Was centralohiogolf.com now ohiogolfguide.com.
Mainly a lurker here. Always looking for any comments about Ohio courses. Enjoy the reading and the civil tone of this board.
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Thought I would pull this one back up front and give some of our new friends a chance to respond and see who they are conversing with.
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Long time listener, first time caller.... no, wait, that's not right....
Rob Hallford
Age: 31
Home: Indianapolis, IN
email: robhallford@yahoo.com
Occupation: strategist for major pharmaceutical company
I found this site over a year ago when the Bandon Dunes website linked to Ran's review of PacDunes. My friend and I printed out the hole-by-hole description and used it as a course guide that we carried with us when we went out last August. Since then I have learned the difference between a Redan and a Biarritz, and more about quality architecture than in my previous 17 years with the game combined.
rob
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Dave Miller
Age 49+
Occupation: President & CEO - Manufacturing Company South of Boston
Reside in Dover, Mass.
Married, three kids - Two out of College ;D Youngest a Sophomore
Grew up in the Phila. Area
High School - Malvern Prep
College- Villanova
Grad School - Boston College
Member at- Charles River CC - Newton Centre, Ma.
Aronimink GC - Newtown Square, Pa.
Farmington CC - Charlottesville, Va.
Admirals Cove - Jupiter, Fl.
Love the Old Classic Courses, Have served on Several Green Committees and also Course restoration Committee at Charles River. Found the site through Ed Baker, My pal from Charles River.
Have a true love of the game, its history, traditions and love to discuss the architecture of any course.
Try to play as often as possible. Never seem to improve 8).
Have been fortunate to play many of the great courses such as Olympic, Seminole, PV, Merion, etc.,etc.
Never met a golf course I haven't liked.
Get in touch if in the Area.
Fairways and Greens,
Dave
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Billy Mulvehill
Age:14
Minneapolis
Handicap:10
I've wanted to be an architect ever since I found this site about a year ago. I've now read and studied most courses on this site and visit this site nearly everyday.
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Phil Wood
Newbie Lurker
65 years old
Partner in Hawaii's largest communications company (adv'ting, PR, web development and research)
Member Oahu CC
A 5 hdcp just two years ago, now a 12.
Travel regularly to our offices on Guam (4X/yr) and in Las Vegas (6X/yr). The rest of the time, I'm slaving away in Honolulu.
Grew up in the SF Bay Area at Orinda CC. Teen years at Oakmont CC in Glendale, Southern California. Have been a member of Round Hill CC (in Alamo), Mid-Pacific CC (Lanikai, Hawaii) and now Oahu CC in Honolulu.
Over the years have played Pasatiempo, Pebble, Spanish Bay, Riviera, LA North, Valley Club, Shadow Creek, the Princeville Prince course, Mauna Kea, etc.
A thousand years ago, my Dad told me I would be forever grateful to him for handing me a club and giving a little push, that it was a game "for ever." Of course, he was right. But, damn, sometimes it's hard to remember when I'm posting those godawful scores!
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Bruce Strober (Bruceski)
Age: 34, married, no children
Born: Washington, D.C.
Live Currently: New York City (since 1989)
Occupation: Dermatologist
Don't play enough golf. Don't have enough time. But love every opportunity I get.
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My info:
David Lee
Age: 35 - married, 2 girls (7 & 5)
Home: Darien, CT but grew up in Haddonfield, NJ near Phila.
Occupation: Venture Capital
Home Course: Yale
Handicap: 9
Found the site while doing research for a trip to Bandon Dunes and now tune in daily - although post infrequently.
Through work, friends and vacation, have had the pleasure of playing over the last few years: Bandon/Pacific Dunes, Black Wolf Run (River), Whistling Straits, Pinehurst, Ballybunnion, Lahinch, Waterville, Blue Heron, World Woods, Scotland Run, PGA West (Stadium) among others. Have my first trip to Pebble Beach/Spyglass this Sept and can't wait.
I have the good fortune of having a very understanding wife, which is also how I got to be a member at Yale for the last 12 years. Have not met Mike Sweeney there, but will now keep an eye out for him (maybe at Beineke??)
Very much enjoy the posts and banter, probably because I am biased to courses that are in the traditional strategic shotmaking vein than the hi slope/hit and hope/looks over substance/ego-tests that are often being built today.
Couple of courses in the traditional vein that I like but don't seem to get a lot of attention are:
Ridgewood CC - Devereux Emmet course in Danbury, CT
Wee Burn CC - another Emmet course in Darien CT
Tavistock CC - my father's home course in South Jersey by Alex Findlay which as others have noted about his courses have terrific greens
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Gary Baker
Age: 27
Occupation: Muni Bond Analyst
Home: Chicago, IL
Home Course: O'Hare
I am a long time reader and have yet to post. I am still trying to learn enough to be able to hang with you guys. I don't have a home course. When I have free time I love to travel and see great golf courses around the country. Hopefully I will be able to contribute to this site down the road.
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Became aware of the site through the SI article, and have stopped by nearly every day since.
Info:
Greg Clark
37
Married and trying like heck to have kiddos
monroelee@yahoo.com
Dallas (actually Frisco), Texas
Retained Executive Search for the last 10 years.
Started golfing around 8 or 9 years old. Introduced to the game by my father. Childhood course was Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley, Illinois. The course is a fairly unspectacular early Dye design that did host a PGA Tour event (Quad Cities Open) for over a decade. Event is now held at the TPC at Deere Run, which is just up the road from the house I lived in during my high school years.
Grew up in the midwest (Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota) and am a graduate of the University of Iowa. Only get to play golf 2-3 times a month, but have always loved golf since I started playing. Play to a current handicap of 12. Have lived in Dallas for the last 10 years and bounce around to several of the better public courses in the Metroplex when I get out, and on occasion those of the private variety.
I am almost ashamed to list my best played list, as it falls pretty short of several in this community, but mine include Blackwolf Run (River), Whistling Straits, Cog Hill (Dubsdread), Casa de Campo (Teeth of the Dog), Playa Grande (also Dominican Republic, and a true undiscovered jewel), Troon North (Monument - at the time very few houses) among others.
If you are in Dallas and want thoughts on the area courses or would like to hit the little white ball around let me know.
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Jeff Goldman
Age: 40
Occupation: Attorney specializing in tax Controversy (litigation)
Home: Chicago, IL
I do not belong to a club, so I generally don't get to play older great courses, but try to play many courses in the area, especially Chicago/Milwaukee/Lake Geneva. My experience with great courses is basically limited to the Kohler area (including Lawsonia), Pebble and banff/jasper, with, I hope, more to come. I found the site by happenstance, searching google for "Golf course architecture." It is terrific, as are the contributors.
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hey, i'm angie.
hometown: greater chicagoland area: i live in the loop, play most of my golf at wilmette (muni),and belong to a women's golf club which plays alternate saturdays may-sept at courses always at least 50 miles away from my humble downtown abode. i play 18 to 36 holes every weekend plus daily when on vacation.
occupation: risk management consultant
learned golf from my dad, tried to get better during my growing up years at evanston g.c. in skokie IL with lessons from johnny revolta and hal miller.
ghin is 16.3 - i don't use the forward tees and the most famous course i've ever played was hazletine back in 1976, so you can only imagine.
got interested in gca thru the si article and "hunk" pictures that accompanied it.
got more interested in the topic as i've been doing some reading and noticing how the understanding adds a new dimension to the game!
i'll probably be here for years.
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Rob Kimball
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Thanks, Rob. I know so much more about you now. ::) ;)
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Rob Kimball
33 years old
Atlanta, GA
Single, but think I have finally found the one :o
Editor, medical newsletter publishing company
I have been a visitor to GCA for about 2 years, but I never really experienced the discussion group. The things that I love about the web site are the reviews. Just to see a picture of courses such as Cypress, NGLA, Seminole, etc. really grab my interest.
I was so suprised to see the article in Golf Plus about GCA. I immediately said "Oh wow, that's the web site that I like so much." I was "worried that the regulars would think I just started because of the article.
Anyway, my socio-economic status limits me at this time to memberships in Atlanta's exclusive clubs, but I have some good friends and connections and have played some nice ones in the area: Atlanta Country Club, Atlanta National GC (Pete Dye), East Lake, Big Canoe, Cuscowilla.
My interest in architecture stemmed from practice round visits to Augusta, and on a business trip to SF last year, I took a vacation day and played Pasatiempo!!! Wow, what a course, and the Doak restoration is fantastic. Anyone who has Pasa or mid-ocean pictures to share, please let me know.
Top 5 courses I have played:
1. Mid-Ocean Club
2. Pasatiempo
3. East Lake
4. Harbour Town
5. Cuscowilla
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My socio-econmic sttatus limits me to membership in some of the finer municipal tracks in the Sacramento Valley. ;)
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I know Scott, that looks funny. I had an overactive "enter" key!!! :D
As always, I will try to let you know when I get to Winston. . .
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Sorry Mike Vegis, I completely left off TOC in my favorites. Man, I shouldn't of had that extra beer last night!!! ::)
Revised:
1. Mid Ocean
2. Pasatiempo
3. Ocean Course
4. East Lake
5. Cuscowilla
Sorry Harbour Town, but at least I have a Pete Dye in there!!
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Mike Malone
52
Wallingford,Pa.
Married-three girls-27,24,21
Certified Portfolio Manager
I started playing at Dupont C.C. at 13.Moved to Vt.where i was member at Burlington C.C.Moved back to philly and joined Rolling Green.
My interest in GCA was latent.I just knew intuitively that one of our holes was wrong.Then we began our Master Plan process and i saw the 1926 aerials.That is when i came out of the closet.I have been on our Green Cmte.since.
I know i have much to learn and 1 out of every 50 threads here helps me.I just do not know which one until i read them all.It sure beats watching the market.
I went to Ireland 4 years in a row.My favorites are:
Ballybunion
Royal County Down
Portmarnock
Portstewart
Royal Portrush
Baltray
Lahinch
after the first two the order is random
Since Wall Street has gone to new rating system,i am a buy as a 14 hdcp.,a hold as an 11,and a sell as a 9
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Nick Bunch
Age: 23
Home: Austin, TX
E-Mail: jnbunch@aol.com
Occupation: Law student at the University of Texas at Austin
Grew up in Dallas, TX playing at the Dallas Athletic Club (site of '63 PGA Championship). Haven't had an opportunity to play many different courses, but definitely plan on doing so.
Shoot in the mid to low 80s on good days.
Have been following this forum quitely for the past year or so, and really enjoy it. Got in to Golf Course Architecture with the release of several games for the PC.
Nick.
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Great to see so many new names. Keep it up.
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David It is great how many people love the site like we do.
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Slapper:
Steve Lapper
Age:45
5.0index ............and rising!!!
Married ,Daughter
slap@sprynet.com
Private Investor
Member; Roaring Fork Club, Aspen Glen, Hamilton Farms
NYC & Far Hills, NJ
I've been most fortunate to have had the opportunity to have played many of the world's greatest 18's(see below). That said, there are still many left to see and more, I'm sure to be built. I love the game, the architectual component of course composition, and most of the people I meet on the course. GCA is only my most recent addiction. My new bride thinks we should all seek psychiatric help!
My top ten favorites:
1)PVGC
2)Royal County Down
3)Royal Melbourne (West&Comp)
4)Sand Hills
5)Cypress Point
6)Royal Dornoch
7)Pacific Dunes
8)NGLA
9)Friar's Head
10)Oakmont
11) :DThe Aspen Muni....site of the miracle tourney round...71 with a 10 on the 10th...City Championship final day!
It is a game for life and i'm determined to live it!
I'd love to play at RFC or HFGC with fellow GCA'ers sometime. Send me an e-mail and i'll try to make it happen.
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Occupation: Senior at Cornell
Age: 21
Major: Architecture, with some emphasis on golf course architecture.
Handicap: 6
Stats: 35C-25-34
Favorite course I've played: Cypress Point
Favorite architect: Seth Raynor
Turn-ons: Playing golf just before dusk, discovering "hidden gems," nipple rings
Turn-offs: Most Fazio courses, unnatural-looking holes, artificial lakes
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Debbie, You are welcome here anytime. We should play together the next time I go out to Cypress Point. I give you a big thumbs up for putting in your stats. lol
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John, I think Debbie should post a photo so we can verify her credentials.
Bill McBride, recently turned 60 - everything still working but the golf swing.
Life time admirer of classic golf courses - favorites being Valley Club, Oakmont, Pebble Beach, Bel Air, Pasatiempo. New courses that fit this group: Pacific and Bandon Dunes. Looking forward to playing Rustic Canyon in a week. Caddied at Meadow Club in the '50's without knowing it was a MacKenzie design! Ditto for playing at Sharp Park in 60's and 70's. Not much MacKenzie left there.
General contractor, living in Pensacola FL where I'm a member at Pensacola CC, celebrating our 100th anniversary this year. And Brad Klein to the contrary, I still think there's a lot of Ross in our course with its tiny pushed up greens and interesting angles.
A highlight of the last few years has been becoming acquainted with GCA and playing golf with several GCA'ers who share my love for golf.
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Bill Rader
Age: 33
Home: Indianapolis IN, USA
Email: brader300@yahoo.com
Occupation: Network Engineer
+1.6 USGA index as of last week
I started playing golf after seeing it on TV on a boring sunday and immediately became hooked. Nobody in my family had ever even been to a golf course let alone played on one. From age 8 on I have been hooked and love it as much as the first time I ever hit a ball good.
I had an average high school career and played a little bit of college and a little bit of mini tour action then got in the PGA program and became a Class A Teaching professional and worked in that field until about 5 years ago when my other hobby (computers) started interesting me more. I have never regreted getting out of the golf biz as I now have time to play. I am blessed to play every day. And I have found a new found love for the game once again.
I am engaged to a wonderful gal from Texas who I see on weekends as she works for an airline and I hope that one of us decides to move to the other one soon : )
I come to this site on the mention of Bruce Strober and Mark Huxford who I have befriended through the computer golf design community.
My playing hilights have been Pebble this year, Augusta two times (If anyone wants some stories I of course would love to share) Bandon and Pacific, Sawgrass and many other nationally known courses. Locally I have some good golf to pick from in The Trophy Club, Wolf Run, Crooked Stick and various others.
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Guess I should put my info on this thread.
Chris Clouser
Age:31
Home:Indianapolis, IN, USA
email:chris.clouser@aimco.com
Started playing at age 13 and by 18 was a 15 handicap. Still am to this day. I don't get to play nearly enough
I am a project manager for the country's largest owner of apartment complexes.
The best course I've ever played is Prairie Dunes which was part of a trip for research for my book on Perry Maxwell. I have seen most of the prominent courses in the Midwest.
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Been around now for a couple of weeks, so I guess I can intro myself:
Name: Bob Farrell
Home: Florham Park NJ
E-Mail: lpibob@aol.com
Age: 56
Occupation: Private Investigator (White Collar Crime)
Certified Fraud Examiner
Clubs: Spring Brook CC, Morristown NJ
St Andrews Golf Club, (yes there)
Current Index: 5.4
Have had the privilege of playing courses all over the world, but still have a lot more on my short list.
Glad to be here.
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Who am I?
Been lurking on the site for around 2 years.
Hometown--St Louis, MO
Current ----Bay Area CA
Occupation--Golf Course Supt.
Age----27
Married with a son on the way!
Worked as an asst at Forest Hills in St Louis as well as Paradise Valley CC in Scottsdale. Then moved to Troon North as the Supt. on the Pinnacle course and now reside as the Supt. at Shadow Lakes Golf Club in Brentwood CA. (Troon Property)
I had the opportunity to attend Rutgers and while there visited PV, Winged Foot, Baltusrol and some others,
then went to the southwest and hit all the scottsdale gems as well as the courses in Monterey. I enjoy reading about golf course architecture and walking classic golf courses. I am not much of a player but more of an admirer of good golf holes.
Favorite Architect: C. B. Macdonald
Favorite course: St Louis Country Club
PS: There is nothing better than starting your work day off with a slow drive around a golf course. I love my work!!
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Gotta keep this thread going....
Name: Joe Hatley
Email: jhatley@lathropgage.com
Live In: Overland Park, KS
Occupation: Lawyer (Litigation)
GHIN Index: 7.0
Club: Milburn CC
Age: 41, married (played Torrey Pines on my honeymoon), 2 kids
Best Golf Memory: Although I've been lucky enough to play many terrific courses (Pebble, Pinehurst #2, Olympic, the English and Scottish classics including North Berwick), my fondest memory is the last round I played with my dad before he passed away, on a nondescript course in Florida.
Most Profound Golfing Regret: Finding out that my firm's retreat next spring (which I am compelled to attend) coincides with the weekend on which I was invited to play Cypress Point. I must be insane!
This is a wonderful site! Thank you, Ran. My contribution is forthcoming.
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and one more ...
Mike Benham
San Mateo, CA (which means I have to read Gib Papazian's weekly column in the SM Times)
CFO type of work
Member of Olympic Club Pajaro Valley
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Are you the Mike Benham mentioned in the NY Times today regarding the Interent Explorer's security flaw?
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Paul Daley:
A member of Huntingdale (Melbourne) and The National Golf Clubs (Cape Schanck) in Victoria, Australia. Currently playing off a handicap of five, and adopt the old adage: when you can longer play the game, write about it!
Enjoying my joint career as golf writer and publisher, with Plus Four Publishing and Full Swing Golf Publishing. Have published two books on golf, with a third to be released in November, 2002, plus several more in the pipeline.
Favoutite golf courses:
The West Course at Royal Melbourne
Royal County Down
Ballybunion Old
Royal Dornoch
Winged Foot (West).
In the meantime, happy to beg, borrow or steal to get a round at Cypress Point.
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Paul,
What is the next book? And what is in the pipeline? Thanks for signing the Sand Belt book for me via Ron Muszalski. Great job, I look forward to the next book. Instant message me when you get a chance through this site.
Ed
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Heck no ... I did see that yesterday myself (my internet surfing kids saw it first ...) ...
I'm a CFO that prefers to stay out of the news ...
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Since there are a lot of new participants here these days, I'll reprise the link to the old site's "Who Are You Guys" thread. This has info re a lot of the "regulars" hereon:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/board/ubbhtml/Forum1/HTML/000687.html
FYI here's my info from this thread (updated):
Doug Wright
49, corporate/securities attorney, played since I was 10--as some 2 handicapper I played with this year described his game, "I used to be good." Have loved architecture for most of that time--used to envision course routings as a kid riding through the glacial drumlins of central NY. Played in Scotland and Ireland and can't wait to get back. Grew up in western NY and played quite a bit in the east, including pleasure cruises to Oak Hill and Taconic in college. Now in Colorado (Denver) where there are the usual collection of good designs and bad. Member of Denver CC. Love quirk, hidden gems and the camaraderie and erudition of GCA. If you're coming out to the Rockies let me know.
All The Best,
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OK Here goes,
I'm a 42 yr. old golf course architect for Dan Maples Design. Moved here to Pinehurst in 95 from Greenville, SC where I worked maintenance at Greenville CC while completing my LA degree from Clemson.
Married 14yrs, 1 son
The projects I've worked on since joining Dan:
Little River - Carthage NC
The Wizard - Conway SC
Man-o-War - Conway SC
Rocky River GC - Concord NC
Ford's Colony - Williamsburg VA
Natanis GC - Vasslaboro ME
Sandpiper Bay - Sunset Beach NC
Winchester CC (remodel) - Winchester VA
we are currently finishing an additonal 18-hole course for Campbell University, Keith Hills CC, in Buies Creek NC, scheduled to open in late November.
Play most of my golf at The Pit and Longleaf CC and a few rounds at National (formerly Pinehurst National). Although I seem to play less since I've been in the business!
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Jimmy Yahnis
Age: 47
Handicap: 10
Residence: Myrtle Beach area (SC)
Occupation: Beer Wholesaler
I discovered this site from the SI article and have been lurking since. I have played golf since age 12, and used to have a lower handicap before making money took top priority. My interest in golf course architecture took root when I appraised real estate, and thus, numerus golf courses in the 80's and early 90's. I am learning a great deal based on the discussions here.
I have been blessed to play many of the great courses. My favorites are:
1) Turnberry
2) Ballybunion New
3) Pebble Beach
4) Pinehurst #2
5) Old Head
6) Kingsbarns
7) Spyglass Hill
8) TCP Sawgrass Stadium
9) Bay Hill
I will later post my impressions of my two home courses.
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Brian Brown
age 26
Southampton NY
I been lurking around the website for about 7 months. Just started posted recently, but I'm kind of shy about it. Play as often as I can and wish it was more. Caddied at one of the exclusive clubs but the real job didn't allow me to continue. Work halfway between East Hamton Golf Club and Maidstone and eat my lunch everyday watching the 17th at Maidstone. Hope to play all of the great courses by be including, EHGC, Maidstone, Shinnecock, NGLA, the Bridge and Friars Head. Learning more and more about architecture and its great.
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Way to go, Rick - way too few actual archies on board here for most of us junkies. Don't be afraid to set us straight with reality checks like Jeff Brauer likes to give us. :)
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Someone asked this to be pulled up to the front because there are a number of new participants, so here it is. See above for requested info, name, rank & serial #, etc.
All The Best,
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I'm Tom Paul, I think--
I should reintroduce myself because I may not be the same guy I was when I first introduced myself on Golfclubatlas in the beginning.
I think I still come from Philly, though! My age? I don't want to talk about it, although I will say I'm thirty years older than when I first introduced myself on here in 2000! My handicap? I can't remember, and even if I could Rich Goodale says it's no good anyway because it's part of the US GHIN system.
But for any of you new guys, I'd tell you right now to know anything at all about golf architecture you HAVE to KNOW and UNDERSTAND every single word Max Behr wrote. Nothing less will do.
In that vein of Max Behr, I have a funny tid-bit to report. I was at the USGA yesterday with Wayne looking through some voluminous files of Hugh Wilson correspondence to a couple of fellows by the name of Piper and Oakley at the US Dept or Agriculture from 1911-1925.
In a letter about 1922 Wilson told Oakley and Piper that he'd just read an architectural article by Max Behr and the man was an absolute WONDER in what he wrote!! Wilson said it was the most amazing article on architecture he'd ever read although he wasn't at all sure what it meant and felt certain that Oakley and Piper probably never would.
But Hugh did say that he was delighted to know that what he'd been doing with Merion for the previous ten years was apparently very much a moral issue, according to Max!
Well, anyway, HOWDY DO to you'all, again! And to the new folks, welcome to the barroom brawl that's Golfclubatlas!
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Well, I guess I should jump in here too since I'm new since this thread was last active.
I'm 36, 5 handicap (though I play more like a 10 in early spring before I de-rust myself) work as an enterprise computing consultant. I live in Iowa, so I don't get a lot of regular exposure to great architecture like some of you guys, but I do travel a fair bit and have made golfing trips to Scotland twice and Ireland once, and plan to do so many more times in the future. I've been exposed to a lot more great courses over there than in the US since many of the great courses over here are private.
I've always had an appreciation for golf's history, so an interest in architecture is only natural. I feel much less knowledgeable about both around here than I do around most golfers! But that's good, more to learn here. Especially cool that there are plenty of contributions from people who design and build courses for a living. Not bad work if you can get it!
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Richard Macafee
Age: 32
Family: Wife and 3 kids (5,3 &1)
Live: Melbourne, Australia
Clubs: Kingston Heath GC, Lonsdale GC
H'cap: 0
Favourite Courses played: Royal Melb West
Royal County Down
St Andrews Old
Work: Commercial Property Developer
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name: Robert Decker
age: 32
reside: Lenox, MA
occupation: Greenskeeper
handicap: 10
I had the good fortune of growing up with Cranwell (Stiles &Van Kleek) as my backyard. I spent my college years and a few more afterward working on the course to pay for my Marketing degree. Several years into an uninspired business career my Superintendent older brother convinced me to attend turf school at UMass. After my first few years as an assistant in Southeastern Conn. I started getting interested in architecture and began reading everything I could find on the subject. I then took a job back in the Berkshires at Berkshire Hills which was layed out by Mr. Tillinghast and my exposure to his genius along with mentoring by Steve Curry who is the super there created a huge interest in Classical
design and specifically the restoration of classic courses. I am currently attempting to restore Greenock C.C. a 9 hole
Donald Ross course in Lee, MA.
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Forrest Richardson
Age: 43
Born: Burbank, CA USA
Last 35 years: Phoenix, AZ USA
Last 3 Hours: My office looking out at Squaw Peak Mountain
Wife: 1
Daughter: 1
14" Dia. African Tortoise: 1
Occupation: Golf Course Architect
Hcp: 6.7 (play seems more like 12)
Well, it seems about the "Rs", so I've logged in and am posting some information.
My mentor is Arthur Jack Snyder. Jack's father, Arthur A. Snyder, began caddying at Oakmont in 1907, setting in motion an interesting linage of designers, beginning with Arthur A. and extending to Arthur Jack Snyder, and now to me. Interesting was that Arthur A. Snyder actually manufactured some of the furrowed rakes used at Oakmont. He was a terrific guy; a USGA Green Section recipient and many other honors. Arthur Jack Snyder was a past president of the ASGCA.
I've just written a book. Well, actually it took two years and was just published. "Routing the Golf Course" (John Wiley & Sons, 2002). Expensive for a non-color book, but you get about 1,000,000 words. Most of them spelled correctly and broken up by diagrams and photos. I'd recommend it to anyone. And have.
My influences have been many and they are still continuing. I get easily influenced by lone 9-holers aside the road on the way through small towns. I also get excited about new stuff. I usually don't follow others. I tend to blaze my own path. It's more fun for me and, I feel, the golfer.
I spent about 15 years in market research, television (where I was an art director) and then ran a successful environmental graphics (signage, retail and corporate design) firm. Left all that behind to assist Arthur Jack Snyder as he got older. He is now 85 and quietly active.
Thank you for reading my posts -- I apologize in advance for any sharply worded responses that are undeserved. If they are deserved, then bug-off.
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Mark Ferguson
Age: 37
Born/Reside: Melbourne, Australia.
Occupation: Actually Student, although my tax return refuses to recognise as such, doing a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts Degree, which gets quite depressing when I realise I'm twice the age of most of the other students.
Formerly a Chef, although I will deny it to anyone except under extreme duress.
E-mail:dornoch@hotkey.net.au
Like most others I was searching the web to see what was on it with regard to various golf courses, and came across GCA, and am glad I did. Am a recent convert to the discussion group, which has some fantastically erudite and cerebral people out there who all share this crazy passion for golf, and "golf as it was meant to be played" at that.
I have travelled a lot, and can't wait for my next trip, because it would be nice to catch up with some of the "posters", especially turboe, because his personal poster motto is to die for.
I played fourteen courses in late 1996 during a three week trip through the UK, and have harboured an interest in golf and more particularly architecture, since I first walked Royal Melbourne 12-odd years ago and wondered what all the fuss was about...
I haven't actually played much since the UK trip due to five and a half years of constant elbow problems, but am now fixed and looking forward to catching up on lost time. I did play to ten, and am confident that a few more lessons with the legendary Mr Dale Lynch will soon sort that out, as nothing, not even a Narrative and Screen direction lecture, will stop me.
I have also studied photography, and came up with an idea to do a book on the Sandbelt, even went so far as to take some pictures, but someone beat me to the punch...
Hopefully I will end up using my ten percent of the gross from whatever blockbuster movie I write and produce sometime in the next few years to buy a patch of Mornington peninsula dunes and found my own club, just like they used to do...
Assuming the bigwigs don't try any creative accounting with my fifty mil, I might even establish a fund for fellow GCA's to come and play it...
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Name - Matthew Mollica
Location - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Age - 29
Occupation – Podiatrist
Home Club – The National, Cape Schanck
Handicap – 9
Fav golfer – David Duval, Cristie Kerr
Fav Architect - Dr. Alister Mackenzie
Fav Courses – Royal Melbourne West, St. Andrew’s Old
Courses I’d most like to play (and haven’t YET)
ANGC, Cypress Point Club, NGLA, Pine Valley, Muirfield, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Doonbeg
Golf highlights (playing) - Breaking 80 for the first time, which got me down to a single figure handicap, and scoring better than h’cap at Turnberry, in 40mph winds and rain.
Not sure if it’s a highlight, but hooked my second on Pasatiempo’s 6th hole last year, and I’m certain my ball ended up inside Mackenzie’s old home beside the course…
Non-playing highlights - jumped the fence on 17 mile drive (just before dawn) to take a photo on the 16th tee at Cypress. I’ve also phoned mates back in Australia from Amen Corner, the 7th green at Pebble, and INSIDE the Road Hole Bunker.
In the last few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to go and play in the States, and UK. It is truly amazing to be living as a golfer here in Melbourne. Metro, Vic, RM, Yarra, Comm’wlth, K.Heath, H’dale, and so many others – We are really lucky.
Some of my old golf books are among my most prized possessions, incl. a first edition of Clifford Roberts' book on Augusta National. My favourite golf author is none other than GCA’s own – Paul Daley !
Absolutely love the GCA site. It's great to see that so many are so enthused by the better facets of our game.
It's also good how we can all communicate on other cool golf stuff. When I saw the thread entitled 'best locker room in golf', and saw that someone replied - "Two words - shower pressure", I knew I'd found a good site.....
Thanks to those who contribute so much to GCA...
MM
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I went and looked at the old thread, wow, that was 3 years ago, god I have been coming to this have for over 3 years... getting old :'(
Still Superintendent at Berkshire Hills CC, Pittsfield Ma, Tillie in New England.
For any that can, go to the Winter gathering, its a blast to meet people here. Looking forward to seeing Pat Mucci, George Bahto, BillV, GeoffryChilds, NAF, Paul Turner... all the people I met at Yale at the upcoming event and especially meeting TEPaul. Tom we have talked so many times but not met yet?
Thanks to Bob Decker for the kind words. You are in the midst of a great opportunity and it is great that you are spreading the word here on GCA.
Thanks to all the worldly folk that describe and discuss courses that I only hope to see but may never. Living vicariously! ;)
Regards,
Steve
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You gotta love a guy that calls his buddies at the antipod, from inside the RHB! Good on ya mate! ;D 8)
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:D
Name: Steve Lang.. aka in certain locales, TXSeve and slang
Physical Age: 50.5
Golf Age: 40+
Education/Vocation: BS Chemical/MS Environmental Engineer. Playing with big-oil's billion dollar toys.
Journey: Takoma Park, D.C.; Silver Spring, MD; Monroeville, PA; Toledo, OH; Cincinnati, OH; SF, CA; Mesa, AZ; Bowling Green, OH; Lima, OH (Lost In Middle America); State of Houston (The Woodlands), TX..
Favorite Drink: JD on the rocks
Favorite Arterial Challenge: French Onion Soup, Porterhouse with fries, broccoli with cheese sauce and a Baileys White Russian on the side with some NY Cheese Cake to top things off.
3 Most Memorable Golf Experiences: 1) Walking TOC on a balmy September Sunday; 2) missing a 7 foot birdie at TOC #17; and 3) Going OB at TOC #18 by 6 inches (arguably one of the widest golf holes in the world?) and later bowing to the crowd's misplaced admiration of my 4 foot bogey putt for a 77.
Avocation/MindlessPursuits: Golf alchemist.. Turning crap into gold and gold into crap. Computering golf course wind fields and water balances. Mining GCA archives and putting in my 2 cents worth. Attended MSU GCA class summer of 1999 at Boyne, haven't been the same since.
Sporting News: A 7-8 index with D-2M-4M-4-6-8-10-GW-P in the bag.
Original Home Course: Ottawa Park, Toledo. Vintage 1899, expanded to 18 in 1916 by ??? Site of first US Amateur Public Links Championship 1922
Current Home Courses : WCC Player, Palmer, Oaks, Pines, & TPC
Goal: Having a Pat_Mucci/TEPaul spectrum mind meld without any bias.
Most entertaining esoteric quote: The more precisely the position is determined, the less precisely the momentum is known in this instant, and vice versa.
--Heisenberg, uncertainty paper, 1927 ;)
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Name: Gary Nelson
Age: 37
Occupation: Car audio salesman
Family: Wife & 2 kids
Home: Northville, Michigan
Handicap: 7
e-mail: gnelson@recoton.com
Favorite course: Hickory Hill... a 9 holer where I learned to play the game. That damn 3rd hole is still my nemesis. 175 yard par 3 with a punchbowl green that I've missed 99 out of 100 times.
Best golf memory: 2nd shot into #8 at Pebble Beach... my new bride watching in the cart. Stiffed it to 6 feet.
How I found GCA: Google search for Crystal Downs.
GCA addiction level: Full and complete. A lurker who enjoys reading discussions on and maintenance meld.
I'm always eager to meet up with fellow GCA'ers and play a round of golf, buy a few drinks and get to discuss golf with people who gives a damn about this crazy and wonderful game.
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Steve Lang:
One of your goals is to have a TEPaul/Pat Mucci spectrum mind meld...?
Ouch, the thought alone gives me a migraine! I might allow my mind to be slightly corrupted occasionally, but never that much.
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:o
TEPAul
I couldn't resist.. a ying/yang, quantitative/qualitative mixture of substance/style.. internal tension/resolution of mind..
One cannot first know what can be observed, but you must first know a theory, or produce a theory, and then you can define what can be observed.... Or is it the other way around? Namely, that nature only allows for such situations which can be described with a mathematical scheme?
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Steve;
It's the other way around--at least it is for Pat. He comes up with what he thinks will be observed and then he dreams up some cockamammy theory out of thin air that's by design the opposite of a reasonable consensus of opinion and thought.
Or put in a more colloquial way; The man just loves to argue with people!
I'm about ready to pull my rope-a-dope act on him, though, and just watch him argue until he drops from exhaustion.
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Tom Paul,
When's the last time that happened ?
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;)
Then you are Einstein, he is Heisenberg! Amazing..
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Mills Lane:
It was the same year George Foreman went down from exhaustion at that fight in africka. That was a while ago, for sure, and Pat can sure talk and argue but I figure he's about ready for another dive from a well executed rope-a-dope! That's an excellent term--rope-a-dope, don't you think?
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I just read this thread for the first time (and it is a most impressive read at that) and thought that I would give my info as well:
Name: Philip Young
Age: still hard to accept at 49
Home: Alpharetta, Georgia
Email: Philwritesbooks@aol.com
Occupation: Writer
In my early days, I worked as an electrician in a hospital for 12 years, when I left and ended up owning a fire alarm company. After selling that I moved down to Georgia where I helpde open a fire alarm branch for a major security firm, before once again going into business on my own as a consultant offering corporate training services.
About five years ago I closed that business down and became a Mr. Mom and 24/7 caregiver to both of my sons who developed different severe mental illnesses in their late teens. As they improved I started to write a little in my spare time (something I have always loved to do) and my very first short story ended up being published in two different magazines. I have been VERY fortunate in my success, with numerous short stories and poems being published.
My first golf work, a very long poem titled "The Day Buffalo Jack Played the Black" led to my first golf book "Golf for the People: Bethpage and the Black" which was published this past May. That led me to being the only non-media related person to be given credentials for the 2002 U.S. Open and the 2002 Tour Championship.
I just finished my manuscript for book #2, "Golf's Finest Hour: The Open at the Black" and will soon be starting book #3 which I am planning to be the history of East Lake.
I grew up and lived on Long Island till I was 40. I first swung a golf club when I was 4 and actually played to a scratch when I was in my twenties. I learned my love of the game at Bethpage and have a passionate love of the Black wher my brother holds the course record of 62 shot when he was 17 during a high chool golf tournament. Unfortunately, a car accident and spinal fusion surgery has relegated my game to a lets have laughs and some fun status, and I must confess that it is this type of play I enjoy most of all.
If anyone is interested in my book on the Open and would like an advance peak at a chapter or two, just email me!
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Steve A. Fairfax
Age: 34
Hometown: Beaverton, OR
Job: Salesman for Chip Maker
I have a 6 year old son.
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I have been playing golf all my life and was a member of the Elon (NC) golf team in college. My golfing highlight is having two holes in one during one round of golf. 8)
I found this website when a friend of mine convinced me to take a trip to bandon dunes to play golf. I did a google search on Bandon Dunes and found the course profile. A couple of months later, I found the discussion site and I have been lurking ever since.
My favorite course in the Portland area is Eastmoreland because of its wild greens. I wish someone would come in and do a proper restoration of Eastmoreland because I think the course could be something special under the right care. Shinnecock is the best course in the US that I have played and I really enjoyed its championship qualities. One of my favorite modern architects is Rees Jones.
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Internet Name: Texsport
Real Name: John Kendall
Real Age: 60-and have earned every grey hair
Residence: Sugar Land, Texas
Vocation: Research Director for a food company
Education: PhD-Piled higher and Deeper
Non-Golf Collector of everything/Houston Astros fan
Hobbies: LSU sportsfan/Fishing/Photography/Orchids
Married well: 3 grown children and 1 spoiled grandson
Pets: 3 grown Catahoula Leopard Hounds/ 1 confident
Chartreaux cat
Favorite courses I've played in alphabetical order:
Black Wolf Run Medinah #3
Champions G.C. Olympic Lake
Colonial C.C. Pebble Beach
Durban C.C. Pinehurst #2
Harbor Town Royal Johannesburg G.C.
Hiroshima G.C. The Quarry@Giants Ridge
Montevedeo G.C.
Most memorable golf experiences: Watching my 10 yr. old
son make his 1st hole-in-1
and watching him make
another in the NCAA
Championship finals.
Glad to be living in the Houston, Texas area where we
have more than 100 golf courses playable 365/yr. and
the best sports stadiums(if not the best teams) in the
world.
Glad that I can spend summers in Minnesota fishing and
playing golf 17 hours a day. (As I said, I married well).
John Kendall
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Name: Allan Hernandez
Age: 27
Home: Pittsburgh, PA
e-mail: nandoal26@aol.com
occupation: caddymaster @ a club in Pittsburgh
current index: 13.2
Fav teams: Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, Penn State Football, Duke Basketball, Celtics, and US Mens soccer team
Fav golfer: Phil Mickelson
Fav golfers wife: Amy Mickelson
Fav courses I have played:
1. Bel-Air CC
2. Monterary Peninsula Country Club, Dunes course
3. Riveria CC
4. Pittsburgh Field Club
5. Fox Chapel Country Club
Fav architect: Seth Raynor
Best golfing moment: One day while I was working at Bel-Air Country Club, playing alone trying to finish before dark. Having my best round ever. On the 18th as I could hardly see. I hit my second shot to the green. As soon as it leaves my club I have to idea where it is at. No where to be found, as I walk by the hole I peak in it. Yes I had knocked it in from the fairway for an eagle. To break 80 for the first time. An eagle on the 18th @ Bel-Air is my greateest golfing memory.
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Hi Scott,
This new reply should help you reinvigorate this thread...
Matt
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Pulling this forward for Scott Wood and Alpine group
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Updated 7/22/2010 since George pestered me. ;)
John Vander Borght
Manager, NCGA Junior Tour
Poppy Hills Golf Course
Living in Pacific Grove, CA
Not a member anywhere other than our employee club and a nice little course in Dornoch Scotland.
Index is now 6.6.
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Hello everyone!
Jeesh, has it been three years since the original thread ? Time is wastin' away. Too many courses I haven't played and time and money is running out!
Raymond Newberry
Happy Valley, Oregon
Hdcp: 7 at my home course, 15 evrywhere else
Course: Columbia Edgewater
Age: Above the GCA average
Took up the game 30 years ago but just got serious about playing decently in the last 5 years.
Born in Ohio, but spent most of my adult life in the Baltimore/Washington area and Houston. I lived at the Woodlands for about 10 years and have a real fondness for that area.
I've been lucky enough to play in Scotland and Ireland along with many of the great "public invited" courses in the States. My favorites in no particular order include Cypress and Pebble,
Dornoch, Cruden Bay, TOC, Royal County Down, Tralee, Portrush, Cabo del Sol, Kapalua, and Harbour Town. I'm lucky to have 2 of the worlds best right here in my own back yard, Pacific and Bandon Dunes. I've been there on a number of occasions. I'm sure I've left off a few but the memory gets worse every day.
I love to lurk here often but my architecture knowledge isn't where it needs to be to be much of a contributor but thanks to all of you who have given me a start. Keep up the good work and if you're ever in my vicinity shoot me an E-mail.
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Hey Texsport, I thought I was the oldest guy (maybe second to Track) who visits Bombsquadgolf.... ;D My handle over there and other equip sites is carrera. But I'm one of the few that doesn't hit a PW from 150. :P
Thanks so much for reminding me, that, as my tee shots get shorter and my never existant putting stroke deteriorates even further-I'm the oldest guy in this internet world.
Texsport
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James E. Sweeney
Crescent Springs, KY (greater Cinci. - go Reds!)
45
Hdcp: 0
Golf activity: KY. Golf Associaition Board, Larry Gilbert Foundation (for jr. golf) Board, USGA Mid-Am Committee
Formerly Exec. Dir. of Sun Country and Connecticut Golf Associations, and a USGA Regional Manager. Currently brokerage manager at New England Financial.
Golf age:36. Learned to play at CC of Waterbury in CT. University of New Mexico Golf Team 1980-83. Currently home course is Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, KY, (Pete and PB Dye, 1990). Courses I have played and would love to play every day: Fisher's Island, Crystal Downs, SF Golf, Yale, Somerset Hills, and NGL.
Unfortunately no experience across the pond yet, and with my daughetrs lined up for college over the next 8 years, it may be a while.
I've enjoyed reading the postings and promise to jump in only when I have something constructive to add, which probably won't be very often. Nice meeting you all!
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I was recently pointed toward this site by a co-worker and I've found it both interesting and a great way to kill time when I'm supposed to be working ;D
Name: Jeff Shelman
Age: 31
Home: Minneapolis
Handicap: 3.4 was the last index, though I struggle to play to it.
Occupation: Sports writer at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I cover mainly college basketball, but will do a bit of golf in the summer.
I started playing golf when I was young, riding my bike to a 9-hole course in my hometown and it's been an addiction ever since. I currently play most of my rounds at Mendakota Country Club, a private club in the Twin Cities suburbs. With my job I travel a ton and have lived in a number of places. Before moving back to Minnesota (where I grew up) I lived in Raleigh, NC and played at Raleigh CC, the last Ross-designed course. While I had architects and styles that I enjoyed more than others before that, living in Raleigh and playing RCC and places in the Pinehurst area made me much more interested in it.
Not surprisingly I'm a sucker for Ross courses (I played the wonderful Northland CC in Duluth, Minn. this summer for the first time and loved it). I like the strategy and the classic design and the compactness of his routings. But I also like some of the modern designers and courses.
Five favorite courses I've actually played (in alphabetical order):
Camargo Club
Interlachen CC
Minneapolis GC
Muirfield Village
Pinehurst No. 2
The next five:
Hazeltine National (where I worked in college)
Minikahda Club
Northland CC
Oak Ridge GC
Raleigh CC
Feel free to message me or e-mail me if you're going to be in the Minnesota area. I can certainly give you ideas on where to play (or, more importantly, where to avoid) and I might even have time to play.
Jeff
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Peter Pittock
74 years old. Single, no kids. Graduate of Oregon State University. Always lived in Portland, Oregon. Retired from 28 years with Portland Police taking and looking at fingerprints. Was a posse member at Sagebrush in Quilchena, BC until it closed. Usual trip was a 1 day drive up, double rounds each day, then the one day drive back, about three or four times a year. Previous was member at Tualatin CC for 23 years, left the year after it experienced back to back 100 year floods, hasn't flooded since . Business card reads "Had game, will travel."
Handicap has inched up to 13.3, but had to keep moving forward. Relegated to riding a golf cart. Closed the rules book for officiating at the end ov 2019 after 28 years of volunteering with the Oregon Golf Association . Started golfing with my father when I was about five, then he dropped membership at Portland GC when I was old enough to join him on Sunday afternoon. First extended golf trip was 1975 when dad and I went to Scotland and have loved links golf ever since. Also found out it was easier getting on good GB&I courses than in the states. Now know that also applies to Australia. At least ten overseas trips. Played about half of the world top 100.
Have about 38 shelf feet of golf books, including first editions . Collect logo golf balls (400+). Wear logo golf shirts everywhere and don't feel ashamed Long time participant in the King's Putter, and have enjoyed many other GCA outings in MI, BC, NC, GA. VA, FL.
Worst golf related decision: In 1975, passed up a chance to get on the waiting list to become a patron (two tickets) for the Masters. Would have vested about 1995.
Was a member at Tualatin CC 1975-1997. Then moved to Reserve Vineyards &GC (back to back 100 yr floods at Tualatin) and am still a member. This morning put in an application at Astoria G&CC (The St Andrews of the Pacific), which is more relatable as the Prestwick of the Pacific.
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John Nixon
Age: 51
Family: Wife and 3 kids (18, 15 and 7)
Live: Carmel, Indiana
H'cap: 16ish
Not a prolific poster, usually keep up on what's going on around here.
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Jeff Lewis
age: 39 (and hanging on for dear life)
index: 6.0 ( and going up every month)
occupation: investments
I expect to complete the GOLF world list sometime in the next two years. 5 to go.
Very happy that GCA DG is going to return to the wonderfully civil tone and constructive dialogue that we had several years ago.
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Strange- I feel like I'm bearing my soul here, but sensibility tells me it's really not a big deal. Anyway, here you go.
Name: Carlos Febres
Age: 26
Born: Caracas, Venezuela
Raised: Ft. Washington (Philadelphia), PA
Current Residence: North Palm Beach, FL
Education: BS Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland
Occupation: I will reveal that I work in the golf course design business, but I won't say for whom. (Anonymity in this respect will protect me from your respective claws, admonishments, and accountability.) ;)
I will say that the most interesting thing about me is that I owe a tremendous debt to the game of golf and the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust. Those of you from Philly may understand how important the Trust is, so please contribute!!! I have caddied at length at Manufacturer's G&CC, Galloway National GC, Congressional CC, Caves Valley GC, and most recently Merion GC. I was pleased to see that all five fell into the GOLFWEEK rankings last week. I would love to hear from or play with any of you, so be in touch!!
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Name: Brian Phillips
Age: 33
Home: Norway
E-mail: brian@niblickgolfdesign.com
Occupation: Golf Course Architect
Married: To a blond Norwegian called Hege
Kids: Two named after Annika Sørenstam and Jesper Parnevik
Now residing in Edinburgh taking a year off (getting to know my wife and kids again) studying a M.Sc in Golf Course Architecture. It's nice yet frustrating and can't wait to get back to getting muck on my boots again.
I didn't take golf seriously until about 11 years ago when I got injured playing Rugby. I now play off 9 - 12 depending which country I am in!!
I am possibly the first architect to evolve from this site. Encouraged by Jeff Brauer to jump in with both feet and get out of the golf course construction business I started my own company two years ago. Completed a small nine holer last year in Norway and have now teamed up with Jeremy Turner on a handshake agreement.
If I ever do make it in this business it will be down to people like Jeff Brauer, Tom Doak, Lester George, Tom Paul, John Ott, Rocky (the greatest caddie in the world), Rich Goodale, Paul Turner, Willie Dow, Darren Kilfara, Paul Daley, Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore (the list is endless) to just mention a few that really have influenced me on this site and in person.
Good luck to Ran with this site and to all that have the honour to grace it's pages.
Brian.
Edit 2010:
Now running Niblick Golf Design back in Norway. You can follow me on www.twitter.com/golfdesign
And I just as much if not more to the guys mentioned above including George Pazin!
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Jeff Blume, Spring Texas
Age:35
Married, Two Daughters (2 and 1)
Occupation: Golf Course Architect
Handicap: 6-8
Member: La Paloma Golf Club (Amarillo, Texas - one of ours)
Don't get much golf in these days with young children, but do enjoy the occasional business outing. Resigned membership at Northgate Country Club after seven years (and my wife realizing that I just paid $400 for that bag of range balls I hit last month)
Nixer: My one major golf outing of the year is to travel to Indianapolis for CCI's member guest each summer. My partner works for Lilly, and continues to invite me even though we have yet to place in six years.
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J
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Greetings all:
Dave Silk
45 yrs old
Boston, Ma
9 H'cap
Passionate re: golf course design- found out about you guys
about a year ago and log on daily- looking forward to N.M. !!
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Dan Herrmann
Age: 50 (as of 2011)
Home: Chester Springs, PA, USA
Email: danh4@verizon.net
Occupation: IT Security
Index: 10 or 11
Started playing at age 18 at munis up in Buffalo, NY. Primarily Brighton and Sheridan Park in Tonawanda.
Traveled the world, and ended up working at Nike in Beaverton, OR, where I was a member at Riverside.
Moved to the western burbs of Philly in 1993 and joined a Findlay course, Coatesville CC. Met my wife Laura in 1996, and got married in 1997 at Coatesville. She obviously passed the golf test!
Left Coatesville and played public for a year in 2002. Played Beechtree a lot and really liked the course.
Joined French Creek (Hanse) before it was even open, and have loved it ever since. I'm on the green cmte \ helping to make the experience even better.
Love golf, love my wife, love playing golf with my wife :)
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Tom Williamsen age:56
handicap: 4
clubs: CC at Woodmore, Fours Streams GC (MD)
Musgrove Mill GC (SC) Bryce Resort (VA)
I have been playing golf all of my life. I stopped playing competively and instead spend my time as a member of the rating panel of GOLF DIGEST. Am married with two grown children. In the winter I am an avid skiier.
I am tickled to death to have found this site. I go to it at least two or three times a day. I will post more now that I gotten a feel for this site.
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Been a frequent guest of this site and only recently got involved...it is truly wonderful to see such ardent discussion!!
David Carroll
Age: 33
Live: Baltimore, MD
hdcp: 1
clubs: Five Farms, Elkridge Club, (parents were members at Long Cove, Melrose and Tabby Links so lots of play in the HHI area)
Family: one son with another on the way
Occupation: lobbyist/gov't relations
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Terry Lavin, 49, married, two daughters. I'm a medical malpractice lawyer and president of the Illinois State Bar Association. I'm a member of three clubs on Western Ave. in the Chicago area: Beverly, Flossmoor and Olympia Fields. I have an interest in golf course architecture only from an educational standpoint. If you love the game, you have to educate yourself about design, maintenance and operations.
I was introduced to this site by Rick Holland, a Beverly member who has an insatiable appetite for all matters historical as they relate to golf. I was fortunate to play with Ran Morrissett, our host, at Olympia Fields on a brisk fall day.
If you want to read about my travails as Grounds Chairman for the most recent U.S. Open, go to Golfweek.com and go to the U.S. Open section and follow the prompts. I'm still in recovery...
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Brock Peyer
age: 31
email: bndpeyer@hotmail.com
wife: Deanna
13 month old daughter: Palmer
occupation: Mortgage Consultant
I started playing seriously after the 86 Masters with my Dad and have worked at 5 different courses while in high school and college in KY and NC, most notably Porters Neck in Wilmington, NC, a Fazio course, and Cape Fear CC also in Wilmington, a Ross. I used to play 300+ times a year and was scratch but now play 10-15 times a year and am happy to break 80. I can't wait for the day until I can take my daughter to the driving range with me. I haven't played alot of the classic courses but now that I don't play much I am trying to play one or two great courses a year.
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Carlos Febres:
Very glad to see you mention the J. Wood Platt Caddie sholarship fund of the GAP (Golf Association of Philadelphia). We're proud of it and it's one of the 3-4 major efforts of GAP and again one of our real priorities we work very hard on promoting amongst our member clubs! It's one of the best of any association in America. Of course its dwarfed (as all regional association caddie scholarship funds are) by the amazing Evan Caddie Scholarship Fund of Chicago.
As a point of trivia, J. Wood Platt (Woodie Platt) is the same man who pulled off that amazing feat of playing the first four holes of PVGC (birdie, birdie, hole in one, birdie) at which point he proceeded into the bar (immediately juxtaposed to the 4th green) and proceeded to get completely loaded!! The same Woodie Platt that some of the great old golfers in this area if they happened to go out and get in some trouble (in bars or whatever) would tell their wifes it was all Woodie Platt's fault (although Woodie may not have even been around)!
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Jerry Kessler
Age 40
Occupation - Bowling center GM
Location - Ohio
Handicap - 5
I have been golfing since I was 5 - my father golfed and if I wanted to see him I figured I better golf too!
Golf should be played while walking - courses that require carts should be planted with corn.
Claim to fame - played 170 rounds in a one year in Ohio....
JK
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Andrew Roberts
Age:19(Probably the youngest of the old men)
Going to School
Location: Auburn Washington
Handicap: 0.6 and going down
Been playing golf for 7 or so years
Always enjoyed the ideas of Golf Course Architecture and still do.
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Greetings:
Sean Remington
39
Collegeville, PA - Philadelphia suburbs
married too Jeannemarie with two girls,
Ashley and Alyssa
Golf Course Superintendent
7 hdcp
sbjmrem@comcast.net
Found my way here and got hooked by the wonderful course reviews. Now I learn something new everyday from this forum. Thanks to all who contribute.
Sean
Dave Silk from Boston,
You don't happen to play ice hockey?
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41, 12.9, 1 (marriage), 2 (children).
Live North Yorkshire, love my life, hate my job.
Work on newspaper, dream elsewhere.
Cheers.
PS Member Hunley Hall (the Old Head of the North-east - top of a cliff, lots of wind)
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Tony Titheridge
Age: 33
Live: Melbourne, Australia
Married 5 years (Sandra), no children yet
Occupation: Fine Wine Retailer (love it)
Former Occupation: Australasian and Asian Tour Caddy (1987-1993), did the yardage books for Australasian Tour 1989-1992.
I play off 14, less than twice a month :( (8 as a junior, caddying meant I had no time to play golf anymore!)
Interest in architecture fostered when I used to design courses on paper in class from about age 14 (and get in deep s**t from teachers when they realised I wasn't working).
Am fortunate to be considered my company's (300 employees) doyen on all issues golf, with regards to our trade days, comps and other decision making and stuff. Being a manager helps too. So I'm finally getting gradually back into playing almost every week. Afterall, gotta get back to single digits by next year sometime.
Doing a search, I found the GCA site. And as Tom Cruise once said "You complete me" :)
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Bob Farrell
Age:57 (next week)
Florham Park NJ
Married, 1 daughter (16 going on 30)
Private Investigator (specializing in White Collar crime)
www.whitecollarinv.com
Member: Spring Brook CC, Morristown NJ
St Andrews Golf Club, St Andrews, Fifeshire
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Chris Pike
Age: 30
Newington, CT (Hartford suburb)
Married, No Children (wife comes from a long line of "golf widows")
Occupation: Institutional Investing
Handicap: 8 to 10
I currently have no course affiliation. I'm trying to play as many of the great courses in the Northeast as I can and, after that, I'll settle down (as if we needed more golf/women analogies) ;D. Stumbled upon the site after playing Highlands Links (Nova Scotia), and looking it up on a search engine.
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Eric Pevoto
Age: 35
Kimberton, PA (outside Phila.)
Married for 6 years(next month), daughter (3 years), and one on the way
Occupation: golf professional, French Creek Golf Club
I've lurked and posted occasionally for about 4 years and can't get enough of the site.
With 7 years in the golf industry, I'm just about to finish my apprenticeship with the PGA (end of October) after 4 1/2 years of work. I love all parts of the game, but I'm especially drawn to history and architecture. The perspective helps me not only in teaching, but really all parts of the job.
As part of the PGA curriculum, we're required to pass tests given as simulations. The testing takes place down at a very nice facility in Port St. Lucie (paid for with Ryder Cup monies). Along with the education center, they've set up a museum with a fairly extensive library as part of the center.
At my last checkpoint, or testing session, I had finished a group of tests early and wandered into the library where I found Tolhurst's history of Merion. I was thrilled. Unfortunately, I got so wrapped up in reading, I pulled a no-brainer and was late to the teaching simulation. Got to take that one twice; passed it both times!
This past year and a half have been a blast: watching Gil and the crew build the course, starting a club from the ground up, sifting through GCA for ideas, and hopefully adding to the discussion. What a group!
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Name:Matthew W. Burrows
Residence: Westhampton Beach, NY
Raised: Suburbs of Detroit, MI
Occupation: Assistant Superintendent - National Golf Links of America
Age: 28
I've been coming to this site for about three years now and have met some really wonderful guys. I've learned a lot and look forward to learning more and establishing more relationships as well.
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Quasssi
Cary Lichtenstein
Jupiter, Florida
561-575-4343
Age: 60
Occupation: Retired from the Textile Business in 1998 to enjoy life and play golf.
Lived in Chicago my 1st 54 years
Member of Admirals Cove and The Ritz, both in Jupiter
CGA's are welcome to contact me and play my courses.
Have recently renewed my quest to play the top 100 courses.
About 85% complete so far.
Wife is also an avid golfer: Bette, Handicap 8
My handicap is 5
We love to travel in the summer months and play lots of courses. Sort of picking off 1 area at a time. Hoping to eventually do the entire United States.
I like all kinds of architecture. Have lots of favorite courses and architects. If I had to pick a favorite look, it would be dramatic elevated tees, manicured fairways and greens, shaggy steep bunders with hard sand. The move movement the better.
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Jeff Siskind
45
Roslyn, NY
Married, 3 kids
(17, a Phish Head, 14, a Lacrosse Player, 8, my range buddy)
Muttontown CC
9 hdc
Office Supplies Distributor
jsiskind@airlineinc.com
Googled National Golf Links of America and found GCA. Love the course reviews and the discussion groups...found that if you have a question about golf and any associated topic, that you wil get honest and informative answers and in some cases a couple of laughs. Thanks to all, especially to Ran and John.
Jeff
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Updated 2010
Brian Joines
Age 27
I live in South Bend, IN and graduated from Indiana University
I currently play to an 8 index
My home course is South Bend CC (George O'Neil 1916)
My favorite cources that I've played are (in no particular order):
Kingsley Club
Lost Dunes
Pasatiempo
Pebble Beach
Skokie CC
Wolf Run
Rustic Canyon
I'll stop there but the list could keep on going.
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Greg Nathan
Age: 33
Home: Irvington, NY, USA
Email: greg.nathan@time4.com
Occupation: GOLF MAGAZINE Sales Development Manager
A member of Manhattan Woods Golf Club in W. Nyack, NY
Okay, so I'm not really scratch (just a nickname I thought would be fun for GCA), but I am currently at my all-time low index of 4.8...and losing much coin.
Since I work on the business side of the magazine, not the edit side, I spend a lot of time off the course thinking about marketing the greatest game in the world to companies in and out of the golf arena.
Since getting serious about the game around 15 years ago, I've always appreciated - and been obsessed with, golf course architecture. I keep a log of every course played and I'm currently at 196. Relative to non-GCA members, I have an encyclopedic memory for courses, holes and architects. Played approximately 25% of GOLF MAGAZINE's and GD's Top 100 U.S. lists. Favorite course played to-date is Merion East (the golf Gods definitely live there) with close competition from Shinnecock and Pebble Beach but I've yet to play the holy trinity of PV, Cypress or Augusta National. NGLA, Oakmont, Sand Hills and Shadow Creek top my current wish list beyond that trifecta. I love the work of classic architects (CB MacDonald and Tillinghast are favorites) but I'm also partial to some modern work from the usual suspects like Rees Jones, Tom Fazio, Nicklaus and Pete Dye. I've only played one round overseas (Ugolino in Italy during my honeymoon) and I'm trying to get to Ireland next summer. I spend a lot of time on GCA but have only made scattered posts. GCA is a great home for certifiable golf course freaks like myself. Thanks to everyone who keep the debate and architecture opinions coming.
I've been with GOLF MAGAZINE just over three years and nearly went to work at Links and GolfWeek before I ended up here. Worked for 8 years in the ad business before winning this job. I'm truly lucky to have meshed my passion for golf with my job. Amazing things going on here at the magazine with record revenue issues during a down economy and the excitement of a new Editor (though I've always been a huge George Peper fan).
On a personal level, I have an amazing wife and the world's best 2-year old boy named Jack who I look forward to teaching the game.
My home course, designed by Player and Stephen Kay is somewhat unknown and very underappreciated. Partially because of the local Westchester County competition and the fact that the doors are not wide open to raters, press and industry folks... an error that need to be fixed.
Mike Vegis from Kiawah and Steve the Super from Berkshire Hills are the only guys I've met in person. However, I'm a huge fan of Geoff Shackelford's books as well as George Bahto's recent volume on CMacD. Coffee Table book collection is huge and growing. All the best to all the contributors to this site.
Scratch
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Just pulling back up again
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Greetings,
Olivier Benrubi from Colmar and Paris in France. My wife sometimes accept to waste a nice walk, our two children are too young to play but one seems to enjoy slamming balls on the range. Home club is Saint-Nom la Breteche, close to Paris. I also play in Ammerswhihr (do not go there for the golf. If you like wine then it is another story) in Alsace as I am currently working for the pharmaceutical company Novartis in Basel Switzerland.
Official handicap hovers around 6 these days and I rarely plays it. I found CGA while googling for Shinnecock and Biarritz. (my point being being that golf in the US mainly took off after a visit paid to Biarritz by W. Vanderbilt) and I am starting to understand what PV, PD, PB, SH and NGLA stand for. I am still wondering about CGCG(or is it GCGC ... ???). Not posting too much for the time being but crtainly lurking.
Some courses I have played on, which I found interesting or enjoyable. No particular order (My knowledge is quite limited but I hope to get better).
France:
Chantilly, Fontainebleau, Morfontaine, Joyenval, Golf National All around Paris.
Chiberta, Moliets, Hossegor in the South West
Le Touquet, Les Bordes, Barbaroux, Saint Endreol, Sperone from North to South
Switzerland:
Lausanne
Germany:
Club zur Vahr, Schloss Langenstein
Belgium:
Ravenstein, Spa, Le Zoute
Spain:
El Saler
Portugal:
Penha Longa
Canada:
Cape Breton
USA:
Troon North, World's Wood
All CGA participants who want to play while in Paris are welcome to contact me obenrubi@aol.com
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olivier;
You sound like such a nice man--and welcome to Golfclubatlas. So nice in fact that I take back everything I've said in the last six months about France. Mind you, I only said derogatory things about France--certainly not the French. They are two different things, you know. ;)
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Welcome, olivier.
GCGC= Garden City Golf Club. A site favorite - great profile under the course profiles.
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olivier;
You sound like such a nice man--and welcome to Golfclubatlas. So nice in fact that I take back everything I've said in the last six months about France. Mind you, I only said derogatory things about France--certainly not the French. They are two different things, you know. ;)
We can certainly agree if you said that France has a couple of good courses, none of which were designed by a Frenchman ;)
Regards,
Olviier
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Name: Jim Franklin
Age: 48
Home: Baltimore
Occupation: Financial Advisor
Home Course: Baltimore CC
School: Univ Miami(Go Canes)
Favorite Courses: Rock Creek Cattle, NGLA, Cypress Point, Friars Head, Pine Valley, Pete Dye Club, Shadow Creek, Sand Hills, Oakmont, Merion, Pebble, San Francisco( I could go on, but do have to get some work done)
Handicap: 2.8
I am leaving for my first overseas trip to Scotland in a few weeks and can't wait.
//The above trip to Scotland went great. I had an ace at Turnberry and shot 75 at TOC.
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Name: Mike Hynes, Jr.
Age: 36
Marital Status: Married w/ 1 son, 22 month old Drew Location: Montgomery County, PA
Email: mike_hynes819@yahoo.com
Home Club: Sandy Run CC (waiting full golf privileges), Flourtown CC (corner bar with a 9 hole course out back :D)
Career: Software Sales
Education: LaSalle High School, Boston College
Interests Outside of Golf: Reading, NASCAR, Horse Racing, Cards (Gin Rummy and Texas Hold 'Em)
Handicap: 9
Favorite Courses: Merion, Secession, Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon Course), Huntingdon Valley, Manufacturer's, The Witch, Buck Hill Falls GC (Blue/White), Currituck Club
How Did I Get Hooked on Golf?: My father took me out to play 9 holes with him at the old Foxcroft Country Club (original site of Old York Road CC) in Jenkintown, PA when I was 11. I was hooked at that point. After delivering the Evening Bulletin everyday, I headed over to the club to play. It has been a love affair ever since.
How Did I Find GCA.com: I was searching for pictures/reviews/descriptions of Secession prior to a trip there this past spring. I am hooked.
Golf Dream: To build my own club (MikeCrest, MikeWood, something like that ;) ) with a classic architectural style and a laid-back atmosphere for both men and women. Most of my family would be invited. GCA events during the year, too.
Thanks to all for the opportunity to participate and thanks for the education and expanding my horizons.
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Name: Jonathan Doyle
Age: 35
Marital Status: Married to a woman who wants to start a support group for the wives of GCA obsessed men.
Kids: 15 month old twins - Jack & Chelsea Rose
Location: Manhattan, NY
Email: jonathan_doyle@hotmail.com
Education: Fordham Univ, Bronx NY
Handicap: 12
Favorite Couses: Oakmont, PV, Shinnecock, CC of Fairfield, Ballybunion, R Portrush & Palmetto GC
Wish List: Garden City, Friar's Head, Crystal Downs
Next Trip: Mullen, NE in September
How I Found GCA - I was searching the web three years ago after playing PV for the first time and having my understanding of golf turned on it's head. I had never played a course with such a strategic character and a penal disposition. It was awesome...and I wanted to understand why. The GCA DG has been a great help in providing me a course in Architecture 101. Plus the active posters are a terrific source of information and friendship.
I was totally focused on playing the World/US top 100 lists, lowering my handicap and I usually rode a cart >:(. Now I see how saturated in politics these lists are, I have dropped my obsession with scoring and make every effort to walk the course ;D. Now it all seems simplier - I want to continue to seek out courses that are interesting in term of stategy and design - and enjoy them again and again.
I also hope to meet and play with more of the members of the GCA tribe - because they my kinda golfers. ;)
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Patrick Sisk
Certified Golf Course Superintendent
Age:38
Children: girl 6, boy 4, girl 21 months
Married to Gina for nearly 11 years. BTW, she has never said one word about the hours I keep professionally.
2000 - Present:
Milwaukee Country Club
River Hills, WI
1995 - 2000
The Country Club of Fairfield
Fairfield, CT
1993 - 1995
Mahopac Golf Club
Mahopac, NY
I have worked at clubs in Colorado (Cherry Hills), Arizona, and two others in Connecticut while in high school and college.
I'll be wrapping up my 21st season in this business and I can honestly say I have never had a bad day at the "office".
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Hello GCA members
Mike Touscany - 40
Pittsburgh, PA
Occupation: Financial Advisor
Married with three girls ages 9,8, & 4
Handicap: 8
Introduced to GCA after member of Chicago invited me to play and learning at the same time the success my cousin Mike DeVries was having with Kingsley.
Living in Pittsburgh puts me close to Oakmont, Field Club, Laurel Valley. I have played all but three of listed courses. >:( We spend a good bit of the summers in Northern Michigan so though I've played Kingsley, I have yet to see Crystal, Arcadia, etc. My family live in Green Bay, so another list of courses I have yet to traverse is Whistling Straights and Blackwolf Run. My wish list is long.
Leaving next month to see Ireland for the 2nd time. Last time Ballybunion, Waterville, and Tralee. This time County Down, Portrush, Portmarnock Links, and Portstewart.
Always up for a round of golf, but with three kids firmly entrenched in the soccer virus, time seems short. :-\ Wife is tolerant of my affair with golf, but doesn't get this architecture addiction.
Love the banter/information/opinions here.
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Hi Mike -
Welcome to the board. There is a small but powerful Pittsburgh contingent on board. :)
Anytime you want to tee it up, message me or email me at g@sgscreenprinting.com
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Wayne Wiggins, Jr.
Age 34
Occupation: Owner/President - Publishers Representative firm in San Francisco
Reside in San Francisco
Married, no children
Grew up in Philadelphia area (Media) before moving to SF in 1997... and it wasn't even for a dot-com job!
Villanova University (1992) after a beer or two at the U. of Maryland.
Member of Aronimink GC - Newtown Square, PA (and hoping to find a "home" in San Francisco ;))
Handicap - 11
Found this sight accidentally and have been hooked ever since. In fact, everyday, after logging onto the Philly Inquirer site to check on our lovable losers (i.e. Phils, Sixers, Flyers, and Iggles), I come straight to here! Then it's straight to work!!!
I've had the opportunity to play some great courses across the country, and look forward to playing many more. Much to wife's dismay, golf is always a central theme to our vacation/travel plans. Plus, since "joining" this community I've started to play and view courses with an eye for the architecture. Although, I'm not sure if that's helped my game that much.
Favorite Courses: Aronimink (especially after our recent renovation, which seems hasn't generated as much positive hype from this gallery); Oakmont; Pasatiempo, Olympic; and Phila. Cricket.
Best Regards,
WWII
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WWII is a cool internet moniker! 8)
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WWII:
I played Aronimink at the end of June. Although I can't compare the restoration to what the course was before, I loved the course.
Mike
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EDIT: Can't figure out how to totally delete a post...I updated my profile in 2010 later on this thread.
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Cabell Ackerly
Age: 30
Occupation: Project Manager for Construction Management Firm
Residence - Richmond, VA
Married with no children
Handicap – 5
Discovered GCA while looking for info on the TPC at Sawgrass this past March and have been hooked ever since. Didn’t know much about architecture before I found this site (and really still don’t) but feel like I’ve learned a lot. Of the courses I have played, the Upper Cascades at The Homestead is my favorite, but I’m not very well traveled (yet), so I hope to discover some new favorites over the years.
If anyone is traveling to or through golf starved Virginia - send an email - and maybe we can set soemthing up.
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Craig Antonucci
Age 35
Mays Landing, NJ
Profession: Director of Operations
Married, with 4 kids ages 6, 4 and identical twin girl 3 year olds who own me.
Handicap: ranges from 2-8 depending on how much i get to play
I started golf when i was 9 growing up in the DC area at a course called Lakewood Country Club. I was the #2 junior golfer in the area my senior year, went to Elon College but didnt play due to injury, went to East Carolina to get my MBA. I play pretty much anywhere they will let me on, Im not a member anywhere, nor do i have the time to justify a membership, so these days i go for quailty courses versus quantity. I live near AC in NJ, with some of my favorite courses around here being Blue Heron Pines, Twisted Dunes, Sand Barrens and Pine Hill. I have had the fortune to play Merion 3 times and will be playing Pine Valley in sept., so as far as my golfing world is concerned, i consider myself extremely lucky. If you are ever in AC, let me know and we can set up a round at some of my faves.
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Don Jones
Age: 31
Home: Split between Greenpoint, Brooklyn and Shelter Island, NY
Email: donjii@yahoo.com
Occupation: Direct Marketing Sales
Index 15.9
Started playing golf right after graduating college and instantly fell addicted to golf. I play mostly at Islands End and Gardners Bay. I drive past Friars every Sunday back to Brooklyn and just can’t wait for the day to play it.
Found GCA when looking for information on Bethpage Black. I even brought the print out of the pages of Bethpage when I played the course. I played Bethpage and had a whole new appreciation for great architects(Tilly). I am glad I had the chance to play NGLA, or I would have been lost on GCA.
I was glad to meet some of you at the Winter Gathering to put the names with the faces. I look forward to our next Winter Gathering on the East Coast. If anyone is on the North or South Fork drop me an email.
The site is great and keep up the good work!
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Hey, its my first post so bear with me.
Name: Tony Chapman
Reside: Grand Island, NE
Age: 27 on September 9
Handicap: 7
Home Course: York Country Club, York NE. Nobody here has heard of it, but you may not find a tougher par-70 under 6000 yards. :) Ok, I am sure you can but we love the place.
Occupation: Loan officer, part-time sports writer
Family: Wife, Kerry. She doesn't play, but thought Pebble Beach was cooler than I did!!
I found this sight while reading a Sports Illustrated article a few years ago, then revisited after my trip to play Pebble and Pasatiempo last year. I waste most of my time on the internet here. I have been drawing golf courses since I was about 15 and continue to have a dream of owning my own someday. (No cart paths, please!) I am continually puzzled why golf courses have to get longer. My theory, like most you, is if we put a little thought into how fairways were bunkered, hazards used and greens contoured the world would be a better place.
My dad introduced me to the game before I could go to kindergarten and I have been hooked ever since. I love the history of the game. My parents just purchased a golfer's delight off of Pinehurst #5 so if anyone is planning a trip let me know. (I am sure Ran knows a good place to stay as well!!)
Favorite courses: Prairie Dunes, Pinehurst #2, Pasatiempo, Pebble Beach, Sand Hills, Wild Horse (thank you Dave Axland), Tobacco Road, Caledonia Fish Club -- probably in that order. In Nebraska besides the two I mentioned Firethorn, Willow Lakes, Beatrice Country Club and Woodland Hills.
Great to read about all of you guys. If you want to come to Nebraska to golf, let me know. We have some great tracks, but I can't get you to Mullen. Sorry!! :(
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Welcome Tony! So you like to draw design courses hey ;D ;) What do you thin of the land across from the Mumphrey radio towers on 58 just a couple clicks shy of the river near Dannebrog? :o Of course you must have played the world famous Dannebrog CC many times. It has the most quirky par 3 2nd hole on the planet; don't you think? ;)
Don't forget the efforts of your fellow Husker from Paxton, Dan Proctor when singing the your praise of the prairie.
I'll look you up next time I pass through heading to WH.
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medalist james soper age:40 home: miami,fl occupation:attorney email: jsoper@mindspring.com handicap: 9 home course: biltmore (donald ross) favorite courses: seminole, secession, wade hampton, and world woods (pine barrens) looking forward to: burning tree, pine valley, garden city, ngla, chicago golf club, bob o'link, five farms, redstick, the floridian, pete dye golf club, yeamans hall, friar's head and sand hills whenever in the south florida area, contact me anytime for a game, lunch, libations, and of course great conversation. many thanks to ran for this wonderful forum. last but not least, many thanks to my wife and kids for not yet committing me. jjs
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Margaret Carroll (maiden name) aka Meg
Westchester, NY
35
Married, six children: Andrew 9, Bally 7, Cairn 5, Dunn 3 and 8-week-old twins: Ennis and Erin
Physician - Internal Medicine
Index: 8.6
In my 7th year of playing golf and have arranged our last 3 pregnancies so that, at the minimum, 4 weeks of my recovery can be spent enjoying golf which is why my husband and I were able to enjoy several days watching the US Am at Oakmont last week. Our strollers are outfitted to be able to carry baby stuff and golf clubs.
In the last 14 years, we've lived in Seattle, Portland, Chicago, D.C., Boston and now NY.
I am intrigued by golf architecture and prefer links-style -- the more challenging, the better. I am constantly amazed by the abilities of many of you to remember every detail of golf courses. The "detail" section of my brain is crowded with medicine and patients.
In addition to Oakmont, I love Bandon and Pacific Dunes as well as every course we've played in the British Isles.
P.S. Martha Burk gives me a headache
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Good gosh Margaret, do you have any room in that family for me! You sound too good to be true. :)
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Rob
31
buffett_guy at yahoo.com
financial advisor type
golf digest handicap 14
married
19 month old daughter
Northern Virginia
best courses i've played: cascades, tidewater
wedges: 46, 52, 58
best golf excuse: "i missed it a little"
home driving range: Sunnybrook
vacation driving range: Cane Patch
got hooked on golf watching Nick Faldo hit it within 10 feet on every hole in the tournaments leading up to the '89 masters.
oh yeah, warren not jimmy.
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RJ - Sorry for not singing the praises of Mr. Proctor. :'( The whole gang at Bunker Hill gang are a bunch of Gods in my opinion. ;D
While I know the land you speak of on scenic NE Hwy 58 (and yes there needs to be a track there), I have never ventured to Dannebrog CC. Maybe I am afraid of the cows kicking me in the leg. Anywho...
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No apologies for resurrecting this thread. The purpose is two-fold.
Firstly, I especially wanted to congratulate the other guys who, like me, have just, this very week, successfully completed the MSc Golf Course Architecture degree here in sunny Edinburgh. Guys, it was a pleasure and a privilege to meet every single one of you. It was incredible how so many guys from so many different cultures and backgrounds could gel so well! Have great lives/careers/relationships…
And I can’t wait for the Inaugural Annual Re-union Hackfest and Piss-up!!!
Secondly, I have decided that now would be a highly opportune moment for me to remove the Fatbaldydrummer suit and to reveal my ‘true identity’ to the Group (although some of you already know it - Sir Richard of Goodale esp.). I think I can now happily call myself a golf course architect, albeit one with the ‘L’ Plates still on the car!!! and looking for that first commission…..
So, here goes:
Name: Martin Bonnar
Age: 43
Location: Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland
Home Club: Balbirnie Park
H’cp.: Currently 19, principally due to studying my balls off this year. Probably play to about 13 or 14 normally…
Marital Status: Attached (to Nancy, another mad keen golfer). No kids - together at least.
Interests (outside of GCA): GOLF!!!, Beer, Wine, Malt Whisky, Food, the NFL (go Bears!), driving Nancy’s sports car too fast, Fly Fishing, hiking, vacations…
Top Three Favourite courses (so far in life…): Turnberry, Kingsbarns, Machrahanish (how predictable, eh?)
Gee, it feels kinda good to be ‘out of the closet’….
Cheers
FBD (Martin!)
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FBD -
Congratulations on coming out - and finishing your opening gig. Hope I get to play one of your courses someday.
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George Bahto
ggb313@aol.com
* old: just turned 80 in 2010 - thought I retired a few years ago? never been busier
* Pine Brook, NJ is home
* married to the same ”girl” for 58 years
* 4 married daughters
* tons of grandchildren and even one great grandchild - this is really getting scary now
* been stirring up info on the reticent Seth Raynor over the past number of years
* have met so very wonderful guys thru this website on the courses I visited researching “the book” many
of you thought would never get done
* The Evangelist of Golf" book, the story of C B Macdonald is sold out - tough digging out all that information - more coming ...... now it's when is the Raynor book going to get finished?
* this new career? having the time of my life
the only reason I posted this is for our newer “members”
GolfClubAtlas, thank you Ran, is such a great website
wouldn’t it be great if we could get the names of the lurkers? - hah
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Hello. Finally joining after two years of regular reading.
Name: John Kirk, age 44
Hometown: North Plains, OR
Member of Pumpkin Ridge GC
Handicap: 2
Before moving to Oregon and joining Pumpkin, I played most of my golf at Stanford GC, which I still love. My favorite course is Pacific Dunes, though my day at Royal Dornoch was equally magical. I place a high emphasis on the natural beauty of the setting. Other than that, it boils down to "How fun are the shots to play?"
I am good friends with John_V. I filled in as an extra at the GCA.com outing at Bandon. Hello to Darren, Tim, Slag, and Rich, and the others who attended.
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Hi, John, and welcome!
Cheers,
Darren
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John
Good to hear from you again. Let me know if you ever come back to play Dornoch (or anywhere else in God's country) again.
Rich
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Rich and Darren,
Thanks for remembering, and for offering your warm greetings. You have just increased the likelihood that I will return to the UK (I also have relatives around Clydebank, Scotland) by 84%.
JK
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Hey George- When is your second book coming out? ;D
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Been busy for a few years, and haven't participated. It's good to be back, and alot has changed since I first registered, so heres an update.
Doug Larson
Age: 35
Reside: Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Family: Wife-Linda, Sons-Jake(9), Sean(6)
Occupation: Former Supt.-Now own a Golf Course Supply Co.
HomeClub: Hidden Creek GC(recent), Wildwood G&CC(since 1980)
Handicap: 2.1
Been playing since age 7 and now my little guys have also caught the bug, which is great fun. Spent about 10 years in the philly area, but back at the shore, where I grew up.
Favorite Courses I've Played (in no particular order):
* Hidden Creek * Pasatiempo
* Oakmont * Spyglass Hill
* Pine Valley * Huntington Valley
* Shinnecock * Atlantic City
* Manufacturers * Plainfield
* Rolling Green * Pebble Beach
* Philadelphia CC * Lehigh
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Doug,
You gotta lot of Flynn courses on that favorites list. I like your taste in golf. Of course living in Philly for awhile and now back S Jersey helps.
Regards,
Wayne Morrison
age: 46
reside: Merion, PA
family: wife: Sue Ashburn Morrison sons: David (12) and John (11)
Occupation: derivatives securities trader for profit, golf historian and writer (I hope) for pleasure
Home Club: Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, PA
Away Club: St. Andrews Golf Club
Handicap: 5.4
Golf Project: writing a book on the golf courses of William Flynn with Tom Paul
Favorite Courses I've played: Merion East and West, Pine Valley, Shinnecock Hills, Sand Hills, Huntingdon Valley, Rolling Green, Royal Dornoch, The Old Course, Prestwick, and a whole lot more
Courses I can't wait to see for the first time: NGLA, Friars Head, Maidstone, Oakmont, Indian Creek, Seminole, Pacific Dunes, and Newport CC
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Wayne,
When you are a former supt. at a Flynn course, and get a chance to play alot of his great works, he rubs off on you. You are a member at one of my very favorites in Philly, hands down. I haven't played it since the re-grassing, so its been a few years, but its one of Flynn's best in that area.
I see that you and Tom are writing a book about him. I look forward to reading it.
Doug
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Dave Miller
Age 49+
Occupation: President & CEO - Manufacturing Company South of Boston
Reside in Dover, Mass.
Married, three kids - Two out of College ;D Youngest a Sophomore
Grew up in the Phila. Area
High School - Malvern Prep
College- Villanova
Grad School - Boston College
Member at- Charles River CC - Newton Centre, Ma.
Aronimink GC - Newtown Square, Pa.
Farmington CC - Charlottesville, Va.
Admirals Cove - Jupiter, Fl.
Love the Old Classic Courses, Have served on Several Green Committees and also Course restoration Committee at Charles River. Found the site through Ed Baker, My pal from Charles River.
Have a true love of the game, its history, traditions and love to discuss the architecture of any course.
Try to play as often as possible. Never seem to improve 8).
Have been fortunate to play many of the great courses such as Olympic, Seminole, PV, Merion, etc.,etc.
Never met a golf course I haven't liked.
Get in touch if in the Area.
Fairways and Greens,
Dave
Just a quick update not much has changed. A little older and my youngest is now a Junior in College.
Fairways and Greens,
Dave
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Brian Gracely
Family: Married
Handicap: 3
Home Course: Raleigh CC (N.Carolina)
Occupation: Systems Engineer
Grew up in Michigan and have been playing since I was around 6. First course was called Burroughs Farms (now Oak Pointe) in Brighton, MI. They had enough land to have an executive course (9 holes, no water/sand, about 2500 yards), and it's too bad more kids don't get to grow up around these anymore.
Captain of my high-school golf team. Used to jump over the fence at Oakland Hills, or what we used to call "a twilight membership".
Took about 8 years off from the game when I went to college (Wake Forest) and during first few years of work and work traveling. Finally got re-addicted to the game when I moved to Raleigh.
Frequently play in the Pinehurst / Sandhills area, and now play at the last Donald Ross design.
I've made one pilgrimage to Ireland (RCD, Portrush) and one to Scotland (Turnberry, Prestwick). Am going back to Scotland with my brother (adding Troon, W.Gailes) in 2004.
Great site! Love the dialogue and pictures.
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Joseph Reynolds
age: 41
residence: Battery Park City (NYC)
Originally from Michigan, have also lived in the deep south and Europe. Recently moved from Boerum Hill (4 yrs), which reveals my occasional dyslexia.
family: son Bo, 5 y.o., took up the game this year.
Occupation: CPA, ACW historian and writer.
Started out with Big 4 Accounting Firm (Big 8 back then), moved to M&A in private industry, now writing a book on the western theatre of the Civil War.
Home Club: Chelsea Piers driving range.
Handicap: That's kind of personal! I no longer play more than a few times a year, but usually break 90 if it's an easy muni. Grew up next to a then 9 hole publinx (now 27), learned the game for a lifetime from my grandfather.
Favorite Course: NGLA (of course)
Best Courses I've played: Kiawah Ocean and TPC Sawgrass Stadium.
Golf Project: Building NGLA for Microsoft Links 2003 using the APCD autocad program. Tedious stuff! Mostly lurk around here to learn more about CBM and his masterpiece, but frequently stumble onto another fascinating thread that teaches me something new about gca.
I love this site. Unfortunately I've been more of a taker than a giver, but I do consider it a real treat to sit at the feet of the great minds around here. Well, the silly crap is pretty fun, too.
:)
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Trey Kemp
Single
Age: 26
Handicap: 2
Residence: Arlington, TX
email:trey_kemp@yahoo.com
Currently I am a graduate student at the University of Texas at Arlington in the Landscape Architecture Program. I also work part time at Dallas National Golf Club (Fazio course) on the Maintenance Staff. Before this I was an Assistant Golf Professional at Onion Creek Club in Austin, TX.
When I graduate I hope to become a golf course architect!
Favorite courses I've played:
Dallas National
Colonial C.C.
Kapalua Plantation
Horseshoe Bay (Ram Rock)
Pinehurst #2 & #7
The Legacy Golf Links
The Pit
Onion Creek (Original)
Oklahoma City C.C.
Inn of the Mountain Gods
Barton Creek Canyons, Crenshaw & Lakeside
The Hills of Lakeway
Courses I hope to play in the next month or two:
The Rawls Course at Texas Tech
Vaquero
My favorite golf quote:
"That's the best worst shot I've ever had!"
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bringing this back to the top hoping more will post their profile
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Tuco Benedicto Juan Maria Ramirez
aka "The Rat"
Age: my madre told me I was born the life of a sinner so it did not matter what year
Occupation-Official Cognitive Therapist/Psych
Unofficial- The Ugly Bandito. Rape, Pillage and Plundering of the Howard Johnson Era of Golf Architecture
Enemies-Sometime Blondie, El Guapo, Angel Eyez
Loves- Exotic Women who will let me use the lessons I learned while traveling through the Orient
Favorite Fast Food In N Out Burger
Favorite Artist-Van Gogh-you gotz to love a man who'd cut off his ear to get a feminina
Favorite Golf Archie-thats easy amigo, the gun slinger himself, Red Lawrence
Most Hated Golf Architect-Any of Ted Robinson's greatest and I am not Tommy N so dont even accuse me
Favorite Books- BABAR, Improvizational Killing Techniques and how to shoot a man down, Seduction techniques of 19th century Mexican cowboys, Curious George, The Stranger by Albert Camus and all of Geoff Shackelford's works
Home Course-The Badlands
Favorite Course-Carnoustie, I like em hard
Favorite Supermodel- How I long for Tyra Banks. She gets my salsa hot!!!
Do not double cross me, no man may cross me and leave me for dead, because then he knows nothing of Tuco
For the most part I am very passionate and a purist about GCA matters, forgive my off beatness in spots but I hope to be a rogue bandito who spices up discussions with real views.
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El Guapo (Known to the Golfnooch as, the Evil El Guapo)
Home: Cuernavacava, Sinaloa, Mexico
Wife and Children: I need no stinking wife! When I want the woman, I take the woman. Children? I can't answer that.
Profession: Bandito/Scurge of the earth
Handicap/Golf Index: I don't need no stinking handicap. If you beat me I kill you.
Home Club: Club Compuestre de Matzatlan-Percy Clifford design It is a nine hole course. His sixth hole is over a cess pool. I hate it-so I shot him. He sleeps with pigs.
Favorite Architect: the dead ones-I shoot them too.
Goal in life: To rob and pillage all of the villages. Take their gold; bed their women.
Favorite golf story: My compadre Jefe', he once tried to beat me in a calcutta. I shot him.
Favorite Mexican Actress-Selma Hayek, The Rocquel Welch, Rita Hayworth.
I really like all you gringos. Some of you are very funny. Some of you are too smart.
Eye got interested in goof architecture when eye was given the assignment of writing on Puerta Vallerta's Grandest Golf Courses for Mexican-American Golfer magazine. Eye wrote them under the surname, Bunker Hill-Martinez El Guapo.
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Hello,
Let me take a quick opportunity to introduce myself.
Robert Thompson
Married to Jennifer Hale
Age: 32
Handicap: 3
Residence: Toronto, Ontario
Occupation: Journalist
Home course: Angus Glen GC
email:rthompson@nationalpost.com
Little about myself -- I've been an active golf writer since coming to Toronto in 1997 and was introduced to this site largely by Ian Andrew, an architect at Carrick Design in Toronto. I write fairly regularly for PGATour.com in the U.S., and several golf magazines in Canada. I am also a staff reporter at the National Post, one of Canada's two national dailies. From April to Oct. I write a golf column for our sports section and also write a series called "Going for the Green," where I play a round with senior Canadian executives and attempt to detail our discussions.
Favourite courses: Kingsbarns, Dornoch, Turnberry, Pine Valley, Merion, St. George's, Highlands Links, Toronto Golf, TPC at Sawgrass, Murcar, Cruden Bay, Angus Glen.
2003 has been a great year and given my the opportunity to play 11 of the top 100 in the world....
R.
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Robert,
We played together (well I only played 9 holes) at CC Scranton. I enjoyed meeting you and hope to see you and Ian in the Philly area again in the spring. Don't forget to get in touch--my phone number is 610.664.9663. BTW, how did you like your trip the next day to PV and Merion? By your list of favorites, I take it you enjoyed it immensely. Look forward to seeing you on this site and in person after you thaw out up north!
regards,
Wayne
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Paul Richards -
Post #181 will let you know who I am. If you are ever in Baltimore, I would be glad to host you at BCC.
Jim
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AHA! I was wondering with the pseudonym signified and damned if I didn't get it correct (Miami).
As a USC fan, sorry, but we need the 'Canes to lose this weekend. But if Oklahoma loses, that works also, so if that happens, go 'Canes and we'll see ya in the Sugar Bowl.
TH
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El Guapo (Known to the Golfnooch as, the Evil El Guapo)
Home: Cuernavacava, Sinaloa, Mexico
Wife and Children: I need no stinking wife! When I want the woman, I take the woman. Children? I can't answer that.
Profession: Bandito/Scurge of the earth
Handicap/Golf Index: I don't need no stinking handicap. If you beat me I kill you.
Home Club: Club Compuestre de Matzatlan-Percy Clifford design It is a nine hole course. His sixth hole is over a cess pool. I hate it-so I shot him. He sleeps with pigs.
Favorite Architect: the dead ones-I shoot them too.
Goal in life: To rob and pillage all of the villages. Take their gold; bed their women.
Favorite golf story: My compadre Jefe', he once tried to beat me in a calcutta. I shot him.
Favorite Mexican Actress-Selma Hayek, The Rocquel Welch, Rita Hayworth.
I really like all you gringos. Some of you are very funny. Some of you are too smart.
Eye got interested in goof architecture when eye was given the assignment of writing on Puerta Vallerta's Grandest Golf Courses for Mexican-American Golfer magazine. Eye wrote them under the surname, Bunker Hill-Martinez El Guapo.
bery funny senor, bery funny. the evil is within...why do i feel like adding fargin cockaroach?
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Tom -
I would love to see you guys in the Sugar Bowl. So go Canes, Trojans, and Cowboys!
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Works for me also!
This is a big weekend...
USC has their own issues with Wash. State...
TH
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would like to see canes-sooners or canes-usc. unfortunately, it could be a canes-fsu rematch. how about a gca meeting over drinks at the napoleon house?
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If USC can't make it, I am rooting for Canes-Seminoles, because that will be the worst championship game in the history of mankind and will hopefully highlight for one and all how patently stupid the BCS system is, getting the powers that be to get off their asses and get us the playoff that could so easily be put into place.
TH
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Now for a formal introduction:
Joe Stansell
Age: 42
Resides: Redmond, WA
Family: Married, 2 sons (ages 8 and 10)
E-Mail: jbstansell@mac.com
Occupation: Attorney on an indefinite sabbatical
Home Club: Brae Burn, a 9-hole par-3 course perfect for introducing my two boys to the game
Away Club: Hayden Lake Country Club, ID
Top 5 Played: La Costa, CA; Broadmore (East), CO; Torrey Pines (North), CA (North beats the pants off of the South); The Coeur d'Alene Resort Course, ID; Gold Mountain (Olympic), WA; Indian Canyon, WA;
Top 5 Wish List: Prairie Dunes; Royal Melbourne; Crystal Downs; Capilano; The Golf Club, Ohio (because The Old Course, Cypress Point, and Pine Valley are too obvious).
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thought this should be "revisited"....btw, no one has given Mr. Hurricane any s**t about his boys....unbelievable!!
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Et tu Brute! DC, what was that? Have I offended you in any way? By the way, our defense has played well enough to win both games as we outgained VT and UT by over 250 yards, but our offense stinks. No wonder UF had no problem with Brock leaving.
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As a fellow Hurricane-ian, I have to concur...who the hell is this Brock guy, and why is he QB'ing our team? Help!
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Jim,
Of course UM outgained VT, we had 2 defensive touchdowns, and a 10-yard drive after an interception.
The box score was thus:
UM - 38 runs, 4 sacks, and 47 pass plays for a total of 377 yards, or 4.2 yards per play.
VT - 41 runs, 1 sack, and 8 passes for 219 yards, or 4.4 yards per play - and that with 10 straight runs up the gut for probably 3 total yards late in the 4th running out the clock.
Same went with when we lost in the MNC game against FSU, we outgained them by 150 yards, partly because they had a punt return for TD, and a blocked punt for a TD.
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I just checked the play-by-play, and VT's 3 possessions in the 4th quarter consisted of 9 straight runs up the middle for a total of 9 yards killing clock. So when we were trying, we had 210 yards on 41 plays for 5.1 yards per play.
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I may as well enter the fray. Ran was kind enough to post a Feature Interview with me a few months ago where you'll find out all too much about me.
I am in awe of the astonishing breadth of knowledge and serious scholarship of so many who contribute to this site. It worries me that there are so few contributors from this side of the pond, not because we might have something of value to say but because it suggests there are very few British golfers who have any interest in their course, its history and its architecture. I have played so many courses where desecration along the lines of the current Yale thread is apparent. That said, we do have a great number of fascinating courses at a level a little below the greats - if we were to expand the list of the top 100 to the top 125 there might well be 500 viable candidates for those 25 places.
Feel free to e-mail any time you want information about British courses - or are in search of a decent bass/baritone!
markrowlinson@btopenworld.com
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Shivas,
I don't know the answer to that. There are one or two, of course, who do know their course in such detail - Nick Leefe at Alwoodley for one. He was the one who pointed me to this site. But, then, Alwoodley is hardly different now from 1907. The only significant changes (#10 & #11) were suggested by Mackenzie in a drawing of about 1910. Nick has been removing unnecessary trees to restore the heathland/moorland feel and, most importantly, Mackenzie's sight-lines.
I wonder if it may be a deep-rooted problem? We had that so-called Golden Age Colt, Mackenzie, Abercromby, Hawtree Snr etc which lasted until WWII. If you wanted to tinker with your existing course you called in one of them and a great deal of their work was exactly of this kind. My local course, Wilmslow, moved to its present site in 1903. Since then Sandy Herd, James Braid, Tom Simpson, George Duncan and Fred Hawtree made alterations before WWII. After that further amendments were made by Cotton/Pennink/Lawrie and, most recently, David Thomas. There are a great many courses around here of a similar age and with a similar hotch-poych of architecture. I don't want to be rude about Wilmslow, I love playing there and never turn down an invitation. It's beautifully maintained and gives the best winter golf in the area, but you would be hard put to remember the architecture after playing it.
Some of the problem, I suspect, lies within the club management structure. A captain - effectively Chief Executive - is in office for only a year. He wants the least angst during that year. He's not in office long enough to do anything serious. The Chairman of the Green may hold his office for several years. After two or three years in office everyone bows to his superior knowledge and his decisions are merely rubber-stamped. That can be the only explanation for some of the abominable bunkers, green shapes (I can't think of the opposite of a complex!), boring teeing grounds and so on that currently do service on what are apparently the work of a well-respected designer.
For instance, a local club, Hazel Grove, had a pleasant Mackenzie layout which was threatened by a proposed motorway link to Manchester Airport. They took the bull by the horns and obliterated the holes that lay on the proposed route and called in Tom Macauley the Irish architect to build some new ones. It ought to be easy to tell the Mackenzie survivors from Macauley's new ones. It's easy enough to identify Macauley's holes, but I should be very wary about saying how much Mackenzie survives on the other holes - they simply don't have enough character. There's a similar situation at Didsbury, another Doctor's examination cut by a motorway, with new holes by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas. Again, it's hard to believe that the surviving holes are Mac's because (in comparison with his other courses in the area, especially Cavendish and Reddish Vale) they are remarkably unmemorable.
Another local course with which I am very familiar, having been a 5-day member there for some years, is Bramall Park. It's a 19th-century club which called in Mackenzie to extend the course to 18 holes in 1922. In 1934 the club brought in James Braid to modify the course because the members found it 'unsatisfactory'! He is said to have tamed the greens and bunkers and added a few more bunkers. I don't think you could find less penal bunkers in the land! Of course, a lot of this is down to maintenance costs with the effects of the general depression, WWII and budgetary restrictions ever since. Funnily enough, I spoke to the Secretary at Bramall Park only the other day to ask if there were any records to show what Mackenzie's course was like and what specific changes Braid had made. He told me that there were no records in the club, though they may survive in someone's home. I suppose that by the time Braid came on the scene Mackenzie was a forgotten man in the UK (if he was ever famous as such here) and nobody really cared about his design as long as they got a course more suited to the general standard of play.
I correspond with Paul Turner occasionally about Colt courses. Invariably he asks me how much original Colt survives. I never know the answer and I suspect it would take a lot of interrogation before I found anyone who could say for certain at a great many clubs.
As you know I write golf guides. These are not architectural treatises; they are a means to enable visiting golfers to find whatever kind of course they seek to suit there own tastes. That is why you will find The Belfry, Celtic Manor, The Oxfordshire and so on given just as much prominence as Sunningdale or TOC. But I was in discussion with a publisher a year or two back who produces beautiful books on contemporary design - art, architecture, and so on. He saw a fit with golf course design and we put together a few sample pages which were, if I may be so bold as to say, ravishing. It was shown at the Frankfurt Book Fair. There was absolutely no interest in the UK or Europe. At that same Fair I had done a mock-up for another publisher on a book of golf tips. It was snapped up. (I didn't write the book as I know nothing about teaching golf). A glance at the golf shelves in any British bookshop will reveal endless books about the stars and, especially, tuition. Several golf magazines here almost never carry anything architectural. True, they will feature certain courses, but it's a travel thing, not an architectural exposition.
Sorry to write at such great length. All I can say is a big thank you to so many Americans who know a great deal more about our British courses than we do and are in themselves walking reference books! And didn't it take an Australian, Paul Daley, to capture the essentials of links golf in his excellent book?
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Just pulling this thread back up to introduce myself, and encourage other newcomers to do so as well.
Introduced to the site by JDoyle, who I believe is in the process of moving to my home state of North Carolina as we speak. I’ve been blown away by the discussions on GCA thus far, so much so that I’ve been mostly keeping my mouth shut (not an easy task for me) until I’ve learned enough not to sound like an idiot – or if I ultimately do, to defend my idiocy with some measure of intelligence ;). The process of mentally walking the great and not-so-great courses I’ve played again, and seeing the holes again in my mind through lens of the informed debate on this site, has alone been worth the price of admission.
Now to the scorecard:
Name: Lance Koonce
Age: 37
Home: New York City
Job: Attorney (intellectual property – if anyone wants to debate the intricacies of trademark and copyright law in the Pebble Beach v. Tour 18 case, I’m your man…)
Handicap: 15
Background: Grew up in a small town in NC playing on a course called Pinecrest CC where, as legend had it, 2 of the 18 holes were laid out by Donald Ross (it’s close enough to Pinehurst to make that barely credible, from a distance, if you squint). From there to Duke U., a number of years before the incredibly successful renovations to that course. Then to UNC-Chapel Hill for law school -- again, before the recent, and reportedly much less successful, redo (I was fortunate enough to play the old Finley when students paid only $12 a round, so I probably played there on average 2-3 days per week, for 3 years). Now I’m in Manhattan, married to a wonderful woman who runs a midtown art gallery specializing in Hudson River school paintings, which sometimes gives me an excuse to head upriver and play Garrison, West Point, etc., although I usually play the public courses on LI or in NJ. Lisa and I are expecting our first child in May. Took our honeymoon last year to NZ and stayed at Kauri Cliffs for 5 days – talk about an understanding wife!
I am also going to “out” my brother here, who posts under the moniker “tck” and also recently discovered the site. Several years ago the two of us took a 2-week trip to England/Scotland that he organized, and we basically drove from course to course (and distillery to distillery), staying in cheap inns (the best were just rooms over a pub) and playing a dream itinerary: Birkdale, Troon, Prestwick, Dornoch, Brora, Muirfield, Cruden Bay, Carnoustie, TOC (and Jubilee and New). Changed my golf life forever. We’ve both been back to Scotland separately, and also took a joint week-long golf trip to Ireland not long ago. I consider GCA another important step in the evolution of my understanding of the game.
We have a family place in North Myrtle Beach at the Surf Club, so if you’ve seen the recent posts from each of us about that course it was coincidental -- don’t worry, we’re not starting a George Cobb appreciation society…. ;D
Wish list: Bandon, Pine Valley, National, Friar’s Head, Pebble Beach, Machrihanish.
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Hi Everyone,
I don't want to be one of the mysterious "straw men", so I'll introduce myself. First of all, I'm almost willing to bet that some of the forum members have played golf with me at least once at Bethpage during the past 15 years. I'm the tall guy with the overswing that someone usually comments about on or before the third hole. I'm also the guy that usually bird-dogs and finds everyones golf ball for them. You used to find me near the front of the overnight parking line at Bethpage on a regular basis.
My name is Eric Felker.
Age: 44
Residence: Orlando, FL as of this summer. Previously, LI NY.
I'm a math teacher.
Handicap: 10 and lack of practice time!
Family: Married w/kids
Background: I've lived and played golf in VA, CA, NY, and now FL. I've traveled a lot for golf and skiing. I love to ski.
Best Courses I've played:
Pebble Beach
Pinehurst #2
Bethpage Black
Riviera CC
Congressional CC
Ridgewood CC, NJ
Princeville (Prince), HI
Kaui Lagoons, HI
Long Cove GC, Hilton Head, SC
Harbour Town, Hilton Head, SC
World Woods, FL
Orange County National, Panther Lakes and Crooked Cat
I must thank my relatives for the access to some of those courses, (just in case they see this)!
All-time favorites that I played often.
Bethpage Black
Bethpage Red
Papago Park, AZ
Rancho Park, CA
Penderbrook GC, Fairfax, VA
Mohansic GC, NY
Lido Beach, NY
Long Cove, SC
World Woods, Pine Barrens, FL
El Diablo, FL
Colleton River
Wish LIst:
FRIAR'S HEAD !! Wow!!
Lake Noma CC
Jupiter Hills
Black Diamond Ranch
Pet Peeve: Outrageous greens fees for "upscale-public courses".
Favorite Course Designer:
Tillinghast
Ross
Fazio
Nicklaus
Hills
I appreciate the spirit of golf and the great discussions that I read here on GCA. I hope to make a positive contribution occasionally. Now....... let's tee it up!
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Who is Andy Stovepipe Jack? He told me a bit about himself off line, but I thought I'd bring this back up incase he wants to share a bit more about himself.
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Some people think Golfs a matter of life or death. Its more important than that.
Name..... Andy Jack,
Age........ 38.5
height.....6ft weight 12st 7lbs.
Sex........Yes please! :o
Address..Swindon,
Wiltshire,
England.
I like to chat, and have a laugh with you guys, I have been playing this game for 30 years, and have got down as low as scr, Played for the county team at a young age, (18)
Discovered girls, (18) so hence, the Handicap went up. (suprise suprise) At present i am Married, I call it (Marred) Afflickted with a Wife and 2 kids. Work. well my main job is in Security, and I am often called away to give lectures to studets U.K. wide.
Main objects in life. was to become a pro golfer, tried to for many years, ran out of Money, so got Married instead, (great)
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Eddie Adams
34
Headgreenkeeper Old Course
Born and live in St Andrews
eddieadams1@btopenworld.com
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Eddie,
Welcome-there is always talk about the Old course here and I know that we look forward to hearing your comments about what is hapening there.
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Not sure I've gone through the census as Pres. Gracely put it, so here I am!! 8)
Jonathan McCord
Age:20
Ferris State University: Professional Golf Managment / Marketing
Handicap:3
I am from Spencer, Iowa, and lived there for 18 years before coming out to Michigan to go to school.
Places I've Worked:
Tullymore Golf Club, Stanwood Michigan
Spencer Golf and Country Club, Spencer, Iowa
Spring Hill Golf Club, Wayzata, Minnesota
This Summer: Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Manassas, Virginia
Got interested in golf course architecture through Golf Digest's rankings. I have always loved seeing and playing different golf courses. Best course I have ever played, Crystal Downs Country Club ;), bet you can't guess who my favorite architect is.
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Dave Miller
Age 49+
Occupation: President & CEO - Manufacturing Company South of Boston
Reside in Dover, Mass.
Married, three kids - Two out of College ;D Youngest a Sophomore
Grew up in the Phila. Area
High School - Malvern Prep
College- Villanova
Grad School - Boston College
Member at- Charles River CC - Newton Centre, Ma.
Aronimink GC - Newtown Square, Pa.
Farmington CC - Charlottesville, Va.
Admirals Cove - Jupiter, Fl.
Love the Old Classic Courses, Have served on Several Green Committees and also Course restoration Committee at Charles River. Found the site through Ed Baker, My pal from Charles River.
Have a true love of the game, its history, traditions and love to discuss the architecture of any course.
Try to play as often as possible. Never seem to improve 8).
Have been fortunate to play many of the great courses such as Olympic, Seminole, PV, Merion, etc.,etc.
Never met a golf course I haven't liked.
Get in touch if in the Area.
Fairways and Greens,
Dave
Only update to make is I have ST. Andrews Golf Club, Fife, Scotland to my list of clubs I belong to.
Fairways and Greens always
Dave
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Dave,
Is that the course we commonly call The Old Course....if so...what benefits do you have by joining and is this the same as being a member of the Royal and Ancient...because I have kinda wanted to join that myself..
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John,
I think St. Andrews GC consists of 5 (?) courses, of which The Old Course is one of them. Duke's, Eden, New, and Jubilee are the others, I believe.
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Oh, well. I gave it a shot...I said I wasn't sure. I just knew there were a number of courses at the club besides the Old. One link I was at had the courses in my last post listed, standrews.com or something.
Maybe in 2007, I'll finally get to get over there to see what all the fuss is about. ;)
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JakaB:
You have to buy a Scottish kilt, wear no underwear, and have your ass kissed my the Mother Queen ;D
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For those of you who want to know about Tony..
Name: Tony Cashmore
Age: 62
Occupation: Golf Course Architect
Tony is an architect (B. Arch., 1970, ARAIA) educated at Melbourne University, Australia. He started Cashmore Golf Design in 1972 and has subsequently become involved with landscaping principles, and civil engineering techniques and services required for golf and recreation planning, including irrigation and drainage, water conservation/re-use, wetlands, and environmental considerations in modern golf courses. He has lectured in golf course design and construction methods, and retains a consulting role with golf course superintendents. Tony has traveled extensively, playing and studying the great courses of the world, and meeting other consultants and professionals involved with golf planning, marketing, and management. He is a foundation member of the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects, and is presently Vice President of that Society.
He has had a hand in over 70 courses (either from scratch or redesign, remodelling etc.) so far. He's not that Internet savvy, so relies on me a bit to keep in touch with what's new on GCA.
About me:
Name: James Cashmore
Age: 33
Occupation: Running the Design Business
Born in France, raised in Australia - business and marketing background; worked in the technology game for around 10 years. Always had a great love for golf and golf design given Tony's passion for it. Used to spend a lot of my early life out on site with Tony growing up, and have had many a bottle of wine with him talking about golf design and strategy. Joined the company to look after the growing demands of the company's success.
Favourite courses include Royal Melbourne (West) and Royal County Down in Northern Ireland; but too many really to mention in this post.
Cheers
Cashy Jnr
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Dale McCallon--age 32--location, West Ky
Always lurking, occasionally posting. Get a real kick out of reading so many of these posts. From the people who obviously just have fun playing, to the unbelievably astute students of GCA.
Think I started interest in clubs/architecture because one of the amazing things about golf to me is the ability it gives all of its players to try to recreate the shots the games all time greats have had over the years. I may love the UK Wildcats, but I'll never get to play a pick-up game at Rupp Arena. I may never hit the flagstick at Pebble's 17th, but at least I can try to be like Jack.
Best courses I've ever played is a short list--West KY is a true wasteland for great courses. I have played Pebble and Pinehurst #2 (btw, I paid full green fees at both--I expect a book from Barney). Play a ton of resort courses on vacation--may not be great in a architectural sense, but I just love the game so I don't get too hung up on playing just classics.
If for some reason, the road bring any of you guys through West KY, contact me. I can't promise you great golf, but hopefully we can have a good time never the less.
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Name: Ken Bramlett
Age: 45
Location: Charlotte, NC and Daufuskie Island, SC
Occupation: Recovering lawyer
kbramlett@kennedycovington.com
Played a lot growing up (public courses only back then) and for the 12 years I spent in private law practice. After being fortunate to play some of the Northeastern classics in the early 90's, began collecting golf books as a hobby. Got into the staffing and technology consulting business in 1996 and essentially stopped playing for nine years. But, my books held my interest, we recently sold our company and, now that my 13 year old has begun to play (and play pretty well), the bug to play has bitten again.
While preparing for a recent trip to Yeamans Hall near Charleston, SC, found the website through a friend of Ran's brother here in Charlotte. It's become a drug....
Lots of good golf in the Carolinas. Come on down.
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James Cashmore -
Welcome to the site and thanks for the in depth information. I'd love it if it were possible to post the winning result from the design competition you are running.
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George et al
Thanks for the welcome; this is a great forum with many fine contributors expanding varying thoughts on such a wonderful profession. For fine designers like Tom Doak, Mike Clayton and others to regularly contribute to these forums is of real value in my opinion - we can all learn a lot from their thoughts.
I will absolutely keep you guys up to date with how our design competition is coming along. We obviously get many people a year wanting to do an internship at our office and thought that this would be one way of attracting the maximum amount of talent.
It'd be great to get some of your feedback regarding the process and whether or not these types of things are of value. I would also imagine that those that may not win an internship with us might be suitable for other design firms. I welcome anybody who may also be looking for some good 'up and comers' to contact me personally.
Thanks again.
James
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As I am the newest of the newbies here I would like to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Michael Hayes, I am the Golf Course Superintendent at Kitsap Golf & Country Club in Bremerton, WA. I am 35, married to a golf widow, have 2 Aussies (DIVOT & POA), no kids, & maintain a 5 handicap...
If I could only play one golf course the rest of my life, it would be Pasatiempo in the US or Crudan Bay in the UK...
I consider myself a true Bandonista, and I abuse my position as a super to play whatever great courses I can...
This Forum is the most amazing group, I hope that I can bring something to the table...
Michael Hayes
super@kitsapgolfcc.com
www.kitsapgolfcc.com
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Updated July 20, 2010
Andy Troeger
29 years old
Albuquerque, NM (formerly of South Bend, IN)
Golf enthusiast, 8 handicap
Original message:
"Have played mostly around the midwest, some in Florida and Arizona as well. Looking to get better versed with the other areas of the country/world as soon as life allows (probably not as soon as I would like). Due to my coaching and location in Indiana I don't get to play period as much as I'd like, but I try to play a variety of different courses. Have enjoyed posting and reading on this site so far, as others have posted there is much to be learned from all of the various viewpoints and knowledgeable opinions!
Update: with moving and no longer coaching, I have had more opportunity to travel than I expected. I've played about 350 courses, all but one in the USA, but hopefully will get the opportunity to see the rest of the world eventually. I still don't play a ton, if I get to 35 rounds this year that will be a bonus. The vast majority of my rounds are on the road.
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Michael:
Were you the super at Kitsap when Mark Sivara was the head pro?
He and I are good friends and have travelled to Scotland and Ireland together and he is now head pro at Eugene CC.
Welcome to the board!
Gene
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Richard Pennell, aged 30. Live in London where I work as a greenkeeper at Mitcham GC. Changed jobs from an office number 3 years ago and loving the fresh air and hanging around golf courses. Always been interested in major championship courses but since discovering this site a couple of years back have made an effort to visit as many of the great old courses as I can. I love the heathland around here and am indebted to the people on this site for making me aware of some of the lesser known clubs in the area. Mark Rowlinson recommended Liphook for example, which was wonderful, and Ran's reviews of Woking and Swinley Forest were enough to get me motivated to play there.
As well as scrounging free games locally, I was lucky enough to win a scholarship to the USA last year with another GCA member, which involved meeting the Supers and touring the courses of some fabulous golf clubs - Pebble Beach, Cypress Point, Pasatiempo, Riviera, LACC, Prairie Dunes, etc. The amount of fuss people on this site made over Sand Hills was enough for us to detour hundreds of miles to see it and it was incredible so thanks!
I've been thinking about posting a few of the photos sometime soon, since the photos others have posted have been so inspiring. Next stop Lahinch, and Royal St Georges on my birthday! Cheers
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Michael:
Were you the super at Kitsap when Mark Sivara was the head pro?
He and I are good friends and have travelled to Scotland and Ireland together and he is now head pro at Eugene CC.
Welcome to the board!
Gene
Gene...
Seve and I were together from '97 to '00 when he went Big Time down at Eugene CC... I see him a couple of times a year as i always play ECC on my way down to Bandon. I love that track, top 5 for one shot holes for sure...
Michael Hayes
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Jin Kim, age 36. Golf nut, resident in NYC. I know nothing about golf architecture, but am learning a lot reading this board. I prefer natural looking courses; not a minimalist, just find UK style courses more to my liking. Also, I'm a big equipment person with many sets of clubs. Favorite golf experience ever: Carne Golf Club in Bellmullet, Ireland. Close second is Bandon/Pacific Dunes.
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Modified July 24, 2010
Name: Ben Voelker
Age: 27 years old
Occupation: Engineer
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Starting playing golf at about 12 and have been hooked since my first birdie! My interest in golf course architecture started around my senior year of high school when I took a look at the workings of my hometown's own Landscapes Unlimited. I actually ended up doing an internship with them while in civil engineering doing my undergraduate work and decided to go a different path, then. My interest in GCA never wavered and am seriously considering trying to get into the industry. My wife and I quit our jobs and spent a year traveling around the world and now live in Bangkok, Thailand while we ponder our next move!
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For a long time I have enjoyed this site without participating. Only recently have I summoned the cojones to "go for the green in two." So let me introduce myself:
Gordon O'Neil
Fort Lauderdale, FL
First picked up a club in college when I realized that there weren't many third string centerfielders making it to the major leagues.
Extremely fortunate enough to have a father as well as other mentors who encouraged me and somehow managed to hornswaggle the membership committe at Indian Creek to look the other way and admit a 22 year old kid.
I can't imagine a better place to learn the game, practice and improve with the support of a membership who were so involved with golf and golf courses throughout the country. Even though I was thankful and realized how lucky I was at the time, only recently have I become truly appreciative of all the places I visited and all the the courses I played.
Somehow I managed to get out of my own way enough to learn the game and stumble my way into a couple of USGA events, which to me at the epitome of why we play, live, breathe, eat and drink this game.
Marriage, children work and a move to Fort Lauderdale forced me to make the decision to resign after 13 years from what I consider to be one of the most underrated golf courses in the country. I miss Indian Creek every time I pick up a club, though that isn't very often these days.
Every so often I threaten to make a comeback, but right now I manage to be fufilled playing exclusively with my dad and kids. Perhaps I shouldn't have read James Dodson's book.
Thank you all for your contributions to this site. The wide range of opinions initially drew me to GCA but the total respect for the game is what continues to reawaken my interest in what was once my biggest passion.
Now that I'm done waxing poetic, let's get back to our regular programming.
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I''m new to this board,but have been following it for sometime. So who am I?
-Name: Ryan A. Wharton
-Age: 23
-Location:Cincinnati, OH
-Occupation: Equity Trader and Grad Student
I have played the game for most of my life starting at the age of 6. Competed in many tournaments as a junior golfer and eventually played a couple years at a Division 2 university. After differences with the way the program was ran, I gave up playing competively and focused on my school work. I'm back into golf mode now and aspire to compete again at a high (amateur) level once I get more time away from work and school. Presently, I work as a retail equity trader for a major brokerage firm and am working on a MBA at Xavier University. I'm a member at two clubs, Ivy Hills (Smyers) and Royal Oak (Diddel) and have played a few of the courses discussed frequently on this board, but would love to get the chance to play more of them. I would like to thank everyone for their contributions to the site. I have learned a lot about the game and have taken up architecture as a hobby because of this site. Looking forward to discussing golf with everyone!
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Brand new to the board but watching for a few years and getting more interested in GCA all the time.
- Matt MacIver
- 38, Banker, Charlotte NC
- 16 index...looks like it's settling in here :'(
I've already learned a ton, and now I look forward to my occasional rounds for much different reasons.
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-Per Thunberg
-Age: 30
-Location: Sweden
-Occupation: Manager for sales and development of turf care machinery.
Have been playing for ten years. Won the Alister MacKenzie Lido Prize this year.
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Per,
Welcome to GCA and congrats on the Lido Prize. Can you tell us about the hole you designed or better yet post a picture?
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Name: David Ober
Age: 38 years old
Location: Riverside, California (home)
Location: Temecula, California (work)
Occupation: Director of Admissions at Professional Golfers Career College, a 16-month A.A. program in golf management
Was a collegiate baseball player on my way to a professional career (would have been a 10th to 20th round draft choice out of U.C. Riverside back in 1988). Hurt my shoulder, dropped out, got married, started a family, and took up golf. Have been playing ever since. I literally can't get enough of this wonderful, challenging, and life-affirming game.
I'm a regionally competitive amateur, hoping to take my game to the national level in the coming two or three years.
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Virgin Poster Here!...I am 45 yo married, father of 2 young girls...the 9 yo loves to swing the sticks with dad while her sister prefers to kick the larger white ball with her friends...I have served 22 years of a life sentence running a small business servicing fire equipment in Portland Oregon...I am handicap chair of our associate club, "Floggers United Golf Club"...11.7 HI...My legs are just getting back under me from 6 rounds in 4 days earlier this week in Bandon...I am truely addicted to the game and enjoy the artistry of how the great courses are put together.
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wlecome Jim.....although the "virgin" word always scares me ;).....
tell us your thoughts on the Bandon courses...I haven't been seen Trails - yet
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Thanks for the welcome Paul...In my Never too Humble Opinion the Trails is an outstanding addition to the two Dunes courses at Bandon...On my first go round, I found the greens to be much more subtle, slippery and unforgiving on the 4-6 foot putt than either PD or BD...My second round, I found my groove and made more of those par putts.
I really enjoyed the lack of transition from fairways to fringe to green...they are all one continuum. The bunkers and waste areas also transition into the course and into the dunes/woods/meadows in the same fashion, making for a wild and natural feel, much like PD.
Much has been posted here about the 5th green and the 14 hole as being "unfair/unplayable" and such, but I found both to be agreable to a well placed tee ball and each gave up pars to our foursome of 10-14 HI players...of course HUGE numbers were also posted for those of us who made a bad shot to the wrong area...The 14th hole's green area reminded me in many ways of PD 16th...The best way to play at it is from the upper/left area of the fairway, leaving a 50-80 yd. pitch or bump and runner to the green...But the elevated tee is both inspiring and intimidating to say the least.
The only hole that I found to be a "throw-away" was the long (245 yd) par 3, 12th hole...It doesn't compare to the other short holes that have so much more visual interest/intimidation and interesting green complexes...just distance.
My personal favorite (this time around) would be the mid-distance par 4, 13th hole...I loved the look of the humpback fairway, giving a well placed drive the extra bounce and roll and an uphill short/mid iron to the elevated green that has a cavernous bunker on the right and a severe drop-off on the left that takes the ball some 20yds off the green if not struck well...I just enjoyed the heck out of that hole.
I can't wait for my next trip down in February to have another go at the new adventure and hopefully get comfortable enough to post a score that is closer to my handicap!
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Dick Kirkpatrick
Age 67
Member of Hamilton Golf & Country Club
Handicap Index 9.6
I have been in the golf construction business since 1958
and did my first solo design in 2000
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I have been in the golf construction business since 1958
and did my first solo design in 2000
Now that is a cool post.
How about starting a new thread about your course? Or, if you would prefer, just tell me the name & I'll start the thread.
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Age 54+360
Software Engineer
Committed walker
Used to wile away the time in HS drawing golf holes.
I understand Peter Jacobsen used to do the same.
Handicap index >22 <23
Hopefully it will continue to come down. I broke 40 for 9 last weekend for
the first time since I was playing alot before I got married.
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Yannick Pilon
Age: 31
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Status: Married with two girls (1and 3) Sorry you girls out there...
Occupation: Design Associate for Graham Cooke & Assoc. Inc.
Handicap: (I'm ashamed of it!) 14.5 and no sign of it going down soon with two young girls and a non-golfer wife...!
I've been studying golf course architecture since I was roughly eight or nine years old.... I was designing my own courses in a big scrapbook until I decided to send one of my drawings to Jack Nicklaus after "discovering" the address of his firm on the cover of the On the Green magazine in Myrtle Beach.
One of his associates answered by telling me I had a good talent at such a young age and told me the best way to become a golf course architect was to earn a degree in landscape architecture in university before applying into a couple of gca firms....
S that's what I did, as fast as I could, while I tried to get a job with Graham Cooke who happened to have his main office in Montreal. Before the end of my Bachelors degree, I had a job and I have been there ever since. I guess a lot of hard work and a bit of luck got me to where I am today.
I love what I do and I hope to continue for many years! The only draw back is that I have been so busy these past few years I nearly don't have time to play anymore! I can't count the courses I have seen in the past year alone, but I roughly play about ten times per year. (That explains the Handicap above!) I played 14 rounds this year including 8 rounds in Scotland, and its the most I have played in many years....
But I am not about to complain, golf course architecture is ma passion! So this site is now a part of my life, almost every day!
Nice to meet you all!
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Yannick, we haven't heard from Jeremy G. in a while. Is he still working there? I hope he has not given up on us... ;)
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Name: Bob Barriger
Home: Carmel, Indiana
Home Course: Wolf Run Golf Club
Currently 2.8 index, have this illness, addiction to playing golf, so far this year, posted 342 rounds, in 10 states, over 90 courses. Favorite time to play, early morning, so I can talk to the course superintendent as he make his rounds. My car just seems to head to the SW corner of US 421 and St. Rd 32 in Boone County, that little slice of heaven called Wolf Run.
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Yeah,
Jeremy is still there, alive and well. It's true he has not posted anything in a while as far as I know.... He's probably too busy datings girls now that the season's over here in Montreal... ;)
If you are interested, he wrote a pretty good article in Golf Architecture Vol. III about "fairness" in golf. Pretty good stuff I agree with 100%!
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This seems to be as appropriate of a place as any to make my first post on the new format so here goes:
Steve Pozaric
34
St. Louis
Welcome Steve,
Where do play in Stl? I spent 2 years golfing all over town
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William King
Age: 45
Home: Marietta, GA, USA
Email: wbking0380@comcast.net
Occupation: Courier
Home Course: Cobblestone GC, Acworth GA
Index:12.0 (trending lower! 8))
Handicap Chairman of the MGA
I first remember seeing a golf course at the age of 4 when my father would lug me along with his regular group in Midwest City, OK. I also visited the Eisenhower course at the Air Force Academy many times in this fashion. When he retired I was 9, we moved to Tallahassee, Fl, joined Killearn Golf & CC and, along with my younger brother, I spent the next 3-4 years playing as much as possible. I gave up the game in HS and did not touch a club again till Nov 2001 at the urging of my brother, now an assistant pro here in the Atlanta area, and have averaged 70+ rounds/year since. My interesrt in GCA comes from the variety of experiences I've had on various courses. I'm not well schooled in architecture theory or practice but I do know what I like. So basically, I've come here to learn.
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Hello golf wackos,
My name is Troy Alderson and I am the golf course superintendent (head greenkeeper) at Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino in Central Oregon. I am a golf fanatic. I love the game, the classic golf courses, and how the classics were maintained in the old days. I am 37 with an old golfing soul. I am also rather overeducated too, Washington State U. (BS), Rutgers U. (Turf Mgt), and Marylhurst U. (MBA) in that order. The future holds for me, my own golf course somewhere, I just need to find it.
I ran across this site while looking for golf course pictures and started reading the interviews and opinions. Great stuff. I am a 13 handicap and supervise a golf course designed by William P. Bell and Sons (front nine) and Gene "Bunny" Mason (back nine) in the early 1970s. The golf course is the oldest Indian owned and operated golf course in the country, unless someone can prove otherwise.
I look forward to contributing to the group.
FOOUURR!
Troy Alderson
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Troy, Good luck on finding your dream golf course to call your own operation. You certainly seem to have prepared yourself well.
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Thanks RJ,
Looking forward to getting to know the GCA group better. I am a sponge ready to soak it all in.
Troy
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It seems there have been a number of new members recently. I thought I would bump this and see if any would care to introduce themselves. I for one am curious about Mr. Buzminski and whether he is related to Angela. (I think that's her name, the only lefty LPGA player that I know of.)
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I would like to introduce myself as a new member of GCA, as a long time observer of this website it is indeed quite a forum for some serious golf discussion.
My name is Ray Richard of Sagamore Beach, Ma. Raised in Easton, Ma on property adjoining two golf courses. Spent youth walking and talking golf courses as they were being constructed in my back yard, than became employed as grounds crew member at Pine Oaks GC, than moved to Easton Country Club. Off to UMass Boston for four years, had very minor exposure to corporate life, than back to golf business as grounds employee of Ross designed Cohasset Golf Club, Cohasset, Ma.
Moved to Sunningdale GC (NH) as golf course superintendent for five years than to White Cliffs of Plymouth as certified golf course superintendent. Formed design/build company in 1989, did numerous designs but got clobbered during the big bank failures of the early 1990’s in New England. A large 18 hole project got stopped after 80% completion,another 18 holer went to foreclosure,but still completed Village Links and Squirrel Run Golf Club in Plymouth, Ma,both are still in play today.
Than life got interesting, while inquiring about a rumor that a golf course was to be built on island in Boston Harbor, was offered position as night shift coordinator for construction of 105 acre island without a golf course-the grades were too steep. Spent a wild and wooly five years with Kiewit joint venture with tug boats/barges and a collection of wonderful “salt of the earth” people. During the day I was consulting on golf courses and sleeping infrequently.
I am currently working with a golf construction company on construction proposal generation and project management and doing private golf construction consulting.
I play golf infrequently-I got in the golf biz to play more golf and that didn’t happen. I still got some rounds in at Pebble Beach and Spyglass, and attended US Opens at Shinnecock, Winged Foot and Bethpage.
It’s a pleasure to meet you all!
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Welcome to the fray Ray. :)
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Mark Buzminski
36 yrs.
Cobourg, Ontario Canada
Home Club: Timber Ridge, Brighton, On.
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Welcome Mark,
There seems to be a high percentage of lefties on this site. Hope you feel right at home.
I try to get to a day at the LPGA tourney every year here in Portland. One year while attending I ran into a friend that I play golf with from time to time. Knowing my "preference" for left handed golfers she told me she had read in the Oregonian that one of the players that year was left handed, but didn't remember the name. Although I try to see several groups play, I didn't run across Angie that day. Afterwards I looked up who it was and have been hoping to see her play ever since.
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Thought I would bump this thread in case Charles Garland would like to introduce himself.
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Are there two of these theads? Oh well, here goes:
Bill Brightly
Age: 50
Hometown: Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey
Insurance Broker
Married, 3 kids (one at Duke, one at Wake Forest, one at Elon!)
Member at Hackensack (former Grounds Chairman) and
Saucon Valley
Handicap 3
After 3 years of research and planning, Hackensack has just begun a restoration of our Banks course. The course has been dramatically altered over the years, but it still has the bones! This site has been incredibly helpful to my education, and I have, in turn, written a series of articles for our club newsletter about Macdonald-Raynor-Banks so the membership can understand why restorartion is important. Last month, the plan passed 191-9, and construction has started!
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Good luck Bill. I had the pleasure of playing Hackensack a few years ago and I commented that it had the bones of a very good course. I look forward to progress reports.
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Rob Paulis
42
Ventura, CA
Market Research Firm Owner
Married no children
Home Course: Varies between Rustic, Soule and Olivas.
Handicap: 11
Got really hooked while attending Rutgers university and had to choose between a $4 round at the college course or sitting in a classroom all day.
Business travel got a born and bred NJ guy the opportunity to play throughout the US. But when a relocation to San Diego found me playing Christmas day at my new home course Torrey, I had to live where I could play year round.
A year long stint in London provided the opportunity to play a bunch in Europe and a three week "walkabout" in Scotland. Settled down in Santa Barbara with many visits to La Purisima and the occasional round at privates like The Valley Club. Played Rustic the week it first opened and followed its numerous discussion threads over the years and have logged in 100+ rounds at RC.
Like others here, I have viewed many a course from above seated in a plane. Recent business focus on GPS and geographic information system analysis have started me looking at and analyzing course layout and design from a new perspective.
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Jack Crisham Age 43 Married to a Saint/Golf widow (proposed at Pebble- honeymooned at St. Andrews). 2 daughters 7&3. Evans scholar from Beverly. Avid golf historian and golf design/architecture student. Practice of General Dentistry allows me to fuel my addiction for golf. Index of 10.9.Play at Prairieview G.C., Oregon C.C., and Beverly C.C.
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Thought I would bump this in case Jim Engh wants to introduce himself.
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Looks like we have some new posters, so I thought I would bump.
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Art Roselle
37
Charlotte, NC
married, 3 kids under 10
Home Course: Charlotte Country Club
Handicap: supposedly 6
Had a user ID several years ago, but let it lapse. Got re-interested/addicted when Charlotte CC started a major restoration this year (just reopened). I have played a decent number of good courses, but many of them only once and I am slowly trying to catch up on the reading/history side. I have enjoyed all the information that you guys offer up on a daily basis.
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Hi there - my name is Peter Nomm and I am a PGA HP/GM at the Minocqua CC, a small club in the northwoods of WI with a 7-year old Ron Garl designed golf course. Married with 3 sons (3,6,7) and believe myself to be as addicted to golf design and discussions as the rest of you guys.
My architecture interests started as a kid when I designed about a dozen chip & putt courses on our 1/2 acre property around the house growing up. Since then I have been able to meet and at learn things unofficially from a handful of architects, and try to stick my nose into anything I can when it comes to golf design.
I was fortunate to spend most of a year working closely with the design team building the Chiricahua Course when I was an assistant at Desert Mountain in the '90s (I know - Nicklaus and Desert Courses on this site won't get me far!). But anytime one can watch raw land transform into a golf course is a great experience.
Forever my dream has been to buy an old farm and build my own course on it, and it still remains. I am not sure when, where, or how, but I can think of no greater accomplishment in the golf business than turning a piece of land into a golf course. I envy you guys who do that every day and am glad to be able to learn from this group!
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John Moore
27
Suffolk, VA
Work-US Coast Guard
Course- Eaglewood Golf Club
I live in Southern Pines, on Mid South Club. I've played only one course in this area I do not like, but I won't tell since I do not want to offend any of my peers who may read this. If anyone wants to play anywhere within reason around Pinehurst, just let me know, I will see what I can do.
I'll leave that paragraph the same, just for memories. Now in the Coast Guard, living in Suffolk, Virginia. Still can play golf though. So, now, if you are around Suffolk/Norfolk, just get in touch.
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...
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I'll add to the thread even though I sort of already introduced myself in my own first post.
CJ Carder
27
Williamsburg, VA
Financial Advisor
Married with no kids (yet)
Home Course: Golden Horseshoe Golf Club
Handicap index is somewhere around 5 right now, but was as low as 2.6 at the beginning of last year (damn wrist injury).
I'm a diehard University of Virginia Cavalier fan, my wife loves the Tarheels, I love dogs (especially beagles), and we both love to travel.
Favorite courses played include Muirfield, Ailsa Course at Turnberry, my home course, The Old Course, Dornoch, Spyglass, Pinehurst #2, Bulle Rock, and a few others.
Courses I'd love to play someday... Bethpage Black, Oakmont, Merion, naturally Pine Valley and Augusta (I wonder if anyone has a list without those on there?), Kinloch (a local private near Richmond), and probably a laundry list of others.
I love course photography and I've only recently started to look for architectural traits when I play different courses, though I find it fascinating. Thanks for having me!
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Name: Brian Cenci
Age: 28
Location: East Lanisng, MI
Handicap: 5ish
Occupation: Civil Engineer
Member courses: Walnut Hills C.C. (East Lansing, MI) & Marquette C.C. (Marquette, MI)
Favorite courses: Whistling Straits, Crystal Downs, Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, Kiawah-Ocean, Holston Hills, Prairie Dunes, Inverness, Wolf Run, Yeamans Hall, Greywalls, Arcadia Bluffs, Dunes Club, Lost Dunes, Forest Creek, Pine Needles, Pinehurst No. 2
Favorite local courses (15 mins.): Eagle Eye, Lansing C.C., Timber Ridge, Walnut Hills
Other: Worked at Crystal Downs for 6 years when I was younger....used to refer to Tom Doak and Mike Devries as Mr. Doak and Mr. Devries. Recently engaged....live in downtown East Lansing.
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Carl Rogers
Suffolk, Virginia
Profession: Architect (buildings)
Education: Master of Architecture, Tulane
Age: 54
Married for 27+ years, no children
2 home courses - Riverfront & Sleepy Hole (see golf magazine's affordable of 04)
Golf Profile: Handicap index is 4.2 ish, life long golfer in a non-golfing family, have not had the opportunity to travel much to play golf, have played at The Homestead, Golden Horseshoe, Pete Dye's remake in Radford VA. did win Golf's Magazine last Armchair Architect contest in the fall of 05 and spent 3 days at the Bay of Dreams w/ Tom D and group
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Carl,
Welcome and given your education at one of the nation's best schools of architecture, can you please provide:
1) A definition of "architecture;"
2) Whether landscape architecture in fact qualifies as "architecture;" and
3) An explanation of your answer to 2).
Many thanks -- consider this an entrance exam!
Mark
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Chip Gaskins
Age: 38
Married
Kids: 6 year old girl, 3 year old boy
Education: East Carolina University (BS), North Carolina State University (Masters of Engineering), University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (MBA)
Occupation: Corporate Development (M&A) for Tech Company
Location: Washington, DC (via NC, NYC, ATL, SFO)
Home Course: None, I play most of my golf on vacations or short trips up and down the east coast trying to play great tracks
Handicap: Probably 5 or 6
Favorite Courses Played:
- Shinnecock, Pine Valley & Royal County Down (league of their own)
- The Old Course
- Ballyneal
- Augusta National
- Tobacco Road
- Chicago Golf
Courses Most Wanted To Play:
- Swinley Forest
- Myopia
- Seminole
- Sleepy Hollow
- Carmargo
Courses That I Don’t Like As Much As Other Folks Seem To:
- Carnoustie
- Merion
- Maidstone
Been reading the site for years, but only recently after playing Merion did I join and post (and we know how that went).
Worked at a golf course during college on the maintenance staff…not many things more peaceful than mowing greens and setting pins at dawn.
I dream of building a course using Coore/Crenshaw or Doak on the sandy soil of the Outer Banks in North Carolina one day after I win the lottery and invite all you guys!
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Dave Givnish
Scottsdale
Age: 49 (damn, it's going quickly)
Married, no kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats
Clubs: Desert Forest, Farmington (C-ville, VA)
Occupation: retirement plans and insurance
Index: 2.3
Committed walker
Email: dgivnish@gmail.com
I grew up in Philadelphia and played at Whitemarsh Valley. Moved to AZ about 15 years ago. I love both courses that we belong to, even if I could be accused of being a bit masochistic.
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Hi Dave -
Welcome to GCA. Good to have another Philly voice here, and one without out a Flynn or Ross bias. I too am an expat (now living in SF), but enjoy the many discussions about our hometown courses. Although, the one that often gets overlooked here is Whitemarsh Valley, and frankly I'd love to know more about it.
Is there much Thomas left in the routing/design? Who else had a hand in the course we see now? Where does it fit in the realm of Philadelphia courses?
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Jeff Spittel
Born and raised: Northern NJ
Transplanted to: Houston, TX
Recently engaged, no shorties
Home club: Deerwood
Occupation: Oil serives equity analyst
Educated: Holy Cross BA, Rice MBA
Handicap: 11
I began to develop an appreciation for architecture as a junior member at Suburban Golf Club in Union, NJ. Unfortunately, AWT didn't leave his mark in H-Town, but it's tough to argue with a 12 month golf season.
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Wayne -
Thanks. Whitemarsh is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, so the course might merit some discussion in a separate topic. Here's what I remember, and I'd welcome the Philly guys' inputs as well. It might also be nice to get a "My Home Course" from the club historian.
The remnants of the family farm are still somewhat visible. The men's locker room is in the old family carriage house/barn, and there are two rows of trees that run to the left of holes 1 and 2 that look like they could have lined the driveway from Germantown Pike.
I believe that Ed Shearon did the last work on the course. It's probably safe to say that any of the bunkers you see that are not smooth-edged are his work. I think that material changes to 12 (par 3) and 14 (par 4) were done as well. There were some earlier posts on the board about the changes to 12. I personally didn't like those changes because they dumbed the hole down.
Whitemarsh is on a relatively small piece of property and the Wissahickon Creek comes into play on several holes. The Green Committee added a lot of pine trees during the period that the club hosted the PGA event during the 60's and 70's. I understand that a number of these have been coming out.
The course is tight off the tees. From 4 to 14, OB is a possibility left or right (6 is left AND right). If you put white on green, you then have to hit into a small green complex on each hole.
Whitemarsh seems to have slipped in comparison to courses like LuLu, Manufacturers, and Huntingdon Valley over the last twenty years. That might also be a good topic -- how classic courses have risen/fallen in "rankings" and why -- technology, conditions, etc.
Dave
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Been reading the site for years, but only recently after playing Merion did I join and post (and we know how that went).
Glad you stuck it out.
:)
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Greetings Champions of the Game
Jeremy Rivando
Age: 34
Living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Handicap: 4
I've been a member since this afternoon. I'm quite pleased to be included here. I believe I came across this site through Geoff Shackelford a few years ago. At first I was consumed by the course listings and I've now become a regular reader of the discussion group.
I've been involved in golf course construction and renovation the last couple of years. Previously I was a Class A-8 PGA Pro for a number of years in Boulder, Colorado. Since I started playing golf at numerous courses when I was young I've been an admirer of the great works of Thompson, Ross, Travis, MacKenzie, and many more from the Golden Age. I'm thankful that this age of design has been reinvigorated by the likes of Doak, C&C, and the many others on this site.
My future interests lie in the development of organic, affordable, and viable golf courses. This business model is starting to gain more awareness and with a group like this it can become the future. Golf should be accessible and fun, hopefully I can do my part.
Cheers
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It took me a while to see if I had checked in on this thread previously. But feel it warrants an update.
Alive and well, so they tell me. ;) surviving
Very happy to be a fan of teams Boston. ;)
Must be close to a record for a city, no?
Played some great courses in 2007 and hoping for more of this fortune for 2008.
Happy New Year.
Cheers,
Steve
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Don Hyslop
Age: 59
Home: Kingston, Nova Scotia
Occupation: retired teacher, writer
Member: Berwick Heights Golf Club, Nova Scotia
Handicap: 14
My experience with golf started at the age of 12 as a caddy at the Riverside Golf and Country Club(Donald Ross design) East Riverside, New Brunswick. Riverside hosted the Canadian Open in 1939.
I am a big fan of Stanley Thompson designs and enjoy playing Digby Pines, Highland Links and Fundy National Park here in the Maritimes.
I am really looking forward to what should be an outstanding course Cabot Links at Inverness, N.S. Construction said to begin this spring.
http://www.cabotlinks.com/
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Name: Michael Powers
Occupation: Golf Professional
Home Town: West Roxbury, MA
Age: 38
Handicap: 0
Club: Spring Valley Country Club Sharon, MA
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Hello GCAer's... happy to be a newbie here!
Name: Patrick Hodgdon
Age: 22
Engaged to be married June, 28
Home Town: Edina, MN
Location: Naples, FL
Occupation: Student/Caddy, looking to get into Commercial Real Estate
Handicap: 10
Currently I am finishing up my Senior year at Ave Maria University in Naples, FL as a History Major and am caddying at Calusa Pines for my fourth season now. I grew up caddying at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, MN so I have had the privilege of growing up on two top 100 courses (per the rankings anyway). Looking forward to learning more about courses around the country as well as sharing some of my stories from the links.
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Name: Tom Zeni
Location: Washington Pennsylvania - The home of Pony League Baseball
Age:60.... Which is the new 40.
Occupation: Full time retired. Former Educator public schools/college. Former shoe shine boy in Monongahela and an alumni of the Monongahela High School Wildcats.
Handicap: 12 +/- 5 on any given day.
Left-handed golfer. Right-handed tennis player. Don't ask.
4 HIO's.
Been to the Master's 9 times. Oye Vey.
Liberal Democrat
Club: Resigned - Washington Golf and Country Club. Now, I just play them as it lies.
Visit SoCal and NorCal every couple of years. And I may be the only one on the board who enjoys Tustin Ranch.
Been around the block at least once. But with my new found youth, I'm going to do a 2nd lap.
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Left-handed golfer. Right-handed tennis player. Don't ask.
I'm a righty golfer and I play racquet sports lefty, so I provide balance to the universe.
Welcome, everyone, please don't be shy about sharing opinions.
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Howdy folks, happy to be here
Name: Reef Wilson
Age: 37
Home town: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: IT manager
Handicap: 11
Home course: Harding Park
Started lurking here after my 8 day golf odyssey to Scotland this past summer where I played 207 holes in 8 days and really came to understand what makes a golf course great or not. While I loved TOC, my favorite course of the trip was Elie, 16 wonderful par 4s. I love to travel and love to golf. I've already learned a lot here and very much looking forward to learning more!
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Name: Tom Zeni
Location: Washington Pennsylvania - The home of Pony League Baseball
Age:60.... Which is the new 40.
Been around the block at least once. But with my new found youth, I'm going to do a 2nd lap.
Add a third lap, Tom. I just read in my local paper today that 60 is the new 30. No telling how young you'll be if you live long enough...
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Rick,
Hell, if I get any younger, I'll be single again!
BTW, I'm wondering. Along with my age, does my handicap go down proportionately?
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Name: Jordan Caron
Age :25
Handicap: 0
Profession: Golf Professional
Home Club: Victoria Golf Club
Stumbled upon the site after doing a search on Rod Whitman and found Jeff Mingay's blog where a link to this site was. Every since then I have searched and searched many courses I've wanted to play for years and have found many other courses I want to play.
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Name: Adam Russell
Age: 23
Handicap: 8 - But 4 if I need a good tip
Profession: Student, University of Georgia
Home Course: Washington-Wilkes Country Club
Working on the best six-year college plan you've ever seen!! E-mailed Ran a year ago when I stumbled across the site...received NO REPLY (true story)... kept pestering him, got on here a few days ago. Spend my time caddying weekends at Reynolds Plantation, contemplating how to cheat the government out of money to travel 7,200 miles to see the Georgia Bulldogs win the 2009 National Championship, and furiously e-mailing design firms to get an internship this summer. I was five when I discovered there was a golf course in my backyard. Then I discovered it was a Ross. I'm hooked on good architecture. Hope to become the greatest architect ever from a town of less than 5,000 people. Read my quote though: I NEED a job!! Seriously - Love this site, the people, and the pictures. It''s inspiring, man...
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Thanks to Ran for allowing me to join...
Joey Smith - 44
Still married to my first wife for 17 years.
4.5 yr. old - son loves golf and baseball.
Live on a 27 hole golf course in Franklin, TN
Founded a monthly regional golf rag in 1991 called Golfer's Tee Times
Still around - sold it in 2002
Have a printing - corporate apparel - highly targeted direct mail business
I love grits - very hard to pick 'em from them trees though
Hdcp: 11
Custom built clubs - SeeMore putter since 1999 - Solus wedges
Have a logo golf ball from every course I've ever played
I have worn bucket hats since the 80's
Board of Director for the Tennessee Golf Association since 1996
Championship Committee for the U.S. Amateur Public Links for 5 years
Have known Brandt Snedeker since he was 12
Have enjoyed golf course architecture and design since high school
Have played golf with Nancy Lopez, Rick Pitino, Vince Gill, Dennis Griffiths, Lou Graham, Frank Urban, Ziz Ziglar, and Matt Vanderpool
Was turned on to this site by Dr. Paul Burke & Dan Hurley from Boston
Think highly of Tom Meeks, Toby Wilt, Tom Doak, Brad Klein
WOW - Talk about name dropping
Favorite Courses - That you've heard of:
The Honors Course
Holston Hills
Hazeltine National
The Golf Club of Tennessee
Victoria National
Riviera CC
That you've not heard of:
Selma Country Club (AL)
Turtle Point (AL)
Wood Hills (MN)
DeLand Country Club (FL)
Ansley CC 9-hole (GA)
Really enjoyed the visit to:
The Club at Olde Stone
Medinah #3
Rich Harvest Links
Old Florida
Wish List:
ANGC
Sebonack
Erin Hills
Chambers Bay
Ballyneal (this summer)
If you're going to visit middle Tennessee - give me a call
And - ROLL TIDE!!!!
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So I've been here for a while...Registered in 2003, when I was 16 and lurked for probably a couple years before that. Never really posted much, as you see, but I visit whenever I can; so at least once a day, ha. Started playing golf when I was six, my dad played and we had a family membership at the local 9 hole country club (Perry G&CC, Perry, IA). By about 7th grade I was in love with the game and my buddies and I would play 54+ holes a day every day during the summer.
In 2002 I started working at the local 9 hole as part of the course maintenance crew. I knew someday I would be a superintendent. I was having just as much fun working as I was playing and I still do today. My game has certainly suffered because most the time after 10+ hours on the course I'm ready to leave, not go to the range or play. I really don't know much about architecture. I couldn't tell you what exactly a Redan is, or who came up with it first. I do realize what constitutes strategy and what doesn't. Last year I did an internship at the Golf Club at Newcastle in Washington. Loved working and playing free golf there, but the course lacks in the architecture department. Those courses could have been made into something really awesome. I think I could have done better even...
Golf is the perfect game for me. I used to have one hell of a temper on the course, but after hours and hours playing, working I realized that golf really is quite a petty thing to become distraught over. I've learned lessons on the course that I've been able to apply to how I live.
Currently I'm taking a break from school to make some money and move to Washington. Don't know how long I'll be there, when I'll finish up school. Got a job lined up already but put in an application to Chambers Bay just to see what happens (saw their wanted ad on craigslist!). Contemplating joining the military in the not so distant future. Something I always wanted to do. Guess I want to explore all my options first though.
That was entirely too long. I apologize.
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Michael Powers
Age: 39
Home: West Roxbury, MA
Email: michael@springvalleycountryclub.com
Occupation: Club Professional
Caddied and played at Essex County Club and Myopia Hunt Club when I was a kid. At the time I figured all golf courses would be some variation of one or the other. I joined the DG to try to figure out why most courses are not like them at all.
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Name: Jordan Caron
Age :25
Handicap: 0
Profession: Golf Professional
Home Club: Victoria Golf Club
Stumbled upon the site after doing a search on Rod Whitman and found Jeff Mingay's blog where a link to this site was. Every since then I have searched and searched many courses I've wanted to play for years and have found many other courses I want to play.
Hi Jordan,
My buddy Russ Courtnall is a member of your club. I've played it 3 or 4 times on visits to Victoria and always enjoyed it plus the terrific membership. Still not diggin' on the clam juice cocktails at the 19th.
Best,
Peter
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That you've not heard of:
Selma Country Club (AL)
Turtle Point (AL)
Wood Hills (MN)
DeLand Country Club (FL)
Ansley CC 9-hole (GA)
Joey,
Welcome to the site. I've played Deland Country Club many times with my father in-law who lives in Deland and is a member. I always enjoy going to Deland Country Club.
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Allan Minto
Age: 47
Home: Edinburgh, Scotland
Occupation: Golf Tourism Consultant
Member: Craigielaw GC, East Lothian
Handicap: 4
Email: allan.minto@btopenworld.com
I have worked in the golf industry for just over 30 years, since becoming an Assistant Professional at Musselburgh GC in 1977. Moved on to Gullane GC and later became Head Pro at Royal Musselburgh, before returning to school in the early nineties, after becoming a bit disillusioned in the job.
Currently spend my time working (use that term loosely, as I get far too much pleasure for it to be work) with the golf industry in East Lothian, helping them develop their excellent golf product and maintaining their website, www.golfeastlothian.com.
Handicap has risen to 4 in recent years, as I struggle to play regularly but get more enjoyment than ever being outdoors, in good company, appreciating the surroundings.
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Thanks to Ran for allowing me to join...
Joey Smith - 44
Have played golf with Nancy Lopez, Rick Pitino, Vince Gill, Dennis Griffiths, Lou Graham, Frank Urban, Ziz Ziglar, and Matt Vanderpool
Joey, Lou Graham taught me how to play golf before he went on the tour. He was ass't at Fort Meade GC in the early 60's when I was a kid. I When I was 15 I played in a pro-junior with him. It was my first taste of that kind of golf. I'll never forget it. It was at Argyle CC outside DC. I shot 49-36. There were a few nerves on the front side. Lou looked at me crossed eyed for a while but only encouraged me. I am sad that his body didn't let him play well on the senior tour. Do you keep in touch with him?
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Tommy - Nice story.
A couple of times a year. He spends most of the year in Naples now.
I spent about 2 hours with him last year a few days before a visit to Medinah. It was very nice to revisit that '75 U.S. Open with him just before playing there for my 1st time.
I really enjoyed the stories - and I believe he got a kick out of re-living it again.
Did you know that he learned the golf swing from an old Snead book lying on the ground and copying the swing over and over. At the old little Shelby Golf Course in Nashville. Which is BTW, a First Tee facility now. A Donald Ross INSPIRED golf course, more on that later in another post.
Joey
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Hi Jordan,
My buddy Russ Courtnall is a member of your club. I've played it 3 or 4 times on visits to Victoria and always enjoyed it plus the terrific membership. Still not diggin' on the clam juice cocktails at the 19th.
Best,
Peter
We have such a great membership. I have enjoyed my 6+ years of work there mostly because of how well I am treated by the members. Do you know Russ from Sherwood? A few members were down there a month or so ago for a birthday celebration and they all struggled at Sherwood.
PS. No more clam juice cocktails!
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Allan Minto
Age: 47
Home: Edinburgh, Scotland
Occupation: Golf Tourism Consultant
Member: Craigielaw GC, East Lothian
Handicap: 4
Email: allan.minto@btopenworld.com
I have worked in the golf industry for just over 30 years, since becoming an Assistant Professional at Musselburgh GC in 1977. Moved on to Gullane GC and later became Head Pro at Royal Musselburgh, before returning to school in the early nineties, after becoming a bit disillusioned in the job.
Currently spend my time working (use that term loosely, as I get far too much pleasure for it to be work) with the golf industry in East Lothian, helping them develop their excellent golf product and maintaining their website, www.golfeastlothian.com.
Handicap has risen to 4 in recent years, as I struggle to play regularly but get more enjoyment than ever being outdoors, in good company, appreciating the surroundings.
Welcome aboard Allan
I must have come across you in the past during visits to Gullane and Royal Musselburgh. Congratulations on your work on the golfeastlothain website, which I have always found a useful tool when researching the lesser known courses in the area.
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Thanks Andrew, It has been 28 years since I worked at Gullane and just a few years later at Royal Musselburgh but I'm happy to be back working with them and the many other outstanding courses in East Lothian.
Glad you found our website useful. I'm lucky that the local government authority is very supportive towards golf tourism but sadly many other regions in Scotland have been forced to stop their golf marketing activities due to a lack of funding.
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Newbie of course...
South Bend, IN, male, almost 40, married with three boys 18, 15 and 11 (the two youngest are golf freaks like their old man), I like long walks onthe beach, ur, uh, this is sounding like a singles' ad.
I have played golf off and on since I was about 15, with a few breaks of a year or two for elbow problems and also generally very busy life at the time. I usually shoot in the low 90's or high 80's (yes, for 18 holes), but I confess that I do not keep an established official handicap. Mostly I enjoy playing golf with a few of my buddies, with my two sons that like golf, or simply by myself; as I travel via car for work a bit here and there in the Midwest, I like nothing better than to pull off onto a country road in pursuit of a not-yet-played-by- me golf course marked only by a small white sign on the side of the road.
I haven't played a lot of the more famous courses...Arcadia Bluffs is probably the biggest name that I have played. Mostly due to my kids' sports and activities, we don't do a lot of travelling where I have time for golf, but this is changing.
I have begun to really study golf course architecture the last couple of years, have read many many books on the subject and have lurked around this site simply reading, decided to try and contribute a bit. I am pretty traditional in my golf and my architecture preferences; I still only carry 10-12 clubs at a time in a Sunday Bag, always walk courses, and usually appreciate the round whether I score well or not. Golfing beats working, everytime.
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Welcome John,
living in South Bend and with your last name, I hope your a Notre Dame fan. I am a die hard ND football fan from birth, not related to Frank Leahy officially but my dad swears he is in our familty tree somewhere. I have never been to Southbend but I am planning to get back for game in the near future and hopefully we can play a round of golf at ND's home course, I hear it's a great track, there have been some reviews of it on this website. If you ever get out here to No. California, maybe for a Stanford/ND game let me know and I can find some good courses for you to play.
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First time Poster here...
Name - Bobby Jones (my loving golf buddies gave me the nickname "Name Only")
Handicap - 5
Age - 30
Home - Santa Monica, CA
Work - financial advisor
School - Villanova Univ.
Home Course - LACC
What a great site, thanks for letting me join. Have a newly found appreciation for architecture, but my overall knowledge is somewhat limited. Want to improve on that. I'm quickly learning that i prefer the "classic" designs over the newer ones.
Got into golf when i turned 20, now i'm addicted. Trying to get out and see as many different courses as i can these days. I used to play my home course 99% of the time. Never played a golf course i didn't like, just some are better than others.
My 10 Favorite courses i've played (in no particular order):
Los Angeles Country Club
Riviera CC
Pine Valley
Cypress Point
Merion
Olympic (lake)
Pacific Dunes
Chicago G.C.
Shoreacres
Valley Club
Courses i'm about to play next week:
Shadow Creek (haven't played), San Francisco GC (haven't played) and Olympic
Planning a trip to long island this year. can't wait. hopefully next year i'm going to get out to ireland and scotland
Bobby
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So I've been here for a while...Registered in 2003, when I was 16 and lurked for probably a couple years before that. Never really posted much, as you see, but I visit whenever I can; so at least once a day, ha. Started playing golf when I was six, my dad played and we had a family membership at the local 9 hole country club (Perry G&CC, Perry, IA). By about 7th grade I was in love with the game and my buddies and I would play 54+ holes a day every day during the summer.
Welcome Mark. I used to play in that tournament at Perry G&CC in the early 80's. My memory of the course consists of a creek and a barbed wire fence that marked out of boundsbeyond a downhill par three. I suspect I did not play well.
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Joey Smith - 44
I have worn bucket hats since the 80's
If you're going to visit middle Tennessee - give me a call
And - ROLL TIDE!!!!
Definitely Hillbilly material.
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Jeff Grossman
Age:37
Occupation: Golf Course Architect
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Reside: West Palm Beach, Florida
Handicap: 0
Been playing golf since I was 13 and have always wanted to get into the design side of the golf business. Received a B.S. in Landscape Architecture from Washington State University. Worked as Assistant Superintendent at Seattle Golf Club for several years before getting into the design side of things.
Am always open to get together for golf!
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Jeff,
Have you worked on anything in the Seattle area, or PNW for that matter?
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Sean,
The only thing that I have done in the Seattle area, is the re-design of the 18th at Seattle Golf Club. The club wanted to expand the first landing area and add some bunkers. I would love to get an opportunity in the PNW!
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Jeff Grossman
Age:37
Occupation: Golf Course Architect
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Reside: West Palm Beach, Florida
Handicap: 0
Been playing golf since I was 13 and have always wanted to get into the design side of the golf business. Received a B.S. in Landscape Architecture from Washington State University. Worked as Assistant Superintendent at Seattle Golf Club for several years before getting into the design side of things.
Am always open to get together for golf!
Jeff -
Great to see you here - it's been a long time... Check your Personal Messages.
Best,
Steve Lovett
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Jeff,
Welcome to the site. Any projects in the works, or completed projects? How long have you been in practice? Best of luck.
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Ed,
We currently have 2 projects under construction (Florida,Georgia) with another one in Florida that is waiting for re-approval of the water permit(long story). Also we are looking at a couple of potential projects in the Caribbean and currently in the design stage on another.
I have been in the business for 10 yrs and have completed 7 projects in that time. Now that I am on the site I will be posting photos of some of our current projects.
Jeff
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Hey I am a very lucky guy . I work at a great public course in Vancouver BC and I am a member at the best private club in the same city . Golf is the best thing that ever happened to me and I owe it every thing . Last July I was fortunate to play Pine Valley . All I can say it was better than I ever thought it would be . My personal favorites are :
Pine Valley
Pebble Beach
Royal Dornorch
The TPC
Capilano
The Old Course
Bandon Dunes
Ballybunion
The Plantation in Indio CA
Royal Colwood
North Berwick
If you ever get to Vancouver give me a call .
sandysmith99@gmail.com
PS. Furry Creek is the worst course ..... hands down .
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Age: 27
Occupation: Attorney (Complex Litigation and Appellate)
Originally from: Long Island, NY
Currently resides: Washington, DC
Handicap: 20-25 (unofficial)
My interest in golf came from my father, who I had a very tenuous relationship with for some time, and picked up the game as a way to reconnect with my father. Since my job and the weather keeps me from playing golf as much as I'd like, I've done the next best thing - and become a serious study of the game, particularly architecture and aesthetics.
My two current golf-related goals:
1) to become a 15 handicapper. I originally wanted to achieve this by the end of the year, but having not had a day off work (including weekends) since February 2nd, this may require more time :)
2) to make the following trips in the next 5 years: Bandon, Scotland, NC Sandhills, Monterrey Peninusla, Nebraska Sandhills. Also, to play a top 100 private golf course.
If anyone is in the DC area, or is visiting the DC area, feel free to message me. I'm also a bit of a foodie, and at minimum I can give great restaurant advice.
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If anyone is in the DC area, or is visiting the DC area, feel free to message me. I'm also a bit of a foodie, and at minimum I can give great restaurant advice.
Justin,
Welcome to the site. I lived in DC for 5 years while in college. As a Philadelphian living down there, I'm still looking for that great reastuarant in DC ;D
Jason
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Age: 41
Occupation: Accountant/Controller
Originally from: Long Island, NY
Currently resides: Ramsey (Bergen County), NJ
Handicap: 18
We live in the Ramsey Golf and Country Club area of Ramsey. The course was originally a 9 hole design by Hal Purdy which was expanded to 18 holes in 1994 by Ron Cutlip. What the course may lack in world class architecture is made up but the club being a wonderful family oriented club, with a great junior program. My wife has won most improved the last two years (once in the 9 hole Ladies group, and last year in the 18 hole womans group) and I have already caddied for her twice on Championship Day. My 11 year old is very active in the Junior program.
So....it is only a matter of time until I am the third best golfer in the household.
Having a family that enjoys the passion though is great as we will often organize our vacations around golf (off to Scottsdale in a few weeks where we have the C&C We-Ko-Pa course on the rotation).
I've taken an interest in GCA over the last few years and think this site is fantastic. Very much looking forward to contributing....
Jim
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Sandy,
Good to have another local on the board!
You will not find any argument on this site about Furry Creek. Sean Leary has the same opinion as you. I have never played it, mainly because of what everyone says about it.
Regards,
Bob Jenkins
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Ben Stephens
Age: 31
Occupation: Architect
From: Oakham, Rutland, England
Handicap: 5
I am an ARB registered architect primarily working on buildings and work for a practice in Nottingham.
I have carried out golf course design work with benstephensdesign - firstly a masterplan to expand a 27 hole course to a 36 hole course at Greetham Valley back in 1996/7 when I was 19, I got the job by showing the owner my sketches of numerous new golf courses!. I have since then done minor improvements.
My first and only complete 18 hole golf course design is up at Rutland Water Golf Course nr. Manton, Rutland which was opened for play last May. The front nine can be visible on current Google Earth image with the back 9 under construction with the digger building the 16th green! I am still currently improving the course, hopefully for the next few years.
My email is benstephensdesign@msn.com
My golf honours - I have played for Leicestershire and Rutland U18, Dundee University and Nottingham University in BUSA championships. I am a member of Greetham Valley 1st team in the South Lincs Scratch League.
My favourites are: Carnoustie, Golf House Club (Elie), North Berwick, Brancaster, Notts, Woodhall Spa, Ganton, Royal Porthcawl.
GCA is a great source of information!!
Ben
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To avoid further confusion between the real "Mike Sweeney" and me ;D
Mike Sweeney
Age: 21
Home: Long Island, NY (Mets, Jets, Rangers, Knicks ::))
Occupation: Golf Professional
favorite courses are Douglaston Golf Club, Garden City Golf Club, Newport Country Club, Rockaway Hunt Club, Mid Pines, National Golf Links, Quogue Field Club, Shelter Island Country Club, Downback Golf Club, Hay Harbor Golf Club, Palmetto Golf Club
I have learned alot from this discussion group, and feel there is no better learning tool out there. Many thanks to those who contribute.
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bump
To any of the new members in case you want to let us know who you are. I noticed that I had to revise mine today, so I thought I would give others the chance as well. Welcome to the new people.
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I'll bite...
Name: Chris Garrett
Age: 27
Home: Princeton, NJ
Occupation: Finance
Handicap - 5-6 (unofficial)
My first memories of golf were hitting some sawed off clubs at the local driving range with my father when I was 5-6 years old and living in the snowbelt east of Cleveland. He always said how beautiful my baseball swing was, and this carried over to golf. I'd dink it out 100 yards, and drew my first comments from "admirers." Since that time, I've been hooked. While attending the '94 US Open at Oakmont, I picked up a copy of the program and read the bio of Bob Ford. I knew at that instant that I wanted to be a PGA Professional when I grew up. Soon after, I read about Penn State (my father's alma mater and always be first choice) having one of four PGM programs in the country. It was fate. I worked at the local golf course in Cleveland when I was old enough (Chardon Lakes), and ramped up my junior golf skills.
At Penn State, I was fortunate enough to intern at the Inverness Club and Whistling Straits. Inverness is still my favorite course that I have played. It was the first time that I stepped on a course which required you to think about every shot you hit, and how that would set up the next shot. Whistling was great, I informally met Pete Dye, and got to play all four courses at the resort on an almost daily basis. It was during these times that golf course architecture grabbed my interest and that I initially found this site (although I will admit, initially I focused on the Courses by Country section).
My final internship came at TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton NJ, and I landed there after graduation as an Assistant Pro for 3+ years. The corporate nature of the PGA Tour, and what I saw as a difficult future for the game, led me to seek different career prospects. I'm completely happy now. My game may not be to the standard which I was once held for myself, but I am much happier playing free of any sort of need to constantly impress members and playing partners.
My list of top courses which I have played is weak compared to most on this wonderful site:
Inverness Club
Whisting Straits
Blackwolf Run (River)
Kiawah (Ocean Course)
Gallaway National
My wish list is:
Cypress Point
Merion
Pine Valley
St. Andrews
Pacific Dunes
I'm currently completely intrigued by Sleepy Hollow and Myopia Hunt Club, and learning about the Lido.
Having recently joined the discussion group here, my interests in all things golf and golf course architecture history have been renewed. That means, in particular, building my library of golf and golf course architecture books and magazines; this site has, of course, been an invaluable source.
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Age: 49
Home: Central Coast, CA (http://www.golfslo.com/)
Occupation: Software Engineer
Family: Married 24 yrs, Son 22, Daughter 21.
Index: 2.5
Years Playing: 3
Activities: Golf, Hockey, Snowboarding, Hiking, Birding
Favorite Courses Played: Bandon (all 3), Prince (Kauai), Big Sky (Permberton), Monarch Dunes, Hunter Ranch, La Purisima.
Goals: Break 70 before I'm 50 (on a challenging course)
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You know, it's hard to believe I've viewed these topics (threads) on GCA.com for close to 10 years now. I'm sure I've done this WAYG's before but no reason not to reintroduce myself.
Name: Raymond Cross
Home: Berwyn, PA
Home course: Chester Valley GC
Age: 71
Married/Kids: yes & yes
Occupation: retired
History: After moving around the country for several years, we finally landed in Berwyn, joined CVGC and I became active as a volunteer in GAP. I was lucky enough to be elected to the Executive Committee where I met the (unknown-at-the-time) well-known Tom Paul and he started me as an active member of GCA.
One of the first GCA outings with Ran was at Innescrone (sp) with Gil Hanse.
Anyway, sometime in the early 2000's, I got away from GCA; too much time screen-sucking, I guess. But I began to miss it and contacted Ran to get reinvolved.
And, Boy, did I get involved......right in the middle of reading all those Merion threads.
TEPaul has not lost his typing ability, in fact, his speed must be over 180 words per minute by now and a lot of the same names are as active as ever. More power to you guys (Mike, Pat, Dan, to mention just a few)...if you have the passion, say it.
Glad to be back. Thanks
Ray
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Hi Ray -
I'm the guy who joined you and the super John for a round at Lehigh back in 2001 the day after the Inniscrone outing. Welcome back.
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Hey George,
Yes, I remember....some golf course. Was only back there once since. I see you have remained active and involved.
Pittsburgh, right?
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Tony Gorski
Age: 38
Married
Kids: None yet
Education: Marquette University (BS Engineering), University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (MBA)
Occupation: President, Supply Chain consulting firm
Location: Denver, CO (via WI, NC, ATL)
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Home Course: Bear Creek Golf Club
Handicap: 5.0
Favorite Courses Played:
- Royal County Down
- Royal Portrush
- Bandon Trails
- Portstewart
- Waterville
- Portmarnock
- Pine Needles
- Erin Hills
- Colorado Golf Club
- Merion
- Oakmont
Courses Most Wanted To Play:
- Royal Melbourne
- NGLA
- Swinley Forest
- Sebonack
- Sand Hills
- Friars Head
I've had a chance to play many of the great courses of the world. It is in playing those courses and studying my likes and dislikes that fuels my passion for great architecture.
Own a golf firm with a couple of gents and am looking to build minimalist course on sandy soil in the U.S. I'm a fan of classic design. I appreciate the Dye's and Fazio's of the world, but slant towards the Golden Age, C&C, Doak, etc.
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James Boon
Age 31
Married and no kids
Other interests include watching football (Man Utd and the Rams) and cricket (Derbyshire and England), listening to music (too varied to mention but listening to a lot of Pixies, Smiths, Bloc Party at the moment), reading all sorts of books and at the moment working on improvements to the house we have just moved to, so not playing as much golf as I should!
I was born in Nottingham, went to university in Leicester and now live in Derby, so the East Midlands of England are pretty much home. Anyone who finds themselves in the area and fancies a game, get in touch...
Play off 7 at Horsley Lodge GC near Derby, though I'm also a member at Burnham & Berrow GC in Somerset which is where the inlaws used to live. I say used to live as they moved not long after I joined but I love links golf so much I keep renewing the membership. I hope to meet up with Sean Arble (who some of you should recognise from here) for a game but haven't managed to make it that way for a while, sorry Sean.
I've played golf since I was 14 and always wanted to be a golf course architect but found myself becoming an architect (of buildings rather than golf courses) instead. I keep hoping that one day I will get the time (and courage) to make a few suggestions at Horsley Lodge which I think would make a potentially good course even better...
My favourite courses that I've played are:
- Notts aka Hollinwell
- Royal Dornoch
- Royal West Norfolk aka Brancaster
- Brora
- Cavendish
- Painswick
- Burnham & Berrow
I've probably read about more great golf courses and their architects than I have actually managed to find the time to play, but all in good time! My brother has just moved to Edinburgh, so I'm hoping to play a lot more golf around there in the near future. He is a PGA professional and has just set up The Edinburgh Golf Shop on Hanover Street, just off Princes Street. If anyone find themselves in the area pop in, ask for Dave and mention me, and he'll probably do you a deal!
I like searching out Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie and James Braid courses to play. I just wish we had more (if any) courses by the likes of Tom Doak, Pete Dye and C&C to play in this country? One day I'd love to be able to make the trip over to Long Island and play some of the classic courses there: NGLA, Shinnecock, Garden City, Bethpage Black, Maidstone, The Creek etc. but I know its not as easy as that...
In the mean time I will entertain myself playing some of the fine courses we do have in this country and I'll let you all know about them as I do, though not sure if I'll be able to match Sean's photos and analysis!
Cheers,
James
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The new guy here....
Jim Tang
Age: 36
Home: Chicago Burbs
Email: jtang@elmhurst.k12.il.us
Occupation: Teacher
Index: Used to be 5.0 but Headed Northward Alarmingly Fast
Years Played: 25
I am just happy to be part of this forum. I've taught sixth grade social studies and English for 13 years. I also coach basketball. In the summers I spend my time as a caddie at Black Sheep Golf Club in Sugar Grove, Illinois. What a tremendous place to be for the summers.
I've played golf since I was 11, growing up only 5 minutes from a public course. I've got 170 courses under my belt, almost all public facilities. I especially enjoy minimalism design and therefore, lean towards guys like Doak and Coore/Crenshaw.
My favorite courses I've played are...
1. Pacific Dunes
2. Whistling Straits - Straits
3. Bandon Dunes
4. Blackwolf Run - River
5. Arcadia Bluffs
6. Sea Island - Seaside
7. World Woods - Pine Barrens
8. Bandon Trails
9. Paa-Ko-Ridge
10. Blackwolf Run - Meadow Valleys
I have a trip to Ireland 2009 in the planning stages so I am sure my top 10 will see some new entries. I am looking forward to contributing to the community.
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Welcome, Jimbo. I'm glad you finally made it on board.
As a long-standing member of my golfing triumvirate (after years of trying, we've yet to find a suitable fourth), I can vouch for Mr. Tang. He has a tufted puffin headcover, so he can't be all bad.
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James Boon
Age 31
My favourite courses that I've played are:
- Notts aka Hollinwell
- Royal Dornoch
- Royal West Norfolk aka Brancaster
- Brora
- Cavendish
- Painswick
- Burnham & Berrow
Cheers,
James
James
an interesting list. I expect Bill McBride has pencilled your name down with a big tick against it. I had the pleasure of Painswick with Sean Arble. It was a good combination - memorable and unique but not quite in the favourite list.
James B
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I guess I missed this thread when I joined up.
Name: Matt Bosela
Age: 35
Location: St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Married
Kids: First one on the way! Little boy!
Education: University of Western Ontario (Sociology/Business)
Occupation: Vice President - Paper/Industrial Packaging/Sanitation Supplies Wholesaler
Hometown: Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
Home Course: St. Catharines G&CC (Stanley Thompson)
Handicap: 1.1 (lowest I've ever been and highly unlikely to stay this way for long) :)
Favorite Courses Played:
- Oakmont
- Riviera
- St. George's (Toronto)
- Lookout Point
- Muskoka Bay
- Tanglewood Park (Championship)
- Warren Course at Notre Dame
- Thornhill (Toronto)
- East Aurora CC (hidden gem outside Buffalo)
- Ocean Course at Hammock Beach
- Princeville (Prince Course)
Courses Most Wanted To Play (semi-realistic list):
- Bandon Dunes/Pacific Dunes/Bandon Trails
- Ancaster (Hamilton G&CC)
- Cape Breton Highlands
- Jasper Park/Banff
- Niagara Falls CC (Tillinghast)
- Oak Hill
- Muirfield Village/Scioto/Firestone (in the planning stages right now)
- Ireland trip
- Scotland trip
- Australia/New Zealand trip
Courses Most Wanted to Play (or even walk & photograph) - (unrealistic list):
- Merion
- Winged Foot
- PV
- Ballyneal
- Sand Hills
- NGLA/Shinnecock
- Crystal Downs
- Cypress/MPCC
I'm not as well-travelled as most on this site but I've really developed a great interest in GCA over the past few years. As I get older, I'm finding a bit more time to branch out and get to some of the great courses of the world and look forward to more adventures in the future.
I was lucky enough to play Riviera and Oakmont last year and I plan on writing about both experiences here soon. I've also had the opportunity to play some golf with a fellow GCA'er in Robert Thompson and I've also had the pleasure of talking with Ian Andrew on a few occasions.
I'm an avid writer and hope to be able to make some contributions to the forums here about the great courses or great experiences I've had in golf.
Hopefully, I can get more involved with everyone here on the site and perhaps even join you for one of the many group events sometime in the near future.
Thanks to Ran for having me!
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James B
I need to ask, as I'm still new around here: should I be worried that Bill McBride may have put a big tick against my name...
Painswick certainly isn't the best course I've ever played but I really enjoyed it which is why I put it on my favourites list, and can't wait to go back!
Cheers
James (my B omitted for clarity)
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As with above posters I thought I should add my name to this thread.
Name: Andrew Bertram
Age: 39
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Married
Kids: 2 boys, 4 years and 4 months
Occupation: Head Professional The Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Favorite Courses Played:
- Cypress Point
- NGLA
- Royal Dornoch
- Royal County Down
- Royal Melbourne West
- San Francisco
- North Berwick West
- Old Course
- Shinnecock Hills
- Valley Club
- Barwon Heads
- The Golf Club
- Gleneagles Kings
Grew up 200 metres from Victoria's first green and developed a love for golf and it's great courses from an early age. Spent 2 years caddying on PGA Tour when a young lad and then 6 years as assistant Pro at Royal Melbourne before taking up Head Professional positions over the past decade.
Have a passion for travelling to new wonderful courses and take member groups on trips to assist in seeing new courses as well when I am business trips I always stay over to explore nearby courses.
I have played 67 of Golf Magazines 2007 Top 100 in the world with dreams of one day completing it.
Enjoy reading the great majority of forums and adding comment where i feel i can add to the discussion.
I look forward to many years of posting.
Thanks to Ran for such a wonderful discussion group.
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Name: Jon Winick
Age: 33
Location: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Banker/Commercial RE Investor
Home Course: Olympia Fields
Index: 8.7
I've enjoyed reading this site for over a year and am glad that Ran let another OFCC guy in. I'm probably a golfer first, but I've learned to really appreciate the architecture. Since I love architecture as its part of my profession, it's only natural to combine two loves.
Favorite Courses:
Whisting Straights
Engineers Country Club
Holston Hills
Blackwolf Run (River)
OFCC North
OFCC South
Beverly
Hope to play:
Chicago Golf
Medinah #3 (scheduled in late August)
Pine Valley
Shinnecock
NGLA
The Old Course
Royal Country Down
Merion
Augusta National
Seminole
Carnoustie
Crystal Downs (scheduled in late September)
Los Angeles Country Club
Garden City (scheduled in September)
and just about any golf course with good company.
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I have been reading this site for over about a year now and finally decided to get involved myself. It has been a truly educational and interesting experience that I hope will continue. Here is a little bit of info about myself.
My name is Robert Warren and I am from Lafayette, California (East Bay Area). I am twenty-one years old and I am currently attending school in Dallas at SMU. I am a Finance and Economics double major and will be graduating this upcoming spring. I currently work a few days a week down here in Dallas at Dallas Country Club. It is an interesting courses that I am sure has had some very mixed reviews. I have played out of Contra Costa Country Club in Pleasant Hill, CA. I became extremely interested in the subject of GCA when the California Golf Club underwent a complete renovation/restoration by Kyle Phillips which has just recently been completed.
Tilden Park, Berkeley (Played there as a kid)
Cal Club, South San Francisco
SFGC, San Francisco
Pebble Beach, Monterey
Western Gailes, Scotland
Prestwick, Scotland
Carnoustie, Scotland
Kingsbarns, Scotland
Valderrama, Spain
Makena North, Maui (sentimental value)
Sea Island, Seaside Course
Stanford GC, Stanford, CA
TPC Scottsdale, Phoenix
Troon North, Phoenix
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Robert:
Welcome! Its good to have another Mustang on the board. What's the current feeling about June Jones' chances of turning the Ponies around this year?
Ed
(SMU Class of 83')
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Ed,
Thanks for the welcome. The outlook is much better than it has ever been since I have been on the campus. Probably not quite like what it was back in the 80's but at least things are looking up. I guess the most important thing is that the school seems fairly excited about football again. I guess the first test will be this Saturday against Rice. I'm not sure if they are any good but hopefully we will give them a good game. I guess the true tell will be in a couple years when a few of Jones' recruits will have to time to learn under him. All we can do is hope. Are you still in the Dallas area!?!?
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Name: David Stewart
Age: 25
Home: Lafayette, IN
Email: stewartd@purdue.edu
Occupation: In graduate school at Purdue for Chemistry (also got B.S. from Purdue in Chem)
Married/kids: Yes/No
Home Course: Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex with two courses (Kampen Course - Dye, and Ackerman Hills - Diddle)
Index: 10-11 (unofficial)
History: Been playing golf since I was about 10. I have not traveled to play much being a poor graduate student so I have played mostly in state. Best course I have played would be Crooked Stick and I have toured Victoria National. Wish list is similar to most (PV, CPC, NGLA, TOC probably top four). I got married in March and have a year or two left of graduate school before I will begin the job search. Have really just gotten the architecture itch in the last couple months. It has been a joy to learn from everyone here. My uncle (I'll leave him anonymous unless someone guesses but our last names are different so it may be hard) was a frequent GCA poster but has been silent for a while. Pretty much chemistry and sports (golf and others) take up most of my days. Thanks for letting me hang around and I hope to learn much more in the coming months/years.
DS
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I think I responded to this a few years back, but may I now use this thread to shamelessly plug my newly improved website? Every piece of music I have ever released commercially can now be auditioned at www.lloydcole.com, along with a whole bunch more stuff including some flattering photos from many years ago. I should add that I did all the design work myself, and 90% of the legwork, I only subcontracted for Javascript expertise and weblog database architecture.
And to update the rest
Lloyd Cole - age 47
Easthampton, MA
Member of Wycoff CC
Handicap 6.2
Married, 2 children
Two time College drop out (University College, London and Glasgow)
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Apologies for the late introduction.
Name: Davis Wildman, age 49
Home: Floyd, Va...bedroom community to Blacksburg, VA.
Married/Kids: yes/yes...ages 8 and 5. I got a late start.
Golf: Don't get to play much. Studying the game...love to watch it and read about golf course architecture.
Occupation: Entrepreneur/consultant-golf course development/information management, technology specific.
Formal Education: Land Planning/Geographical Information Systems grad school.
Education by fire: Distinct privilege of working on lots of notable courses in the US and hope to find my way abroad on others I've only heard of or read about.
How I found GCA: Mike Nuzzo gets the credit...can't thank him enough. I enjoy the site postings immensely...you guys tell it like it is and then some. I can always count on a good laugh here, as well as learning more about gca and all other things golf...and then some.
Many thanks...look forward to more good stuff here.
Davis Wildman
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Hey George,
Yes, I remember....some golf course. Was only back there once since. I see you have remained active and involved.
Pittsburgh, right?
Yep. And I'm embarrassed it took me this long to see you response and respond in kind. Apologies.
James B
I need to ask, as I'm still new around here: should I be worried that Bill McBride may have put a big tick against my name...
Painswick certainly isn't the best course I've ever played but I really enjoyed it which is why I put it on my favourites list, and can't wait to go back!
Cheers
James (my B omitted for clarity)
James, you needn't worry, Bill is one of the many great guys on this site. James probably just noted a similarity in course affinity.
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Name: Charlie Goerges
Age: 29
Home: Breezy Point, MN
Email: ccgoerges@hotmail.com
Education: B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN
Occupation: Technical Writer/Graphic Designer
Married: Yes
Kids: Two girls (11 months and almost 3 years)
Home Course: I wish ::)
Index: unfortunately not
Other hobbies: reading, drawing (badly), photography, woodworking with old hand tools (this has devolved into antique tool collecting)
I want to say that I am very pleased to be a member of this discussion group. I came across the site during my (as yet unfinished) research into getting a golf course built on my family’s land. When I first saw the site I was only interested in the course profiles but eventually found my way to reading the discussion board. Lately, I’ve found myself wishing that I could ask questions and post replies.
Now for a bit of biographical information not already covered above. I have played golf regularly since I was about 13 (or from 13-25). When I do play (and play my own ball), I am liable to shoot anywhere from the upper seventies to the low nineties. Unfortunately I have not played any truly great golf courses and I’ve not really played all that many different courses. So I hope to add value by representing a complete beginner’s perspective and perhaps some comic relief through dumb questions.
One thing that I have been working on is a design exercise that I think the members of the group might enjoy tackling. I won’t go into too many details here because it is a bit difficult to explain and I’ve already gone on a bit long already. At any rate I’ll post a new thread for the exercise once I’ve got it a bit more polished.
All the best,
Charlie
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Charlie, I have to ask the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw your post. How do you pronounce your last name?
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Hi Jim,
It's pronounced "GORE-guess", but if it must be mis-pronounced my preference would be for "gorgeous" ;)
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John Handley
San Mateo, CA
Northwest Advertising Director
Sports Illustrated & SI.com
Home Clubs: California Golf Club, San Francisco, CA
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, North Plains, OR
Index: 5.1
Married w/ 2 small children
Texas Longhorn
Favorite Courses:
Royal County Down
Turnberry Ailsa
Pacific Dunes
Cabo Del Sol, Ocean Course
Pumpkin Ridge Witch Hollow
Pebble Beach
Muirfield
St. Andrews Old Course
Royal Portrush
The "new" Cal Club
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Pat Burke
46
Teaching pro / Director of kids non profit golf/education non profit
Third Generation Golf professional mom, dad, brothers, grandfather and his three brothers ;D
Lifelong architecture junkie Spent more time drawing golf courses in notebooks in school than taking the appropriate notes (which explains why I'm still teaching golf ;) )
Grew up in NJ NY, got to play some of the best courses on a regular basis (perks of golf pro family)
Favorite course USA Cypress Point Favorite course INTL Kingston Heath
Favorite area to play Melbourne sand belt Always felt I was a better player when I came home from Aus
Worked for 6+ years as a foreman/assistant Supt before giving playing a try
Designed a couple of holes..... Well, consulted on the redesign of a few holes..... well, talked to the designer about a couple things on his course...okay,okay looked at a few courses that were in the shaping process and got a tour, but as a former Tour member, doesn't that make me an architect??? ::)
Love architecture, was blessed to grow up in the NE and to experience some of the best in Aus and NZ
Really would love to get involved in some way in Golf course design, but for now, just love looking and learning about it
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Michael Cote
48
Retired/disabled Navy Vet..22 years..still work with boats at a marina in New England.
Two sons 21 and 19 (both play and are nipping at my heels)
Play to a 6.1
Took a lot of time off golf between the Military and family in my 20's 30's once the kids had grown and wanted to play, I returned to it with a new fever....
Played a lot of courses and always wondered why a designer did certain things so I thought I would look for a forum like this with the hopes of learning. Active on other forums more to my educational background..ships captain/master and Navigation.
Played St Andrews (Old course) I have to admit I was pretty nervous and in constant awe of where I was playing..carded a 84 :(
I too would love to start a second career in some way connected with golf, after some 5000 total days at sea...I'd rather walk on Land for a while ;D
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Jon Heise
Just south of Detroit
26
hcp of 8-10
Wayne State Univ, 2005
work in the insurance industry
Ive been playing about 6 years, lurking this site for about 3. I get about 80-100 rounds a year. I realized early that Im not going to be a scratch player (at least for a while...), but I can play a lot of really great and historical courses. My list is about 110 played. Ive played a lot of great ones in Michigan, Im looking to head south to play some of the best on the Atlantic coast.
Some of the best Ive played:
Crystal Downs
Greywalls
Kingsley Club
Pinehurst No. 2
Grosse Ile Golf & CC
Kiawah Ocean Course
Tanglewood Park
Dunes Golf and Beach Club
Tobacco Road
Caledonia
Love Ross, RTJ and Strantz
Looking to play:
Angel's Crossing
High Pointe
Bethpage Black and Red
Oakmont
French Lick
Oakland Hills
Franklin Hills
Yeamans Hall
Harbour Town
Bright's Creek
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Name: Deucie Bies
Age: 30
Location: Orlando, FL
Occupation: Attorney
Home Course: Lake Nona Golf Club
Index: 7.2
I have enjoyed visiting this website during the past few years and am happy Ran has added me to the discussion group. I really enjoy learning about golf architecture and playing different types of courses and hope to continue to learn more through this website.
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I think the first time I posted on one of these was at least 4 years ago so I decided to update my profile, maybe others will as well:
Name: Cory Lewis
Age: 28
Location: Wilmington,DE
Married
HDCP: 0
Occupation: 1st Assistant Golf Professional, DuPont Country Club
In my years of being a golf professional I have worked at some golf courses with great architecture, both classic and modern, and I have worked at some with just awful architecture.
I had the pleasure of working at the soon to be NLE Beechtree Golf Club for two years, I had two small outings at Beechtree for GCA'ers and many of those people that I met at those outings are very good friends today.
I have been very fortunate in my life to play some of the best courses in the world but my favorite course will always be Royal Dornoch.
I think I have played golf with at least 30 people from GCA and every single one of them was a gentlemen, and a pleasure to play with. Many thanks to Ran for creating such a fantastic site with a tremendous group of people.
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Think I posted on one of these threads when I joined a few years ago, but here it is again:
Name: G Jones
Age: 25
Location: London SW1
Occupation: Management Consultancy - Supply Chain
Home Clubs: Panmure and Deal
Favorite Courses played, in no particular order:
- Pine Valley
- ANGC
- Merion
- Shinnecock
- Carnoustie
- Pebble Beach
- St Andrews
- Muirfield
- Deal
- North Berwick
- Cruden Bay
- Panmure
- East Lake
- Lehigh
- Walton Heath
- Peachtree
- Yale
- Pinehurst no.2
Courses that I'd kill to play:
- Cypress
- NGLA
- Garden City
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...
Courses that I'd kill to play:
- Cypress
- NGLA
- Garden City
Wow, I'm glad I'm not in a position to obtain access for you for any of these. ;D
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bump for some of the new members
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Anthony Gray
Married again.....14 month old daughter
Handicap 11.3
Only keep score in weekend Low-ball
Chattanooga TN
44 years old
I love to set the pins with the crew in the morning
Dentist with ambitions to be a cart boy
Noncompetitive golfer
Yearly Scotland visits
Father-in-law former caddie at Teeth of the Dog
Top 5 favorite courses
1 Cruden Bay
2 Cruden Bay
3 Cruden Bay
4 Cruden Bay
5 Tie Pacific Dunes and Cruden Bay
Honored and Humbled to be include in the discussion group.
Love the idea of annual meetings.
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Abraham ("Abe") Summers
Age: 26
Married, no kids yet.
Hometown: Philadelphia
Currently reside: Spring City Resort, Kunming, China
I work for PGA Magazine in Asia and handle a lot of work coordinating PGA of America and China Golf Association (CGA) cooperation.
Handicap: About 18, but improving, hoping to be a regular in the 80s by next year.
Some of the best I've played:
Ballybunion & Waterville (both are outstanding)
PGA Centennial Course (Formerly the Monarch's at Gleneagles)
Spring City Lake Course
Galloway National
I dream of playing:
Merion
Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes
Mid Ocean Club
Bayonne
Liberty National
Cobb's Creek
Go back to Ireland and play everything there!
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Shane Wright
Age - 33 (Updated July 2010)
Location - Minneapolis, MN (via MO, KS, TX, NC, FL)
Married - 15 month old son
Education - Texas Tech University B.B.A. Marketing/Finance
Occupation - multifamily real estate development
Handicap - slowly creeping up after being a 0 for a number of years
Home Club - I'm a nomad - but play a lot on 1-2 trips each year
Favorite Courses Played - no order
RCD
Portrush
Ballybunion
Waterville
Muirfield
TOC
Dornoch
Pacific Dunes
Prairie Dunes
Sand Hills
Wild Horse
Ballyneal
Most Want to Play
Cruden Bay
Sunningdale
Cape Kidnappers
Turnberry
Old MacDonald
NGLA, CPC, SFC, ANGC, Merion, Oakmont, Shinnecock - the obvious ones
2001 - scheduled my first trip across the pond right after the sudden and drastic passing of my mother to leukemia. This truly was the start of my affection of golf architecture and design.
Love Maxwell, CC, Doak, really want to get to more Ross courses, and definitely CB's. I also have really enjoyed Brauer's two northern MN gems.
Dream - build an ageless goat track somewhere in the U.S. - already have the name, but I'm not foolish enough to think I could design it.
Any of you that come visit the Twin Cities area, send me a note and we will get out somewhere. If its in Jan/Feb - we might have to resort to dark beverages.
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I'm posting information only because I enjoy reading what everyone else has volunteered.
Wade Whitehead
Age: 36
Location: Roanoke, VA
Happily married with two children (6 and 9)
Education: College of William & Mary (B.A.) & University of Virginia (M.Ed.)
Occupation: Educator
Handicap: 2
Home Club: Officially Countryside Golf Course (Roanoke), though I'm currently in (thus far unsuccessful) negotiations to convince my wife that joining Ballyhack is in our best interest(s)
Ten Courses I Enjoyed Playing:
The Cascades
Old Tabby Links
The Olde Farm
Primland
Harbor Town
Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon)
World Woods (Pine Barrens)
Conewango Valley Club
Old White
Royal New Kent
I would welcome the opportunity to play most of the great courses discussed at length on these boards. For the record, Pine Valley, Augusta National, Merion, Sand Hills, Ballyneal, Cypress Point, National Golf Links and Seminole are of particular interest and are invites I would gratefully accept.
I enjoy this site very much and appreciate the pleasure of interacting with so many qualified and interesting individuals. GCAers, give me a shout anytime you're in or near Roanoke and we'll get up a game.
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I must be on the old "who are you guys" thread because I could have swarn to have posted way back... So not a newbie per say.
Anyway, here goes:
Patrick H. Kiser
Age: 40 and DINK
Golfing Age: 8
Home: San Francisco, CA & Neuilly-Sur-Seine, FRANCE
Born: Fort Ord, CA
Raised: Orchies, FRANCE
Email: kiserph@yahoo.com
Occupation: Product Manager
Club: SF Resident Card
Alumni: U.C.S.D. (B.A. Math)
HCP: 18 but coming back to the 15 of last year...
Introduced to GCA by: Gib Papazian (save Sharp Park!)
First GC Ever Played: Real Del Mar, MX
Favorite Golf Course Book: Scottish Golf Links
Favorite Golf Architecture Book: Golf Architecture (MacKenzie)
Top 5 Favorite Courses Played:
- Pasatiempo
- Spyglass
- Pebble Beach
- Black Mesa
- Rawls
Courses Would Like To Play:
- St. Andrews
- Royal Dornoch
- NGLA
- Shinnecock
- Merion
- CPC
- SFGC
- Royal Melbourne
- Swinley Forest
- Cape Breton Highlands
- Ballyneal
- Bandon
Most Memorable Golf Experience: Cross country solo trip from SF to Miami
What I believe in golf wise:
- Water doesn't belong on a golf course (irrigation aside)
- Tree management
- Homes don't belong on a golf course
- Walking is preferred
- Match play
- You're only as good as your last shot...
GCA Dream: somehow ... someway ... fully restore Sharp Park. Dreaming's for free...
Golfing Dream: Playing King Putter, Dixie Cup and BUDA in the same year ... and not get divorced
Outside of golf...
Most Memorable Moment (outside of getting married to my lovely wife): 1998 World Cup Final in St.Denis ... France 3 - Brazil 0
Favorite Sport: Soccer (Allez les Bleus!!!)
Baseball Team: Padres
Football Team: Chargers
Hobbies: Travel, cooking, wine & spirits, photography, BMW 2002tiis
Background:
Been around the block a little. Born in Pacific Grove area (Fort Ord), raised in France then settled back in Carlsbad, CA around 17. Moved up to SF around 1999, moved to Hollywood, FL in 2005 but promptly moved back after Katrina, Rita, and Wilma triple whammy. Hopefully staying put for a long time ahead.
How Did I Get Hooked on Golf?
By accident actually. Around 1999 / 2000, my boss at the time basically told me I was going to be working with many vendors and would just have to learn the game. He gave me a blank check and told me to go buy some clubs. How do you like that? At the time, golfing sounded less interesting than watching bowling on TV. I had less than zero interest, but I decided to be open minded about it.
How Did I Get Into GCA?
When I hung up my soccer cleats around 2003 ... that's when I started to gain interest. I needed an oudoor outlet and golfing was starting to feel ... comfortable. However, the more I played ... the more I became interested in the courses themselves. So much so that when things starting going worse for Sharp Park, I decided to see what could be done about it. That's when I came across Gib and GCA. One thing led to another ... and here I am. Sad to say but not much has changed for Sharp Park. I don't post much. I tend to read more and try to learn more. On occasion I'll contribute. If anything, I'll ask questions.
Great site, great knowledge base, and great people!
Thanks Ran for keeping me on ;D
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bump
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George,
I'll see your bump, and raise you a bump.
Garland, Reply #270
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Adam E. Jeselnick
Age: 27
Home: Scottsdale, AZ
Born: Chesterton, IN
Occupation: Architect
Alumni: University of Notre Dame
First GC Ever Played: Mink Lake Golf Course, Valparaiso, IN
Favorite Golf Architecture Book: Anatomy of a Golf Course
Top 5 Favorite Courses Played:
-Pebble Beach
-St Andrew's Old Course
-Prestwick
-Kaluakoi
-We-Ko-Pa Saguaro
Courses I Would Like To Play:
-Cypress Point
-Pacific Dunes
-Crystal Downs
-Sebonack
-St. Andrew's Castle Course
Most Memorable Golf Experience:
Father-son trip to Scotland with my dad in 2004... unforgettable golf from a torrential downpour at Royal Dornoch, to a 6 pm tee time at Nairn; rounds at N. Berwick, TOC, and Prestwick; and nail-biting matches at Montrose, Cupar, and Millport... along with many non-golf related stops along the way.
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Kyle Henderson
Age: 29
No kids. No wife. Not gay. ==> 6ft.-tall, Swedish Nurse girlfriend
Started golfing in 2002 on an “as wallet allows” basis.
Hometown: Livermore, CA
Favorite word: stercoraceous
Occupation: Physiologist/Humble Badass
Alumni: U.C. Davis 2002 (B.S.), 2005 (M.S.)
Introduced to GCA: Played a video game version of Tobacco Road. That led me to look up the course online… From nerdy to nerdiest.
Favorite Golf Course Book: Alister MacKenzie’s Cypress Point Club
by Geoff Shackelford
Top 5 Favorite Courses Played:
Ballyneal (2008)
Bandon Trails (2008)
Pacific Dunes (2008)
Sand Hills (2008... It’s been a VERY good year)
Tobacco Road (2005)
Wish List:
U.S.
- Cypress Point Club
- Pine Valley
- NGLA
- Shinnecock
- Merion
- Oakmont
U.K.
- St. Andrews- Old Course
- Royal Dornoch
- Royal County Down
- Ballybunion-Old
- Sunningdale - Old
- Swinley Forest
-Meet more GCAers!!!
-Own a pet miniaturized elephant.
-Become more rich than stupid.
-Give up crack habit.
-Limit sarcasm.
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Matt O'Brien
Philadelphia Pa
21 yrs old golfing for 2 and a half years
Found GCA when I was looking up pine valley
Favorite courses played:
Pine Valley
Oakmont
Merion
NGLA
Shinny
Bandon
Pacific
Bandon trails
Aronimink
Huntingdon Valley
Wish List:
Cypress
Seminole (2 weeks)
Augusta
Always looking for game in philly
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Matt O'Brien
Philadelphia Pa
21 yrs old golfing for 2 and a half years
Found GCA when I was looking up pine valley
Favorite courses played:
Pine Valley
Oakmont
Merion
NGLA
Shinny
Bandon
Pacific
Bandon trails
Aronimink
Huntingdon Valley
Wish List:
Cypress
Seminole (2 weeks)
Augusta
Always looking for game in philly
Wow, this kid is a player and I have no idea how he plays golf! 8)
Matt,
Nice resume! ;)
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Andrew Hastie
age: 35
Home: Amsterdam,The Netherlands
Family: Married 4 years, 1 child,
Born: Sydney, Australia
Occupation: Teaching Professional Rosendaelsche G.C. (NL)
Played: 26 years
HCP: Lack of Talent
Favorite courses played:
Royal Melbourne west
Cypress Point
Pacific Dunes
Friars Head
TOC
Swinley Forest
Royal County Down
Plainfield
NSW
Wish List:
NGLA
Merion
Garden City
Sand Hills
Pine Valley
Oakmont
Royal Dornoch
Old Macdonald ;)
Most Memorable Golf Experiences:
Playing a European Tour Event, Dutch Open
Tee shots off the first at Cypress Point & TOC.
The first thing I do every morning is check out what's happening on GCA, I just wish I had more time and better typing skills to be able to post more often.
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Andrew Hastie
age: 35
...
Occupation: Teaching Professional Rosendaelsche G.C. (NL)
Played: 26 years
HCP: Lack of Talent
...
My apologies Andrew if this sounds critical, but my first laugh of the day was seeing the old saying "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." embodied in your post.
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Matt O'Brien
Philadelphia Pa
21 yrs old golfing for 2 and a half years
Found GCA when I was looking up pine valley
Favorite courses played:
Pine Valley
Oakmont
Merion
NGLA
Shinny
Bandon
Pacific
Bandon trails
Aronimink
Huntingdon Valley
Wish List:
Cypress
Seminole (2 weeks)
Augusta
Always looking for game in philly
Wow, this kid is a player and I have no idea how he plays golf! 8)
Matt,
Nice resume! ;)
Matt gets around. Helluva golfer too.
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Garland, Everyone has their calling! ;)
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Quite a few newcomers in the last couple weeks.
If you are new, could you please introduce yourselves, as others have done, so we can get to know you better?
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Alfonso Erhardt
Madrid, Spain
36, Single
Hcp 3
Occupation: Mezzanine lender
Cannot remember how I found out about GCA
Currently researching on Colt and Simpson in Spain + Javier Arana's life
Favorite courses in no particular order (haven't travelled that much)
- Portmarnock
- West Sussex
- Swinley Forest
- Puerta de Hierro lower
- El Saler
- Pacific Dunes
- Neguri
- Oitavos
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Andrew Brown
An Australian living permanently in Norway (kidnapped by a blonde Norwegian 7 years back)
Handicap has oscillated between 9 & 11 the last 20 years
Home Club - Moss & Rygge Golf Club, Moss.
I am a referee with the Norwegian Golf Federation - everything from C grade juniors up to a recent European Challenge Tour event.
Ambition on GCA...learn more ....and start a thread that others deem interesting enough to reply to.
Favourite course played - TOC
Courses I'd really like to play at some stage - Barnbougle Dunes & Ballyneal - actually any courses Tom Doak's had a hand in...
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Jon Terbell
22 year old senior at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. I play on the golf team with a 3 handicap. Also interned for Golf Digest Editorial this summer and spent hours pouring over old GCA posts. This is my first.
Favorite courses played (in order of sentiment):
Yale
Country Club of Fairfield
Valley Club of Montecito
Hotchkiss School Golf Course
Merion
Pine Valley
NGLA
Shinnecock
Piping Rock
Cape Kidnappers
Current wish list:
Cypress
Augusta
Winged Foot
Maidstone
Garden City
Bandon
Sand Hills
Ballyneal
Seminole
Chicago GC
Favorite golf memory...
This summer at CC of Fairfield I shot my first under-par round in a race against the sun. Teed off alone on a Monday evening (about 5:30) only intending to play nine, but after being three under for the front side I couldn't leave. By the time I reached the 18th I couldn't see 100 yards into the darkness, but after two-putting for a 5 on the uphill 18th I had my first 69.
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Jon,
Welcome, and I'm happy to see we made your list of sentimental favorites.
I enjoyed reading your GD piece, "Caddie's Diary", about your experience looping for Miss Beth Sellers in the U.S. Girl's Junior at Hartford GC.
I thought a sentiment you expressed bears repeating, hope you don't mind:
....."the image of caddies in an amateur championship encapsulates the ideals that established golf in America. It was once a game played only for the thrill of competition, at the highest level a sport residing above the pettiness of monetary consumption."
the whole blog:
http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/blogs/localknowledge/us_girls_junior_golf_championship/index.html
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Michael Rossi
Canadian
Superintendent
I am a mew member who has been reading posts for a few years and have finally been granted membership. Thanks go to JM and BCD. The most recent victim of the economy, my course is filing for bankruptcy. This should free up some more time for GCA. I currently reside in Newfoundland, but have worked throughout Canada building and maintaing courses. I look forward to some great dicussions.
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Jim,
Thanks for the welcome and kind words. It seems like it's been longer than four years since David Lau and I were leading the Bearcats into quad-matches. I might not always take Hotchkiss over Pine Valley. But my afternoons in Lakeville - an extension of my early lessons in New Haven - embedded my appreciation for and desire to learn about golden age design.
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Hello All,
Lyne Morrison, Golf Course Architect; Canberra, Australia
Hcp: 10-12, began playing at age 9
I now understand how it is that my children become absorbed with particular websites!
I have worked out of my Canberra office for the past 10 plus years where I have combined the challenge of raising a young family with an often absent military husband - while holding onto a career in course design. This has involved curtailing travel for the moment and focusing on regional remodelling opportunities and undertaking green committee duties.
Prior to this I was fortunate to spend several years with Robin Nelson and Rodney Wright working out of their Honolulu, Singapore and Sydney offices on projects throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
I subscribe to the ideals of The Spirit of the Game, admire the contribution of the architects of the Golden Age and have a keen interest in sustainable golf and its inherent relationship to the roots of the game.
Thanks to Ran for GCA -- I look forward to scanning and contributing to the many interesting threads.
Cheers, Lyne
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Hi All,
Mark Woodger,
Age 29
H'cp:12
Grew up in England and have been lucky enough be a member at Deal (Royal Cinque Ports) for the past 10 years. I now live in New York and work in CT, USA. Have been reading GCA for the past few months and really enjoy the lively discussions that take place and find GCA to be a very informative resource. It has also caused me to start viewing golf courses in a different way and i hope it will help my golf game in due course.
Are there and GCA events based in NYC?
Favourite Courses played:
Deal
Kiawah Ocean
Bethpage
Royal St Georges
Inwood
Wish list:
To play 18 holes in less than 5hrs on a NYC public course.
Most memorable golf experience:
The first time i played Deal. Aged 15. I walked onto the first green and fell in love with links golf.
Happy New Year,
Mark
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Niall Carlton
Age 43
H'cap: 9.4 and going up !
I'm relatively new to GCA having started visiting the site a couple of months ago. Born and brought up in Scotland I have played golf since the age of 5. I'm a qulaified Chartered Surveyor (thats a real estate valuer for you guys in America ) which given the current economic climate means I now have plenty of time to go on GCA !
I'm currently a playing member at Glasgow Golf Club and a past playing member at Silloth on Solway GC and Bothwell Castle GC.
Over the years I've managed a few golfing trips to US, Ireland, Spain and Portugal and my top 5 from those trips are (in no particular order);
Rosses Point, County Sligo
Old Course, Vilamoura
San Lorenzo, Portugal
True Blue, Myrtle Beach
Caledonia, Myrtle Beach
Top 5 Scottish courses;
Carnoustie
Gullane 3
Silloth on Solway*
Queen's Course, Gleneagles
Nairn
ok, lets make it the top 8
Darley, Troon
Machrihanish
Prestwick St Nicholas
Niall
* once upon a time the border between Scotland and England lay further south than where it is now. Lets just call it poetic licence.
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Niall - wow, no Berwick, Dornoch, or Muirfield in that group?
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Shane,
What I should have said was that these are my favourite courses, not necessarily the best I've played. That said, after I'd sent the post I thought of North Berwick (The Glen at North Berwick also came to mind). Maybe I should have made it my top 20.
No, I wouldn't put either Dornoch or Muirfield in that group for various reasons. I've only played Muirfield once, in a howling gale, so can't fairly judge it from a playing point of view although I have been a couple of times to the Open when it has been there. Dornoch - the twice I have played it has been in the winter when the course has been shortened and on one occassion when two of the greens were out of action, so again not the best golfing experiences.
The courses listed tend to be shorter (Carnoustie the obvious exception) and more fun for a hacker like me as theres more of an emphasis on the short game.
Niall
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Thanks for the explanation, but you really need to see Dornoch in the spring/summer. Your opinion could definitely change. Muirfield is tough anyway you slice it.
Shane
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Hello All-
Jim Thornton
Age: 48
Index: 16.5
Home: New Jersey
Born: Virginia
Alumni: Virginia Tech
Occupation: Marketing - Emerging Markets
Played: 26 years
Home Club: Hidden Creek Golf Club, NJ
Away Club: Farmington Country Club, VA
I am a new member of GCA. I stumbled across GCA about 5 years ago while doing research on Hidden Creek and I've been hooked ever since. Up till now, I've been quite content to watch from the sidelines, but recently I've developed to itch to enter the fray.
I learned to play at the world renowned Par 3 Ski Shop in Richmond, VA. It was literally a combination 9 hole golf course with a ski shop serving as the clubhouse.
Favorite U.S. Courses Played in No Certain Order:
Par 3 Ski Shop
Merion
Myopia Hunt
Garden City
Pine Valley
Cypress
Pebble Beach
Newport
Shinnecock
Sand Hills
Prairie Dunes
NGLA
Golden Horseshoe
Favorite International Course Played in No Certain Order:
TOC
Royal Dornoch
Muirfield
Ballybunion
Prestwick
Western Gailes
New South Wales
Club de Golf Chapultepec (Mexico City)
Waterville
Teeth of the Dog
Courses I Most Want to Play in the Future:
Crystal Downs
SFGC
Chicago GC
The Country Club
Valley Club
Pacific Dunes
County Down
Portrush
Royal Melbourne
Favorite Golf Book: Tie between World Golf Atlas (1976) and Confidential Guide (bought CG for $35 at my local Barnes & Noble in 1997). The slip covers are long gone on both of these books and the pages are dog-eared and worn. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
Most Memorable Golf Experience: Driving from Denver to Sand Hills, not seeing a living soul for 100 miles at a stretch, getting lost, and then getting directions from a beautiful young lady roller skating down the middle of the road in Mullen, NE. When we sat down for dinner at Sand Hills later that evening, the young lady was our waitress.
Most Memorable Golf Experience (Runner Up): Leaving NJ at 4 a.m., driving to Newport, RI, playing golf at Newport CC, driving back to NJ same day and arriving home at 11 p.m.
Favorite Golf Trip: 16 days playing golf in Scotland and Ireland in 1989.
Ambition on GCA: Provide the perspective of a high handicap player on the playability of courses for those who don't hit the ball a mile. My average drive is about 190 yards total distance and I hit my 6 iron 130 yards. Course strategy becomes all-important with limited length. I usually tack from point A to point B to point C when playing long holes. I strongly believe courses should offer the ability to advance the ball on the ground from tee to green as much as possible which is one reason I really like Hidden Creek - it's imminently playable even for the high handicapper.
Pet Peeves: 18 holes should be played in about 3 hours. Walking should be required except in cases of medical necessity.
A big thank you to Ran for granting me access to GCA. I look forward to conversing with the group and hopefully meeting and playing golf with many of you over time.
Best Regards-
Jim
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Jim, you must describe "Par 3 Ski Shop" and why it is in your favorites???
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Tim-
Sadly, a shopping mall now sits on the former grounds of the Par 3 Ski Shop so I will need to work from memory. What makes it one of my favorites? Alas, like all men, your first always holds a special place in your heart. Ugly and crude though she may have been, she was mine.
Again, working from memory:
Check-In:
Enter the ski shop and pay the man $7 cash. Keep in mind this was not a combination golf and ski shop...it was a ski shop only. Not snow skiing and water skiing either...just snow skiing. So you walk in there in the middle of August and the weather in Richmond is 97 degrees and 80 percent humidity and the shop is chock full of snow parkas, hats, gloves, and of course, skis.
Clubhouse Amenities:
There was a Coke machine and a snack machine outside on the side of the building. For about $1, you could get a can of Coke and a pack of Lance Toast-Chee crackers, and that, my friend, is eating. Some of the most satisfying meals in my golfing life were consumed right there next to those vending machines. I don't care what anybody says about the lobster lunch at NGLA, I'll put the Par 3 Ski Shop dining experience right up there with any of them.
Practice Facilities:
There was a putting cup cut into the ground just beside where the vending machines were located. It was mostly dirt since they never moved the cup, and there was never real grass there anyway Whatever weeds were there died out from being trampled on constantly. We played putting games that were sort of a combination of croquet and golf...you had to putt in and around obstacles. I became pretty good at this as evidenced by the time I started in the parking lot 30 yards away, putting/croqueting under a broken down school bus, around the building, off the Lance vending machine, and into the hole in 3 strokes.
Have to go now, but more to come later on holes to note.
Best-
Jim
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Stephen Britton
Age: 30
H'Cap: 9
Grew up on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria Australia. Began playing golf at Centenary Park Golf Club in Frankston, then joined Long Island Golf Club. Landed an apprenticeship on the grounds staff at Royal Melbourne Golf Club after high school and feel in love with greenskeeping. Since then I have moved to the States were I was an assistant Superintendent at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville VA for over 3 years. Currently I'm the Superintendent at Piedmont Club in Haymarket VA, a private Tom Fazio design country club.
Favourite Courses Played:
Royal Melbourne East & West
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
Victoria Golf Club
Kingston Heath Golf Club
Peninsula Country Golf Club
Old Memorial Golf Club
Columbia Country Club
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Current Wish List:
Augusta National Golf Club
Cypress Point Club
Oakmont
Merion
Shinnecock Hills
Pasatiempo
Friars Head
Baltusrol
Most memorable moment: Mowing the Presidents putting green at the White House.
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Nick Church
Age: 35
Home: Nashville, TN
Born: Ft. Bragg, NC (proud Army Brat)
Occupation: Partner / Operations
Alumni: Western Kentucky University
University of Tennessee
Member: Fairvue Plantation Club
Handicap: 1
First GC Ever Played: Ft. Ord - Bayonet & Blackhorse
Favorite Golf Architecture Book: World Atlas of Golf (As a kid, this was my introduction to GCA)
Favorite Courses Played:
- Pebble Beach
- We-Ko-Pa Saguaro
- Crooked Stick
- Whistling Straits
- Tobacco Road
- Pinehurst #2
- RTJ Grand National
- Valhalla
- Olde Stone
Courses I Would Like To Play:
- Cypress Point
- Pine Valley
- Pacific Dunes
- NGLA
- St. Andrews
- Ballybunion
- Augusta
- Sand Hills
- The Honors
- Cape Kidnappers
- Sebonack
- Merion
- Kiawah Island
- Royal Melbourne
Most Memorable Golf Experience:
Returning to the Monterey Peninsula after nearly 20 years to finally play Pebble Beach. Since I've already posted to experience here, the sum is the my caddie Rock helped me break 80 from the back tees and hit the shot of a lifetime to the eighth hole.
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Jim Thornton,
Welcome, from another Hokie!
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updated 2/2/11
Scott Warren
Age: 28
Home: Sydney, Australia
Occupation: Newspaper Editor
Member at Royal Cinque Ports (Kent, England) and Bonnie Doon (Sydney, Australia).
Handicap: 6
First GC Ever Played: My grandfather's nine-holer that he build on his riverside property after retiring as a landscaper. First "proper" course was Windsor Country Golf Club.
Favorite Golf Architecture Book: Planet Golf and Planet Golf USA just shade the World Atlas of Golf.
Favorite Courses Played:
Pine Valley
Riviera
Fishers Island
Sandwich
Dornoch
TOC
Deal
NSWGC
Walton Heath (Old)
The Valley Club of Montecito
North Berwick
Silloth-on-Solway
Swinley Forest
St Enodoc
The Addington
Brora
Monterey Peninsula (Dunes)
West Sussex
Hankley Common
Renaissance Club
Co. Louth (Baltray)
Woking
New Zealand
Rye
Newcastle
The Lakes
Royal Canberra
Royal Sydney
Most Memorable Golf Experience:
A split between a) coming back from six down after 10 to win a junior pennant game 1-up against an older kid who sledged me from the first tee and b) watching my 27-marker dad birdie the 5th at NSW.
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;D :D ;)
ARCHIE STRUTHERS
Ocean City NJ
Age 52
Handicap 2.8 Index ,,,God only knows how they compute same
Business own smalll real estate company McLaughlin / Struthers OCNJ 08226
Favorite Courses
in no particular order
Pine Valley
Shinnecock
Royal Portrush
and many others
favorite architect tie ... William Flynn and Mr Tillinghast
dislikes in architecture.....tight quirky courses
likes ........................big , quirky courses lol
Resume .. newspper route....Caddy ...college student (Terp) ...asst. golf professional ..(only two years ) built one course Twisted Dune , South Jersey, looking to do one more before I get too old
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Scott Furlong
Age – 38
Home – Gainesville, VA
Married – 4 kids
Occupation – Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Superintendent
College – Terp
Index – 10
Some of my favorites:
Bandon Dunes
Pacific Dunes
Bandon Trail
Sheep Ranch
Merion
Sawgrass
Shoal Creek
Caves Valley
Pinehurst #2
Berkeley Hall
Old Memorial
Metedeconk National
The Ridge at Back Brook
Kinloch
Harbour Town
Lochinvar
Baltimore C.C.
Beechtree (sad to see it go)
Bulle Rock
Golden Horseshoe
Barton Creek
Lehigh
Forest Creek
Southern Highlands - Vegas
Kapalua Plantation
Most like to play:
California and New York tour and the one down in Georgia
Most Memorable Golf Experience – Bandon Dunes trip with the final round at the Sheep Ranch. 6 of us played with no one on the course (no golfers, no staff, no clubhouse, nothing). Winner of each hole picked the next hole and the par.
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Might as well update:
Kyle Harris
Age: 25
Handicap: 8-9
Spray Technician
Huntingdon Valley Country Club, Abington, PA
Interviewing for Assistant Superintendent positions in the Philadelphia area
Apprentice Professional from 2001-2006
Penn State PGM
Past places of employ:
Hunter's Green Country Club, Tampa, FL
Mountain Lake Country Club, Lake Wales, FL
Favorite Courses:
Huntingdon Valley
Bethpage Red
Jeffersonville
Paxon Hollow
Manufacturers'
Merion West
Penn State (White)
Mountain Lake
World Woods Rolling Oaks
Brooksville CC
Dunedin CC
Lekarica
Schuylkill CC
Lancaster CC
Currently seeking: Golf companions, employment home for the next 3-5 years, Mrs. Harris
Current projects: Raising awareness of Penn State's White Course, low impact golf maintenance programs, restarting a Genesis cover band, Boy Scout training and programming, learning wines, enjoying Beer and Whisky
-
Been on here a little over a year now and don't think I've posted on this thread, so here goes:
Brian Laurent
Columbus, OH
Age: 30
Married with one child
College: Ohio State (THE Ohio State University)
Full Time Job: Industrial/Commercial/Retail Floor Coating sales
Volunteer Job: Event Management and Sports Agent
Handicap: 3.5
New Years resolutions...be more active on GCA and set up an Ohio vs Michigan gathering this summer
Favorite courses played (no particular order):
Calusa Pines
Muirfield Village
Double Eagle
Saucon Valley (Weyhill is my favorite, but all three are good)
Merion
Ohio State - Scarlet
Cuscowilla
NCR
Holston Hills
Wish list (pretty standard):
Cypress Point
Pine Valley
Augusta
TOC
and anywhere else I can get a game with good company
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Cristian Willaert (updated May 2013)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Born: 1967, hcp index: 8.2
Married, two children
Occupation: Football (soccer) Journalist/reporter
Favourite courses played worldwide:
TOC
Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
Royal County Down
Cruden Bay
Ballybunion
Royal Dornoch
Royal St George's
North Berwick
Old Mac
Carnoustie
Pac Dunes
Royal Lytham
Morfontaine
Woking
Bandon Trails
Walton Heath Old
Rye
Waterville
Bandon Dunes
Alwoodley
Pasatiempo
Haagsche
Royal Aberdeen
Machrihanish
R5Ports
Noordwijk
Pan
Royal Zoute
Glasgow Gailes
Casa de Campo (teeth)
Kennemer
Top of wishlist:
NGLA
CPC
Crystal Downs
Ballyneal
Sand Hills
Tobacco Road
I'd like to learn more about gca and courses I haven't played and hope to raise some awareness and interest in the quality of some lesser known courses in mainland europe. (This summer, or spring I hope to do some picture threads).
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Keith Buntrock
Milwaukee, WI
Age:19, hcp index: 0.3
Currently playing as a college freshman
Held the competitive course record at Erin Hills for 3 hours at the 07 Public Links qualifier
Notable Courses i have played:
Sand Ridge (Ohio)
Greywalls
PGA National Champion Course
Mission Inn Resort El Campeon
Most of the southeast WI courses
Looking forward to seeing the snow disappear
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Scott Furlong
Age – 38
Home – Gainesville, VA
Married – 4 kids
Occupation – Robert Trent Jones Golf Club Superintendent
Scott:
Welcome. I played RTJ in October and the greens were the fastest I had ever played -- and they were pure too (just like the rest of the course). Seems like you do a terrific job out there.
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Cristian Willaert
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Age: 41, hcp index: 11,9
Married, two children
Occupation: Football (soccer) Journalist/reporter
Favourite courses played worldwide:
Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
Royal County Down
Ballybunion
Royal Dornoch
Royal St George's
Royal Lytham
Morfontaine
Walton Heath Old
Waterville
Alwoodley
Pasatiempo
Haagsche
Machrihanish
Fontainebleau
Noordwijk
Pan
Royal Zoute
Glasgow Gailes
Casa de Campo (teeth)
Kennemer
Top of wishlist:
NGLA
CPC
Bandon
Ballyneal
Sand Hills
Tobacco Road
I'd like to learn more about gca and courses I haven't played and hope to raise some awareness and interest in the quality of some lesser known courses in mainland europe. (This summer, or spring I hope to do some picture threads).
Cristian,
A most impressive list of courses but I notice a notable anomaly; Glasgow Gails and no Old Course?
Your own Johann Cruyff(sic) was out at Pebble Beach last year and played with a GCA'er whose name escapes me. Now there was probably the best footballer ever.
Bob
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Your own Johann Cruyff(sic) was out at Pebble Beach last year and played with a GCA'er whose name escapes me. Now there was probably the best footballer ever.
Bob
Bob,
Nice try there, but this Frenchman has to disagree. :-)
Pele
Maradona
Zidane
Platini
Cruyff
Beckenbauer
in that order.
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Been a long-time reader of GCA and a part-time poster, hoping to contribute more in 2009.
Name: Stewart Grant
Resides: St. Marys, Ontario, Canada
Age: 35
Handicap: 7
Married: yes, with two kids (ages 3 & 1)
Occupation: Chartered Accountant. CFO of three Bermuda insurance companies.
Member: St. Marys Golf Club in Ontario and Mt. Pleasant Country Club in Michigan.
Sports other than golf: hockey, curling, crokinole
Favorite Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Blue Jays
Favorite Courses Played: Plainfield CC, Oakmont, Bethpage Black, Inverness, National GC of Canada, Somerset Hills, Kingsley Club, Tobacco Road, Redtail, Mid Ocean, Port Royal, Bayonne
Miscellaneous Golf Facts:
1) Started playing golf at age 10 and like a good accountant I have every course that I have ever played on a detailed spreadsheet, sortable by course architect, country, number of times played, etc.
2) Fought the yips for five long years before getting a belly putter in 2006.
3) Campaigned successfully to save the uphill par-3 16th hole at St. Marys Golf Club from re-design
4) First person to play golf in London Ontario this millennium (played Golfland in the snow on the morning of January 1, 2000)
5) Never had a hole in one despite roughly 5,800 attempts on par-threes.
6) Looking forward to my first GCA gathering this summer at Kingsley.
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Stu, you RULE!
curling
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Right back at you Charlie!
Curling is definitely an underrated sport, eh?
For those out there who don't know much about it...if you make a point to watch it during the 2010 Olympics I think you'll be impressed. There is a ton of strategy and once you've seen it a few times you can play armchair skip and try and figure out how the next rock should be played.
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Right back at you Charlie!
Curling is definitely an underrated sport, eh?
For those out there who don't know much about it...if you make a point to watch it during the 2010 Olympics I think you'll be impressed. There is a ton of strategy and once you've seen it a few times you can play armchair skip and try and figure out how the next rock should be played.
I'll join your bonnspeill any time. Curling is arguably one of the most excruciating exercises for your hamstrings there is. Imagine trying to maintain balance on pebbled ice wearing teflon soles!
I got pretty good at curling the rock on to the button though.... I think I'd make a good Skip with some practice.
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Cristian Willaert
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Age: 41, hcp index: 11,9
Married, two children
Occupation: Football (soccer) Journalist/reporter
Favourite courses played worldwide:
Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
Royal County Down
Ballybunion
Royal Dornoch
Royal St George's
Royal Lytham
Morfontaine
Walton Heath Old
Waterville
Alwoodley
Pasatiempo
Haagsche
Machrihanish
Fontainebleau
Noordwijk
Pan
Royal Zoute
Glasgow Gailes
Casa de Campo (teeth)
Kennemer
Top of wishlist:
NGLA
CPC
Bandon
Ballyneal
Sand Hills
Tobacco Road
I'd like to learn more about gca and courses I haven't played and hope to raise some awareness and interest in the quality of some lesser known courses in mainland europe. (This summer, or spring I hope to do some picture threads).
Whenever you decide to come play Tobacco Road, or just come to America, let me know. I'd be happy to give you the tour of the NC Sandhills. I know the best courses, the best places to eat, and the best places to see. Just say the time.
-
Right back at you Charlie!
Curling is definitely an underrated sport, eh?
For those out there who don't know much about it...if you make a point to watch it during the 2010 Olympics I think you'll be impressed. There is a ton of strategy and once you've seen it a few times you can play armchair skip and try and figure out how the next rock should be played.
I'll join your bonnspeill any time. Curling is arguably one of the most excruciating exercises for your hamstrings there is. Imagine trying to maintain balance on pebbled ice wearing teflon soles!
I got pretty good at curling the rock on to the button though.... I think I'd make a good Skip with some practice.
I've never tried it, but curling jumped onto my radar screen during the last Olympics when I believe the US curling team had one or two people on it from Minnesota (Bemidji I believe, which is where my boss lives).
It seemed to require some of the same qualities that golf does, namely nerve and trust in oneself. Plus it was just looked cool.
-
Your own Johann Cruyff(sic) was out at Pebble Beach last year and played with a GCA'er whose name escapes me. Now there was probably the best footballer ever.
Bob
Bob,
Nice try there, but this Frenchman has to disagree. :-)
Pele
Maradona
Zidane
Platini
Cruyff
Beckenbauer
in that order.
I was the lucky single that got paired with Mr. Cruyff on a beautiful spring afternoon in Monterey! He was splendid company. One has to wonder if you met one of the 5 greatest athletes in most other sports if they would be as down-to-earth and pleasant. Of course it probably helped that I was clueless as to the identity of my company for most of the round, but I think the way of many modern athletes is to present themselves with a feeling of more self-importance.
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Steve Salmen, St. John, IN
50 Married
4 Handicap
Home course: Innsbrook CC
Favorite courses: Muirfield, Royal Dornoch, and Royal County Down in UK, Shinnecock, Cypress, and Pinehurst in the US.
I fell in love with golf when I was 13. If you find yourself in the Chicago or Northwest Indiana, please email me and maybe we can get a game together.
mur352@yahoo.com
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Wow, what a great new crop of rookies! I hope you all enjoy the website, and even though many topics have been discussed often already by us old dogs, your new insights and fresh takes on issues will be enjoyed as you discover new concepts from your fellow GCAers.
And curling is great fun, Stu. It is way more strenuous than it looks. It isn't the sliding and release of the stone that is the hardest, it is the sweeping! For traditional communal enjoyment of drinks and food, I think it has the 19th hole beat. ;) ;D 8) I've had to give it up as my back and disc problems can't take the sweeping. But, we have a great club here in G.B. on the frozen tundra. Come visit sometime Stu. Our Pres., is an ice making wizard and has made the ice at 2 Olympics so far.
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Scott:
Welcome. I played RTJ in October and the greens were the fastest I had ever played -- and they were pure too (just like the rest of the course). Seems like you do a terrific job out there.
[/quote]
Carl,
Thank you for the kind post. Who did you play with and was it your first time? I don't know how to send a message to just you, sorry.
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Scott,
Just click on that green thingie of the name of the guy you want to send a message too!
<---------------------
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Matthew Day
Perth, Western Australia
Age 38, married with 2 kids
Home Club - Joondalup Country Club, handicap 11. Joondalup is a Trent Jones Jr course that people seem to either love or hate
Occupation - Golf Course Manager (36 hole public)
Favourite Football Team (soccer) - West Ham United
Favourit Band - the mighty Iron Maiden :D
Always wanted to be a architect but like many, many people probably thought it was a lot easier than it really is. Being involved in golf course management has increased my exposure to architecture, and excellent forums like this also assist greatly.
Have played a fair few australian courses (favourite so far Kingston Heath) and a couple in the States.
Although not played I have been fortunate to walk some of the great courses in the US
- Spyglass Hill
- Cypress Point
- Pebble
- Tobacco Road
- Pinehurst 2 and most of number 4 as well
ambitions for the future are to see some of the great UK courses. To my great shame I spent a month in Surrey last year, being only 30 minutes from places such as Sunningdale and didnt visit any... :-[
-
Stu -- Good to see another curler on board. I've curled for 30+ years now and the similarities to golf are uncanny: Both very much an "honor system" sport, both require finesse execution a some high pressure times (that draw to the 4 foot in the 1st end versus that same draw in the 10th to win the game are entirely different shots), and we have the F'in Scots to thank for both highly addictive sports. A few years ago I skipped a team that won back-to-back championships at men's bonspiel at TCC (the bonspiel is called "The Stockton). What a great venue and they are on of the few private clubs to successfully mix curling with golf in these United States.
-
Right back at you Charlie!
Curling is definitely an underrated sport, eh?
For those out there who don't know much about it...if you make a point to watch it during the 2010 Olympics I think you'll be impressed. There is a ton of strategy and once you've seen it a few times you can play armchair skip and try and figure out how the next rock should be played.
I'll join your bonnspeill any time. Curling is arguably one of the most excruciating exercises for your hamstrings there is. Imagine trying to maintain balance on pebbled ice wearing teflon soles!
I got pretty good at curling the rock on to the button though.... I think I'd make a good Skip with some practice.
Kyle - Your last sentence is a bit like a golfer telling his opponent that "I'm good at making all 10 foot putts!" :) A draw to the button can be very difficult when it's really needed.
Seriously, if you've tried curling that's great. It's a terrific sport and the strategy involved at the highest level is pretty amazing.
-
Right back at you Charlie!
Curling is definitely an underrated sport, eh?
For those out there who don't know much about it...if you make a point to watch it during the 2010 Olympics I think you'll be impressed. There is a ton of strategy and once you've seen it a few times you can play armchair skip and try and figure out how the next rock should be played.
I'll join your bonnspeill any time. Curling is arguably one of the most excruciating exercises for your hamstrings there is. Imagine trying to maintain balance on pebbled ice wearing teflon soles!
I got pretty good at curling the rock on to the button though.... I think I'd make a good Skip with some practice.
Kyle - Your last sentence is a bit like a golfer telling his opponent that "I'm good at making all 10 foot putts!" :) A draw to the button can be very difficult when it's really needed.
Seriously, if you've tried curling that's great. It's a terrific sport and the strategy involved at the highest level is pretty amazing.
I have a few times at both the Plainfield and Ardmore clubs. It's something I will pursue once I get stable and steady with income and a few bills paid off. Like golf, there is a high investment that is only worthwhile if one can put the time in.
GREAT exercise as well. Amazingly. A goal of mine is to attend a Brier.
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Cristian Willaert
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Age: 41, hcp index: 11,9
Married, two children
Occupation: Football (soccer) Journalist/reporter
Favourite courses played worldwide:
Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
Royal County Down
Ballybunion
Royal Dornoch
Royal St George's
Royal Lytham
Morfontaine
Walton Heath Old
Waterville
Alwoodley
Pasatiempo
Haagsche
Machrihanish
Fontainebleau
Noordwijk
Pan
Royal Zoute
Glasgow Gailes
Casa de Campo (teeth)
Kennemer
Top of wishlist:
NGLA
CPC
Bandon
Ballyneal
Sand Hills
Tobacco Road
I'd like to learn more about gca and courses I haven't played and hope to raise some awareness and interest in the quality of some lesser known courses in mainland europe. (This summer, or spring I hope to do some picture threads).
Cristian,
A most impressive list of courses but I notice a notable anomaly; Glasgow Gails and no Old Course?
Your own Johann Cruyff(sic) was out at Pebble Beach last year and played with a GCA'er whose name escapes me. Now there was probably the best footballer ever.
Bob
You are right on both issues; I hope to add TOC soon.....
I actually once entered the ballot and saw my name on the start list in the tourist office late the night before; however I had a 1440 tee off, with a flight out of Edinburgh at 1900. Aaaaah!
On the positive side: My group ended up playing Lundin, great fun, wouldn't have missed it for the world (except perhaps for a round on TOC).
-
Your own Johann Cruyff(sic) was out at Pebble Beach last year and played with a GCA'er whose name escapes me. Now there was probably the best footballer ever.
Bob
Bob,
Nice try there, but this Frenchman has to disagree. :-)
Pele = Nicklaus (prolific scorer)
Maradona = Ballesteros (the most creative)
Zidane = Jean van de Velde (good, but lost his head at the moment supreme) ;D
Platini = Langer (good, but not very fast) ;)
Cruyff = Woods (most naturally gifted allround player)
Beckenbauer = Faldo (great tactically)
in that order.
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Cristian Willaert
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Age: 41, hcp index: 11,9
Married, two children
Occupation: Football (soccer) Journalist/reporter
Favourite courses played worldwide:
Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
Royal County Down
Ballybunion
Royal Dornoch
Royal St George's
Royal Lytham
Morfontaine
Walton Heath Old
Waterville
Alwoodley
Pasatiempo
Haagsche
Machrihanish
Fontainebleau
Noordwijk
Pan
Royal Zoute
Glasgow Gailes
Casa de Campo (teeth)
Kennemer
Top of wishlist:
NGLA
CPC
Bandon
Ballyneal
Sand Hills
Tobacco Road
I'd like to learn more about gca and courses I haven't played and hope to raise some awareness and interest in the quality of some lesser known courses in mainland europe. (This summer, or spring I hope to do some picture threads).
Whenever you decide to come play Tobacco Road, or just come to America, let me know. I'd be happy to give you the tour of the NC Sandhills. I know the best courses, the best places to eat, and the best places to see. Just say the time.
Thanks!
Please do the same of you come to Northwestern europe!
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Cristian,
Did Jason Culina returning to play for an Australian club make any news in Holland?
It's a pretty big deal for our embryonic comp. He's the first starting 11 National player to return to our league and especially important as he is just moving into his prime.
We'll have to get you to a Melbourne Victory game (I'm a member) when you make the (hopefully) inevitable trip to the sandbelt. Maybe it could coincide with us hosting the world cup in 2018 or 2022. (I'm allowed to dream - and it's not like Englan have ever done anything for the game)
-
I was the lucky single that got paired with Mr. Cruyff on a beautiful spring afternoon in Monterey! He was splendid company. One has to wonder if you met one of the 5 greatest athletes in most other sports if they would be as down-to-earth and pleasant. Of course it probably helped that I was clueless as to the identity of my company for most of the round, but I think the way of many modern athletes is to present themselves with a feeling of more self-importance.
Tim,
Very cool. That would have been awesome for any football fan because you never even would have expected something like to happen.
Cristian,
Bad choice for Zizou there, but we get the drift. I'll just forever remember the two headers from the '98 final. Much better memory. ;D
-
Patrick
Never in my life have I kicked myself so hard for not keeping up with football.
Pun intended.
-
Patrick,
Maradona? A trickster and a fraud but a genius with a ball at his feet. Paraphasing Larry Holmes, he couldn't carry Johaans jockstrap.
As for Cruyff, I am thinking not only of his skills but of his brain and the continuation of Rinus Michels 'Total Football' concept.'
Bob
-
Patrick,
Maradona? A trickster and a fraud but a genius with a ball at his feet. Paraphasing Larry Holmes, he couldn't carry Johaans jockstrap.
Do I ever disagree with that. More than any other single player, I think he won the World Cup for his nation. i.e. no other winning team depended on any single player as much as Argentina did Maradona.
Then he turned his European club teams into champions. Again, this was more his doing than any other player's.
He even had his national team sailing through the 1994 (1990?) World Cup -- until FICA kicked him out of the tournament.
In other words, he has turned every team he played on into champions.
Best offensive player I ever saw. Despite taking the hardest marking and most fouls I've seen, he performed artistic surgery on the most sophisticated defenses ever devised till then.
If I am building a team, he is the first player I choose.
-
Jim,
He did those amazing things but at heart he is a felon.
Bob
-
Bob, that's widespread throughout all pro football, IMO. It's my biggest frustration with the game, and the reason I'm glad my kids don't care much about it.
-
Patrick,
Maradona? A trickster and a fraud but a genius with a ball at his feet. Paraphasing Larry Holmes, he couldn't carry Johaans jockstrap.
As for Cruyff, I am thinking not only of his skills but of his brain and the continuation of Rinus Michels 'Total Football' concept.'
Bob
Bob,
Fair point.
I guess it comes down to what you would consider "best footballer" to mean. For me, it translates to the most gifted at football (e.g. ball handling skills, vision and adaptability, etc.), who's able to raise the level of a team head and shoulders above what it would be otherwise, and won at the top of international and club football.
With that in mind, I'd stand by my list.
Maradona won everywhere he went. Took Argentina to the top and Napoli as well. Unbelieveable skills and prolific goal scorer. Selfish? Often yes, but he lifted every team he played on. By himself, he could dismantle an opposing team.
I mean ... on one leg he still took Argentina to the final in '90.
Sense of fairplay (e.g. cheating, diving, etc.)? Well ... I hope I don't offend too many Argentines on this forum, but .... nah ... no point in getting kicked off this forum. Then we know about his habits etc. that cut down what could have been an even greater career.
No doubt Cruyff was great, but as you hinted ... he had the Total Football working for and with him and he very much perfromed his best within that kind of team. I mean Holland went to the final again in '78 without him. We could easily argue that back in his time things were different for playing at different clubs etc., but Cruyff did play at Barcelona. Not much was collected hardware wise when he was there.
I think we could go on and on...
Back to golf and "who are you guys" I say 'cause I'm getting way OT with this. ;D
-
Bob, that's widespread throughout all pro football, IMO. It's my biggest frustration with the game, and the reason I'm glad my kids don't care much about it.
Jim,
He broke my heart with "the Hand of God" routine and I detest the little shit.
Bob
-
Bobby Kirkwood
Residence: Atlanta, Georgia
Age: 45
Married with 2 children
Occupation: Project manager / Golf course construction
BS in Agriculture from Arkansas State University
Started playing golf at age of 6
Favorite course played: Cypress Point Club
Course I wish to play: TOC
During 20 years of golf course construction, I have certainly learned to appreciate the talents of the golf course architects.
-
I guess I am a little late in introducing myself but better late than never....
Name: Damon Groves
Residence: Monrovia, California
Age: 38
Married with one girl.
Occupation: Claims Representative
BA in Economics from University of California at Santa Barbara
Started playing (beyond just goofing around) when I was 31
Home Course: Santa Anita in Arcadia, California
Favorite courses (in no particular order): The Bandon Dunes courses, Pasatiempo, Rustic Canyon, Santa Anita, Ballyneal, Los Angeles Country Club, We Ko Pa - Cholla, Ojai, Wild Horse, Kapalua Plantation
Just a golf course architecture junkie.
-
Cristian,
Did Jason Culina returning to play for an Australian club make any news in Holland?
It's a pretty big deal for our embryonic comp. He's the first starting 11 National player to return to our league and especially important as he is just moving into his prime.
We'll have to get you to a Melbourne Victory game (I'm a member) when you make the (hopefully) inevitable trip to the sandbelt. Maybe it could coincide with us hosting the world cup in 2018 or 2022. (I'm allowed to dream - and it's not like Englan have ever done anything for the game)
It did make news, as he just managed to play himself back in the starting line-ups of dutch champions PSV (as a right back). I believe he is joining a new club; Gold Coast United, seems like the Competition and the sport are growing down under....
-
Nick Cauley
Residence: Ruston, Louisiana
Age: 29
Married with 1 girl, expecting one any day now
Occupation: Greenskeeper, Squire Creek CC
2 year Turfgrass Certificate from Penn State University
Bachelors of Arts from Louisiana Tech University
Favorite course played: Toss up between Ballyneal and Sandhills
Course I wish to play: Cypress Point GC
-
Here's the link to the original old-board thread:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/board/ubbhtml/Forum1/HTML/000687.html
for newbies wanting to know who we are (and oldbe's who want to check it out again).
For the newbies, there was a link that Scott Borroughs provided above, to an earlier introduction page from around 2000. But, that link above doesn't work anylonger. I tried "the way back machine"...
http://www.archive.org/index.php (http://www.archive.org/index.php)
But, only get the front thread pages with no link to the actual discussions:
http://web.archive.org/web/20001214205000/www.golfclubatlas.com/board/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=1&forum=Golf+Course+Architecture&DaysPrune=20&startpoint=50 (http://web.archive.org/web/20001214205000/www.golfclubatlas.com/board/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=1&forum=Golf+Course+Architecture&DaysPrune=20&startpoint=50)
Does anyone know how to open those 'way back' threads? I think the original introduction page went for some 60 names or so... and I am even amazed just going back on this active thread to see the names of those NLE... ::) ;) ;D
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RJ,
This what you're looking for?
http://web.archive.org/web/20010726234108/www.golfclubatlas.com/board/ubbhtml/Forum1/HTML/000687.html
It even answered the old question: "Who is Dr. Katz"
Some of the pages don't load, but you can open a page and find a slew of "Pages 1...4 5 6 7 8 9 10" at the bottom of the screen that can lead to one of the non-working pages.
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Ah so, you so smart, I so stupid... ;) ::) ;D ;D
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Ran Morrissett
posted February 03, 2000 06:44 PM
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All around good guy, some say "one of golf's most loved figure." Live in Sydney, Australia. Married to an Aussie and we have a five month old daughter named MacKenzie Handicap of six. Member in good standing at Newcastle GC, Stockton, Australia. 36 years old. Have been fortunate to play golf in several different parts of the world.
The obvious value of this 'way back' thread is to clarify matters and set the record straight. Ran was NOT "golf's most [be]loved figure" from the horses mouth!
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Ted Sturges
posted February 07, 2000 06:39 PM
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38 years old, and was happily married until the Morrissett brothers created this website (my wife is not pleased). Can't play a lick but was able to halve "golf's most beloved figure" in a heated match one morning last October at Shoreacres, and crushed the jet-lagged extrovert in the afternoon at Onwentsia.
It was in deed, Ted Sturges that mis-identified Ran, and then proceded to 'crush' him. Who says we were a kinder and gentler lot back then? ;D
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RJ,
Ted Sturges, but back on Oct. 4th, 1999, in a thread entitled "What Round Are You Most Proud Of"
"To John Morrissett,I believe the accomplishment of hitting each fairway may have indeed occurred on this trip for Randolph. I believe it occurred just before you arrived in Bridgman. I will leave the "filling in of the details" to "one of golf's most beloved figures".TS"
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So, to recap... ;) ::)
Ted did first label Ran, "one of golf's most beloved figures" in 1999, and Ran couldn't even get that right, thinking all the time by 2000, he was simply 'loved'?
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Just an introduction, just joined GCA !!
Michiel Teeling
Utrecht, Netherlands
Age: 28, hcp index: 10,9
Occupation: Football (soccer) Journalist/commentator/reporter
Favourite courses played worldwide:
Some of my favourite courses I played in and outside Europe:
Banff
Jasper Park
Pinnacle Point
Leopard Creek
Humewood
Tobiano
Chambers Bay
Haagsche
Noordwijk
Pan
Royal Zoute
Royal Golf Club de Belgique
Kennemer
Eichenheim
Castelconturbia
Courses I would really like to play:
Bandon
Tobacco Road
Ballyneal
Sand Hills
Ballybunion
RCD
NGLA
CPC
Royal Portrush
TOC
Cape Kidnappers
and the list goes on and on and.....
I love to read the threads and topics on GCA. Although I really need to learn more about golfarchitecture in general.
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Just an introduction, just joined GCA !!
I love to read the threads and topics on GCA. Although I really need to learn more about golfarchitecture in general.
Welcome Michiel
Terrific Primers for GCA -
Anatomy of a Golf Course - Tom Doak
Grounds for Golf - Geoff Shackelford
Both are generally available in Book Stores
There are many terrific resources on this site that provide a good background on GCA. Here are three that I go back to regularly.
This George Bahto interview provides an excellent overview of many of the template holes you will see discussed repeatedly on this site:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewbahto.html
This In My Opninion from Tom Paul is about 10 years old and expresses a viewpoint that has been carried out with many of the highly regarded designs over the last 15 years or so:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinionpaul.html
Finally - this piece by Jeremy Glenn describes his suggestions for altering the Old Course a bit to accomodate reverse play. In the last couple of years the Links Trust has allowed such play on a couple of days in the spring although I do not think they have done the work Jeremy suggested.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinionglenn3.html
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Just an introduction, just joined GCA !!
I love to read the threads and topics on GCA. Although I really need to learn more about golfarchitecture in general.
Welcome Michiel
Terrific Primers for GCA -
Anatomy of a Golf Course - Tom Doak
Grounds for Golf - Geoff Shackelford
Both are generally available in Book Stores
There are many terrific resources on this site that provide a good background on GCA. Here are three that I go back to regularly.
This George Bahto interview provides an excellent overview of many of the template holes you will see discussed repeatedly on this site:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewbahto.html
This In My Opninion from Tom Paul is about 10 years old and expresses a viewpoint that has been carried out with many of the highly regarded designs over the last 15 years or so:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinionpaul.html
Finally - this piece by Jeremy Glenn describes his suggestions for altering the Old Course a bit to accomodate reverse play. In the last couple of years the Links Trust has allowed such play on a couple of days in the spring although I do not think they have done the work Jeremy suggested.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinionglenn3.html
Thanks Jason!
I'll start reading those pretty soon! I started reading Anatomy of a Golf Course just a couple of days ago!
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Reintroducing myself...
When I originally signed up at GCA, I introduced myself (with my actual name) as the author of golfslo.com and contributed a review of my newly opened home course - Monarch Dunes Golf Club.
Later, I started a personal blog and changed my screen name to reflect it's name (Art Ful-ler), after which time, I also created the Photo Tour directory at delicious.com/golfclubatlas.
To avoid confusion, I just changed my screen name back to my real name, which I never should have changed in the first place.
Richard (aka Art Fuller)
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I wondered what had happened to Richard, and why almost simultaneously Art appeared. I had chalked it up to grand coincidence until now.
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Richard aka Art
Will we see any updates to the Blog soon?
John
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Richard aka Art
Will we see any updates to the Blog soon?
John
Sorry John, nothing "artful" to write about lately... what a slump I'm in!
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OK, my turn.
Hello everybody -- just thought it was time to add a post to this august old thread, finally. I've been lurking for some time, but it was a chance encounter with Pete Lavallee one morning at Rustic Canyon that finally got me to quit my (formerly) weasel-like behavior and actually join this group.
Thanks for having me, by the way -- I'll try to be at least marginally interesting, at least some of the time.
My home course is the aforementioned Rustic Canyon, which I do dearly love. I have not had the pleasure of playing with some of the other Rustic types who frequent the board, but I suspect I'll meet a few of you in the future.
I'm 45, own a small graphic design and advertising company in La Canada-Flintridge (which is just northwest of Pasadena for those of you who aren't Angelinos. Grew up in Baltimore, spent a few years in Houston back in my college days, and also lived in New York City for 7 years in the late eighties and early nineties. Been playing golf since my teens, and have somehow never figured it out. Playing to about a 13 these days. Mostly I'm hanging with my wife and eighteen-month-old son, so the golf tends to be pretty infrequent for the time being.
Some of my favorite courses:
Pacific Dunes
Bethpage Black
Pasatiempo
Riviera
Bandon Dunes
Rustic Canyon
Bandon Trails
Quaker Ridge
Talking Stick North
Bulle Rock
Things off the top of my head (other than golf) that make life a wonderful and interesting thing: Art of all kinds, but I would be remiss if I failed to mention Johannes Vermeer; Arches National Park; Raymond Chandler, especially The Long Goodbye; my son, Ky and wife, Deb; New York City; Exile on Main Street; Kilauea; baseball; Renoir's Grand Illusion; OK Computer; The Clash; Middlemarch; and a bunch of other stuff I'm sure would occur to me if I continued to sit here and become even more self-involved. I should probably add some kind of self-deprecating emoticon here, but I just can't bring myself to use the damned things!
Wow. Did I actually just write all that? Thanks for having me, everyone. I look forward to meeting many of you in the years to come.
All the best,
RW
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Scott:
Welcome. I played RTJ in October and the greens were the fastest I had ever played -- and they were pure too (just like the rest of the course). Seems like you do a terrific job out there.
Carl,
Thank you for the kind post. Who did you play with and was it your first time? I don't know how to send a message to just you, sorry.
[/quote]
Scott:
A good friend of mine is the GM of a club in Northern Virginia, and he's good friends with one of the Assistants at RTJ. This was the second time I had played RTJ.
Carl
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Bump,
For all the new additions in the last 2 months
Welcome
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Updated Oct. 2013. I've been participating on the GCA site since early 2009.
Professionally: retired (since 2011) private practice specialty tax and federal administrative lawyer. Age 71.
Where from: I'm originally from West Virginia, but my wife (who's from a Chicago suburb) and I have lived in Charlotte (North Carolina, U.S.A.) since 1969 following my graduation from Duke Law School (undergrad, Oberlin College in Ohio). Two children, grown, live in New Canaan, CT, and Anchorage, AK.
I've played golf earnestly, recreationally, for about 21 years and been a member of Carolina Golf Club (Ross, 1929, with 2008 renovation by Kris Spence) here in Charlotte since 1995. Carolina GC is also my personal favorite course.
Other retirement hobby - leading tours as a volunteer docent at an art museum.
Prior to golf I was very active in road running/racing circles, local, state and national, my main "hobby" for more than 20 years, but at around age 50 I decided golf would be a better "old age" sport, and so it has turned out (though I still run for fitness), in many, many ways. (Of course, golf's an "any age" sport, but I got in late.)
Current (Oct. 2013) HC Index: 21 point something.
I'm generally interested in all things golf, and architecture in particular. I've learned a tremendous amount from GCA site participation, will continue to do so, and, I hope, contribute a little bit, too.
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Glad I found this thread, and very glad I found GCA. About me:
Matthew Runde
St. Petersburg, Florida
28 years old
Marketer/Web Designer/User Interface Designer
BA in Visual Arts, from Eckerd College
I like anything creative, and once I learned a little about golf course architecture, I became fascinated by it. I've read Doak's Anatomy of a Golf Course, and I keep going back to it as I discover more of the world's famous holes. Currently, I'm enjoying Thomas' designs. I like the way in which he used massive bunkers to create options and make players think.
I want to gain some practical experience in course architecture, and I'm interested in working with an architectural firm as a marketer/Web designer/intern. I contacted the ASGCA about possible opportunities, and they promised to put a notice in their April newsletter. So far, I haven't heard from anybody (not surprising, considering the economy). I'll get some experience, one way or another.
Golf is big in my family. My father - despite being a Harvard grad - gained the approval of his future father-in-law only by beating him in a round of golf. So, I may owe my existence to the game!
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Every time I search for something, this page always shows up, so I've finally decided to post.
Long-time lurker, part-time poster....Thanks, Ran!
I found this site searching for pics of Crystal Downs.
Name: Jonathan Becker
Age: 31
Residence: Northeast Ohio
Education: BA Management/Marketing
Handicap: +1.5
Favorite Course: Canton Brookside (sentimental favorite)
Favorite Golf Moments: making my first ace with Dad....playing Stone Eagle with two great friends and my brother
Lowest Round: Shot 64 at Shaker Run in 2003 with a tee ball o.b.
Top 10 favorite courses
Seminole, Merion, Oakmont, The Golf Club, Old Macdonald, Pacific Dunes, Kiawah Ocean, Oakand Hills South, Canton Brookside, TCCPP
I've never played off the continent except at Playa Grande in the D.R.
Anyone that comes through Ohio, feel free to shoot me a pm to play.
Thanks,
Jonathan
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Jonathan:
Welcome to the board; I spent part of my early years up the road in Medina, and ran high school cross country on the Wooster CC course; always my favorite event of the fall season -- good turf to run on!
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Jonathan,
Welcome as well from another NE Ohio GCA guy! Give me a shout and let's try and get out together and play. I'm up in Strongsville and play most weekends.
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Jamie Barber
Sandwich, Kent, UK
Age: 36
hcp: 6.0
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Member at:
Prince's Golf Club
Favourite course played:
Royal County Down
Courses I would really like to play (+ are likely to get a chance to!):
Cruden Bay
Dornoch
Islay
Harlech
Goswick
Portrush
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Well, I have been lurking and then posting for quite a while but here goes officially.
Dale Jackson
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Age: 54
hcp: 6.0
Occupation:
Semi Retired Management Consultant
Rules Official
budding author (researching and writing RCGC 100 year history)
rater for one of the magazines that is regularly trashed on this site
Member at:
Royal Colwood Golf Club
Favourite courses played:
Royal County Down
TOC
Royal Dornoch
Royal Portrush
Royal Aberdeen
Machrahanish
Deal
Bandon trio
Riviera
Monterey Peninsula CC
Stone Eagle
Hamilton G & CC
Pebble Beach - especially #8
Kapalua, Plantation
Next Up (some hopefully, others for sure)
Cruden Bay
Rye
Westward Ho!
NGLA
St Georges
Cypress Point
PV
Tobacco Road
Yale
Old Macdonald
Royal Melbourne
Barnbougle Dunes
so many .. so little time
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Bump ...
Ps: my have times changed ...
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Belated welcome Dale. Man with good tastes in courses, I see!
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Bill Hyde
Hometown: Cazenovia, NY
Current roost: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Occupation: Advertising Creative Director
Family: 2 boys, (one golfer, one hockey player), Wife who's a 16 hcp.
Hcp: 2
Club: CC of Detroit
A few of my favorite courses (played) in no particular order:
Garden City
Seminole
Baltusrol
Oak Hill
Monroe GC
Yale
Kirtland
Scioto
CC of Buffalo
Five Farms
Seven Oaks
Thendara
Crag Burn (former member)
Franklin Hills
CC of Detroit
Belvedere
Rustic Canyon
Misquamicut
Bellevue
Onondaga
Teugega
GCA is a great place to learn how much I have to learn about architecture...reading profusely as we have a big greens project coming up and I want CCD to be remembered as "a good client."
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Michael Huber
Age: 25
Home: Pittsburgh, PA
Occupation: Accountant
I started to really play a whole lot of golf about four years ago after growing up a baseball guy. Almost immeadately I started to wonder what makes a good golf course good and what makes a bad course bad, especially after paying lots of money to play courses that I did not like and paying a little bit of money for courses that were fun.
If I know anything about golf courses, I suppose it would be about public courses in Pittsburgh and Philly. In my opinion, the public golf in both cities reflect the general mentality and attitude of the city itself. My list of courses played is extremely modest, but that does not bother me in the least bit. I'll enjoy golf on lousy courses and great course alike.
Its good to be here.
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Emil Weber
Home: Frankfurt, Germany
Occupation: student (school)
My whole family started playing golf after a rainy trip to Ireland in 1999, and since then we are all passionate golfers, the "worst" handicap in the family being 12. Somehow I always had a special interest in courses, as I started drawing golf courses with 10 or 11. What got me interested in design were the different bunker styles I noticed. I thought the more beautiful the bunkers, the better the course ;D.
Luckily, that perception of courses changed when my mum got me Geoff Shackelfords Grounds for Golf for my 14th birthday, and I realized golf courses go deeper than their beauty. I started lurking on GCA.com with 15, and have since read almost all the courses reviews, "the anatomy of a golf course" by Tom Doak, the 2008 "world atlas of golf", and, not to forget, GCA.com's discussion group.
I'm a lucky kid that my parents like to both travel and play golf, so whenever we go somewhere, golf is always on the list!
GCA.com is great!
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Michael Huber
Age: 25
Home: Pittsburgh, PA
Occupation: Accountant
I started to really play a whole lot of golf about four years ago after growing up a baseball guy. Almost immeadately I started to wonder what makes a good golf course good and what makes a bad course bad, especially after paying lots of money to play courses that I did not like and paying a little bit of money for courses that were fun.
If I know anything about golf courses, I suppose it would be about public courses in Pittsburgh and Philly. In my opinion, the public golf in both cities reflect the general mentality and attitude of the city itself. My list of courses played is extremely modest, but that does not bother me in the least bit. I'll enjoy golf on lousy courses and great course alike.
Its good to be here.
Welcome, Michael, nice to have another Burgh guy on here, and I like your thoughts about Pittsburgh and Philly public golf, I had not really looked at it that way before.
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"It even answered the old question: "Who is Dr. Katz"
Jim Kennedy:
Really? I looked for it where you said but I couldn't find it. Who is Dr. Katz? I always assumed he was some peripatetic, Germanic, quack, licenseless duncemeister doctor who happened on here years ago while surfing the Internet with no particular purpose in mind. Is he actually someone other than that?
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"It even answered the old question: "Who is Dr. Katz"
Jim Kennedy:
Really? I looked for it where you said but I couldn't find it. Who is Dr. Katz? I always assumed he was some peripatetic, Germanic, quack, licenseless duncemeister doctor who happened on here years ago while surfing the Internet with no particular purpose in mind. Is he actually someone other than that?
posted February 05, 2000 11:41 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Tom Paul and Mike Cirba
Please be reassured. Three of the fundamental tenets I live by:
1. The Hippocratic Oath.
2. Discretion and confidentiality.
3. Restraint and moderation.
Also, my practice is restricted to Emergency Psychiatry. I appear only when all other options are exhausted.
Tom Egan (aka Dr. Katz)
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Tony Weiler, 39
Long Time Lurker, New Member
Hometown: Bismarck, ND
Occupation: Attorney
Family: 3 kids
Hcp: 3
Course: Riverwood, and Hawktree
My favorites that I've played:
Torrey Pines (South)
Hazeltine National
Interlachen
We Ko Pa (Saguaro)
We Ko Pa (Cholla)
Hawktree
The Links of ND
Bully Pulpit
Old Works
Pelican Hill (South)
Sutton Bay
Deacon's Lodge
Coer D'Alene CC
Vista Verde
Eagle Bend
Prairie Green
TPC Scottsdale
I always enjoy learning about golf, and GCA is great for that. Thanks.
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Martin Toal, 45
Live in Wokingham, Berkshire, UK
Physician working in hemato-oncology R&D in the biotech industry
Married, 1 son with another son/daughter due later this month
8 handicap
Member at Bearwood Lakes, Wokingham
Past favourite courses:
UK and Ireland:
Royal County Down
Silloth on Solway (former member)
Ballyliffin Old
Murvagh
Royal Dublin
Overseas:
Green Monkey, Barbados
Eldorado, Cabo (pre-redesign)
Monte Rei, Portugal
Maderas, CA
Pinehills, MA
Pine Hill, NJ
Stewart Creek, AB, Canada
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Eric Smith:
Thanks for clearing that up. I guess I forgot that.
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Name: Dónal Ó Ceallaigh
Age: 51
Married: Two sons and one daughter.
Work: Work in telecomms.
Course: Bro-Bålsta GK, Sweden (Peter Nordwall designed).
HCAP: 5.9
Favourite Courses:
Ballybunion
Lahinch
Rosapenna(Old)
Silloth
Formby
Royal Lytham & St. Annes
Royal Hague
UGC de Pan
Noordwijk
Dunfanaghy
Started playing in Gweedore in Donegal (Ireland) when I was about 9 years of age.
I was interested in golf architecture from a young age. Made a couple of pitch-and-putt courses, one in my uncle's field, and one at the back of my parent's house. I was always drawing and sketching course layouts.
My first real exposure to a course designed by a recognised architect was Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris). Although I did not know at the time who had designed the course, I was so amazed with the shaping of the bunkers on the first hole, I knew it must have been a professional architect. I had played courses like Donegal, Dunfanagy, Narin & Portnoo, but Rosapenna (OTM) was clearly on a different level. The layout of the course displayed in the Hotel credited the design to Old Tom Morris, Harry Vardon and James Braid, but it wasn't until many years later that I discovered that it was Harry Colt that was responsible for the layout that existed at that time.
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bumping for the newbies, at Paul's request.
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Name...Mac Plumart
Age...37
Married with two kids (7 and 5 years old girl and boy)
Work...co-founder and EVP of an asset management company
Home course...St. Ives in the northen Atlanta 'burbs
HCP...11.6 (but will be falling like a stone in 2010!!!)
Started playing later summer 2007. Got into golf architecture about a year later...along with golf history. Started a goofy website...www.mrpgolf.com...as I spend most night reading and studying about golf, so I figured I would post my random thoughts for others to read. My hopes were I would find a few golf enthusiats/nuts/maniacs/geeks like myself...and I have.
Favorite golf course played to date...Kiawah Ocean; followed closely by Pete Dye Golf Club of WV, Seaside at Sea Island, Cuscowilla, and Inverness.
Favorite Hidden Gems...CC of Columbus, Achasta, Longshadow, and Lookout Mountain
Favorite Hole Played...18 at Inverness
Course most interested in playing...The Old Course at St. Andrews and National Golf Links...both should be played by spring of 2011. Hopefully, these will be courses I will have the opportunity to play multiple times and study in-depth.
Looking to join a national golf club in the next 12 to 18 months...Inverness is currently in the lead!
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Name: Kevin Cahoon
Age: 44
Married no kids large dog
Work: Wine Sales for a Small Importer mostly European wines
Home Course: Flossmoor Country Club
HCP: 5.6
Started at age of 26 with a group of bar buddies. I have developed the addiction. I play about 100 rounds per year. Really started looking into the history and architecture with my first trip to Scotland in 2004.
Favorite Courses: Prairie Dunes, Muirfield, Shoreacres
Most Unique Golfing Moment: Playing at Loch Lomond which is the home of the Cahoon clan. It was exciting looking at the ruins of the castle behind the 18th.
2010 Plans: Flossmoor CC trip for a return match with Royal Cinque Ports
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2010 Plans: Flossmoor CC trip for a return match with Royal Cinque Ports
What sort of handicap will you guys let Chaplin get away with? ;D
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What should Mark's handicap be so I can put in my files?
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What should Mark's handicap be so I can put in my files?
Take whatever he tells you and divide it by two. But only if you're interested in his handicap reflecting what you're likely to see from him during a match.
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Name: Alex Miller
Age: 20
Student at University of California at San Diego
Grew up near Los Angeles, and not near the few good public options that are available
Home course: ?, an assortment of them
HCP: scratch, though I haven't been playing much recently
Started at age 8 thanks to PGA Tour golf, the 1996 pre-Tiger version. I played a few junior tournaments but mostly played because I enjoyed it. From a competitive standpoint, my greatest accomplishment is making it through local US Open qualifying, on my first and only attempt. I've doodled my own original designs since I was 10 and found this website last year and realized that what I'd been doing was a crude form of golf course architecture.
Highlights: Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Bandon Trails, Riviera, LACC North, Rustic Canyon, Lake Merced GC
In the next few years.... Pasatiempo, TOC, and many others!
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Name: Duncan Betts
Age: 28
Single
Work: I'm essentially a cricketer, but time is running out for me to call it a 'profession'. Otherwise, I'm studying engineering at University and have been for 11 years now!
Home course: Royal Queensland
HCP: 5.3
Favourite Course: Cape Kidnappers
I actually stumbled upon this website when googling cricket stuff of all things, had no idea there were so many people out there sho share my interest in Golf Courses.
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What should Mark's handicap be so I can put in my files?
If the match is at Deal, as few as possible. Not more than 7! ;D
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Davis Cranford
Long time lurker, brand-newbie poster
Age: 32
Occupation: Caddie @ the Kiawah Island Club (Cassique & River Course)/ student at The College of Charleston
Residence: Charleston, SC
Hometown: Asheboro, NC
Home Courses: Mostly Cassique and The River Course, and Tot Hill Farm when I'm home ;)
Found this site a couple of years ago and have lurked long enough. Became interested in GCA by my home course Tot Hill Farm (Mike Strantz). After dabbling in commercial roofing sales decided to return to school to finish my degree in International Business/Spanish then hopefully into Landscape Arch. Was living on a course in Wilmington, NC while it was being redesigned (Masonboro CC) and finally decided that GCA was what I really wanted to do.
I became a sponge for GCA reading anything and everything I can get my hands on, to the point of obssession. Have applied for an internship for the summer with one of the best designers in the land (fingers crossed!) in hopes of learning more about architecture and getting started in a career in the business. If anyone knows of more internship opportunities with designers, please let me know! (The more the better!) I'm currently doing anything I can to get into the GCA business, and I'm not afraid to grab a shovel!!!
I love reading everyones thoughts and opinions on this site and I'm very happy to be a part of it!
DC
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Name: Roger Wolfe
Age: 43
Married: Daughter born in 2000, Son born in 2005
Work: CCM and General Manager, Carolina Golf Club, Charlotte, NC
Course: Member at Mimosa Hills Golf & CC
Hcap: 8.7 (up from 3.5 - pre knee surgery, but down from 12.0 - post knee surgery)
Was a CPA for Deloitte in the DC area when a client cleaned house and wanted to hire
an outsider to run his golf course after his pro and other staff fleeced him pretty bad.
That was Augustine Golf Club in Stafford, VA in the glory years (1997-2001).
Quick stop as GM of Swan Point Yacht & CC on the Potomac in southern MD. Been with
CGC since Nov 2004. Its a wonderful club with wonderful members that occupies a very
unique niche in Charlotte. I am lucky to have worked with Kris Spence on a full renovation
and construction of a practice facility. Also worked with Bradley Klein and Michael Fay.
Love and live for golf. Although my skills have deteriorated and my knees are shot I can still
play 54 a day. I go on a lot of NC/VA trips but am lucky to be part of a group that
travels the country every May. We have been to Scottsdale, Sawgrass, Pinehurst, Kohler,
Sea Island, Broadmoor, Kiawah. Heading for the Kingsley Club this May thanks to wonderful tips
found on GCA. I really enjoyed the 2009 Dixie Cup at Palmetto Club.
Something I do many times a year that continues to be my favorite "golf experience" is playing
Southern Pines, having a beer afterwards in the basement of the Elks club followed by drinks and
"old school" dining at the Pine Crest Inn. It doesn't get any better than that and I don't think
it ever will (note I have never played in GB&I or traveled to Bandon).
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Hello everyone,
I'm 32 yrs old and from Philadelphia, PA.
My interest in course architecture has been with me for quite a while. But that thirst had gone unquenched for lack of interested conversationalists among my golfing set as well as an ignorance of any scholarly sources. But thanks to GolfClubAtlas and a couple its members from the Philadelphia area that is starting to change. While in college I studied history and a few years back became interested in the history of Philadelphia area courses. It's been intersting to see the greats of the golden age so closely connected to my hometown. I'm also completely addicted to playing the game and head out to the course during the season a few times a week mostly as a single. I just meet up with folks on the course. Never once in all my days have I walked a course with anyone but friendly and accommodating men and women.
I love this game.
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Wanted to use my first post to introduce myself, and also thank Ran and Ben for having me and running such a great site.
Name: Andrew Lewis
Age: 31, married
Profession: communications / public affairs for a diversified healthcare concern
Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Current town: Chicago, IL
Previous towns: NYC, DC, LA
Clubs: member at Kingsley Club; looking in Chicago
My wife comes from a golfing family and thus thankfully humors my addiction. We made our first Bandon pilgrimage a couple weeks ago -- Jan in Oregon is pretty nice -- and evidently were in DG member Eric Olsen's presence. She might even concede that it has been to her benefit -- I proposed on an ocean-side tee box during a sunset walk at Kapalua.
We moved to Chicago last fall, and I played Ravisloe a couple times on the rec's of this group, and also previously kicked around Jackson Park while attending college on the south side some years ago. I'm otherwise new to golf in the area and would greatly appreciate thoughts and recommendations on Chicago's public and private scenes, beyond what I've found by searching the DG.
Regarding courses, I'd consider myself most familiar with Kingsley and the Course at Yale. I also think the Old White at the Greenbrier may be the most fund course I've ever played.
I look forward to contributing when I have something relevant to share, and continuing to learn when I do not.
Best, Andrew
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Name...Mike Hogan
Age...44
Home town.. Bagley, MN. Grew up in in Minneapolis.
Work...Forester for small County in Northern Minnesota.
Home course...Twin Pines golf course- 9 holer in Bagely where I live.
HCP...no official but around a 12.
Got into golf architecture in 1999 when i first played at Bandon Dunes.
Favorite golf course played ..North Berwick, Follwed by Pac Dunes and TOC.
Favorite Hidden Gems..Wild Marsh, Buffalo Mn, Brora, Oak Ridge CC
Favorite Hole Played...The Redan North Berick
Course most interested in playing...Cypress, Old Macdonald.
I found this sight about a year ago and have been lurking since. Became interested in GCA around 2000 when I visited Bandon for the first time. I'm currently working as a forester but would love to get into GCA someday.
I'm happy to be a a part of this sight, reading everyones opinions and learnig everyday.
Mike
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Wanted to use my first post to introduce myself, and also thank Ran and Ben for having me and running such a great site.
Name: Andrew Lewis
Age: 31, married
Profession: communications / public affairs for a diversified healthcare concern
Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Current town: Chicago, IL
Previous towns: NYC, DC, LA
Clubs: member at Kingsley Club; looking in Chicago
My wife comes from a golfing family and thus thankfully humors my addiction. We made our first Bandon pilgrimage a couple weeks ago -- Jan in Oregon is pretty nice -- and evidently were in DG member Eric Olsen's presence. She might even concede that it has been to her benefit -- I proposed on an ocean-side tee box during a sunset walk at Kapalua.
We moved to Chicago last fall, and I played Ravisloe a couple times on the rec's of this group, and also previously kicked around Jackson Park while attending college on the south side some years ago. I'm otherwise new to golf in the area and would greatly appreciate thoughts and recommendations on Chicago's public and private scenes, beyond what I've found by searching the DG.
Regarding courses, I'd consider myself most familiar with Kingsley and the Course at Yale. I also think the Old White at the Greenbrier may be the most fund course I've ever played.
I look forward to contributing when I have something relevant to share, and continuing to learn when I do not.
Best, Andrew
Andrew, Welcome to the site! We are having a GCA Chicago area dinner on Thursday Feb 25th at the Erie Cafe. You will have the chance to meet with a wide range of Chicagoans who play/belong to some of our area clubs. Great opportunity to answer questions regarding membership availabilities. Wish you well, Jack
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Name: Tim Gavrich
Age: 20
Hometown: Avon, CT
Profession; none...I'm a Junior at Washington and Lee University (English major/Philo minor); I'm also the treasurer of my fraternity
Member: Pawleys Plantation G&CC; Pawleys Island, SC
Favorite courses: TOC, Sunningdale Old, Yale, Shelter Harbor, Palmetto GC
I've been on the site for approaching five years, I believe. I've loved golf since I started playing at the age of 6, but being a member of GCA.com has really deepened my love of the game. I'm glad Ran and Ben allowed me to join.
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Name: David Royer
Age: 56
Family: Married, 3 daughters, 3 grandsons
Hcp: 6
Home Course: Brookside G&CC Columbus, Ohio (1927 Charles Lormes)
Occupation: County Adminstrator for Public Mental Health Services
Favorite Courses Played: Oakmont, Ballyneal, Doonbeg
Long time lurker, now newbie
I really started focusing on issues of design from reading the discussion board. Has taken me to golf courses I would never had played, including Holsten Hills, Kirtland, Ballyneal, Bandon, Cabo etc. etc. I have already benefited far more than I 'll probably ever contribute. Thanks to all for widening my world.
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Name: Jaeger Kovich
Age: 23
Hometown: NYC
School: Just graduated from Hobart College in Geneva, NY (Architecture major/Studio Art minor)
Profession: Amateur golf architect / student / caddy / ice hockey coach / golf course whack job!
Work: Quaker Ridge Golf Club (grounds crew/caddy/architect/historian)
Mungeam Cornish Golf Design (intern)
Winged Foot, Ridgewood, Bethpage Black, Pelham, Powelton Club (Caddy)
Southern Hills (future)
Earliest golf memory: getting kicked off my grandfathers development course when i was around 6
Top golfing experiences: golf trip to UK as graduation present
first time I learned my design for Woodway CC short course/practice area would be built
first day as an intern for MCGD
Old Mac preview w/Doak followed by dinner with Doak, Urbina, Coore and Bahto
completing study of Tillinghast design strategy
Intro to arch: designed a hypothetical 9-hole course on the campus of my high school (millbrook)
Found GCA: while working for Mungeam Cornish Golf Design thanks to Tim Gerrish (dont know why it took me so long to do this intro!)
I've been playing golf for about 9 years now. Got seriously into the game jr. year of highschool when i quit playing lax to join the golf team. Growing up in nyc, I was always in search of the best public courses in the metro area since there are none in manhattan. My sr. year in highschool my mom bought me Tom Fazio's book and i proposed designing a golf course on our campus for my senior project. Received honors on the project. Went on an internship "abroad" program in boston jr. year in college and begged my way into a job working at MCGD, and instantly fell in love with GCA.
Ever since (last 2 years): I have been posting here regularly. Read every book on gca i could get my hands on/afford! Traveled to England, Scotland, Bandon, Kiawah, and Pinehurst. Got to meet G. Hanse, B, Coore, J. Urbina, T. Doak, J. Bradley. Played over 100 different golf courses. Wrote a thesis on Tillinghast design. And have been begging my way onto every great course and writing to every golf architect I can think of looking for my next chance to make it as a gca!... which is why I am currently learning how to operate bulldozers and backhoes as well as learning chinese!
... I love this website and enjoy learning from the people on the site, so thanks!
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Name: Jake Straub
Age: 37
Hometown: Downingtown, PA
Profession: Sales/Consulting on Golf Courses and Agriculture
HCP: It use to be a 9 don't know anymore
I have lurked on this site for 10 years. I have been involved in the golf course industry for 20 yrs. as a caddy, greenkeeper, intern, assistant superintendent. Started working on the maintenance side of the industry during the final stages of construction and the opening of Stonewall. From there interned and was an Assistant Super at Cherry Hills CC and finally ended up in the same role at Merion. Really appreciate the architectural side more now because I don't have worrying about the turf surviving the day :). Big fan of Flynn, Raynor, Ross, Wilson, and Doak just to name a few.
I have been very lucky in the places I have seen and played, new found respect for golf and architecture after going to Bandon back in summer of 08. Like to thank Ran and Ben for this site and the opportunity to join and learn from everyone involved here.
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Name...Mike Hogan
Age...44
Home town.. Bagley, MN. Grew up in in Minneapolis.
Work...Forester for small County in Northern Minnesota.
Home course...Twin Pines golf course- 9 holer in Bagely where I live.
HCP...no official but around a 12.
Got into golf architecture in 1999 when i first played at Bandon Dunes.
Favorite golf course played ..North Berwick, Follwed by Pac Dunes and TOC.
Favorite Hidden Gems..Wild Marsh, Buffalo Mn, Brora, Oak Ridge CC
Favorite Hole Played...The Redan North Berick
Course most interested in playing...Cypress, Old Macdonald.
I found this sight about a year ago and have been lurking since. Became interested in GCA around 2000 when I visited Bandon for the first time. I'm currently working as a forester but would love to get into GCA someday.
I'm happy to be a a part of this sight, reading everyones opinions and learnig everyday.
Mike
A fellow "Northern" Minnesotan! We'll have to get together sometime this summer to play. BTW, I live in Breezy Point about 20 minutes north of Brainerd.
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A fellow "Northern" Minnesotan! We'll have to get together sometime this summer to play. BTW, I live in Breezy Point about 20 minutes north of Brainerd.
Wish I had known...played Breezy Point just this past August...
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Name: David Nelson
Age: 31
Home: Girvan nr Turnberry, Scotland
Hcp: 8
Home Course: Girvan
Work: Golf Course Development
I have been in the golf industry for 16 yrs mostly in construction. I have worked all over the UK & Europe and I have had the great opportunity to play some of the finest golf courses available.
I hope to be able to contribute to this site with pictorials of the golf courses I get the privilege of playing while on my travels and also hopefully getting the chance to meet and play golf with fellow GCA enthusiasts.
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Name: Ben Kodadek
Age: 31
Status: Married (3 mo), no kids, no pets, hate feral cats
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Residence: Tampa, FL
Home Course: Feather Sound Country Club (Joe Lee design)
Profession: Director of Sales for Chuck's Grinding (precision grinding for medical device manufacturers)
Education: Universty of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN)
HCP: Extremely volatile, usually between 3-6, more towards 7 since the wedding ;D
I moved to Tampa about 8 years ago after shoveling my front walk 3 times in one day. Still frequent Minneapolis on a very regular basis for both work and pleasure. Love living in FL and having a chance to play golf year round. However, it's turned me pretty soft.
Grew up playing in junior programs at Minnetonka Country Club, as I got older, started playing baseball seriously and didn't have time for golf until after college. I moved down here and was very interested in finding money games and playing on fast greens. Over the years, I still love the fast greens, but don't enjoy the money games nearly as much. ;) Much more interested in just playing golf these days.
I look forward to making it out to a GCA event in the near future as I've heard they are a blast. I've had the good fortune to play with one GCA member, Jason Topp. We played at his home course and he was a fine host. If you can get it around in 3 hours and 15 minutes with time for a Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout on the first tee and at the turn, you're just fine in my book.
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A fellow "Northern" Minnesotan! We'll have to get together sometime this summer to play. BTW, I live in Breezy Point about 20 minutes north of Brainerd.
Wish I had known...played Breezy Point just this past August...
Dang, me too. Well if you're every back up this way, let me know. BTW, where did you play when you were here?
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Name: Ben Kodadek
Age: 31
Status: Married (3 mo), no kids, no pets, hate feral cats
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Residence: Tampa, FL
Home Course: Feather Sound Country Club (Joe Lee design)
Profession: Director of Sales for Chuck's Grinding (precision grinding for medical device manufacturers)
Education: Universty of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN)
HCP: Extremely volatile, usually between 3-6, more towards 7 since the wedding ;D
I moved to Tampa about 8 years ago after shoveling my front walk 3 times in one day. Still frequent Minneapolis on a very regular basis for both work and pleasure. Love living in FL and having a chance to play golf year round. However, it's turned me pretty soft.
Grew up playing in junior programs at Minnetonka Country Club, as I got older, started playing baseball seriously and didn't have time for golf until after college. I moved down here and was very interested in finding money games and playing on fast greens. Over the years, I still love the fast greens, but don't enjoy the money games nearly as much. ;) Much more interested in just playing golf these days.
I look forward to making it out to a GCA event in the near future as I've heard they are a blast. I've had the good fortune to play with one GCA member, Jason Topp. We played at his home course and he was a fine host. If you can get it around in 3 hours and 15 minutes with time for a Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout on the first tee and at the turn, you're just fine in my book.
You must have been at UST about the same time as me. When did you graduate? What was your major? (I graduated in 01).
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Ben - did you play baseball for the honorable Dennis Denning? - I have worked out with his teams a number of times.
Send me a note when you are back up in MPLS sometime...we'll get out and hit the links.
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Dang, me too. Well if you're every back up this way, let me know. BTW, where did you play when you were here?
It was my 2nd visit to Minnesota for golf. My first-ever press trip was 10 years ago up there, and this past August might have been my 60th, overall, give or take.
This past visit saw us at Whitebirch at BP, Deacons Lodge, Minikahda, and up in Bibawik at Giant's Ridge. Poor weather and a late start in the day precluded a visit to Fortune Bay. Here is my lifetime list of courses in Minny:
MINNESOTA---Deacon’s Lodge*, Giant’s Ridge—Legend, Giant’s Ridge—Quarry,* Grand National, Minikahda Club*, Superior National*, Sugarbrooke, The Classic*, The Legacy, The Pines, The Preserve*, Whitebirch, The Wilds.
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Name: Ben Kodadek
Age: 31
Status: Married (3 mo), no kids, no pets, hate feral cats
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Residence: Tampa, FL
Home Course: Feather Sound Country Club (Joe Lee design)
Profession: Director of Sales for Chuck's Grinding (precision grinding for medical device manufacturers)
Education: Universty of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN)
HCP: Extremely volatile, usually between 3-6, more towards 7 since the wedding ;D
I moved to Tampa about 8 years ago after shoveling my front walk 3 times in one day. Still frequent Minneapolis on a very regular basis for both work and pleasure. Love living in FL and having a chance to play golf year round. However, it's turned me pretty soft.
Grew up playing in junior programs at Minnetonka Country Club, as I got older, started playing baseball seriously and didn't have time for golf until after college. I moved down here and was very interested in finding money games and playing on fast greens. Over the years, I still love the fast greens, but don't enjoy the money games nearly as much. ;) Much more interested in just playing golf these days.
I look forward to making it out to a GCA event in the near future as I've heard they are a blast. I've had the good fortune to play with one GCA member, Jason Topp. We played at his home course and he was a fine host. If you can get it around in 3 hours and 15 minutes with time for a Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout on the first tee and at the turn, you're just fine in my book.
You must have been at UST about the same time as me. When did you graduate? What was your major? (I graduated in 01).
That's it; I now have to quit the site. It's bad enough I'm the lone alum on this board from the considerably superior academic institution a half-mile down Summit Avenue (that would be to the east...). Now I have to share space with a couple of Tommies. What has GCA come to? ;)
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Phil,
Did you enjoy your experience at St. Catherine's? ;D
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Brad Wilbur
Age: 54
Occupation: Dentist
Home course: DragonRidge in Henderson, NV (Call if you're in Vegas. DragonRidge is a Morrrish-Druzisky design in the foothills of the
city
Handicap: 9-13, depending on how many drives wind up on grass
Greatest golf moment: I think I beat Curt Byrum in the South Dakota High School State Golf Tourney. It obviously was a while ago, and in Curt's behalf, I think he was a freshman, and I was a senior. The only thing I remember was us rolling our eyes at each other as two guys from the BIG high schools argued about whether one of them had tamped down a spike mark. Fortunately for Curt, he got a lot better, but I didn't.
Like others not in the industry, this site has been a great way to learn more about golf architecture. Thanks to all.
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Thought I'd repost since almost everything about me has changed since I originally posted on this thread back in 2003:
Joel Lahrman
Age: 35
Occupation: Working for a brand consultancy, living in Piedmont (Oakland) CA, work in San Francisco.
Handicap: Index is listed as 8.9, but that's based mostly on rounds from 2008. After six rounds last year, I have so much rust it would take a miracle for me to play a 9 right now. Planning a comeback for 2010 - newly minted NCGA member!
Home Course: Metropolitan and Monarch Bay.
Married, no kids, 2 dogs. Kids can't possibly require more work, time, or money than these two mutts, can they?
Favorite course: Camargo
Wish list: To find a way to play more golf. 40 rounds a year would be a dream for me, jealous of those for whom it's an off year.
I grew up in Cincinnati and had the good fortune to work in the bag shop at Camargo (also worked at Scioto while I was an undergrad at the Ohio State University). Back in 2003 a friend of mine wanted to know more about Camargo. I did a search to see if I could find any images and came upon Ran's writeup. I got hooked reading the course profiles, eventually moseyed over to the forum. I still read much more than I post. I've had the pleasure to meet only a few GCAers over the years, but would like to meet more since the ones I've met have been great company.
Other interests: After 20 years of basketball I have switched to tennis. Easier to find one person than nine, and fewer dislocated fingers and sprained ankles. I play to about a 3.5 but don't practice this sport enough either. I am a mediocre guitar and banjo player. I also enjoy volunteering at my local animal shelter and learning principles of dog training.
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Name; Jim Haley
Age: 48
Occupation; Golf Course Construction
Married for 23 years to Barb, 2 daughters, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret
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Joined a few months ago but haven't done this yet so here it is...
Ryan Admussen
Location: Calgary
Age: 26
Engaged
Occupation: Project Manager for commercial sheet metal/roofing
Home Course: Sundre last year, moving to Innisfail this year
Handicap: 14ish
Favorite Courses Played: Banff, Jasper, Wolf Creek(AB), All 3(soon to be 4) at Bandon, Rustic Canyon, Barona Creek, Paiute Wolf
Planned for 2010: Have rounds in Pinehurst, Kiawah, Atlanta planned for my first east coast trip in April, and a return trip to Bandon in November to see Old Mac.
I haven't contributed much so far, just enjoying taking in all the information and knowledge available on this great site!
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Joe McCormac
St. Louis, MO
32, married 3 young children
Found this site a few years ago, joined last year. Grew up caddying and began admiring good golf course architecture when I was able to play St. Louis Country Club on Mondays. Heading to Bandon for the first time in April and just acquired the Confidential Guide. These seem like site prerequisites. :) Been fortunate to play Old Warson Country Club a number of times and feel some of the RTJ critics would do well to see this course.
Really enjoy the conversation, thanks to all.
Joe
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Name: Jason Elwell
Age: 27
Married, 9 month old daughter
Work: Engineer
Home: Huntsville, AL
Home Course: The Ledges of Huntsville
Started coming here just a couple of weeks ago after searching online for information about ANGC. I've been lucky enough to attend the Masters twice, and am absolutely enthralled by the course, the spectacle, and everything about it. In digging for information about ANGC, I seem to have discovered I'm a golf architecture nut. I love doodling imaginary routing when I'm bored, and would love to build a course of my own someday. I've only been playing about 5 years, but hopefully I'm young enough that I can really improve in the next few years. I really look forward to learning more and reading everyone's opinions. Thanks for having me!
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Updated March 2012
Name: Matthew Petersen
Age: 31
Status: Married (7 years), 1 son, 1 year old
Residence: Phoenix, AZ (grew up in Denver, CO)
Profession: Insurance
Education: Universty of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)
HCP: Still officially around a 2 only because I haven't played enough to move it. When I have played, which is rare since my son was born, it's been pretty ugly.
I learned the game from my Dad who was an avid player and got me out on courses as soon as those in our area would allow it. I believe I started playing in earnest around the age of 7.
I played in high school, but not especially well. However my school was part of a league that included some of the better golfing schools in the state and as I was our best player I was often in groups with players far above my caliber. I remember many of them but most here will know of Kevin Stadler, the son of the walrus. I don't remember how many rounds we played together but I surely remember that I beat him, just once--on what was nearly a career day for me and probably a career bad day for him!
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Name: Matt Schmidt
Age: 39
Married, three kids (10-year old son, 7 year-old twin daughters - yes, I have an idea what they will be like in a few years, no need to remind me!)
Work: Intellectual Property Attorney (patents, trademarks, copyright, etc).
Home course: Oakland Hills CC, Kingsley Club.
HDCP: 2.7
I've enjoyed many of the discussions and the incredible information available through this website. I am an avid golfer but somewhat new to serious review of course architecture. My goal is to gain a better understanding of course design and construction so that I appreciate courses more and in different ways. And, of course, to meet and golf with avid golfers.
Visitors to the metro-Detroit area, or those living here, feel free to look me up and I'll gladly tee it up with you.
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Name: Mark Molyneux but then you knew that!
Age: 60... getting closer to shooting my age.
Status: Married second time, for about 19 years to a woman who truly understands what golf means to me.
Kids: 4 daughters (33, 30, 29, 25), a grandson.
Favorite holiday: Father's Day when my girls take me out to play. They use my clubs and I use my father's vintage MacGregor's (Byron Nelson Tourneys). They're not golfers and it doesn't matter.
Residence: Center City Philly... I grew up in Manayunk. Wish I knew more about Valley Green CC, Roxborough CC (before it moved from Roxborough), and Andorra Springs.
Profession: Psychologist in the city schools.
Education: The Prep & Temple University where I was a catcher on the baseball team and sacrificed my interlocking grip to a foul tip.
HDCP: solid single digit
I learned the game from my Dad when I was a kid. Grew up near Walnut Lane where I played my first round in 1961. I've played about 540 other places since, playing about a 100 rounds a year in recent years. Worked in the shop at Eagle Lodge for about 15 years because I had my summers to myself. I've played at 6 degrees and at 108 degrees. I've played awful golf courses (that can for the moment remain nameless) and great golf courses (Pine Valley, Merion, Winged Foot, The Black, Torrey Pines, etc.). "I believe that flexibility goes back to my parents telling me to "... read, read, read anything and everything! Read great novels and trash. Read poetry and backs of cereal boxes. You'll never appreciate what makes a piece of literature great unless you have some awareness of the bad stuff too"... and so it is with golf designs!
I am an absolute Tillinghast fanatic and I consider just about any original Tilly design to be a destination course... charter member of the Tillinghast Society.
I've read gca for years but I've been too intimidated to even think about posting. There are a lot of brilliant, insightful, and creative people on gca. I'm so impressed every time I open the discussion pages, or whenever I'm reading the historical pieces, golf course treatments, etc.
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Name: Jeff Stein
Age: 24
Hometown: Staten Island, NY / Bandon (lived here for 10 months) I may have to retire in this place
Status: Caddying at Cape Kidnappers/traveling to courses all over NZ/going to Barnbougle Dunes/sandbelt courses
Handicap: 5.5
Dream golf destination: St. Andrews!!
Favortite Courses played: Pasatiempo, Pac Dunes, Meadow Club, Crystal Downs, Bandon Trails, Old Mac, Taconic, Metacommet, MPCC Shores, Chisholm Park (Dunedin, NZ), Cape Kidnappers, Bethpage Black (slept in my car to wait in line), LaTourette (hometown fav), Highland Links
Stickin' it to a GCA: I hit a blind 9-iron to 3 feet from hell bunker at Old Mac in front of Jim Urbina. He didnt say a word and walked away to his truck.
I leaned the game of golf with a cut down 7-iron given to me by my older brother. I was hooked. In highschool I was often sneaking on to the front 9 of the South Shore CC during dinner time or being a range rat at the south shore driving range of Staten Island. I could also be found at almost any course within 2 hours driving in the Tri- State area. I broke 80 for the first time at Richter Park in Danbury, CT. I waited out a 3 hour thunderstorm to then beg the super to let me finish my round from 16 green, I finished with a double on 18 for a 78!
As a child I used to sled down the rolling 18th fairway of Whipporwhill CC in Armonk, NY and I began caddying at Bedford Golf and Tennis Club when I was 14. It was during this time that my interest in classic golf architecture was peaked. This past summer I walked on 3 great golf courses and took dilligent notes and pictures: Cypress Point, Winged Foot E/W, Brookline CC. All amazing pieces of golf history.
In 2008/09 Mr. Doak was kind enough to get me a spot on his construction crew for Old Macdonald. I had the time of my life and learned a lot from the craftsmen at Renaissance Golf Design. I think I learned the most of all from the wet sand, rock/gorse removal, and cold rainy mornings in Februrary. It is still a dream of mine to call myself a GCA.
I almost ended up in Nebraska this winter working on another constuction project, but landed in New Zealand instead! Im currently caddying at Cape Kidnappers and travelling to as many other noteworthy golf courses that I can learn something about golf architecture. Since my constuction experience I have been focusing on finding my niche in the golf community and have been maintaing a blog about my golfing travels. Its been great to be a part of this forum so far, glad to finally introduce myself.
Best,
Jeff Stein
http://worldgolf-jeffrey.blogspot.com
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Name: Brett Morris
Age: 36
Status: Married (12 years), 1 daughter Charlotte who turns 1 on March 7, 2010
Residence: Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia
Profession: Director of Agronomy (Turnpoint Pty Ltd) & Superintendent - Sea Temple Golf Club
Education: PhD - The University of Sydney
HCP: 5
Current Superintendent who loves the game. Completed my Masters and PhD in turf which helps with what I do. Was fortunate recently to receive the International Environmental Leader in Golf Award from GCSAA and Golf Digest which meant a trip to San Diego for the ceremony.
We bring over our Superintendents every second year to the GCSAA show. Following the New Orleans show last year we got to tour Farmlinks, Shoal Creek, Riviera and Cypress Point. Following the show this year I got to visit Torrey Pines, Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks Ranch CC. Next year in Orlando, I hope to take the guys to Augusta, Sawgrass, Seminole and one other in Florida.
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Name: Chris Shaida
Age: 49
Status: Married (21 years), 16 year old daughter and 14 year old son
Residence: Dobbs Ferry, NY
Profession: run a mid-sized (100 professionals) management consultancy
HCP: 10
I have been lurking for over a year and have enjoyed my visits--even (especially?) the occasional hijinks and fireworks!--and have learned a lot from the site. I am relatively new to golf (I'll celebrate the 10 year anniversary of my first round of golf this summer--it was on a 9-hole, uh, fantastically un-architected 'course' ('whaddya say we put the green over HERE' 'uh, ok, then lower the blade on that mower and push it on over' on Shelter Island called Goat Hill). Like a lot others late-to-golf (I'm nearing 50) I do an inordinate amount of reading about golf--likely because I know that I'll never be all that good at playing it?
I'm a member of Ardsley CC (W Dunn, Tucker, Ross, MacKenzie, RTJ, whew!) and of Spanish Peaks (just Weiskopf). I found GCA in the course of doing some decidedly amateur and informal digging into the Ardsley course history (the first 9 was completed in 1895 and the full 18 a year later--no holes from which still exist). That digging included going through old club minutes (actually in the attic!), visits to the local historical society and to the town and county the building departments as well as internet searches. We now think we have a pretty good idea about the layouts from each of the above pairs of hands. It seems quite likely that the Ross and MacKenzie 'designs' were the result of days (hours?) rather than weeks on site as we've yet to uncover any actual drawings in either Ross' or MacKenzie's hand. In any case, the digging has been fun and I think it enriches my play (although not necessarily lowering my scores!).
Sadly, I have a rather deficient visual memory (maybe because I can't see all that well?) and I need to play a course 3 or 4 times before I can even remember the holes in proper sequence (which probably makes my opinion about many architectural features suspect from the get-go). I haven't gotten around nearly as much as many of you on this site but of the courses I've played more than three or four times my favorites are Lahinch, Chechessee, Mountain Lake and Bayonne. The most memorable course (and it will be all 'memories' now since it has been allowed to go fallow late last year) that I was fortunate to play a number of times was Pocantico, the private Rockefeller family course designed by Flynn--5700 yards, a dozen teeboxes and greens that yielded 18 holes, tiny greens, no fairway (so no roll)--a step back to a different era. I also love Ardsley but as someone (here?) said 'members often think their home course best not because it is the best course they've played but because it's the course on which most of their best shots were made.'
I like walking and I like caddies. I like that golf takes a good chunk of time. I like having to pay close attention to the course, to the weather, to one's fellows as well as to one's game and I like that there is an irreducible element of chance and that nature intrudes from time to time. I like that golf has little to do with certainty--that the increase in skill yields a higher probability--rather than the guarantee--of a better result. I like thinking while playing but just wish that it lead more often to better 'doing'. Ah well, maybe in the next life I can actually learn how to really play!
Now if only I could figure out how to imbed an image in a post I could post a bunch of old layouts I've found...
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Name: Martin Toal
Age: 9 over par for the back 9
Status: Married, 2 kids
Residence: Wokingham, Berkshire, UK
Profession: Physician in Pharmaceutical Research and Development
Education: Queens University, Belfast and various postgrad degrees
HCP: 8
Golf Club: Bearwood Lakes Golf Club: http://www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk/
Originally from Northern Ireland, Played golf at the same club as the young Darren Clarke, but medical school got in the way of playing as much as I would have liked. Moved to England in 1995, played at Silloth on Solway for a few years before moving down south nearer London.
In the pharmaceutical business, I get to travel to the US quite often, so have played in various areas. Favourite area is CA, San Diego in partic, but not a big fan of Torrey.
Also many frequent flier miles have enabled nice vacations in Caribbean, Asia and Australia where some nice golf has been played.
Favourite single course: Royal County Down (preferably on a half decent day).
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Originally from Northern Ireland, Played golf at the same club as the young Darren Clarke, but medical school got in the way of playing as much as I would have liked. Moved to England in 1995, played at Silloth on Solway for a few years before moving down south nearer London.
Martin:
Did you ever play with Darren Clarke?
The closest I've played to Dungannon is Strabane and Omage. I suspect Dungannon is much better than those two?
Dónal.
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Originally from Northern Ireland, Played golf at the same club as the young Darren Clarke, but medical school got in the way of playing as much as I would have liked. Moved to England in 1995, played at Silloth on Solway for a few years before moving down south nearer London.
Martin:
Did you ever play with Darren Clarke?
The closest I've played to Dungannon is Strabane and Omage. I suspect Dungannon is much better than those two?
Dónal.
A few times. He was about 17 or 18 at the time, and often scored very low on the course. There was an eclectic competition played through the summer, best score on each hole over the 2 or 3 month period. First round, he had a gross 61, and after another couple of rounds was well down in the 50s. Big hitter back then.
Also played with him in a junior team match, versus Strabane. Most of us arrived never having seen the course. Darren arrived having played a practice round and measured key yardages on most of the holes. I guess that is why he does it for a living.
Oh, and the vast gulf in talent is also a factor.
Dungannon is a nice course, improved over the years and friendly place to play. I used to work in Omagh, but must confes I did not like the course. Strabane is somehwere in between. Newtonstewart is a nice course.
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Name: Ross Tuddenham
Age: 23
Status: In a relationship
Residence: Edinburgh
Profession: Civil Servant
Education: MA(hons) Economics, University of Edinburgh
HCP: 7
Golf Club: Edinburgh Leisure (Braid Hills) , Melrose golf Club
Played golf since I was about 11 although did not play as often as I should have done at uni. So far my favourite courses I have played are North Berwick and Silloth on Solway. Most of the courses I have played are in the East Lothian region, not a bad one to pick, but with the noticeable exception being Muirfield. I hope to rectify this soon.
I have always had an interest in the great courses of the world but not always from a golf course architecture point of view. While googeling Pine Valley a few years back I found this site and started to think about course from a more design orientated point of view. Before that I just searched top 100 lists and liked looking at photos of courses I would love to play.
If I could play any course in the world it would be a Mackenzie, probably Cypress Point. A bit predictable but hey it looks amazing.
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Name: Matt Elliott
Age: 29
Residence: Columbus, OH
Profession: Law Student at The Ohio State University
Education: BA Economics, The College of Wooster; MBA Finance, University of Akron,
HCP: 0
Golf Club: Brookside Golf & Country Club, The Ohio State Golf Club
I've been snooping around GCA for a couple of year but finally joined only a couple of months ago. I've always been a fan of great golf courses (who isn't), especially more traditional parkland style courses. Overall I've been pretty lucky with the great courses I've played, although there are a few near misses that I hope to rectify someday (including getting rained out in the parking lot at Seminole, rained out at PV) but I guess we probably all have those stories
Before starting law school I worked as an assistant at Caves Valley Golf Club (MD.) and The Everglades Club (FL). While the golf business really wasn't for me, I did get a chance to frequent some great places including Baltimore Country Club and Jupiter Hills. Thanks to a couple of the other assistants I really began to appreciate architecture and the unbelievable wealth of great courses around the country. Now that I'm back in Ohio, I've really come to realize how many great courses are nearby.
Predictably, my love of playing great golf courses has evolved into reading and talking about them as well. I look forward to continuing to learn about architecture and maybe even contribute some of my own insights.
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Welcome, Matt.
Thanks for the post.
GCAers, don't let this guy fool you, he's a good player and he played in the Mid-Am last year. ;)
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Name: Brian Freeman
Age: 32
Hometown: Johnson City, TN
Residence: Raleigh, NC
Profession: Corporate Finance @ Cisco Systems
Education: BS Univ. of Tennessee, MBA Wake Forest (Go Vols & Deacs)
HCP: 6
Low Round: 71 (2007)
Golf Club: Raleigh CC
Played golf since I was 6, competitively back in high school, but just recreationally since then. Grew up exclusively as a muni golfer so over time my taste in courses has evolved significantly from "anything with greens that putt reasonably well". I do consider myself very lucky to live in an area of the country with great golfing terrain within driving distance, from mountains, to the sandhills, to the coast.
My interest in course design traces back to sketching out courses with pen and paper back in the 5th grade - something my teacher at the time learned to tolerate as I think I was more persistent than she was. Proud to say I developed a reasonable-sized following at the time as well. If I ever hit the lottery my long-held plan for a portion of the winnings would be to build and manage a club in the mountains near my home town and another somewhere along the coast of the Carolinas. Hey, a guy can dream.
Originally stumbled upon the site while doing research for a trip to Scotland in June 2010. (Thanks Kyle Henderson for the pictorials) Played at Dornoch, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, North Berwick, Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen, and the New and Jubilee at St. Andrews (unfortunately no Old Course as we missed the cut-off for the 2010 Open). Links golf was everything I ever imagined it to be and more. Those of you in the UK, consider yourselves lucky to have convenient access to those courses.
Updated: 1/4/11 - getting everything current
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Brian:
How are the courses in Raleigh right now? Thinking about heading down there in two weeks.
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Carl:
It's not been the best of winters down here for golf courses, very wet and colder than normal. I've barely been able to play since November with a couple of brief breaks in the weather. Going to be getting out for 36 this weekend so I'll be a better judge in 2 days, but expect soggy conditions. Definitely looking forward for the next couple of months to pass so the bermuda can start coming back into form.
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I never thought I’d do this after all these years, but……
Doug Sobieski
Age: 42
Married (17 years), 13 year old daughter
Reside: Dublin, OH
Hometown: Brighton, MI
Profession: Technology Finance (the same thing Ran Morrissett does, although his version of it includes MUCH more golf)
Education: Stetson University (’89, Finance), Deland, FL
Home Course: Ballyneal
Handicap: No idea, probably 2 or so these days
I started lurking here within a few months of the creation of GolfClubAtlas in December 1999, shortly after I got out of the golf business. Some history……
Grew up playing what had been a “company” course in Brighton, Michigan called Burroughs Farms (owned by the Burroughs Corporation). My parents didn’t play, so it was my own initiative. As with many on here, architecture was a major focus even as a teenager.
Eventually went to school in Florida, but the newly acquired pastime of beer drinking supplanted golf as a priority, so I played very little during my last 2.5 years in school (aside from in the summer). After graduation, moved to Orlando where my first job was at the Bay Hill Club (started in October 1989), eventually gaining PGA Membership in 1993. In 1997 Palmer Course Design built a course next door to Muirfield Village (Tartan Fields Golf Club) and Mr. Palmer helped me secure the Director of Golf job there. After two years, I realized that the golf business at a club would always be like the movie Groundhog Day. A couple members took me under their wings and taught me the ropes of my current profession.
Despite being out of golf for 11 years, I still maintain my PGA membership, although I may finally throw in the towel. It’s too tough to stay up to date on membership requirements when you aren’t in the business. I play very little golf around my home. Most of my annual rounds are at Ballyneal, which I believe is the most fun one can have playing golf. Like Jim Colton and other members, I'm always eager to share the club with others in any way I can.
My 13 year old daughter has finally taken up the game (less than a year ago), so I think I may finally have to join a local club to give her some access to play. It is a joy to see how quickly she has taken to it. She shot 43 in a middle school match last fall after having played the game for only 2.5 months. I'm beaming with pride and ready to take her to Ballyneal this summer ;D
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I just read the entire “Who are you guys?” thread. The entire 10 freaking years. I’m so exhausted and read so many stories; I can’t remember who I am. Since some folks have asked about my course lately, I’ll do a post, just not tonight, and certainly not before I find a drink.
I must have passed by this thread 100 times, saw it was 16 pages, and passed. I lurked for a couple of years and have been on board for a couple more. Brain-dead as I am, I have two observations: you were funnier in the old days, at least when lying about yourselves; and, I had no idea before today what a world-class bunch of lunatics you are. I’ve got to get out to an outing and see this pack in action
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I just read the entire “Who are you guys?” thread. The entire 10 freaking years. I’m so exhausted and read so many stories; I can’t remember who I am. Since some folks have asked about my course lately, I’ll do a post, just not tonight, and certainly not before I find a drink.
I must have passed by this thread 100 times, saw it was 16 pages, and passed. I lurked for a couple of years and have been on board for a couple more. Brain-dead as I am, I have two observations: you were funnier in the old days, at least when lying about yourselves; and, I had no idea before today what a world-class bunch of lunatics you are. I’ve got to get out to an outing and see this pack in action
I just physically laughed out loud reading your post. NICE
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Dave:
I think there's probably an even older thread for you, since this one is "(revisited)."
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Martin, it is nice to see someone originally from Northern Ireland on here. I am from Newcastle and play out of the Mourne over RCD. I will hopefully head to Queens next year to study Law. What is Bearwood lakes like as a course? Have you got a look at Loch Erne yet?
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I just read the entire “Who are you guys?” thread. The entire 10 freaking years. I’m so exhausted and read so many stories; I can’t remember who I am. Since some folks have asked about my course lately, I’ll do a post, just not tonight, and certainly not before I find a drink.
I must have passed by this thread 100 times, saw it was 16 pages, and passed. I lurked for a couple of years and have been on board for a couple more. Brain-dead as I am, I have two observations: you were funnier in the old days, at least when lying about yourselves; and, I had no idea before today what a world-class bunch of lunatics you are. I’ve got to get out to an outing and see this pack in action
I just physically laughed out loud reading your post. NICE
maybe it should be required reading for all newbies...
or better yet they have to buy a drink for any GCAers they meet for their first year.. ;)
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I don't know if I've done this yet so here goes...
Drew Standley
35/M
Married for almost 10 years
2 Daughters ages 5 & 3
Houston, TX
Friend of Eric Clapton Jack Crisham
I play out of several private Houston clubs that I have been able to achieve Full Voting Guest status at, otherwise I like to walk Memorial Park GC on Friday mornings. I just booked my first lesson with Marty Fleckman to try to get this handicap into the plus side as well as kick some ass on the amateur circuit around the state. American Girl dolls scare me. I like Whispering Pines and agree that it's the best course in Texas just like the Dallas Morning News list states this year. I make a yearly trip to Kansas with some good friends to play Prairie Dunes and Flint Hills. Prairie Dunes is my favorite course though my experience with the top courses in America is limited. I also make a yearly trip to New Orleans to have a Friday lunch at Galatoire's.
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If there is ever a newbie v. Old School match I am doing everything I can to play for the newbies. A lot of good players. I look forward to your insight.
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Dave McCollum
Age: 61
Job: Owner/operator Canyon Springs GC, public 18-holer in Twin Falls, Idaho
Family: Married, but live in houses 90 miles apart (good for golf); 2 kids
Hobby: see job, otherwise note I am posting here
Handicap: see age, otherwise 10-12
Education: Harvard ‘71
Found CGA: Researching a trip to Scotland in ’05-06; signed up 2/08
Reason for sticking around: The chance to listen to 1,500 of the most passionate, educated, enlightened, opinionated, dedicated, and sometimes entertaining golfers on the planet. In other words, total golf whack-jobs.
That’s it. The usual long-winded BS follows. I recommend you skip the rest. If you choose to go on, pardon the typos; I’m an old guy.
But first, a little business: Carl Nichols—I read the old bios too. I read them all in one sitting until I was cross-eyed and begging for whisky.
I can’t remember what I said to Ran to be included in the DG, but I keep expecting a digital tap on the shoulder telling me I’m being kicked out of the tree house because I post so rarely. Usually, by the time I get around to reading a thread, there isn’t much left to be said. I’ve been a bit more active this winter, Ran, so chill out, please.
The first time I posted, I got trashed for an off-hand comment. It was some OT thread about slow play as I recall. I said when I play as a two-some and run into a packed course ahead, we drop another ball, double the bet, and solve the problem by doing what we love best—play more golf. Still seems reasonable to me. I chose not to argue on. Everyone has one…a**hole or opinion.
Mostly, I generally only comment here from the perspective of the average Joe golfer, a creature I know well and one, I am sorry to say, doesn’t know or much care about architecture. However, in my own way, I’m a closet fanatic without anybody to talk to about my addiction. Like the rest of you lunatics, I have a few yards of well thumbed books, do read this site and many others fairly regularly, and try to play interesting courses when I travel.
I won’t bore you with a list of courses played. It would be unimpressive in this crowd or just the usual suspects in Scotland and the West. Ireland is always on the wish list, but I haven’t got there yet. I don’t get East much.
I discovered golf late in life, despite having a course in the family. (I’ll do a profile on my course later.) I’ve always been something of a sportsman. I played every sport as a kid and even a little football in college at Harvard (insert joke here). I helped my father a bit with this course after college. The second time I ever played golf a couple of weeks before this course opened, I had to take some academic freeloader on a tour and made a hole-in-one. Made a 13 on the next because I was laughing so hard. Basically, I played the annual round of golf for the next 25 years. Sure, it was fun. Frankly, I concluded that if I got into golf, given my competitive nature, I’d want to get good at it. I looked around and quickly realized that good golfers play a lot of golf. I didn’t think I had that kind of free time to devote to the game.
Spent the next 20-some years based in LA making print ads and TV commercials, having kids, and such nonsense. We did location work, which meant working all over the world. During one break in the action, for example, I examined my passport and discovered I had worked in 55 countries during a 5 year span. Another life, but probably explains why I don’t travel much now.
My interest in architecture evolved as intellectual rationalization for my addiction to this silly game. Even though I waited to start playing some golf until I thought I was too old to ever be any good, and therefore wouldn’t blow 20 hours a week trying to get good, it didn’t work. Hopelessly hooked from the start, although I got the first part right: I stink.
The more I read about good architecture and looked at good golf courses, the more I realized what a good site we have here at Canyon Springs. This got me thinking about what we could do to improve it. I call it the insane George Crump fantasy. Take a perfectly good, affordable little golf course, blow the family fortune, suck money out of all the investors you can round up, build something wonderful, and then probably shoot myself like good old George.
No, I’m just a tad more practical than that. I’ve got Scottish blood in my cheapskate veins. The simple fact of the matter is that golf courses have to be maintained and they age like the rest of us. Out here in the arid West, that means when your irrigation system gets so old that it costs more to fix it than it would to make payments on an upgrade, you either fix it or shoot yourself anyway. So it follows logically that if you are going to have to dig up your golf course, what better time to blow a lot more dough and add some really cool features?
That is the long form version of how I became a minimalist. Sorry.
Oh, one last thing for all the new kids on this site: I know a minor cyber celebrity who loves golf, my youngest son. He stinks too. But while he was in college he got together with some of his pals and designed a website. They called it Facebook. Don’t have to worry too much about him these days.
Still waiting for the next hole-in-one.
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Dave:
You are too interesting for this board. Post more. I love opinions backed by interesting experiences.
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Jason--
I’ll try. After four years, I’m just getting into it, how it works, how it goes. Slow learner that I am, I ‘m just seeing that it isn’t all that time-consuming. I laughed my ass off—excuse me—I was LOL—at some of the posts from the early days of the DG. Very funny and at the same time insightful. Like I think I said, it is a pleasure and a rare experience to share some bandwidth with passionate golfers. It is truly amazing that so many of you have stayed so long and contributed so much. I haven’t read it all, of course—you all are as apparently nuts as I am about this crap—but I do appreciate listening in when I can. Thanks to all.
I haven’t tried, but I gather there are a few tricks to posting pictures on this site. I like pictures. It’s what I used to do. It can’t be hard. I just need some basics. Help, from savvy nerds! Love you guys. Be one myself, if my kids hadn’t convinced me that my time has passed.
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Jason--
I’ll try. After four years, I’m just getting into it, how it works, how it goes. Slow learner that I am, I ‘m just seeing that it isn’t all that time-consuming. I laughed my ass off—excuse me—I was LOL—at some of the posts from the early days of the DG. Very funny and at the same time insightful. Like I think I said, it is a pleasure and a rare experience to share some bandwidth with passionate golfers. It is truly amazing that so many of you have stayed so long and contributed so much. I haven’t read it all, of course—you all are as apparently nuts as I am about this crap—but I do appreciate listening in when I can. Thanks to all.
I haven’t tried, but I gather there are a few tricks to posting pictures on this site. I like pictures. It’s what I used to do. It can’t be hard. I just need some basics. Help, from savvy nerds! Love you guys. Be one myself, if my kids hadn’t convinced me that my time has passed.
Joel -
1. You first need to have the picture loaded on the web. I use photobucket but others probably use different services.
2. You need the web address for the photo. Here is one for a shot of the par three course at Augusta
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/jasontopp/Masters%202008/Masters009.jpg?t=1268326844
3. In order to insert the photo you need to surround the photo adress with "img" in brackets before the address and "/img" in brackets after the address. You can either type the letters or just push the photo button above the window where you post in order to do this.
4. For example (http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/jasontopp/Masters%202008/Masters009.jpg?t=1268326844[/img) with a bracket added at the end becomes:
[img]http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/jasontopp/Masters%202008/Masters009.jpg?t=1268326844)
5. Preview the post before posting because a small error can screw it up. For example I had a partial address for this picture and it took me awhile to figure out the problem.
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Additional explanation here.
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,42160.0/
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Can anyone find and bump the original "Who Are You Guys?"
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Bradley Anderson, CGCS
Greenkeeper of Birmingham CC, Michigan
Married to Kim with 7 children
Bears, Bulls, and Cubs fan
Interest - history of golf course maintenance and architecture
Favorite Golf Courses that I have played - Oakmont, Old Elm, Shoreacres, Glen Flora (Chicago), Knollwood (Chicago), Franklin Hills
Courses I want to play next - Oakland Hills South, Essex, Detroit Golf Club, Red Run, Myopia, Merion, NGLA, Crystal Downs, Kingsley Club, Shinecock, Sand Hills
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Can anyone find and bump the original "Who Are You Guys?"
I've got it bookmarked...
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,12410.0/
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Can anyone find and bump the original "Who Are You Guys?"
I've got it bookmarked...
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,12410.0/
Ed,
As you can see by the first post in each thread, 'revisited' actually pre-dates 'really' by over 2 years, but neither is the original (hence the 're-visited'). The original got semi-lost in board transitions, but someone in the past year found some type of storage site for old links that linked to the original (which had the [sic] name of "Who Are you Guy's?"), which first started in either 1999 or 2000.
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Name: Bill Boonn
Age: 35
Married with a 20 month old daughter with another one on the way
Residence: Philadelphia, PA. Raised in Baltimore MD
Home Course: Rolling Green Golf Club (just joined)
Education: Brown University & Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Profession: Physician and Entrepreneur
I came across this site last year when reading up on Rolling Green before applying to join the club. Actually I owe a lot of my rekindled interest (errr…. obsession) with golf and golf architecture to Rick Summers who, among other things:
1. Convinced me to take a look at Rolling Green rather than joining another Philly area club which shall remain nameless.
2. Invited me on a trip to Bandon Dunes where I not only got a chance to play on 4 fantastic courses, but also meet Mike Keiser, Tom Doak, and Jim Urbina
3. Got me on Merion East.
Rick's son Abe is on GCA and posts occasionally.
Although I've been playing off and on since I was in high school, I've only recently started to take the game and its architecture seriously. I have my requisite copies of Scotland's Gift, The Evangelist of Golf, and The Confidential Guide amongst others (and am dying to get my hands on Wayne's Flynn book…) but I've probably learned the most from reading this site. Of course nothing beats talking and walking a course in person so I'm looking forward to meeting more GCA members.
Thanks to everyone who makes this site so informative (and entertaining...)
Bill
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Mr Boonn
Welcome onboard!
Cheers,
Mr Boon ;D
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Name: Jason Elwell
Age: 27
Married, 9 month old daughter
Work: Engineer
Home: Huntsville, AL
Home Course: The Ledges of Huntsville
Started coming here just a couple of weeks ago after searching online for information about ANGC. I've been lucky enough to attend the Masters twice, and am absolutely enthralled by the course, the spectacle, and everything about it. In digging for information about ANGC, I seem to have discovered I'm a golf architecture nut. I love doodling imaginary routing when I'm bored, and would love to build a course of my own someday. I've only been playing about 5 years, but hopefully I'm young enough that I can really improve in the next few years. I really look forward to learning more and reading everyone's opinions. Thanks for having me!
Jason, my info is buried many, many pages/threads/years ago. For some reason the site isnt letting me PM you right now, but drop me an email (turboe44@aol.com) as I get to Huntsville quite often for work. I love The Ledges, for anyone on here who hasn't seen Jason's home course it is an amazing layout on and around a mountain plateau. The unique thing is that the holes themselves are almost all on very flat sections of the property not what you would expect from such a rugged property overall. A spectacular course (Hurdzan/Fry design isnt it?)
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Can anyone find and bump the original "Who Are You Guys?"
I've got it bookmarked...
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,12410.0/
Ed,
As you can see by the first post in each thread, 'revisited' actually pre-dates 'really' by over 2 years, but neither is the original (hence the 're-visited'). The original got semi-lost in board transitions, but someone in the past year found some type of storage site for old links that linked to the original (which had the [sic] name of "Who Are you Guy's?"), which first started in either 1999 or 2000.
Just to prove that I wasn't blowing smoke, here's the web archive link the REAL original Who Are You Guy's [sic] thread, dating back to Feb 3, 2000.
link (http://web.archive.org/web/20010726234108/www.golfclubatlas.com/board/ubbhtml/Forum1/HTML/000687.html)
(Beware, many of the links to other pages and threads still work, too! Even the 'lost' 2 course profiles are there! ;))
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Thanks Scott! The identity of Dr. Katz is a revelation!
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Name: Harris Nepon
Age: 28
Location: St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Married
Kids: No Kids. 2 Dogs, a Labradoodle named Harper and a Chocolate Lab named Tilly. And a Cat named Larry.
Education: University of Western Ontario (Sociology)
Occupation: President/Owner - Industrial Laundry Facility
Hometown: St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Home Course: St. Catharines G&CC (Stanley Thompson)
Handicap: 3.2 (If i could putt it would be lower)
I'm just starting out with the achitecture of a golf course. However, i've been playing golf for 20 years. I love golf any where any time. I've caught on to this site about a month ago and have been reading it religously every day. I'm a long way away from knowing even a portion of what most on here do, but I'll get there. I hope to put my 2 cents in where I can. I'm visiting Ballyneal and Sandhills in june with a group of GCA guys. I'm thinking that weekend will be my crash course in golf course architecture.
Thanks to Ran for giving me a lifeline on here.
Favorite Courses Played:
- Oakmont
- St. George's (Toronto)
- Lookout Point
- Westmount Golf and Country Club
- Magna Golf Club
- East Aurora CC
- Greystone Golf Club
- Heron Point Golf Links
- Scarboro Golf and Country Club
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Gentlemen,
After many years of enjoying the website I reached out to Ran & Ben last week. Below is a a bit of background on me.
Name: Frederick Yanni
Age: 40
Status: Married, 3 children 5, 4, 18 months (boy, girl, girl)
Residence: Southport, CT
Profession: Botique Investment Bank
Membership(s): Oak Hill Country Club
Index: 2.5 (May 10)
I have played golf since I was 4 years old and played competitively through college (Colgate University). Moving to NYC in 1993-1994 put a serious dent in my ability to play for about five years. I currently carry what I like to call the "Tri-State 2" handicap. This anomaly occurs when you live in the tri-state area, can't afford a club membership and never practice. The result is 18 of 20 scores between 78-84. However, throw in the occasional par or better round that I pull out of my hat.. and well you are a 2.
I grew up on a solid RTJ course called Radisson Greens in Baldwinsville, NY. RTJ also designed Colgate's Seven Oaks Golf Course. I spent the first few years of my career in Rochester, NY and was fortunate enough to join Oak Hill CC. I still maintain an out of town membership. Today I live in Southport, CT, about one minute from Fairfield CC.
I have been very fortunate and have had the opportunity to play some of the "great" courses including Pine Valley, Merion, National, St. Andrews, Shinnecock, Friars Head, Winged Foot etc. I have also played many of the courses reviewed on your site including Yale, Chechessee Creek, & Salem. Each of these courses may not have the cache as the Oakmont's of the world, but are special in their own way and a pleasure to play over and over.
As far as architectural likes and dislikes; I am a huge Ross fan. There are just so many solid and playable Ross designs. I love the optionality that Ross gives the player on approach shots and around the greens. Tillinghast, Raynor and MacDonald are also favorites.
If I had only a few words to describe my course design preferences they would be; optionality, playability and walkability. I want options on shots off the tee, into the green, on hole locations and on clubs to play around the greens. The course should look like it belongs in its surroundings, not manufactured. Each hole should look as good from the green to the tee as it does from the tee to the green. Players of all levels should be able to complete the holes and have options to get the ball on the green without having to be a single digit handicap.
I am not a fan of many of designers over the past 30 years. I have not played a Nicklaus course that I would ever call playable for players of all levels. I played Strantz's Tobacco Road this past Sunday. The layout can only be described as violent. There was nothing that felt natural to the land in a way a Mid Pines or Pine Needles does. You can't walk Tobacco Road, the routing of the holes was terrible. The entire experience felt like playing par 3 after par 3. That said I shot 67 there but did not enjoy the golfing experience and would not go back.
Coore & Crenshaw are maybe my favorite of what I would call the modern designers (although I have not played a Doak course yet). They incorporate all three of my key preferences into their designs I have played. Friar's Head is as close to a perfect course as they come. It is a course that can best be described as flat out fun to play.
I look forward to continuing my architectural education here and contributing where I can.
Thank You
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That said I shot 67 there but did not enjoy the golfing experience and would not go back.
I would love to have that experience, (the 67) just once!! ;D
Welcome to GCA, Fred.
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Thank You Eric
Let me provide just a hair more clarity on Tobacco Road. I very much enjoyed the score, the day and the company - the course... not so much
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Gentlemen,
I figure that this is as good a place as any to wade in with my first post, so here it goes.
Bruce Hospes CGCS, age 48
Birmingham, Al
Golf Course Superintendent
Married, two boys
Index 9.6
I didn't play much golf as a kid and entered college at Mississippi State with the intention of running a sod farm for a family friend but my adviser wanted me to try the golf industry at least once, and I was hooked after that. I've been fortunate in that I love my job and have been able to work with some really great people along the way.
After my first trip across the pond, I really became interested in golf architecture and that's how I came across this site. Needless to say, the discussions here are interesting and I hope to add to that with a little bit of an insiders' view.
Thanks
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Name: Bill Seitz
Age: 36
Location: Chicago, IL
Education: University of California - Riverside (Poli Sci) & the University of Illinois College of Law
Occupation: Consultant (sales tax) for a small tax consulting firm
Hometown: Temple City, California (right outside Pasadena)
I've been reading reviews on the site for years, and a couple weeks ago I was fortunate to be invited as a last minute fill-in at the Midwest Mashie (thanks, Mark) where I met a number of great people, and had the pleasure of playing a round with Mr. Doak (or rather, as much pleasure as one can have while losing a foursomes match). Following that experience, I reached out to Ran and here I am.
I've been playing golf since I was probably about nine years old, but stuck to three par courses with my dad until I was probably 13 or 14. Played all four years in high school, and then played on the club team in college (before UCR had a division 1 golf team). My senior year, our home course was the Victoria Club in Riverside, which was built in 1903, and is the only course I've ever played where the last par four is the 12th hole. The course finishes par 3, par 5, par 5, par 3, par 5, par 5. I spent most of my time in high school playing at Santa Anita golf course in Arcadia.
I currently play wherever I can get a game, but most often that tends to be at Cog Hill, Pine Meadow, and Cantigny in the Chicago area. I look forward to learning more about the nuances of architecture, and hope that it may actually have some impact on my scores at some point. Right now I carry an index around 3, but the last few years that has usually been built on very good Augusts and Septembers, so this time of year I'm actually playing at something probably close to double that. I try to play in a few of the state/district amateur events every year just to feel the competitive juices flowing.
When I'm not on the golf course, I'm probably watching Angels games, Los Angeles Kings games, or going to see some small indie concerts at one of the many good venues we have for live music in Chicago. As a Californian transplanted to the midwest, I can deal with the winters, but will never get used to rain in the middle of the summer. I hate the idea that a round of golf can get rained out in mid-July. Though I do prefer the course conditions we get out here as a result.
Favorite Courses Played:
Riviera Country Club
Torrey Pines South
Old Works (MT)
the Links of North Dakota
Bully Pulpit (ND)
Erin Hills
the Kampen Course at Purdue University
Point O Woods
Lost Dunes
Arcadia Bluffs
Cog Hill #4
and the Arcadia (CA) Par 3, but only when I can play there with my dad.
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Name: Bill Seitz
Age: 36
Location: Chicago, IL
Education: University of California - Riverside (Poli Sci) & the University of Illinois College of Law
Occupation: Consultant (sales tax) for a small tax consulting firm
Hometown: Temple City, California (right outside Pasadena)
I've been reading reviews on the site for years, and a couple weeks ago I was fortunate to be invited as a last minute fill-in at the Midwest Mashie (thanks, Mark) where I met a number of great people, and had the pleasure of playing a round with Mr. Doak (or rather, as much pleasure as one can have while losing a foursomes match). Following that experience, I reached out to Ran and here I am.
I've been playing golf since I was probably about nine years old, but stuck to three par courses with my dad until I was probably 13 or 14. Played all four years in high school, and then played on the club team in college (before UCR had a division 1 golf team). My senior year, our home course was the Victoria Club in Riverside, which was built in 1903, and is the only course I've ever played where the last par four is the 12th hole. The course finishes par 3, par 5, par 5, par 3, par 5, par 5. I spent most of my time in high school playing at Santa Anita golf course in Arcadia.
I currently play wherever I can get a game, but most often that tends to be at Cog Hill, Pine Meadow, and Cantigny in the Chicago area. I look forward to learning more about the nuances of architecture, and hope that it may actually have some impact on my scores at some point. Right now I carry an index around 3, but the last few years that has usually been built on very good Augusts and Septembers, so this time of year I'm actually playing at something probably close to double that. I try to play in a few of the state/district amateur events every year just to feel the competitive juices flowing.
When I'm not on the golf course, I'm probably watching Angels games, Los Angeles Kings games, or going to see some small indie concerts at one of the many good venues we have for live music in Chicago. As a Californian transplanted to the midwest, I can deal with the winters, but will never get used to rain in the middle of the summer. I hate the idea that a round of golf can get rained out in mid-July. Though I do prefer the course conditions we get out here as a result.
Favorite Courses Played:
Riviera Country Club
Torrey Pines South
Old Works (MT)
the Links of North Dakota
Bully Pulpit (ND)
Erin Hills
the Kampen Course at Purdue University
Point O Woods
Lost Dunes
Cog Hill #4
and the Arcadia Par 3, but only when I can play there with my dad.
better you're a King fan v. a Shark fan Bill, cause we'd be giving you lots of shit if you were the latter! ;)
welcome to GCA
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Gentlemen,
After many years of enjoying the website I reached out to Ran & Ben last week. Below is a a bit of background on me.
Name: Frederick Yanni
Age: 40
Status: Married, 3 children 5, 4, 18 months (boy, girl, girl)
Residence: Southport, CT
Profession: Botique Investment Bank
Membership(s): Oak Hill Country Club
Index: 2.5 (May 10)
Fred, my three kids are the same age difference yours are and are also boy-girl-girl, born in 1971, 73 and 76. I hope you get to play a lot more than I did during the 12 years from 1972-1983! It still haunts my index!
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Gentlemen,
I figure that this is as good a place as any to wade in with my first post, so here it goes.
Bruce Hospes CGCS, age 48
Birmingham, Al
Golf Course Superintendent
Married, two boys
Index 9.6
I didn't play much golf as a kid and entered college at Mississippi State with the intention of running a sod farm for a family friend but my adviser wanted me to try the golf industry at least once, and I was hooked after that. I've been fortunate in that I love my job and have been able to work with some really great people along the way.
After my first trip across the pond, I really became interested in golf architecture and that's how I came across this site. Needless to say, the discussions here are interesting and I hope to add to that with a little bit of an insiders' view.
Thanks
Bruce, you got a great education at Mississippi State. We have had a succession of young Miss State grads as superintendents and assistants here at Pensacola CC, and those boys can grow grass!
We also got some very good advice (to not overseed our Tifdwarf greens) from the department head, forget his name.
Welcome to GCA.com!
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Jeff Martz
Age: 41
Home: Lancaster, PA, USA
Married, two children, one boy (9) and one girl (7)
Email: jammartz@verizon.net
Occupation: Cartographer (currently unemployed as of May 2010)
Love to read the goings-on of GCA, but I don't have too much to offer, seeing as I have not played many of the great courses that get discussed here. Having said that, I was recently invited to play Lancaster Country Club (PA) by fellow GCAer Rory Connaughton and joined by other fellow GCAers Joe Bausch and Jim Thornton. We had a great time on a wonderful course!
I enjoy drawing course layouts, individual hole diagrams and studying hole strategy. In 2009, my entry in the Alister MacKenzie 'Lido' Prize competition was chosen as the winner. As a result of winning that competition, I was fortunate enough to attend the annual gathering, which happened to be at Crystal Downs that year. Spent time at The Pinehurst Junior Golf Advantage School in 1981 and 1982 as a student. That's where my interest in golf architecture began.
Favorite Courses I've played(so far)
Crystal Downs
The Kingsley Club
Lancaster CC (PA)
Heather Glen (SC)
Pinehurst courses (1 thru 6, not including #2. I didn't get to play that one as a 12 year old.)
Heathlands (SC - Legends course)
Thanks to Ben and Ran for letting me participate in such a great forum.
Jeff
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Congrats on winning that contest Jeff, pretty cool!
Spent time at The Pinehurst Junior Golf Advantage School in 1981 and 1982 as a student. That's where my interest in golf architecture began.
I was there at the Pinehurst Junior Golf Advantage School in the summer of 82 as well...still have the group photo somewhere at my parents house. Wonder if we were there the same week? Did you have Mike LeBauve as one of your instructors? He's still going strong I think in AZ. Big Rich Wainwright taught me how to splash out of a bunker, and his lessons carry over to this day. He was, at the time, the head pro at the No. 6 I think. Man that was a fun week.
I spoke to Jim T. after your round together and he was raving about how good LCC is. Did you happen to notice how much his swing resembles a man wrestling a python in a phonebooth? ;D
Welcome to GCA Jeff!
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Name: Andrew Calcutt
Age: 29
Current Home: Chicago, IL
HomeHome: Traverse City, MI
Email: acalcutt@gmail.com
Occupation: Attorney
I am a life long player and always trying to learn more about the game. I hope
to improve my ability to appropriately criticize golf course architecture and management,
without sounding like an arrogant memeber of the peanut gallery.
I would love to see municipal courses like Palmer Park and Chandler Park in Detroit, and
Jackson Park in Chicago, (which live in some of the toughest neighborhoods in America), improved.
The game should be for all walks of life.
I also think there are currently too many golf courses in America and think the country's 'munis' need a
renaissance before we construct more. Until the game of golf becomes more available to everyone,
(price, proximity, lessons, improved muni-course maintenance, shorter pace of play, etc.), there is no
room for more courses, or overall growth in the game.
I graduated from Colgate University in 2003. One of my favorite courses is Colgate's Seven
Oaks in Hamilton, NY. I'm sure this R.T. Jones Sr. masterpiece is sure to stir up the critics.
I find it underrated (bias noted). I look forward to reading and participating,
- Andrew
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Welcome, Andrew.
You made a nice 3 on #10 at Lost Dunes. ;)
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Bill,
Thanks for the welcome. I've been a huge fan of not overseeding bermuda greens for years so I'm glad that it's finally taking hold. The staff at MSU has changed a lot over the years since I graduated so I'm not sure who helped you out.
I need to get down there sometime to see PCC after Jerry's re-design.
Bruce
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To be honest I have been on this board for about 2 years now and have never click on this thread. I just did for the first time today, and thought I should post a little about myself.
Name: Peter Ferlicca
Age: 23
Hometown (where I grew up): Carmel, IN
College: SDGA, San Diego
Where I have lived lately: San Diego-2 years/Palm Desert- 3 years/Vail Valley, CO-1 summer/Roslyn, WA-currently
Profession- Assistant Golf Professional (Stone Eagle Golf Club-Wintertime/ Tumble Creek Golf Club-Summertime)
Courses I have worked at: Brookshire Golf Club, Plum Creek GC, Vista Valley CC, The Farms GC, Adams Mountain CC, Stone Eagle, Tumble Creek
A little about me: Growing up in Carmel, IN I didn't pick up golf till I was 14. I then began working as a cart boy when I was 16 at Brookshire Golf Club where my uncle was the Superintendent. Brookshire is a William Diddle design that meanders around a creek, a good course that would improve vastly with a restoration. Once I got into golf I tried to play all the good golf courses in Indiana, and there a quite a few good ones around Carmel. I then became very interested in Pete Dye courses, and how they visually intimidate a golfer. After high school I went to SDGA in San Diego. After receiving my degree, I was very fortunate to get a job at Stone Eagle Golf Club. Ever since working at Stone Eagle I have become obsessed with golf course architecture. My older sister went to St. Andrews University, I visited her there and played the Old Course, now she lives in Aberdeen, I have yet to visit her there.
Favorite Golf Moment: Being privileged enough to go to Bandon Dunes Resort and play the Old Mac last spring with Tom Doak, and then enjoying an amazing dinner sitting next to Doak, Bill Coore, Urbina, Bahto, Eric Iverson, and the whole crew. A day I will never forget.
Favorite Golf Courses: Pacific Dunes, Ballyneal, Rock Creek Cattle Company, The Old Course, Bandon Trails, Old Mac, Riviera, Stone Eagle, Tumble Creek, Aldarra, Bandon Dunes, Olympic Lake, Pasatiempo, Rancho Santa Fe, Wolf Run, Crooked Stick, Essex County Country Club, The Idaho Club.
My Goal: To work at a private club in the Met or Long Island area. When I visited my friend who was the assistant at Essex County Country Club, I fell in love with the kind of golf over there.
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I have not done one of these profiles, and I feel like I should.
Name: John Lyon
Age: 20
Hometown: Rochester, NY
College: Colgate University. I am going into my senior year, History Major/Econ Minor. It seems I am the 3rd Colgater that has posted on this thread recently, which is very exciting to see. I love the place, and I am pumped to see alums posting out here.
Home Clubs: Oak Hill Country Club, Royal Cinque Ports, Seven Oaks
Handicap: 5. I'm not quite good enough to be a competitor, but I still show flashes of brilliance every now and then.
About Me: I grew up in Rochester, New York, where I still live and work during the summers. I am currently attending Colgate, which keeps me thinking and working hard. I am balancing studying, work, music, and an obsession with golf course architecture right now. I spent the spring semester in London, where I played some of the world's great golf courses and met some great GCAers. For those of you who have not yet attended a GCA outing, these people are some of the best you will ever meet. I have yet to ever personally meet a bad GCAer.
A few of my favorite courses: North Berwick, Prestwick, and Royal Dornoch were all in a class of their own for me. Merion was a blast during the Walker Cup, and it is my favorite American course that I have seen, to date. I also love Deal, Woking, Huntercombe, Garden City, Swinley Forest, and Yeamans Hall. Finally, I love Ross courses, with my absolute favorite being the West Course at Oak Hill.
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Name: Andrew Calcutt
Age: 29
Current Home: Chicago, IL
HomeHome: Traverse City, MI
Email: acalcutt@gmail.com
Occupation: Attorney
I am a life long player and always trying to learn more about the game. I hope
to improve my ability to appropriately criticize golf course architecture and management,
without sounding like an arrogant memeber of the peanut gallery.
I would love to see municipal courses like Palmer Park and Chandler Park in Detroit, and
Jackson Park in Chicago, (which live in some of the toughest neighborhoods in America), improved.
The game should be for all walks of life.
I also think there are currently too many golf courses in America and think the country's 'munis' need a
renaissance before we construct more. Until the game of golf becomes more available to everyone,
(price, proximity, lessons, improved muni-course maintenance, shorter pace of play, etc.), there is no
room for more courses, or overall growth in the game.
I graduated from Colgate University in 2003. One of my favorite courses is Colgate's Seven
Oaks in Hamilton, NY. I'm sure this R.T. Jones Sr. masterpiece is sure to stir up the critics.
I find it underrated (bias noted). I look forward to reading and participating,
- Andrew
One post on GCA, and you already have some great analysis of Seven Oaks! I am a fan of the course too. It shows that RTJ had some flair (try the par threes at 2 and 14) and was master at building greens. I look forward to seeing your future posts.
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If we're going to use this thread as a resource then those of us listed would be well advised to go revise our entries. Mine was added five years ago and I've moved across the country and my age and handicap have gone up by about the same amount! :o I hope that is not a permanent trend!
Oops--meant to post this on George's new thread! Will update my original entry anyway!
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David Sneddon
Age: 60
Born: Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Live in a marvelous little village in SW Ontario, Pointe-aux-Roches
I've played the game since I was 8yrs old, and still trying to improve.
Not affiliated with any club, member of the Golf Assoc of Ontario Public Player program, current RCGA handicap is 3 something.
Played most of the Open courses in Scotland way back then when the green fees were much more reasonable and there was no wait for a tee time on the Old Course. IIRC, I paid something like 10shillings, about $1.75 in today's money, for the Old, Troon etc .
My "home" course is a daily fee, Ambassador GC, in Windsor, ON. It's a Thomas McBroom design on an old gravel pit site and he has done a pretty decent job of the 18 holes. Couple of really strong par 4's, but his two par 3's on the back nine are a bit overcooked, IMHO.
I own my own trucking business, running primarily into the South and Southwest US, Florida to Arizona, so try and play any courses that are near the truckstops. Who knows - might be coming to a truckstop near you ;D ;D ;D ;D
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TJ Patterson
Age: 29
Hometown: Rogers, AR
Current Location: Charleston, SC
Married and have 2 pets; 5 year old black lab/Shepard mix and an 8 year old Norwegian Forest Cat
A little about me: I grew up in Rogers, Arkansas and spent all of my life there up until age 22. I met my future wife and moved to Denver, CO where I spent 7 years. We moved to Charleston last November and are finally getting settled and starting to enjoy it!
I started playing golf back in High School, but on a very casual basis. I never really practiced and just went out and hit it around with my buddies. In September of 2007, my Dad re-introduced me to the game and I've been hooked ever since. I went from a 30 handicap down to a 7 in about 2 years, and am still trying to go lower. I enjoy playing all types of courses, but really enjoy nice conditions (firm and fast) and holes that make you think on every shot. My home course is now the Charleston Municipal Golf Course, which is a great little track, although it can be crowded.
I've been interested in architecture since about December of 2007...I played a very links styled course south of Denver and that peaked my interest to learn more. I found this site while searching for golf course reviews and lurked for a couple of years before emailing Ran for a username. Best decision ever! I've learned so much from the people and posts here. I have had the great fortune of playing a couple of amazing golf courses that really have showed me some incredible architecture. I have not yet to play in any GCA events, but I hope to change that either later this year, or in 2011.
My Favorite Courses: Ballyneal, Commonground, Deer Creek Golf Club (southwest Denver), Yeamans Hall Club, Big Sugar Golf Club (Arkansas), Bear Dance, Four Mile Ranch
If anyone comes down this way, let me know...always looking for a friend to play a round with!
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Bruce Wellmon
Gaffney, SC
Age 52
Occupation: Podiatrist
Married, 2 girls, age 10 and 15.
Home Club: Country Club of Spartanburg (SC), founded 1908. It is "Donald Ross inspired," recent revision by Kris Spence.
I grew up playing as a child at Cowan's Ford at Lake Norman near Charlotte, NC. My dad loved golf. Made all-conference in high school, but soon realized, when I went to college at Wake Forest, that a 4 handicap really wasn't that good. Play to a 7 or so now.
My interest in golf architecture started with playing The Olympic Club and Pebble on consecutive days in '93.
2005 trip to Bandon (Trails had just opened).
2005 trip to Ireland (Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville, Dook's, Killarney, Castlegregory, Doonbeg, Lahinch).
2009 trip to Scotland with my daughter(Castle Stuart, Nairn, Dornoch, Gleneagle's/King's and Queen's, Kingsbarns, and TOC).
Other favorites: Old Town Club, Palmetto, Carolina Golf Club, the front 9 at CC Salisbury (NC), Biltmore Forest, Secession.
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Updated 02 March 2016
Name: Criss Titschinger
Age: 36
Home: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Email: c.titschinger@gmail.com
Occupation: IT Web Development
Family: Married, 2 girls (born the same date 2 years apart)
Grew up on a par 3 (Delhi Hills Par 3) course, but didn't take up the game seriously until a (non-golf) trip to Kiawah Island sparked my interest in the game in 2002. I've been hooked ever since. GCA was THE golf site where I started to learn about the great courses both here in the United States, and across the world.
For a few years, I worked with the OVGA Tour out of Cincinnati, which is an amateur golf tour for players of all skills that raises money for various charities. I worked on their web site and have been a member of their Board of Directors.
I currently play out of Miami View Golf Club. I keep a very simple blog OINK Golf (http://oinkgolf.wordpress.com (http://oinkgolf.wordpress.com)) that profiles the courses I've played around the Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky areas. I've done a terrible job of keeping it active and up-to-date.
If anyone's in the Cincinnati area and wants to play let me know.
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*
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Chris Flamion
Glen Ellyn, IL
Age : 27
Family: Married, 2 Kids, 10 & 8
Home Course: Village Links, Solid public course that is 5 minutes away and a good price.
Occupation: Small Business Owner with wife, and Head Age Group Swim Coach at local YMCA
Got into golf about 3 years ago and was basically self taught by watching golf on TV and the internet. Recently started to make swing changes that can lead to a really good golf game at times. I also grew up around golf as my father was on the precursor to the now Nationwide tour, unfortunately due to my other athletic interest I played less than 5 rounds a year until recently.
Favorite Classic Course:
Ravisloe or Country Club of Indianapolis. The bunkering at Ravisloe is fantastic, especially around the greens. CCI could be better than I remember but tons of ground movement I just remember tons and tons of trees on the property.
Favorite Modern:
Lost Dunes. Hands down the most fun set of greens I have ever played. Only other course close was the Warren GC at Notre Dame, but it didn't have enough good land to be as good.
I have been fortunate to play with a good number of the Chicago GCA set, but am always looking forward to meeting more.
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Roland Waguespack, III
Metairie, LA
age: 35
Handicap: 15 (and dropping), broke 80 finally in the last week!!
email: doctorwag@gmail.com
occupation: Emergentologist (fancy name for ER doctor)
I started playing golf while in college (Vanderbilt) and played more in medical school because I wanted to fit the golf-playing doctor stereotype. I have become more and more intrigued with golf course architecture over the last 3-4 years. As I found golf reading more and more monotonous (and avoiding instruction titles like the plague), I found books regarding history and architecture fascinating. After initially reading Tom Doak's book on the subject (Anatomy of a Golf Course), I have found myself reading anything I can find on the subject. From Geoff Shackelford to Steve Wynn (his book on Shadow Creek) to Colt's essays, I find the material stimulating.
I have grown to love and embrace tradition in both new designs as well as the renovation of the older courses.
I used belong to a great Seth Raynor course, Metairie Country Club. In 2004, the course underwent a major renovation stressing the original design of Mr. Raynor. Reading about C.B. MacDonald and Raynor in the "Evangelist of Golf" and "Scotland's Gift" enabled me to play the course while appreciating their original work and their respect for the fine architecture of the courses in the United Kingdom.
I especially enjoy when contemporary designers have embraced the work of their predecesors. I played Pensacola Country Club only after reading the thoughts about the course on GCA by Bill McBride. I greatly enjoyed the course and having his description and pictures really enhanced my experience. Seeing how Jerry Pate used classic architecture in a course that was just completely redone was impressive.
My dislikes are limited but seem to focus around when a designer imitates another hole design without understanding the original's appeal and history. An island green is not a good design just because it is surrounded by water for example. Just because a design feature has been successful, doesn't mean that a designer can sleep through the design of the hole.
I have enjoyed visiting the site when work and family allow. I have found the experience of golf much more rewarding now that I seek to gain an appreciation for all architecture.
I know I may not be a frequent poster to the discussion group, but I can promise that I will read/listen intently. I hope that my understanding and appreciation of golf architecture will continue to grow.
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Nick Campanelli
Location: Boston, MA
Age: 26
Handicap: 8 (Inconsistency is the best way to describe my game this year)
Status: Single for four more weeks. The wedding is Aug 21, 2010. Does life end or begin then?
Education: Penn State University '07
Email: PSUGolfNut@gmail.com
Occupation: Landscape Architect
I started playing golf by accident in Jamaica on a family vacation when I was seven years old in 1991 (Runaway Bay Golf & Country Club). My father met a man at a bar in the resort where we were staying. He invited my dad and I to play with him and his son, also my age. While most people feel lost their first time on a course, I remember being blown away by the scale and complexity of the game. I have been hooked on everything golf since that trip.
I have always had a thing for design, but like all on this discussion board, my passion for GCA tops the list. I grew up in Enfield, CT playing many of Geoffrey Cornish’s public tracts in Southern New England (Cedar Knob GC, Franconia GC, and The Tradition at Windsor GC most frequently). I didn’t have the access to many of the great clubs in the area growing up (Longmeadow CC, The Orchards, etc), but I knew solid, and more importantly fun design when I saw it.
I’ve been a part of this discussion board since mid March, and have enjoyed and learned from the discussions and course reviews immensely. My participation at the moment is limited due to planning for my upcoming wedding. There will be more time to discuss GCA and meet many of you after things calm down following the big day in August!
All the best,
Nick Campanelli
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Single for four more weeks. The wedding is Aug 21, 2010. Does life end or begin then?
If you've seen The Usual Suspects, picture Gabriel Byrne saying:
"Bit of both..."
Congrats and have fun on your big day, and make sure your bride has fun, too. :)
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Joel Zuckerman
Age: 49
Location: Savannah GA
Handicap: 8
Club Afiliations: The Landings Club and Secession
Family: 2 daughters--21 and 18
Occupation: Freelance writer/author
Have enjoyed dabbling in this discussion group off/on for the last year or two. Only discovered it years after my first interview with Ran in 2003, and shortly after my 2nd interview with him in autumn 2008.
Closing in on 700 GC's played lifetime--hopefully will turn the odometer late next month in SF when I visit SF GC, Olympic, Monterey Peninsula and a few others.
Have met a smattering of quality folks on this board, but will increase that number exponentially by participating in the Dixie Cup 2010 and KP 2011. Happy to host anyone who comes through the Lowcountry, or possibly join them if they need a 4th---just shoot me an IM or email me at info@vagabondgolfer.com
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George
I am sure I responded to this email many years ago so I figured I would supply an update.
Rob Waldron
Age: 53
Reside: Silver Spring, MD
Hometown: City of Brotherly Love
Profession: Business Development for Billy Casper Golf (Acquisitions, 3rd Party Mgmt. & Leases)
Education: Penn State (Undergrad) Temple (Business School)
Home Course: Argyle CC, Silver Spring, MD & Old York Road CC, Spring House, PA
Handicap: 5 and going up
I have been posting to GCA for several year and have attended a few "Get Togethers" providing the good fortune to meet numerous new "Golfing Buddies". I try to travel to play as much as possible and always have my clubs with me during business trips. You never know when a sweet invite may arise!
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Apparently I never responded to this older thread, so here goes!
My info:
Evan Fleisher
Age: 41
Born: Rochester, MN
Grew Up: Miami Lakes, FL
Current Home: Strongsville, OH
Email: evanfleisher@roadrunner.com
Occupation: Continuous Process Improvement Manager, Logistics (Akzo Nobel Paints, i.e. - Glidden Paints)
I've been playing golf since age 10 and have always had a passion for the game (unfortunately never the skills to match!). I've been part of the Grillroom, Bravenet, TraditionalGolf.Com, and GolfClubAtlas.Com since the very beginning. My "real" introduction to the group came in 1998 while I was researching information on golf trips to Scotland. I met Tom Huckaby (who had just returned from his own trip), he introduced me to Bob Huntley...and the rest as they say is history. I have always loved the design and strategic aspects of the courses which is how I got "hooked" on architecture.
My only golf collection is course logo balls, and I'm proud (my wife would probably actually say ashamed) to have a logl ball from every course I've ever played (333 in total) minus a few stragglers since i began playing the game 31 years ago.
My involvement in the game (beyond playing) has grown in the last decade or so. I was formerly a course rating developer for the Iowa section of the USGA. I have had an article written about me (and my best friend Greg Flesher) in the April, 2004 edition of Golf Digest...it was about using frequent flyer miles and points to take a golf trip, which we did (to Scotland). I have written a course review article (and been published/paid for it!) for T&L Golf magazine back in June, 2004...the course was the Tournament Club of Iowa. I have also worked as a standard bearer at the John Deere Classic for four years (loved walking "inside the ropes" with the players).
This group has been so good to me over the years, and I've made some great friendships along the way. Can't wait until the next time we all tee it up!
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Following Evan, perhaps appropriate, as we've actually played golf together at a GCA outing.
Phil McDade
Age: 49
Born: Hinsdale, IL, just outside Chicago
Grew up: All over, for a while in Orange County, CA (where I attended Walt Disney Elementary School), but mainly suburban Cleveland, Ohio (Chagrin Falls, Medina)
College: Macalester College, St. Paul, MN; spent three years in State College, PA (where we lived two blocks from JoePa) while my wife obtained her master's degree.
Now reside: Monona WI (a bedroom community of Madison)
Occupation: Former newspaper reporter; currently a free-lance writer, editor and blogger
Family: Wife, three sons (17, 14, 10)
Email: wimcdade@tds.net
I never swung a golf club until I was in my early 20s; to this day, I've never had a lesson (which explains the pathetic state of my game, I suppose...) I ran cross country and track in high school, but was an all-around sports nut, and fondly recall my Dad and I venturing to the old Cleveland Open golf tournament (where I once got Lee Trevino's autograph, instantly making him my favorite golfer of all time), and even to the 1973 PGA at Canterbury, where I nearly bumped into the winner, a guy named Jack Nicklaus, when he was walking off a green.
Took up the game at the urging of a good friend in my 20s, and learned it at a small 9-hole course near Fairmont, MN, where I was living at the time. Developed a keen interest in golf architecture leading up to, and following, my lone trip to Scotland in 1999. Emailed Ran to ask if I could join the discussion board several years ago with the argument that I thought the 1st hole at Machrihanish was the 6th best par 4 on the front nine there; for some reason, he let me in. Spend most of my time these days at swimming pools, not golf courses, as we have two (maybe a third) competitive swimmers in the household.
Favorite course: Lawsonia (Langford/Moreau)
Next favorite (American): Spring Valley (Langford/Moreau)
Next favorite (overseas): Machrihanish; Fraserburgh
Favorite nine holes of golf: The front nine of West Bend CC (Langford/Moreau -- I've only played it once; it made quite the impression)
Favorite 12 holes of golf: Shiskine at Blackwaterfoot, on the Isle of Arran, Scotland
Most impressive course I've walked but not played: Milwaukee CC (Alison)
Favorite moment on a golf course: Playing Machrihanish in a haar so thick I couldn't see 200 yards down the fairway
Second favorite moment on a golf course: Playing the Reverse Jans
Favorite moment after a round of golf: Eating Cullen skink (and drinking lots of beer) in the clubhouse of the wonderfully quirky Cullen Golf Course in Scotland with the marvelously gregarious club secretary, Ian Findlay
Semi-famous moment on a golf course (besides nearly running into Jack): Saw in person Tiger Woods hit his first professional golf shot; stood next to his mom for about 10 minutes as he putted out at the old Milwaukee GMO (she didn't say much)
Course I most want to play next: Plum Lake GC in Sayner, WI
Goal in life in golf: Shooting a photo thread of every semi-interesting (or moreso) golf course in Wisconsin.
Second goal in life in golf: Finish up a small historical Langford/Moreau project of interest to about 10 people.
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Evan Fleisher-I too have a collection of logo balls, currently at about 92 golf balls, with a few missing. My display cases are currently full, so I'm going to have to build a new one. Sweet.
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Evan Fleisher-I too have a collection of logo balls, currently at about 92 golf balls, with a few missing. My display cases are currently full, so I'm going to have to build a new one. Sweet.
John,
I think you win...I bought my logo balls racks...you are MAKING yours! That's love/dedication. :D
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Evan Fleisher-I too have a collection of logo balls, currently at about 92 golf balls, with a few missing. My display cases are currently full, so I'm going to have to build a new one. Sweet.
John,
I think you win...I bought my logo balls racks...you are MAKING yours! That's love/dedication. :D
OK, actually, the five that are up there now were bought. However, I am cheap. The ones I have not I got at Wal-Mart for like $10 each, they hold 20 balls. If I could still find those, I'd buy them again. I can build one that holds about 100 balls for less than $50, to buy one that large from Watts or Golfsmith would be around $100; thats why I'll build it. I'll build you one too. ;D ;)
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I found my original entry which was about 11 years old. Most of the info was out of date, so I will now offer a current and shorter version:
Jim Lewis
Age 68
Retired
Been playing 54 years
Proud and longterm GOLFWEEK rater
Played a lotta golf on a lotta courses, many you have probably heard of
Pinehurst, NC
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Been on here a few years and don't think I've ever put my information in:
Scott Szabo
Age 41
Owner of a small CPA firm in Sterling, Colorado.
Married with two kids - 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
Started playing golf when I was 15 thanks to my grandfather who was patient enough to take me out one day. Hard to think what I would have missed out on all these years if he hadn't let me tag along one summer day.
Handicap: finally going back down - currently 1.6.
Member of the Sterling Country Club for 15 years before it went public a year ago due to declining membership and changing demographics. Nothing to note of much architecturally but it was home for a number of us. Sad to see it end like it did.
I have enjoyed my few years here on GCA and am fortunate to have met a few of you.
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I'm pretty new here so here's my stuff;
Duncan Cheslett - age 50
I'm a self-employed cabinetmaker specialising in custom furniture. www.thecabinetmakers.com
I started playing golf at around ten - both grandfathers were keen players and used to take me out with them. I played with school-friends who were junior members of local clubs but after the age of around 18 golf became one of those things that 'I used to do' and that 'I'll take up properly again one day'.
'One day' came last year when I hit 50 and decided that after 30 years of hard work, mortgage paying, and child-raising I was due a little 'Me-time'! I joined Reddish Vale, and its MacKenzie heritage sparked an interest in golf architecture and history.
I found this place through Mark Rowlinson, who lives nearby.
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Kirk Gill
49
Parker, Colorado
Sadly, no handicap
Married, 4 children
Systems Administrator
I first became interested in golf, golf course design, and golf course design history while reading a thread about the creation of Merion Golf Club.
I very much appreciate Ran letting me participate here.
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Name: Ken Kearney
Age: 41
Reside: Roscommon, Ireland
Family: married to Sinead and we have two girls... Ella (9) and Isa (5)
Education: Banking and Finance... and Golf Course Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art
Profession: Golf course designer ... previously worked in banking and finance (commercial).
Work: self employed golf architect... but not looking good right now !!! may have to pack bags and look elsewhere... that doesn't bother me though...
Golf experience: I have played golf all of my life, my dad was a decent player. I have represented Ireland at Junior and senior level and have represented GB and I and Europe at various stages. I have played many of the great courses all over the world but as a competitor I didn't appreciate what I was doing !!!
Introduction to gca: I lived in Rosses Point, Sligo, for 10 years and developed a great interest in Colt, who was involved at Rosses Point... hooked immediately...
GCA... I love the site and while I dont get to post much as I am usually catching up and too late to contribute at the right time... I love the honest contributions and of course the attitudes of golfers to gca throghout the world.
I wish I could meet some of you guys... please call if you are coming to Ireland...I would describe myself as a lover of the game of golf and gca... and a traditionalist... handicap +1.
KK
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Wife has just clipped me across the back of the head.... I'm 42...
You're only as old as the woman you feel....
KK
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delete
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Been on here a few years and don't think I've ever put my information in:
Scott Szabo
Age 41
Owner of a small CPA firm in Sterling, Colorado.
Married with two kids - 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
Started playing golf when I was 15 thanks to my grandfather who was patient enough to take me out one day. Hard to think what I would have missed out on all these years if he hadn't let me tag along one summer day.
Handicap: finally going back down - currently 1.6.
Member of the Sterling Country Club for 15 years before it went public a year ago due to declining membership and changing demographics. Nothing to note of much architecturally but it was home for a number of us. Sad to see it end like it did.
I have enjoyed my few years here on GCA and am fortunate to have met a few of you.
Are you the same Scott Szabo that played for the Reds? If so, your World Series team was amazing and killed my A's. Would love to talk baseball some time with you on the golf course. If you ever get out to NoCal let me know.
Umm, I think that was Chris Sabo...Close though ;)
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Been on here a few years and don't think I've ever put my information in:
Scott Szabo
Age 41
Owner of a small CPA firm in Sterling, Colorado.
Married with two kids - 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
Started playing golf when I was 15 thanks to my grandfather who was patient enough to take me out one day. Hard to think what I would have missed out on all these years if he hadn't let me tag along one summer day.
Handicap: finally going back down - currently 1.6.
Member of the Sterling Country Club for 15 years before it went public a year ago due to declining membership and changing demographics. Nothing to note of much architecturally but it was home for a number of us. Sad to see it end like it did.
I have enjoyed my few years here on GCA and am fortunate to have met a few of you.
Are you the same Scott Szabo that played for the Reds? If so, your World Series team was amazing and killed my A's. Would love to talk baseball some time with you on the golf course. If you ever get out to NoCal let me know.
Umm, I think that was Chris Sabo...Close though ;)
Chris Sabo was indeed the Reds' third baseman, and he's actually a fairly decent amateur golfer. He plays a lot of local amateur events around Cincinnati. I believe he plays out of Kenwood Country Club.
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Been on here a few years and don't think I've ever put my information in:
Scott Szabo
Age 41
Owner of a small CPA firm in Sterling, Colorado.
Married with two kids - 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
Started playing golf when I was 15 thanks to my grandfather who was patient enough to take me out one day. Hard to think what I would have missed out on all these years if he hadn't let me tag along one summer day.
Handicap: finally going back down - currently 1.6.
Member of the Sterling Country Club for 15 years before it went public a year ago due to declining membership and changing demographics. Nothing to note of much architecturally but it was home for a number of us. Sad to see it end like it did.
I have enjoyed my few years here on GCA and am fortunate to have met a few of you.
Are you the same Scott Szabo that played for the Reds? If so, your World Series team was amazing and killed my A's. Would love to talk baseball some time with you on the golf course. If you ever get out to NoCal let me know.
Umm, I think that was Chris Sabo...Close though ;)
Chris Sabo was indeed the Reds' third baseman, and he's actually a fairly avid amateur golfer himself. He plays a lot of local amateur events around Cincinnati. I believe he plays out of Kenwood Country Club.
Does he wear his RecSpecs when he plays golf?
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Been on here a few years and don't think I've ever put my information in:
Scott Szabo
Age 41
Owner of a small CPA firm in Sterling, Colorado.
Married with two kids - 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
Started playing golf when I was 15 thanks to my grandfather who was patient enough to take me out one day. Hard to think what I would have missed out on all these years if he hadn't let me tag along one summer day.
Handicap: finally going back down - currently 1.6.
Member of the Sterling Country Club for 15 years before it went public a year ago due to declining membership and changing demographics. Nothing to note of much architecturally but it was home for a number of us. Sad to see it end like it did.
I have enjoyed my few years here on GCA and am fortunate to have met a few of you.
Are you the same Scott Szabo that played for the Reds? If so, your World Series team was amazing and killed my A's. Would love to talk baseball some time with you on the golf course. If you ever get out to NoCal let me know.
Umm, I think that was Chris Sabo...Close though ;)
Chris Sabo was indeed the Reds' third baseman, and he's actually a fairly avid amateur golfer himself. He plays a lot of local amateur events around Cincinnati. I believe he plays out of Kenwood Country Club.
Does he wear his RecSpecs when he plays golf?
That was my first thought too
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I do not believe Chris Sabo wears his specs when he plays golf, but we can dream. From pictures I've seen he doesn't look much different now compared to his playing days (flat top is not quite so militarily correct, but still seems to be the basis of the haircut).
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Been on here a few years and don't think I've ever put my information in:
Scott Szabo
Age 41
Owner of a small CPA firm in Sterling, Colorado.
Married with two kids - 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
Started playing golf when I was 15 thanks to my grandfather who was patient enough to take me out one day. Hard to think what I would have missed out on all these years if he hadn't let me tag along one summer day.
Handicap: finally going back down - currently 1.6.
Member of the Sterling Country Club for 15 years before it went public a year ago due to declining membership and changing demographics. Nothing to note of much architecturally but it was home for a number of us. Sad to see it end like it did.
I have enjoyed my few years here on GCA and am fortunate to have met a few of you.
Are you the same Scott Szabo that played for the Reds? If so, your World Series team was amazing and killed my A's. Would love to talk baseball some time with you on the golf course. If you ever get out to NoCal let me know.
Umm, I think that was Chris Sabo...Close though ;)
We can still get together for golf the next time I come to California if you'd like ;)
Sadly, I am no one famous. Only in the eyes of my kids, but that's good enough for me....
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Been on here a few years and don't think I've ever put my information in:
Scott Szabo
Age 41
Owner of a small CPA firm in Sterling, Colorado.
Married with two kids - 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
Started playing golf when I was 15 thanks to my grandfather who was patient enough to take me out one day. Hard to think what I would have missed out on all these years if he hadn't let me tag along one summer day.
Handicap: finally going back down - currently 1.6.
Member of the Sterling Country Club for 15 years before it went public a year ago due to declining membership and changing demographics. Nothing to note of much architecturally but it was home for a number of us. Sad to see it end like it did.
I have enjoyed my few years here on GCA and am fortunate to have met a few of you.
Are you the same Scott Szabo that played for the Reds? If so, your World Series team was amazing and killed my A's. Would love to talk baseball some time with you on the golf course. If you ever get out to NoCal let me know.
Umm, I think that was Chris Sabo...Close though ;)
We can still get together for golf the next time I come to California if you'd like ;)
Sadly, I am no one famous. Only in the eyes of my kids, but that's good enough for me....
yea I figured that out, just after posting, so I deleted it. But, still would love to play golf if you get out here!
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Hi, feel like I should introduce myself....
Greg Taylor, lives in Warwick, UK.
Middle manager in a large automotive company
Member at Sutton Coldfield GC, North Birmingham. An Alister Mackenzie design and host to the 2010 English Amateur Champ.
Have been fortunate to play some great courses... Kiawah, Crystal Downs, Pinehurst #2, Lahinch, Ballybunion, North Berwick along with my favourites Muirfield, TOC, Whistling Straits and left of field I know but Tobacco Road and Calendonia too.
Biggest disappoitment? Alton Towes (ha ha)... Carnoustie I thought was disjointed and tough to love. That all said it's still golf so I can't/won't compain.
Thanks for the welcome emails and messages of other UK based GCAers...!
Greg
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Hi, feel like I should introduce myself....
Greg Taylor, lives in Warwick, UK.
Middle manager in a large automotive company
Member at Sutton Coldfield GC, North Birmingham. An Alister Mackenzie design and host to the 2010 English Amateur Champ.
Have been fortunate to play some great courses... Kiawah, Crystal Downs, Pinehurst #2, Lahinch, Ballybunion, North Berwick along with my favourites Muirfield, TOC, Whistling Straits and left of field I know but Tobacco Road and Calendonia too.
Biggest disappoitment? Alton Towes (ha ha)... Carnoustie I thought was disjointed and tough to love. That all said it's still golf so I can't/won't compain.
Thanks for the welcome emails and messages of other UK based GCAers...!
Greg
Greg, did you play Crystal Downs in the Mackenzie Cup? Does Sutton Coldfield send a team? I have friends who are members of the Valley Club in Santa Barbara. They have hosted and gone to play at other Mac Cup venues. It's a great event.
Come down south of London and join us at the Buda Cup in September, we can chat about the front nine vs. back nine at Crystal Downs!
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Greg, did you play Crystal Downs in the Mackenzie Cup? Does Sutton Coldfield send a team? I have friends who are members of the Valley Club in Santa Barbara. They have hosted and gone to play at other Mac Cup venues. It's a great event.
Come down south of London and join us at the Buda Cup in September, we can chat about the front nine vs. back nine at Crystal Downs!
Hi...!
No, I played via friends in the US of A.
Sutton does particpate in the Mac Cup but every time I ask I seem to get brushed off... Think it's the senior members or committee only.
Crystal... front 9 is the best it can get, the back 9... from the 12th to the 16th can be a little less excellent but all the same very, very good. The greens were as fast as I have ever played as well. Lest I create the wrong impression though it's awesome.
I'll do a search on Buda Cup...?!
Thanks, Greg
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Hi Guys, about time for an intro, been registered for a few weeks…
Name: Clyde Johnson
Age: 22
Occupation: Student/Unemployed/Freelance Author (Currently compiling a book/my opinions on GCA and the courses I played last year)
Location: Kendal, Cumbria, England (‘The Lakes’ or an hour from Silloth if any ones struggling)
Home Course: Kendal, Handicap 6
Favourite Course(s): North Berwick, Royal Dornoch, RCD (too many…)
2011: - Hoping to head across the pond to study a Masters in Landscape Architecture…Might as well take advantage of the recession to pursue my dream/only career as a GCA
- A study tour of the heathlands, and possibly a cheeky add on to the SE links - June
- A week’s work experience with European Golf Design - Jeremy Slessor has kindly agreed to host me
Been reading the site for months and particularly enjoy the course profiles, and discussions on the state of GCA today. Anyway, I look forward to contributing and hopefully meeting some of the UK GCAers soon…
Cheers, Clyde
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Greg, the 2011 Buda Cup details are on pg 2 or 3. Usually about 12 UK vs 12 US GcAers, good courses, good company.
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I have been on here for a little while now and it's probably past due to post some information.
Name: Mark McKeever
Age: 24
Occupation: Engineer, Air Products and Chemicals
Location: Allentown, PA
Home Course: Schuylkill Country Club (Park/Ross 1921), Handicap 5
Favourite Courses: Pine Valley, Merion, Lancaster, Saucon Valley, Philadelphia Cricket
2011: - Hoping to play at some new places and meet some new faces! I am a big fan of classic architecture and I also enjoy collecting Scotty Cameron putters. I also play golf with a big smurf blue towel draped over/around my golf bag. It is used for cleaning clubs, sitting and sunbathing when waiting for a green to clear, or as an umbrella if needed. If you are ever looking for me, look for the towel.
I started reading the course profiles a number of years ago and never knew a discussion group existed on GCA! Then I had Joe Bausch teach me organic chemistry at Villanova and was introduced to the treehouse. Its been great and I have learned a lot.
Mark
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Don't know why I didn't get in on this before, but here goes.
Wayne Freeman
age: 61
index: 1-2
home course: Old Ranch CC in Seal Beach, Calif.
Have been very fortunate to play every U.S. Open course, including the new ones, Chambers Bay, and Erin Hills,
as well as the pieces of those Open courses no longer in existence.
I"m up to 91 of the top 100 U.S. courses on the Golf Mag list.
I love golf course history and architecture and have made so many great friends thru this site.
Two biggest thrills in golf: my son and I (when he was 10) both got a hole in one on the same weekend,
and I got to play a round of golf at Bay Hill with Arnold Palmer
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Don't know why I didn't get in on this before, but here goes.
Wayne Freeman
age: 61
index: 1-2
home course: Old Ranch CC in Seal Beach, Calif.
Have been very fortunate to play every U.S. Open course, including the new ones, Chambers Bay, and Erin Hills,
as well as the pieces of those Open courses no longer in existence.
I"m up to 91 of the top 100 U.S. courses on the Golf Mag list.
I love golf course history and architecture and have made so many great friends thru this site.
Two biggest thrills in golf: my son and I (when he was 10) both got a hole in one on the same weekend,
and I got to play a round of golf at Bay Hill with Arnold Palmer
I thought you said playing a round with me in the rain was more fun... ;D
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Hello golf wackos,
My name is Troy Alderson and I am the golf course superintendent (head greenkeeper) at Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino in Central Oregon. I am a golf fanatic. I love the game, the classic golf courses, and how the classics were maintained in the old days. I am 37 with an old golfing soul. I am also rather overeducated too, Washington State U. (BS), Rutgers U. (Turf Mgt), and Marylhurst U. (MBA) in that order. The future holds for me, my own golf course somewhere, I just need to find it.
I ran across this site while looking for golf course pictures and started reading the interviews and opinions. Great stuff. I am a 13 handicap and supervise a golf course designed by William P. Bell and Sons (front nine) and Gene "Bunny" Mason (back nine) in the early 1970s. The golf course is the oldest Indian owned and operated golf course in the country, unless someone can prove otherwise.
I look forward to contributing to the group.
FOOUURR!
Troy Alderson
To update who I am...
Now an Assistant Superintendent at Reames G&CC in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Left Kah-Nee-Ta Resort to pursue golf equipment sales which did not work out. Landed the Reames position through my connection with the GM/Pro. I have become even more confident in my abilities to maintain a golf course in the PNW to the style of an Australia/UK course. My wife and I are looking to move to the Portland, Oregon area when I can land a Superintendent position there.
Reames has fast and firm conditions, below average budget for a country club, consistent greens running 10 to 11, narrow 30 yard tree lined fairways, and 9 holes irrigated by quick coupler impacts.
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Name: Ryan Taylor
Age: 32
Personal e-mail: rytaylor33@yahoo.com
Occupation: Product Manager
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Home Course: Sewickley Heights Golf Club, Handicap 7
Favourite Course(s): RCD, Portrush, Oakmont
I found GCA while researching Colt for a recent trip to N. Ireland. I've been a GCA poster for nearly a year. I met a handful of Cleveland CGA members this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. (Manakiki and Sleepy Hollow)
I recently relocated to Pittsburgh and look forward to playing new courses and meeting good people. If you're in Pittsburgh or ever around the city, send me an e-mail and we'll tee it up.
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Ryan,
Your assignment should you choose to accept it, is to get fellow Pittsburghian George Pazin as in Raisin out for some golf.
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Garland,
I accept. Let this serve as an open invite to you and George.
Ryan
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Name: Kin Britton
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Occupation: Banker & Unofficial Travel Agent for Group Golf Trips
Member: CC of Spartanburg- reputed to have nine holes designed by Donald Ross...never proven. Recently renovated by Kris Spence. Also a member of St Andrews Golf Club
Handicap: 0
Age: 47
Married to a wonderful wife who tolerates my golf passion. Two girls, 13 and 15.
Favorite Courses:
TOC
ANGC
Pebble Beach
Royal Aberdeen
North Berwick
Royal Dornoch
I had lurked on the board as a guest for some time. I originally found it while looking for reviews on Scottish courses. I emailed Ran earlier this month and he was kind enough to allow me to join.
I started playing golf as a teen and then played on the first team my high school fielded after surviving a strenuous try-out..."You have your own clubs? OK, you're on the team, know anybody else with clubs?" Have played some amateur events but realize my game is better suited to Saturday morning Nassau games.
Most effort ever put forth to play a course: When I turned 40, I realized drastic action was required to play Augusta National. Through a friend got introduced to the caddie program. Spent a season as a part time caddie using vacation time and weekends...had a very understanding wife and boss. Got to play on Caddie Day in 2004...45 holes and 7 of 9 holes on the Par 3 course. Played 36 from the Championship tees and 9 from the Member tees. Still one of the best days of my life. Shot 76 from the tips during the morning round...won't discuss afternoon round.
Four years ago, I made my first trip to Scotland. We have now made a total of three trips and played 25 courses during our travels. Have played courses from Turnberry to Muirfield to Brora in the north. Probably only person on the board to have played the 12 hole course at Goggarburn (beats sitting in a hotel room waiting on the last twopeople to arrive...barely). Worst moment in three trips was leaving Dornoch to head home. Best moment was a hole-in-one on 17 at Royal Aberdeen to square our trip long match.
Had always thought there were things I liked about certain styles but could not describe it. Have started making an effort to learn more about the design field. I do know I like the "old style" which allows recovery options as my game needs it. After Scotland, I certainly realized how special links golf is. Time and money permitting, our trip to the UK is an annual event (neither time nor money allow a trip in 2011). In 2012, we will visit England to check out the courses in the Liverpool area.
I look forward to participating in the discussion
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Name: Kin Britton
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Occupation: Banker & Unofficial Travel Agent for Group Golf Trips
Member: CC of Spartanburg- reputed to have nine holes designed by Donald Ross...never proven. Recently renovated by Kris Spence. Also a member of St Andrews Golf Club
Handicap: 0
Age: 47
Married to a wonderful wife who tolerates my golf passion. Two girls, 13 and 15.
Favorite Courses:
TOC
ANGC
Pebble Beach
Royal Aberdeen
North Berwick
Royal Dornoch
I had lurked on the board as a guest for some time. I originally found it while looking for reviews on Scottish courses. I emailed Ran earlier this month and he was kind enough to allow me to join.
I started playing golf as a teen and then played on the first team my high school fielded after surviving a strenuous try-out..."You have your own clubs? OK, you're on the team, know anybody else with clubs?" Have played some amateur events but realize my game is better suited to Saturday morning Nassau games.
Most effort ever put forth to play a course: When I turned 40, I realized drastic action was required to play Augusta National. Through a friend got introduced to the caddie program. Spent a season as a part time caddie using vacation time and weekends...had a very understanding wife and boss. Got to play on Caddie Day in 2004...45 holes and 7 of 9 holes on the Par 3 course. Played 36 from the Championship tees and 9 from the Member tees. Still one of the best days of my life. Shot 76 from the tips during the morning round...won't discuss afternoon round.
Four years ago, I made my first trip to Scotland. We have now made a total of three trips and played 25 courses during our travels. Have played courses from Turnberry to Muirfield to Brora in the north. Probably only person on the board to have played the 12 hole course at Goggarburn (beats sitting in a hotel room waiting on the last twopeople to arrive...barely). Worst moment in three trips was leaving Dornoch to head home. Best moment was a hole-in-one on 17 at Royal Aberdeen to square our trip long match.
Had always thought there were things I liked about certain styles but could not describe it. Have started making an effort to learn more about the design field. I do know I like the "old style" which allows recovery options as my game needs it. After Scotland, I certainly realized how special links golf is. Time and money permitting, our trip to the UK is an annual event (neither time nor money allow a trip in 2011). In 2012, we will visit England to check out the courses in the Liverpool area.
I look forward to participating in the discussion
To a fellow CC Spartanburg member, Welcome.
Bruce
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Welcome aboard my friend....Caddie Day 2004 was indeed a good one.....you will certainly enjoy
this group....the hardest part will be finding enough time .....
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Name: Kevin Robinson, PGA
Location: Terre Haute, Indiana
Hometown: Canton, NC (Asheville area)
Occupation: Head Women's Golf Coach / Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Employer: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology - Terre Haute, Indiana
Age: 41
Formerly an Assistant Golf Professional at:
Lost Tree Club - North Palm Beach, FL
Yeamans Hall Club - Charleston, SC
Lost Dunes Golf Club - Bridgeman, MI
Berkeley Hall - Bluffton, SC
The Bay Club - Mattapoisett, MA
After lurking for longer than I care to remember, Ran has been kind enough to allow me to join the discussion. My interest in GCA was piqued by the two years I spent living on the property at Yeamans Hall in Charleston, SC. After 15 years in the golf business, I have switched career paths and could not be happier. I'm actually beginning to enjoy the game again!!
My favorite courses - in no particular order:
Biltmore Forest
Yeamans Hall
Merion (East)
Chicago Golf Club
Myopia
Hyannisport
Bulls Bay
Asheville Municipal
Highlands (NC)
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Name: Mark Saltzman
Location: Toronto, Canada
Home Course: National Pines GC; Bigwin Island GC
Current RCGA Index: 3.9
Age: 25
Occupation: Happily unemployed (and recently graduated with a J.D. from the University of Western Ontario)
Introduction to golf: When I was 12 my sister asked me if I wanted to take semi-private golf lessons with her at the local muni. I said "no". Mom said I had to go with my sister. After our series of five lessons ended and I practiced for a while I went out for my first actual round of golf. I was hooked. I played a round everyday for the next 25 days, rain or shine!
Introduction to GCA: I was bought Anatomy of a Golf Course as a present. I had no interest in reading it and it sat on my shelf for years.
Introduction to GCA.com: Every year I go on a 'Boys Trip' with my Dad and brothers. It seemed that every time I wanted information on golf in an area or about a certain course, the most reliable site to go to was GCA.com. When I realized the whole site was devoted to course architecture, I blew the dust off of Anatomy and read it.
Introduction to GCA (2): After reading Anatomy I started seeing golf courses differently. My eyes were opened. A golf course like Essex in Ontario, which is very flat went from being a course that I thought was boring and overrated (it doesn't have any waterfalls), to one of my favorite golf courses I have ever played.
I love to see new golf courses, travel to new places and meet new people. In my limited time on GCA.com I have met some exceptional and generous people and look forward to continuing to make new friends.
If ever in Toronto, please send me an IM and let's get together for a round.
Mark Saltzman
2011 5th Major Champion
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Hello golf wackos,
My name is Troy Alderson and I am the golf course superintendent (head greenkeeper) at Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino in Central Oregon. I am a golf fanatic. I love the game, the classic golf courses, and how the classics were maintained in the old days. I am 37 with an old golfing soul. I am also rather overeducated too, Washington State U. (BS), Rutgers U. (Turf Mgt), and Marylhurst U. (MBA) in that order. The future holds for me, my own golf course somewhere, I just need to find it.
I ran across this site while looking for golf course pictures and started reading the interviews and opinions. Great stuff. I am a 13 handicap and supervise a golf course designed by William P. Bell and Sons (front nine) and Gene "Bunny" Mason (back nine) in the early 1970s. The golf course is the oldest Indian owned and operated golf course in the country, unless someone can prove otherwise.
I look forward to contributing to the group.
FOOUURR!
Troy Alderson
To update who I am...
Now an Assistant Superintendent at Reames G&CC in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Left Kah-Nee-Ta Resort to pursue golf equipment sales which did not work out. Landed the Reames position through my connection with the GM/Pro. I have become even more confident in my abilities to maintain a golf course in the PNW to the style of an Australia/UK course. My wife and I are looking to move to the Portland, Oregon area when I can land a Superintendent position there.
Reames has fast and firm conditions, below average budget for a country club, consistent greens running 10 to 11, narrow 30 yard tree lined fairways, and 9 holes irrigated by quick coupler impacts.
Troy, Reames was in great shape when my son played in the junior event down there. Is the renovation work going forward? I remember seeing a proposal map. Cheers, Jeff
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No sense starting my own thread:
Name: John Penny
Residence: Denver, CO
Occupation: Management Consultant
Age: 29
Home Course: Meridian GC. Handicap: 4
Favorite architect: Unknown, I prefer the style created by farmers where trees are planted in a line, modeled after the famous wind rows and cornfields of the Great Plains.
Long time lurker, fortunate enough to meet several of you and thought I'd join in the fun. Grew up in Eastern CO, playing on buffalo grass fairways (see above), worked at 2 unique CO courses during school. Consider myself a student of all things golf, I have learned a ton from this site and hope to continue.
John
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John,
I'm sure you'll give us more than a penny of your thoughts. Welcome.
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Matt Ingraham
Omaha, Nebraska
age: 33
Handicap: 7
Occupation: Attorney
Home Course: Omaha CC
I grew-up in Arizona and started playing when I was 12 or so. In college played at a juco in AZ and then at a little NAIA school in Kansas. I didn't play much for five years while in law school and after law school while working for one of the few non-golfing judges in America. I started regularly playing again about four years ago and am still trying to rediscover the magic behind regularly hitting long irons on the screws. It seemed so easy when I was younger.
If anyone is ever in Omaha with a desire to play Omaha CC please do not hesitate to email me. Omaha CC is the site of the 2013 US Senior Open.
Matt
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Matt, Welcome!
What a generous offer, as well! I've heard that Omaha CC is excellent especially with the recently completed work (Keith Foster?).
I'm sure you'll get at least a few interested parties, with 60+ GCAers coming out to Nebraska for the 5th Major.
Enjoy!
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Matt Ingraham
Omaha, Nebraska
age: 33
Handicap: 7
Occupation: Attorney
Home Course: Omaha CC
I grew-up in Arizona and started playing when I was 12 or so. In college played at a juco in AZ and then at a little NAIA school in Kansas. I didn't play much for five years while in law school and after law school while working for one of the few non-golfing judges in America. I started regularly playing again about four years ago and am still trying to rediscover the magic behind regularly hitting long irons on the screws. It seemed so easy when I was younger.
If anyone is ever in Omaha with a desire to play Omaha CC please do not hesitate to email me. Omaha CC is the site of the 2013 US Senior Open.
Matt
Matt -
Welcome. Omaha CC is a great course... the epitome of a Hidden Gem. Whenever the dicussion of going to Sand Hills comes up, and whether to fly into Omaha or Denver (for those w/o the G5), i say fly into Omaha and try to play OCC... it's well worth it!
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Yes sir, welcome Matt! I haven't heard back from you since our prior email exchange, but am hoping you'll make your way out to Mullen this summer.
Have fun with the site!
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Thomas Allen
Outside of Cincinnati, Ohio
Attorney (Miami University, Ohio undergrad; Univ. of Cincinnati College of Law)
48 years old
Home Course: Brown's Run, Middletown, Ohio
HCP: 6.8
Married, with two kids, 4 and 5.
Started playing in 1990 or so (late-comer to the game).
Favorite courses played for far: Pebble, Oakland Hills, Inverness. Trying to play as many of Golf Digest's Top 100 as I can, but
If anyone is in Cincinnati or visits Cincinnati, look me up and we'll play Brown's Run if you like. Lovely little course, built in the 50's, with outstanding greens and fairways.
Really enjoy the discussion here.
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Mark Steffey
live west of Boston, MA
born south of Pittsburgh, PA
investments (operations)
Boston University
California U of PA
44 yo
married
four kids (13,9,7,3)
home club(s) - Oak Hill CC (Fitchburg MA) & Sunnehanna CC (Johnstown PA)
index - 8
started playing in jr high school
favorite course(s) - New England (Newport CC) PA (Laurel Valley)
...glad to be here. learn something every time i visit.
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Name: Ted Harris
Hometown: Vancouver B.C.
Age: 38
Handicap: as low as an 11 but rising
Home Course : North Bellingham G.C.
Occupation: planner for Air Canada Cargo
Favourite Courses: Royal Portrush, Ganton, Eastward Ho, Pasatiempo, Pacific Dunes and Sagebrush
Favourite Architect: Harry Colt
2012 plans - hoping to get to Cabot Links and TOC and possibly Thailand.........but that won't be 100% golf related
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Brian Finn
35 years old
Married with 2 kids - daughter (4) & son (1)
Born & raised - Rockville Centre, NY (Long Island)
Currently reside - Powell, OH (Columbus area)
Lived in NYC 6 years and San Diego 5 years before landing in the Midwest
Notre Dame undergrad, NYU Stern MBA
Home Course: Free Agent since relocating to OH...seriously considering Brookside Columbus
HCP - 4.5
Really glad this thread was bumped up, as it reminded me that I never properly introduced myself to the group. I've been reading GCA since 2001 or so, and only became a member a few months ago. I really enjoy the course profiles, photo tours, interviews, and spirited discussion. Hoping I can make some genuine contributions to the group over time.
Played Bethpage courses every chance I got between 1993 and 2005...still get back a couple of times each year, and Red is my favorite of the 5. Other personal favorites so far include Harbour Town, Portmarnock, Sleepy Hollow, Pinehurst #2, Chechessee, Olivos GC (Argentina), Kiawah Ocean, and Spyglass.
Planning to see many new courses this year, including several in Pinehurst area, a few back home on LI, and as many as I can squeeze in all around OH. Also hoping to get to the Sand Hills ASAP, with a stop in Omaha to pick up my brother. Especially excited to meet many of you at the Midwest Mashie. Big fan of the ND Warren course (although I guess I am a little biased).
Thanks for having me!
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Brian,
Welcome to a fellow Ohioan transplant. Michael George is putting together an impromptu gathering on Thursday night to watch hoops and meet other GCA'rs. If you are interested, check out the thread here...
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=51506.0
Would love the chance to meet others from the area.
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Thomas Allen
Outside of Cincinnati, Ohio
Attorney (Miami University, Ohio undergrad; Univ. of Cincinnati College of Law)
48 years old
Home Course: Brown's Run, Middletown, Ohio
HCP: 6.8
Married, with two kids, 4 and 5.
Started playing in 1990 or so (late-comer to the game).
Favorite courses played for far: Pebble, Oakland Hills, Inverness. Trying to play as many of Golf Digest's Top 100 as I can, but
If anyone is in Cincinnati or visits Cincinnati, look me up and we'll play Brown's Run if you like. Lovely little course, built in the 50's, with outstanding greens and fairways.
Really enjoy the discussion here.
Can't understand why Brown's Run never gets a mention around here...but very few people in the Cincinnati/Dayton area seem to know much about it either. I only played it once but really liked it. It certainly seems to be a course that warrants at least a bit of discussion here.
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Clearly I've started to figure out the search function and realize this is an oldie, even dating back a decade, amazing which means that some of your kids are all grown up and even some of you are all grown up. Hcps are much lower of course, natural progression, you're all older and wiser and have seen much more golf courses than you can remember. Wooden clubs have left the bags for the most part.
As some of you have learned in the last couple days already I too rather enjoy my golf. Since I'm quite isolated from most of you in terms of location I'm always thrilled to receive enthusiastic golfers in the Netherlands were I live. We've got a handful of great clubs here in the Benelux countries (Netherlands and Belgium mainly).
David Davis
42 years old
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Home Course: de Noordwijkse Golf Club
HCP: lower back, SI Joints, grey mass between my ears. numerical value right now 7.5, dropping fast.
Divorced, two beautiful daughters, 11 and 14.
Started playing 9 yrs ago, 100+ rounds a year the last couple years.
Home: Grew up in Oregon near Portland, learned to golf in Europe - lived here 20 years now.
Favorite courses played: Royal County Down, Kingston Heath, Pacific Dunes, Cypress Point, Cruden Bay, Ballybunion, Royal Dornoch and my home club.
Toughest courses (also taking my form into consideration on the that day): my home club everyday, Black Wolf Run, Brookwater (Brisbane area), Pebble in windforce 6 from the US Open tees (last on the tee box and could choose between the old guys tees or all the way back with someone with a 1 hcp determined to cut off more than they could chew).
Work: I have my own little company working in internet marketing, advertising and strategy. Concentration on targeting specific niches audiences, helping clients to improve acquisition and ROI through their web presence. Also sales and business development in Europe.
Hobby work: review, rank and rate golf courses. Also a new member of my clubs course committee which is exciting as we are on the forefront of making some great changes for the future which I strongly believe will make us Top 100 in the world material.
Anyone coming to NL (The Netherlands) drop me a line.
DD - your man in Amsterdam
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Clearly I've started to figure out the search function and realize this is an oldie, even dating back a decade, amazing which means that some of your kids are all grown up and even some of you are all grown up. Hcps are much lower of course, natural progression, you're all older and wiser and have seen much more golf courses than you can remember. Wooden clubs have left the bags for the most part.
As some of you have learned in the last couple days already I too rather enjoy my golf. Since I'm quite isolated from most of you in terms of location I'm always thrilled to receive enthusiastic golfers in the Netherlands were I live. We've got a handful of great clubs here in the Benelux countries (Netherlands and Belgium mainly).
David Davis
42 years old
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Home Course: de Noordwijkse Golf Club
HCP: lower back, SI Joints, grey mass between my ears. numerical value right now 7.5, dropping fast.
Divorced, two beautiful daughters, 11 and 14.
Started playing 9 yrs ago, 100+ rounds a year the last couple years.
Home: Grew up in Oregon near Portland, learned to golf in Europe - lived here 20 years now.
Favorite courses played: Royal County Down, Kingston Heath, Pacific Dunes, Cypress Point, Cruden Bay, Ballybunion, Royal Dornoch and my home club.
Toughest courses (also taking my form into consideration on the that day): my home club everyday, Black Wolf Run, Brookwater (Brisbane area), Pebble in windforce 6 from the US Open tees (last on the tee box and could choose between the old guys tees or all the way back with someone with a 1 hcp determined to cut off more than they could chew).
Work: I have my own little company working in internet marketing, advertising and strategy. Concentration on targeting specific niches audiences, helping clients to improve acquisition and ROI through their web presence. Also sales and business development in Europe.
Hobby work: review, rank and rate golf courses. Also a new member of my clubs course committee which is exciting as we are on the forefront of making some great changes for the future which I strongly believe will make us Top 100 in the world material.
Anyone coming to NL (The Netherlands) drop me a line.
DD - your man in Amsterdam
If anyone uses Linked-in or Facebook and wants to connect there please drop me a request:
https://www.facebook.com/david.davis1
http://nl.linkedin.com/in/ddavis1969
Cheers,
David
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Ted Sturges
Age 50
Reside in Carmel, Indiana
Favorite courses:
National Golf Links of America
The Old Course
Pine Valley
Royal County Down
Cypress Point
Royal Portrush
Yeamans Hall
I have held memberships in my life at Greensburg Country Club (Indiana), Hillcrest Golf and Country Club (Indiana), Rolling Hills Country Club (Indiana), Evansville CC (Indiana), Quail Crossing (Indiana), Broadmoor CC (Indianapolis), Yeamans Hall Club (South Carolina), Lost Dunes (Michigan), and Tain Golf Club (Scotland). I currently only hold a membership at Quail Crossing.
I served as a USGA Committeeman for 13 years, serving as a rules offical for countless regional qualifiers and state and collegiate events. I also served in leadership roles for the Indiana Golf Association and the Indiana Golf Foundation.
I was blessed to be introduced to the game by my loving father, Jim Sturges at the age of 5. I currently play off a 6 handicap. Dad turns 80 next month and we still play golf together. :)
I graduated from Hanover College in 1984 where I played on the varisty tennis team.
I am in the financial services industry and reside in the greater Indianapolis area. I was one of the early participants in this site, lured in by my friendship with Golf's Most Beloved Figure. I have recently returned, and am enjoying my reindoctrination to all things GCA. I am blessed to be in a blended family with 4 great kids. My wife Cheryl graciously tolerates my passion for golf (I drug her along on my recent trip to Nova Scotia, and she enjoyed seeing a new part of the world and even walked a few golf holes).
I've made many friends from this site over the years, and look forward to making many more new friends.
TS
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Ted, the only think that surprises me in your update, is your age! Having only spoken once with you on the phone, and still thankful for your invite to YH many years ago now, I just thought you were my age or older. ;D I guess you are one of those who they say has an 'older soul'. 8)
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Nigel Islam
Evansville, Indiana
Age 40 :(
Favorite Courses I have played:
Pebble Beach
Crystal Downs
Pinehurst #2
Harbor Town
Crooked Stick
Victoria National
Arcadia Bluffs
Harrison Hills
French Lick Hill (uh Ross) course
Sultan's Run
Quail Crossing
I attended IU, and have lived in Corydon, Bloomington, Indy, Jasper, and Evansville in Indiana. If anybody is going to be playing anywhere close let me know. I'll drive hours to play if I can fit it in my wife's plans.
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Bump.
We have several new members checking in with new member threads. Historically, we've had a perpetual thread for introductions. Could each of our new members also add a small introduction here as well? Thanks.
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Kevin Dreyer
35 Years Old
Married, no kids (yet), 1 dog (a very sweet doberman pinscher)
Live in NYC, raised in Wayne, PA (outside Philly)
Member of Wykagyl (van Etten/Ross/Tillinghast/Coore & Crenshaw) in New Rochelle, NY and Stonewall (Doak) in Elverson, PA
I am so far relatively limited in my play of great courses - but working on it!
Thoughts so far:
Best overall course played: Shinnecock Hills
Best public: Bethpage Black
Favorite course played: Maidstone
Favorite outside US: Swinley Forest
Most underrated course: Stonewall North
And think my home course, Wykagyl can more than hold its own despite some famous neighbors in Westchester.
Kevin
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Will take this opportunity to update my bio...
Joel Lahrman
Age: 37
Occupation: Working for a brand consultancy, live in Oakland CA, work in San Francisco.
Handicap: USGA index is listed as 9.7. I post a lot of scores in the 90s. Not sure how that translates to a single digit index.
Home Course: Metropolitan and Monarch Bay.
Married, 15-month-old daughter, 2 dogs.
Favorite course: Camargo
Wish list: To find a way to play more golf. 40 rounds a year would be a dream for me, jealous of those for whom it's an off year.
I grew up in Cincinnati and had the good fortune to work in the bag shop at Camargo (also worked at Scioto while I was an undergrad at the Ohio State University). Back in 2003 a friend of mine wanted to know more about Camargo. I did a search to see if I could find any pictures online and came upon Ran's writeup. I got hooked reading the course profiles, eventually moseyed over to the forum. I met only a few GCAers over the years until attending the 2011 KPI at Bandon. Always seem to enjoy playing golf with whoever I meet from this website.
Other interests: After 20 years of basketball I have switched to tennis. Easier to find one person than nine, and fewer dislocated fingers and sprained ankles. I play to about a 3.5 but don't practice this sport enough either. Should have started when I was younger. I am a mediocre guitar and banjo player. I also enjoy volunteering at my local animal shelter and learning principles of dog training.
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Also a new member, just saw this thread so:
Jeb Bearer
17 years old
Junior at Georgetown Prep High School in North Bethesda, MD
jbearer95@verizon.net
I've been playing golf seriously for about five years now, and I've been into architecture for about two. Being just a "yute", I haven't had the opportunity to play a wide variety of well-regarded courses. I've played some good ones though. This past summer my family and I went to Canada and I was able to play Banff and Jasper with my dad. Later, in July, I went with some friends on a pilgrimage to St. Andrews, where we played the Old Course, Elie, Muirfield and Carnoustie. So I've been very fortunate so far to play some great tracks. I hope that luck continues cuz I've got a long list and getting longer!
Looking forward to having a great time learning about GCA on this site.
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Michael Schott
55 Years old
Born in Detroit and I live in Farmington Hills, MI
Occupation is Sales Representative. My office is in Michigan but my sales territory is the SW US and includes some great golf states including CA, AZ and Texas.
I've golfed since I was a teen but didn't get serious about the game until after graduating from Michigan State University with a BA in Marketing.
I play mainly public and resort courses. My home course is our local muni, the Farmington Hills Golf Club, a pretty nice city owned course.
I don't keep a handicap right now but when I did it averaged about 18. I don't get much chance to play these days due to a wife who works and goes to college and to our amazing 2 year old son. Time on the course is precious.
Favorite courses played:
Pasatiempo
Bethpage Black
Donald Ross Memorial at Boyne Highlands
Gailes at Lakewood Shores Resort
Belvedere Golf Club
High Pointe :-(
U of M
Forest Akers West
Thousand Oaks-Grand Rapids, MI
Forest Dunes
I have an open invitation to play The Meadow Club and hope to take advantage my next trip to the Bay Area.
I also plan on playing Rustic Canyon soon as I visit LA every 6 weeks.
Thank you,
Michael Schott.
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Jim Sherma
46 years old
Hershey, PA
Home Course: Hershey CC
HCP: 4.6
Married, daughter 9, son 6
Grew up with the game and got serious in Jr. High School
Home: Currently live in Hershey and grew up in Bethlehem, PA and the courses I cut my teeth on were Bethlehem Municipal and Green Pond CC
Favorite courses played (In no order other than the first): St Andrews Old, St Andrews New, Ballybunion Old, Lancaster, Lehigh, Hershey West, Pine Valley, Baltusrol Upper, Lebanon, Hershey Parkview(NLE)
School: Grsaduated from Lehigh University with a BS Business/Economics, BA Philosophy and an MS Economics/Finance (never finished my dissertation for the PhD)
Work: I am the retail forecaster for The Hershey Company (the chocolate company) focusing on the ACNielsen syndicated data. I have also worked in the credit card industry and at the research group at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Hobby: Golf
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Bumping so that our new members can add to it:
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Been around a while since reading about GCA in Sports Illustrated and begging Ran to let me join the treehouse.
Andy Shulman....52 years old....Born in Cleveland, OH (Shaker Heights, actually) and have resided in Reston, VA for 20+ years
Handicap: 13.8
Single, never married - Why do I suddenly feel like I'm on Match.com?
Education: Emory University (1983) - Bachelors in Business Administration
Work: I'm a CPA who transitioned into HR work about six years ago. I manage the executive compensation function at Freddie Mac.
Hobbies: Golf, of course, and reffing high school basketball. You know, a black-and-white striped shirt and a whistle. Been doing it for 30 years now and have reffed games at the homes of two recent Final Four teams, the Patriot Center (George Mason U's home court) and the Siegel Center (where the VCU Rams play). Most of my games, though, are in standard issue high school gyms.
Favorite Courses: St. Andrews (Old), North Berwick, Royal Dornoch, Lawsonia (Links), Pasatiempo, Ballyhack, Bedford Springs and Mountain Ridge. That last one, while legit, is also an attempt to suck up to Pat Mucci in the hopes that he'll host another event there!
Other GCA Events Attended: The inaugural George Cup at Ballyhack in 2011 and the last soggy day of the 2011 Dixie Cup at Kinloch.
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.
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Suppose I should introduce myself as well.
I too have been following for years and was introduced to the site by my old Super, Kurt Desiderio.
My name is Ryan Kennedy, living in Ventura, Cal.
My favorite tracks are;
Cypress point club
The Creek
Shinnecock
Valley club
Ballybunion
La hinch
Waterville
Friars Head
SF
Thanks to all the great Pros for hosting me!!!
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I've never properly introduced myself either--I joined the site earlier this year after a few years of scouring the site looking at pictures and reading about some of the best courses in the world...
Chris DeToro
29 years old
Army brat so grew up all over the world, but currently live in Battle Creek MI
Single, no kids that I know of
Education: Undergrad at William & Mary, MBA from Indiana University
Work: CPG market researcher
Handicap: 6
Home club: Battle Creek CC (1919 Willie Park design)
Favorite courses: in no particular order--Prairie Dunes, Royal County Down, St Andrews Old, Crystal Downs, Pebble Beach
I always try to play as many rounds as possible every year and try to play as many of the great courses as possible. Outside of golf, my biggest hobby is college basketball--last winter went by really fast with IU's comeback into national prominence :-)
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Go IU. Hopefully that Vonleh kid will be enough to replace Cody and Watford! 8)
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And Oladipo...it might be a long year. :-\
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Since these keep getting bumped, I'll add my info here
Andy Buck
Age: 38 - married, two sons, Noah (5), Jonah (1)
Handicap: 0.0
Residence: Peru, IL
Occupation: Accountant by trade, corporate finance for large international privately held company.
Home Club(s): Deer Park Country Club - 9 holes established 1904, newer 9 built in 1980's. Nice humble club with some character on the greens. Senica's Oak Ridge - semi private (read Public) James Spears design, good condition and value.
Favorite Courses: Kapalua, Olympia Fields (north), Crooked Stick, French Lick (Ross) Flossmoor, Beverly, Wolf Run, St Albans, Wakonda Club, Bull Valley, Exmoor, Cambrian Ridge
Hometown(history): Dwight, IL, played collegiate golf at Bradley University in Peoria followed by 12 years in Chicago/Palatine.
Hometown Courses: Dwight Country Club, where I worked on the grounds crew from the time I was 13 to 21 for my dad, who has been superintendent for 33 years. 1913 course that has 1 sand trap, but a few unique greens, all fast and smooth and had enough good golfers to teach me lessons and take my money growing up. Also played many, many rounds of golf at Pontiac Elks, Wolf Creek and Morris CC in those formative years.
Grew up enamored with golf courses and architecture, and probably "designed" thousands on notebooks. Wish I would have found this site earlier, as it sounds like I missed a lot of substance discussion in the early years. Right now my passion revolves more around how maintenance practices and decisions impact the architecture for existing courses.
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Didn't want to start a new New Guy thread, but remembered this one (though I was surprised it wasn't stickied)
Dwight Phelps
Age: 30 - married with one son, Dean
Handicap: 10
Residence: Inland Empire, CA
Home Club: Sierra Lakes (likely to be Goose Creek next year)
Favorite Courses: I haven't played many, but I'd say that La Purisima and Oakmont CC (Glendale) would be 2 of my favorites.
History: A true golfing child of Tiger, I got my first set of clubs in the summer of 1997. Learned to play at Brookside in Pasadena (where, at the time, local students could play after 1pm on weekdays for $1.50 - that's the way to learn to play). I played in HS and then at college at Occidental College. Was never great (lowest Handicap about 5 during college - I wasn't the best at keeping track in those days). Only recently has be affinity for collecting yardage books manifested into full-blown interest in golf architecture, helped along (so far) by Doak's 'Anatomy' and MacKenzie's 'Golf Architecture'. Can't wait to see and learn more.
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My "hello world" post is on the front page right now, so this feels a bit redundant, but...
Tom Bacsanyi
Age: 33
Handicap: 2.7
Residence: Vail, CO
Home Club: Red Sky
Work: Ski instructor/Greenkeeper
Favorite Courses:
CommonGround
Old MacDonald
Pinehurst No. 2
Sonnenalp (originally Singletree)
Forest Dunes
Burning Oak (Houghton Lake, MI)
Jackson Park (South Side of Chicago)
Pinemeadow (Mundelein, IL)
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Ryan McLaughlin
Age: 38 married with two boys
Handicap: 0.0
Residence: South Orange County CA
Job: Financial Advisor
Home Club: Tijeras Creek Golf Club
Favorite Courses Played:
Riviera
Pasatiempo
Goose Creek
Valley Club
Oakmont (CA)
Sandpiper
I started as a caddie at 14 after my mom started taking lessons at Mission Viejo CC and she connected me with the pro there. Worked in the cart barn through high school. Went to college as a PGM major but realized I had no interest in being a golf pro. Left to play jc golf in Santa Barbara where our home courses were, Sandpiper, Valley Club, Birnam Wood, Montecito CC, La Cumbre and La Purisma if we felt like driving....pretty good for a junior college. Left college and realized I didnt know how to do anything else but golf so I became a PGA pro. Worked muni, private, and resort golf in LA and OC. I left the business for the financial services biz and play a heck of a lot more golf now. I've always had an appreciation for architecture but browsing the pages of GCA has transported me to some of the greatest course all over the world.
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Bill Vogeney
Age 52
Handicap 5.9, along with a swing that, while it has improved, was once described as "Furyk on Acid"
Live in Colorado Springs
Job: EVP and Chief Lending Officer at a mid-sized community based financial institution
Home Club: Colorado Springs CC and national member at Prairie Dunes
Favorite courses:
Prairie Dunes
Oakmont (played it 5 times, have family that are members)
Shoreacres
Riviera
Pebble
Olympia Fields South
French Creek
Been playing since I was 15. Worked at a golf course restaurant in high school and college, that's the only way I could have afforded to play back then. I never played a private club until I was probably 22 or 23. Never really thought about golf course architecture until the last 5 or 6 years, thanks to my buddy Clint Squier. Trying to accumulate all of the classic books on GCA when I am not busy tending to my previously out of control Scotty Cameron collection. I have collected clubs since I was a poor college student. Once found a perfectly good vintage Wilson 8802 sticking shaft end out of a garbage can when I was working in a pro shop on weekends after my undergraduate studies.
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I've introduced myself elsewhere, but it seems that I should add my information here.
Ricardo Ramirez-Calvo
Age 49
Married, 6 kids (4 boys and 2 girls all with the same woman)
Hcp 14
Live in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Work corporate lawyer, partner of a law firm in Argentina, Professor of Constitutional Law at several universities and author of a couple of books on the subject
Home clubs: Hurlingham Club, Mar del Plata Golf Club and Golf Club Argentino. Very recently joined Royal Cinque Ports as an overseas member
Other golf related activities: member of the Board of Directors of the Argentine Golf Association, member of the Board of Directors and the Rules Committee of the Mar del Plata Golf Club and member of the Golf Committee of the Hurlingham Club, rules official at both professional and amateur tournaments in Argentina
Favorite courses (in no particular order):
Jockey Club Red
Mar del Plata Golf Club
Sunningdale Old
Royal Cinque Ports
Rye Old
Pebble Beach
Started playing golf when I was 5, my best handicap was 7, I've always been interested in golf course architecture.
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Re:Who Are You Guys(revisited)?
« Reply #179 on: August 26, 2003, 10:48:40 AM »
Quote
Name: Bob Garvelink
Age: 33
Marital Status: Married with 2 children (2 & 5)
Location: Portage MI
Career: Teacher
Education: Western Michigan Univ. & Grand Valley State Univ.
Interests Outside of Golf: traveling, watching sports and fishing
Handicap: 15
Favorite Course: Kingsley Club - hopefully my wife will give me the ok sooner than later :)
I have become a huge fan of golf course architecture and I firmly believe that Northern Michigan is the best hidden gem in the world!
Cheers!
Bob
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Somewhat repetitious, but anyway.
Name: Michael Felton
Age: 37
Just married, no kids yet
Home Club: Walton Heath and Effingham GC, both in Surrey, UK
Handicap: 1
Live in NYC
Career: Actuary
Favourite courses:
US:
Pine Valley
Winged Foot West
Bethpage Black
Winged Foot East
Merion
Bethpage Red
Twisted Dune
Desert Forest, AZ
The Rim, AZ
WeKoPa Saguaro, AZ
Galloway National
UK & Ireland:
Turnberry
Muirfield
TOC
Royal St Georges
Ballybunion Old
Royal Porthcawl
Kingsbarns
Walton Heath Old
Sunningdale Old
Walton Heath New
Royal Cinque Ports
Royal Liverpool
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Michael welcome, just too old to play in Charlie Waud's Wedge team!!
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First post and this was at the top, so I thought I would start here:
Adam Warren
31 years old
Married with 1 child
Reside just outside of Louisville, Ky.
Handicap: 1.2
Job: Financial Analyst for a large Health Insurance Company
Education: BS in Agricultural Economics from University of Kentucky
Current Home course: Henry County Country Club
Background:
In a previous life I was a golf club professional. In the summer during college I would return to my hometown and work at Wasioto Winds and play golf 5-6 days a week. In my first year working there I probably went from about a 15 handicap to 3-4 hdcp. After college I turned pro and worked at Cherry Blossom in Georgetown, Ky. for two different stints and for a year at Maywood in Bardstown, Ky.
After growing tired of the 60 hour weeks with no time for any kind of life, I left the golf business for other ventures. I wound up in my current role and after taking about 3 years away from the game started back last year when I joined HCCC. It's a small semi-private club not far from my house that is easy to get a game so it works great. Due to my background, after about a year there I was asked to run for the board and am currently on it and am a member of the tournament committee and the chairman of the greens committee. For further background into that and part of my interest here, is that we are losing about 150 trees on our course soon due to the chemical Imprellis and will soon be doing some tree/renovation work to replace these trees.
My travels are expanding and I look to see some great courses in the next few years. I'm looking forward to my time here at GCA.
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Adam, welcome. Great to have you here, and make a point to travel to the GCA events.
Hope you all at the Big H have a good transition to the new market. I'm with a regional plan and had a chance to visit your R&D unit 7 years ago. Wow, you all are good.
Best, and don't be shy.
Dave
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Bill Vogeney
Age 52
Handicap 5.9, along with a swing that, while it has improved, was once described as "Furyk on Acid"
Live in Colorado Springs
Job: EVP and Chief Lending Officer at a mid-sized community based financial institution
Home Club: Colorado Springs CC and national member at Prairie Dunes
Favorite courses:
Prairie Dunes
Oakmont (played it 5 times, have family that are members)
Shoreacres
Riviera
Pebble
Olympia Fields South
French Creek
Been playing since I was 15. Worked at a golf course restaurant in high school and college, that's the only way I could have afforded to play back then. I never played a private club until I was probably 22 or 23. Never really thought about golf course architecture until the last 5 or 6 years, thanks to my buddy Clint Squier. Trying to accumulate all of the classic books on GCA when I am not busy tending to my previously out of control Scotty Cameron collection. I have collected clubs since I was a poor college student. Once found a perfectly good vintage Wilson 8802 sticking shaft end out of a garbage can when I was working in a pro shop on weekends after my undergraduate studies.
The French Creek outside of Philly?
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I posted a New Member thread, but I'll put a little more in here.
Name: Amol Yajnik
Age: 33. Married with our first child on the way.
Live in Brookline, MA. Grew up in Columbia, SC.
Home Course: George Wright Golf Course (not a member of any club)
Handicap: 8.8
Occupation: Pediatrician at Boston Children's Hospital
Favorite courses, in no particular order:
We-Ko-Pa Saguaro
Caledonia
Bulls Bay
Dormie Club
Tobacco Road
Punta Espada
I grew up in a neighborhood that had a golf course, but never really played golf when I was a kid. Tiger won the 1997 Masters just before I started college, and I decided to take up the game in the summer of 1998. One of the best things about that is that my dad had given up playing golf when I was born, but then started playing again after I started to play. Now my dad is retired and hooked on the game, he plays 3-4 times per week. When my schedule allows, I can usually play 1-2 times per week. I'm just not in a position to join a club up here right now, but would love to do that sometime in the future. I'm lucky right now because half of my working hours are evenings or overnight hours, so on the flip side I get at least a couple of weekdays off during every week that serve as my time to play golf. I'm looking forward to getting to know more of you as we interact on here.
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Phil Caccamise
Age 35 Married, no kids
BS Drexel University, MS Rutgers University
Commercial credit portfolio manager at a large bank
I grew up mostly in Western New York. I started playing golf in 1986 after seeing Jack win the Masters. Early on, since we didn't have a lot of money and none of my family played I'd take the bus to the courses in the Rochester area that were accessible by public transportation (Genesee Valley, Durand Eastman, etc) then later worked at a few different clubs. I started getting interested in architecture when I was in college and working at Gulph Mills. I noticed a lot of similarities in Main Line courses and other courses in Western NY and the NYC metro area and made it a challenge to play as many new ones for comparison as I could.
Worked on Wall Street for about 10 years before moving to Kentucky to support my wife's obsession (horses.) My home course(s) in NY was Bethpage. Don't have one at the moment here as the course I was a member at went public and don't feel the membership value is there anymore. I run a golf tour which takes up a lot of my golf time anyways.
Some of my favorite courses played: Bethpage Black and Red, Winged Foot West and East, Camargo, Merion, NCR South, Gulph Mills, Manufacturer's, Country Club of Rochester, Country Club of Buffalo, Whirlpool GC
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Name: Carson Pilcher
Age: 42, married with one daughter (4)
Live in Atlanta, GA. Born and raised in Augusta and have lived in San Francisco, Boulder, Aspen and Wichita Falls, TX.
Home Course: Ansley Golf Club/ Settindown Creek
Handicap: 0.0
Occupation: Partner in a Commercial Construction GC. - formerly and airline pilot for Continental Airlines.
Favorite courses, in no particular order (other than the first):
St. Andrews Old Course
Settindown Creek
Cypress Point
Timuquana
Country Club of Columbus (GA)
Cuscowilla (back when the greens used to be fast)
Lookout Mountain
Honors Course
San Francisco Golf Club
Olympic -Lake
Pasatiempo
Certifiable nut on two accounts. I LOVE golf and the Grateful Dead. They do not have to go together, but if I look lost in thought, it's because I am thinking of one or the other.
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Adam,
Your first assignment is to give your committee its proper name.
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Been on GCA a little while but have not posted here
GHIN: 0.5
Residence: Oregon
Home Club: Eugene Country Club
Work: Orthodontist
Favorite Courses that I have played:
Cypress Point Club
Pinehurst #2
Lawsonia Links
Mountain Lake
Bandon Trails, LOL
8)
thank you
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Adam,
Your first assignment is to give your committee its proper name.
What would that be?
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Adam,
Your first assignment is to give your committee its proper name.
What would that be?
Green committee. Are you responsible for keeping the greens up, but letting the rest of the course go to pot?
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Yes, we are only worried about the greens.... ;)
What do you suggest it be called? This was the name when I came in, I didn't really decide the name.
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Adam,
http://www.usga.org/uploadedFiles/News_Headlines/GreenCommittee.pdf
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Bill Crane a k a Wm Flynnfan
Age: 55
Married with two children – a Jr. at Denison, Granville, OH, and a Soph. at Elon, NC
Residence: Princeton, NJ
Home Club: Springdale Golf Club, Princeton NJ, member of Board of Governors, Membership Chair.
Also member of the Outpost Club
Career: Private Wealth Management – Lending, Deutsche Bank – New York City
Education: Bucknell University, the Kent School
GHIN index: 7.2 (Oct 2013)
Favorite Courses:
Springdale {for every day - regular play}
Merion
Pine Valley
Royal Dornoch
Kittansett
Chechessee Creek Club
Yale
North Berwick
Crystal Downs
Eastward Ho
Somerset Hills
Hidden Creek
Brora
Plainfield
Royal Hague (NL)
Round Hill Club
ETC: Established the Springdale GC History and Archives Society with long time friend and fellow GCAer Malcolm McKinnon. With connections to Hugh Wilson, Bill Campbell, Woodrow Wilson, the Battle of Princeton and many other historical figures and events our club has a fascinating and unique history. We were the 6th club in NJ to join the USGA.
Joined the Outpost Club for access to the home clubs incl. Yale and CCC, and to meet other golfers, and enjoy some of the events and associated clubs. Been posting on GCA occasionally for a little over two years, and have been attending GCA events in our area as well.
I am a good networker and feel very fortunate to have been able to play many interesting and special golf courses.
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Ross Harmon
32 years old
Denver, CO
Home Course: Ballyneal
HCP: 14
Married, son 3, daughter 9 months
Hometown: Granger, IN - grew up playing at Knollwood CC. Have several friends who are now members at South Bend CC, so play there often as a guest when back.
Favorite courses played: Ballyneal, Old Macdonald, Teeth of the Dog, Pacific Dunes, Sand Hills, Crooked Stick, Bandon Trails, Blackwolf Run (Original), Yale, Victoria National, Bandon Dunes
Other favorites in Denver area: Colorado Golf Club, Riverdale Dunes, CommonGround, Green Valley Ranch (haven't played Cherry Hills, but have walked it and is also certainly on this list)
School: BS - Purdue, MS - Colorado State
Work: Business development for a business/ IT consulting firm
Fun fact: My wife hit a hole-in-one the first time we played together on the first par 3 on the course, I have not had one (yet)
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Ross,
In college, I was showing a friend how to play poker. We played an open hand of 5 card draw. She drew a royal straight flush (in hearts). It was completely lost on her. I hope your wife's hole in one was not!
Dave
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Adam,
http://www.usga.org/uploadedFiles/News_Headlines/GreenCommittee.pdf
I didn't read the document, but traditionally the course was called the "green" or "fair green". Within the rules of golf "through the green" is defined as the whole golf course except hazards and the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played. What should the Green Committee be called?
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Donal,
The Green Committee should be called the Green Committee. According to Adam, he is chairman of the Greens Committee.
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Donal,
The Green Committee should be called the Green Committee. According to Adam, he is chairman of the Greens Committee.
Garland,
Do go all Mucci on us now ;D :D :)
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Ross,
In college, I was showing a friend how to play poker. We played an open hand of 5 card draw. She drew a royal straight flush (in hearts). It was completely lost on her. I hope your wife's hole in one was not!
Dave
Dave,
I've never met Ross's wife, but I'm willing to bet that the accomplishment wasn't lost on her.
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Donal,
The Green Committee should be called the Green Committee. According to Adam, he is chairman of the Greens Committee.
Many apologies for an offensive term...
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Donal,
The Green Committee should be called the Green Committee. According to Adam, he is chairman of the Greens Committee.
Many apologies for an offensive term...
In the real world you are more likely to offend using "Green Committee." The listener will either think you made a mistake or are in charge of the St. Patrick's Day party.
For super-traditionalists or the pedantic "greens committee" sounds as if you do not know the traditional term or are in charge of salads. When I was chair of the "greens committee" at my old club, I referred to it as the "green committee" here because I did not want to receive a torrent of corrections.
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Sorry to have disrupted the thread so much with this. I thought I would get an immediate recognition of the mistaken nomenclature, and a quick correction.
Since we can't seem to get it right this side of the pond, maybe people should start naming their committees the Course Committee.
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Jan Visser
41 years old
Living in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Home course: Noordwijk
Handicap: 4
Occupation: physicist at national institute for subatomic physics in Amsterdam
Volunteer for Netherlands golf federation as referee and tournament director
Favorite courses
NL: Noordwijk, Haagsche, Kennemer, de Pan, Eindhoven
UK: Royal St George, Rye, Deal, Sunningdale, Crail,
US: Bandon; Pacific, Dunes, Trails
EU: Falkenstein
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Finally, someone who understands the physics involved of how to play hole #10 at Riviera! ;) ;D
Welcome to the discussion, Jan.
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Gentlemen,
I do not know all of you, actually not any of you, so I assume the term is loosely applied!
I have been reading this site for several years, and am recently instated.
Who am I?
I am a retired schoolteacher in the PNW, Olympia WA to be exact.
I started golf when I was 12, a long story, but I grew up in Grand Jct. CO, and played at Lincoln Park for 15 bucks a year!
My current index is about 4.5, and am 65 years old, Medicare, love it.
I winter in AZ, have a small house in the Verrado area, you are all welcome there. Likely, you will find it every bit as good as the higher priced Scottsdale group.
Most of my summer golf is played at Tumwater Valley, a muni in the community of the same name. It is cheap, there are no houses, there are all sorts of flora and fauna, and my friends like it.
All time favorite course played, Pebble, although it is overpriced, Mauna Kea, and several others are close. Favorite course for the money, there are many, but Redlands Mesa is a good start.
I am a west coast guy, so those of you who are east coast, and flash the fancy names, I am envious of the golf, but would not trade for the climate or lifestyle.
I enjoy this website, and hope to meet many of you in person.
I am making my first pilgrimage to Scotland next fall, I will need your advice.
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Hello golf nuts,
Name: Rob Curtiss - Bobby C on the golf course
Location: Tampa, FL
Handicap: 9-10
Age: 43
Married: 21 years - 2 kids- 15 year old daughter, 12 year old son- doesnt play- but is great Baseball player
Occupation: American Express
Started playing in 2007- got hooked- played all other sports my high school years and beyond. Cant do it anymore. Golf became more than just a sport- it is now a passion
Got invited to play the Olympic Club- 3 weeks prior to the U S OPEN in 2012 and have been even more hooked since.
Love the old school courses-especially the hidden gems
In the past 5 years have played 173 different courses in 16 different states. 122 public/51 private
Favorite courses played - Oak hill east-3 weeks after the PGA, Olympic - Lake course, Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Pasatiempo, Inverness, Monterey Peninsula-Shore course, Lookout Mountain
I love meeting new people and playing with anyone interested in the sport. I think about the design aspect more and more eveytime I play. Love the old school courses with Character..Unfortunately , not a lot in florida.
Love Donald Ross- Salem CC, Sara Bay, Timuquana, Lake Wales CC, Inverness, Oak HIll, etc.
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It appears this thread has been dormant for a while, but as a new member this week, I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce myself.
Jon Adkins
33 years old
Chicago, IL
Handicap: 6.5
Home course: I play all over the Chicagoland area, but keep my index at Harborside International
Hometown: Carmel, IN (just north of Indianapolis)
Favorite courses played: Kiawah Island Ocean Course, Crooked Stick GC, Wolf Run GC, Flossmoor CC, Calumet CC (former member), Midlothian CC, The Fort GC, Purgatory GC
School: BS - College of Charleston, MBA - Butler University
Work: Web Communications Director for a trade association in the Chicago suburbs
Hobbies (other than golf, which is an obsession): Live music, craft beer, food/cooking, travel, and reading about all of the above
I've been reading GCA.com for few years and really enjoy the site. I look forward to participating in the discussion forum and hopefully linking up with members in the Chicago area and elsewhere for some golf in the future.
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Jon, haven't you played Beverly? It's better than all but one of your favorites.
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John,
No, I haven't played Beverly, but have heard great things. One of these days, perhaps!
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John,
No, I haven't played Beverly, but have heard great things. One of these days, perhaps!
Welcome, Jon.
If you didn't see it already, there's actually a GCA outing at Beverly on July 8 if you're free. There's also another at Black Sheep on June 25. Following is info on both:
Beverly: July 8 -- http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58517.0.html (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58517.0.html)
Black Sheep: June 25 -- http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58469.0.html (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58469.0.html)
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I missed this thread too, so here goes:
Name: Jon Cavalier
Age: 35
Hometown: Philadelpha, PA
Index: 5-6
Status: Married, no kids, two chocolate labs (one is 13 years old, one is 8 months)
Profession: Attorney (labor and employment litigation)
Home course: Frequently travel, so I play all over, but I'm currently a member at DuPont CC
Some Favorite Courses Played (no particular order):
Merion
Oakmont
Maidstone
Yale
Sleepy Hollow
Fox Chapel
Creek Club
Piping Rock
Greenbrier Old White
Mountain Lake
Elkridge Club
Lancaster CC
St. George's
Favorite Architects: CB Macdonald / Seth Raynor, William Flynn, Coore & Crenshaw, Tom Doak
Current Goals:
1. Play all CB Macdonald / Seth Raynor courses
2. Reach 500 total courses played by the end of next year and 2000 total lifetime (currently 373)
3. Play golf in all 50 states (currently 23)
4. Play Bandon Dunes
5. Find two weeks to go to Scotland
6. Play NGLA
Played my first round of golf at Hartefeld National in 2000 - shot 126, was hooked immediately and it's only gotten worse since. I typically play north of 100 rounds a year and should therefore be better than I am. I'm a huge fan of classic golf courses and newly designed "minimalist" courses. Absolutely love playing new golf courses. Really enjoy meeting and playing with new people who love the game of golf.
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...
Played my first round of golf at Hartefeld National in 2000 - shot 126, was hooked immediately and it's only gotten worse since. ...
You mean to tell me that you shot 126, didn't play 15 inch cups, AND were still hooked immediately?
I guess you don't know Jack (Nicklaus). ;)
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...
Played my first round of golf at Hartefeld National in 2000 - shot 126, was hooked immediately and it's only gotten worse since. ...
You mean to tell me that you shot 126, didn't play 15 inch cups, AND were still hooked immediately?
I guess you don't know Jack (Nicklaus). ;)
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."
"Avoid the clap."
Two fine pieces of wisdom from Jimmy Dugan
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Name: Mark Pavy
Age: 44
Hometown: Erina, NSW, Australia
HCP: Member PGA of Australia
Status: Married, 2 "tin lids" (8 and 11 yrs old)
Profession: Company Director and Executive Producer (iViewGolf)
Home Course: Home, the 9 Par 3 holes in my backyard!
Favourite Golf Courses:
Any course where the management, pro-shop staff and greenkeepers share the passion and presentation of their golf course.
Most Influential Year in Golf:
'86
The loudest yell I've ever heard:
The collective sound of an entire nation when Scotty held the putt on 18, 2013 Masters.
I enjoy:
GCA
Looking at Golf Club Honour Boards- past champions, junior champions, course records etc
Discussing course architecture over a few pints.
Discussing various publications of "Top 100" lists.
Reading and learning about any facet of golf.
Meeting golfers with the same passion for golf and course architecture.
Discussing how to increase participation rates.
Pet Peeves:
Blue or dark coloured flags on woodland golf courses.
Poor tee box design, presentation and maintenance- Par 3s tees without enough dedicated area, any tee box that doesn't drain back to front slightly, any course that allows untrained staff to align and position tee markers.
Current Goals:
To showcase the beauty of golf courses using modern 3D technology.
Increase all level of players ability to visualise a golf shot on a mass scale.
Introduce non-golfers to our great game.
Form affiliations with industry bodies that work towards the administration, success and growth of golf.
Get my game back to where it was pre kids!
I really admire any man or woman who dedicates themselves to the game and wish to pay my respect and admiration to those who founded, contributed and made what GCA is today.
I look forward to contributing.
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Mark, great to have another Aussie on the board. The 3-d aspect seems very interesting, and frankly, I'm surprised it hasn't taken hold and used more often by entities presenting marketing of golf courses. Even the 3-D conversion features add to viewing enjoyment, and one gets a better sense of slope and contours to appreciate the architecture, it seems to me.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
Do you know any of our fellow GCA Aussie contributers?
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Name: Mark Pavy
Age: 44
Hometown: Erina, NSW, Australia
HCP: Member PGA of Australia
Status: Married, 2 "tin lids" (8 and 11 yrs old)
Profession: Company Director and Executive Producer (iViewGolf)
Home Course: Home, the 9 Par 3 holes in my backyard!
Favourite Golf Courses:
Any course where the management, pro-shop staff and greenkeepers share the passion and presentation of their golf course.
Most Influential Year in Golf:
'86
The loudest yell I've ever heard:
The collective sound of an entire nation when Scotty held the putt on 18, 2013 Masters.
I enjoy:
GCA
Looking at Golf Club Honour Boards- past champions, junior champions, course records etc
Discussing course architecture over a few pints.
Discussing various publications of "Top 100" lists.
Reading and learning about any facet of golf.
Meeting golfers with the same passion for golf and course architecture.
Discussing how to increase participation rates.
Pet Peeves:
Blue or dark coloured flags on woodland golf courses.
Poor tee box design, presentation and maintenance- Par 3s tees without enough dedicated area, any tee box that doesn't drain back to front slightly, any course that allows untrained staff to align and position tee markers.
Current Goals:
To showcase the beauty of golf courses using modern 3D technology.
Increase all level of players ability to visualise a golf shot on a mass scale.
Introduce non-golfers to our great game.
Form affiliations with industry bodies that work towards the administration, success and growth of golf.
Get my game back to where it was pre kids!
I really admire any man or woman who dedicates themselves to the game and wish to pay my respect and admiration to those who founded, contributed and made what GCA is today.
I look forward to contributing.
Can't believe nobody commented on the fact you have your own course! That is awesome!
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RJ, I do recognise many of the names on GCA, but unfortunately, haven't had the pleasure of meeting as many as I would like.
Nigel, the best part of having a course in your backyard, besides the fact I can go belt a ball at my leisure, is the therapy that sitting on a 5 reel Jacobsen fairway mower provides- fantastic to clear your mind and stress relief!
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Hi guys, just came across this thread; apologies for littering the board with my own intro a while back.
Hometown- Raleigh, NC
Currently resides- Chicago, IL
Favorite courses outside Chicago, in no particular order, played more than once with own ball- Chapel Hill (NC) CC, Greensboro (NC) CC in-town, The Kahkwa Club (Erie, PA), Mid Ocean Club (Bermuda), Yale
Course that took me completely by surprise- Omaha (NE) CC, because of the course terrain
Questions that keep me up at night:
"How many of the Chicagoland DJR courses did he personally visit?"
"Who makes those leather chairs at Royal St George's?
Best, Jason
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I'm a new member too. Many thanks to Ran for the invite.
Reside: Winter Park and Miami, FL
Age: 41
Family: Wife Laura, son Christian (4)
Home Club: Indian Creek (Flynn 1928)
Handicap: 0.1
Favorite Courses Played: Indian Creek, Merion, Pine Valley, Chicago GC, Los Angeles (North), NGLA, Mid Ocean, Shinnecock, Peachtree, Old Town, Lookout Mountain, Winged Foot (both), Sebonack and last, but not least, my home course for 4 years in college, Springdale (Princeton, NJ), a "partial" Flynn.
Top of List to Play: Cypress, Augusta, San Francisco, Pasatiempo, Newport, Milwaukee, Creek Club, Bel-Air
Coolest Story: (1) My grandfather's college teammate and amateur golf travel companion at Princeton (1926-1930) was Gene Homans, who fell to Bobby Jones in finals at Merion (my grandfather's home course) in 1930.
Thanks to you all for the fun discussion on the board.
Rob
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Rob,
Welcome....thought you should know that your home course has already produced some special GCA history. In early 2013, Golf's (once) Most Beloved went down in flames in a nasty 18-hole hickories match with yours truly.
He's never really gotten over it and has since been retitled: Golf's Most Bitter. I strongly suggest you avoid reminding him of his last visit onto the Island. Let a decade or so go by before you offer to host him.....the memories will likely produce nightmares for years to come. ;D ;D
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I'm a relatively new member here. In the past 18 months my interest in GCA has become somewhat of an obsession thanks to the books fo Brad Klein and the great Dr.
Reside: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 29
Family: Married no kids, but I do have a very cute Bernese Mountain Dog puppy named Nora
Home Club: Commonwealth (Lane, Bennett 1927)
Handicap: 9.3
Favorite Courses Played: Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Barnbougle Dunes, Port Fairy Golf Links, RACV Healsville, Peninsula Kingswood CC (North course), Victoria GC, St. Andrews Beach, and the Frankston 'Millionaries' Golf Club .
Top of List to Play: Cypress, Augusta, NGLA, Cape Kidnappers, Cruden Bay, Sunningdale (old), Monfortaine, Shinnecock Hills, Riveria, Pasatiempo, Cabot cliffs, Sand Hills.
Something I'd like to see golf clubs do better - Course fixtures and furnishings to recapture some golden age class - Cheeseborough know the score!
If you're ever in Melbourne AUS, shoot me a private message so that we might oragnise a game.
Cheers,
Luke.
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I thought it would be best to introduce myself by adding my background here rather than start a whole new thread.
Name: Mark Jackson
Age: 33
Family: Married and have a 3-year-old son (and son #2 due at the end of September).
Background: Born and raised in the Dayton, Ohio area. Attended college at Ohio Wesleyan University and law school in Cleveland at Case Western Reserve. After school, I moved back to the Dayton area for a few years and worked in Middletown. My wife is from the Cleveland area and she wanted to move back to be closer to her family. A good work opportunity materialized about four years ago, so we returned to Northeast Ohio. (I always seem to regret that decision every winter when friends in the southern part of the state have been playing for at least a month before I even get a chance to think about touching a club. At least Lebron is back, though…)
Current residence: Brecksville, Ohio
Home club: Mayfield Sand Ridge Club
Handicap index: 5.7 (I have no semblance of a short game, which I primarily blame on taking a 3-year break from playing after college and a general disinterest in practice – I would much rather spend my time away from work with family/friends or on the course actually playing).
Occupation: Attorney
Some of the most enjoyable courses that I have played: Pebble, Pine Valley, Pinehurst #2, Bandon Trails, Riviera, Muirfield Village.
I look forward to participating on the discussion board.
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Welcome to the asylum, Mark! Always good to add to the Northeast Ohio contingent, especially a man with a low handicap and a great home club. However, I notice Firestone South is missing from the list of courses you have most enjoyed... ;)
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Just now discovered the introductory thread. Reckon I should do that.
Name: Garth Strohbehn
Age: 28
Background: From the middle of Iowa and grew up playing the Iowa State University course, Veenker. Moved to Iowa City for undergraduate and let golf slip by the wayside temporarily. Rediscovered my love for the game in Cambridge in 08-09. Nominally, it was a year of graduate study but it truly was spent drinking beer and playing golf with the (victorious) Cambridge side. What a stroke of unbelievably good fortune that was. I recently graduated from medical school at Yale and just began internal medicine residency at Michigan. I'm not going to say I chose my med school and residency program solely because of the golf, but it certainly was a large factor.
Hometown: Gilbert, IA -- if anyone knows there this is without looking at a map, drinks are on me.
Current residence: Ann Arbor, MI
Home club: UM Golf Course/Radrick Farms
Handicap index: 3
Occupation: Medical resident -- not at all like television, much to my chagrin
If I had five rounds left to play (and I couldn't play Rye five times over): Rye, Deal (with a stiff wind), Worlington, Merion, and Yale
Courses I'd most like to play: Prairie Dunes, Sand Hills, the National
I look forward to contributing to discussions and learning from you gentlemen. And hopefully discovering a game or two!
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Since I never properly introduced myself, here goes- I joined GCA early this year after being a visitor for several years. I have already been to three GCA events and have met many of you great gents .
Lyndell Young, Greenville S.C. Owner Pebble Creek CC Hcp 8
54 years old
Married three children 21,20,18 two boys and a girl and there are all in college!
I've been in the golf business for 25 years as an owner and before that worked for family in the golf business.
I love Classic golf courses and I enjoy playing great golf designs
some of my favorites are Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, ,Royal Dornoch, Sandhills, Seminole ,Wade Hampton, Honors Club, Dismal (both) Dormie, Chechessee, May River ,Bulls Bay, Caledonia. Hopefully I can add to that list since I'm now a empty nester!
I look forward to meeting and playing golf with some mutual golf design oficionados here on GCA
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Hometown: Gilbert, IA -- if anyone knows there this is without looking at a map, drinks are on me.
Garth - you owe me. I grew up in Des Moines with relatives in the Radcliffe/Hubbard area.
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LY, it was a pleasure to meet and chat with you at the 5th Major. I hope we have a chance to enjoy a round some time. But man, I figured you for early 40s! ::) ;D
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Just now discovered the introductory thread. Reckon I should do that.
Name: Garth Strohbehn
Age: 28
Background: From the middle of Iowa and grew up playing the Iowa State University course, Veenker. Moved to Iowa City for undergraduate and let golf slip by the wayside temporarily. Rediscovered my love for the game in Cambridge in 08-09. Nominally, it was a year of graduate study but it truly was spent drinking beer and playing golf with the (victorious) Cambridge side. What a stroke of unbelievably good fortune that was. I recently graduated from medical school at Yale and just began internal medicine residency at Michigan. I'm not going to say I chose my med school and residency program solely because of the golf, but it certainly was a large factor.
Hometown: Gilbert, IA -- if anyone knows there this is without looking at a map, drinks are on me.
Current residence: Ann Arbor, MI
Home club: UM Golf Course/Radrick Farms
Handicap index: 3
Occupation: Medical resident -- not at all like television, much to my chagrin
If I had five rounds left to play (and I couldn't play Rye five times over): Rye, Deal (with a stiff wind), Worlington, Merion, and Yale
Courses I'd most like to play: Prairie Dunes, Sand Hills, the National
I look forward to contributing to discussions and learning from you gentlemen. And hopefully discovering a game or two!
Garth-
Gilbert has become the Grosse Pointe of Story County hasn't it? Since you grew up playing Venkeer I won't hold your years on the dark side against you.
I would definitely like to pick your brain as your path follows the one I have drawn up for my 12 year old son almost to a tee, obviously I have higher hopes for him than the University of Iowa for undergrad and my plan involves using a portion of his 529 to rent a flat in St Andrews for a semester abroad with me as his roommate but I could be convinced to let him go to Cambridge.
Jason and I will meet you more than halfway and you can buy the drinks at Kingsley.
Buck
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Residence: Philadelphia
Hometown: Cincinnati
Age: 26
Family: Wife Sara
Education: Eastern Kentucky University - BAA, Marketing with PGA Golf Management option
Current work: PGA Professional at PGA Magazine
Past work: Malone, Camargo, Meridian Hills, PGA of America, Timber Trails / Lake Naomi, Maketewah, Miami View
Favorite Courses Played: Bethpage (Black), Camargo, Somerset Hills, Huntingdon Valley
Top of List to Play: Pine Valley, Merion, Fishers Island, Oakmont, National Golf Links of America, Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon), Bandon Dunes (All!)
Started golfing: June 26, 2002, the week after the U.S. Open
While I haven't had many opportunities to play a ton of highly-regarded courses, I love to learn about golf course architecture and what goes into a great hole and/or course design. I'm looking to bolster my "courses played" resume.
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my plan involves using a portion of his 529 to rent a flat in St Andrews for a semester abroad with me as his roommate but I could be convinced to let him go to Cambridge.
I spent a semester abroad in St Andrews--smartest thing I've ever done. I think a lot of fathers had similar ambitions for their sons and daughters as well. Hell, just send him there for all 4 years ;D
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Thanks for that RJ! Ballyhack?
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While I haven't had many opportunities to play a ton of highly-regarded courses, I love to learn about golf course architecture and what goes into a great hole and/or course design. I'm looking to bolster my "courses played" resume.
Matt-Sort of like American Express being a PGA member has it's privileges. ;)
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Jon Wall
26
English (Berkshire/Oxon)
Living in Hong Kong
Golf Course Superintendent
I consider myself extremely fortunate to have seen much of the best that golf has to offer so far in my short career. Although slightly unfortunate in the sense that 'visiting' some of the best courses in the world falls a long way short of 'playing'.
Despite this I have managed to play at some fantastic courses and through participation here hope to motivate myself to expand my experiences.
Top 5 Courses 'played':
Himalayan Golf Course
Askernish
Pacific Dunes
Pasatiempo
Pebble Beach
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Hello everyone. Ran gave me the opportunity to join the forum, so I thought it best to introduce myself here.
Name: Joe Zucker
Age: 26
Background: I grew up in Cleveland, OH where I've had the opportunity to play pretty much all of the good courses in the area through junior golf and working at the local country club through school. I left Cleveland to go to graduate school in Milwaukee at Marquette University and lived there for three years before moving down to Chicago for a job. As great as Chicago can be, these are the days I wish I lived a little further south.
Current residence: Evanston, IL
Occupation: Marketing Analyst
I recently made my first trip to Scotland and that has sparked a deeper interest in architecture. Some of my favorite courses that I have played on this side of the ocean are Bethpage Black, The Scarlet Course at OSU, Banff Springs, Muirfield Village, Whistling Straits, and Canterbury CC.
I'm looking forward to participating in the discussions I have been watching for the last few months.
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Seeing this made me realize I never made a proper introduction...
Daniel Jones
34
Ocala, Florida
Grew up around the golf business and had my first club at age 2. My grandfather was a club pro at Golden Hills CC and Ocala Golf Club.
5 favorite courses played: Ocala Golf Club (home course bias), Pebble Beach, The Farm, Pinehurst #2, Streamsong Red.
Perhaps the only living person that worked golf, the Florida Gators, and Entenmann's Chocolate Donuts into his wedding vows.
I look forward to quenching my thirst for knowledge of golf course architecture here and finally taking part in the discussions that I've followed for a few years now.
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Name: Drew Farron
Age: 55
Residence:Danville, CA
Hometown: Southfield, MI
Family: Single, two daughters 23 and 19, 2 grandsons 4 and 1
Home Course:Blackhawk CC, Danville, CA
Occupation:Teaching pro
Background: Born and raised in Southfield, MI, played college hockey at Bowling Green. Took up golf between my junior and senior years and decided to be a club pro. Worked my way up the club pro ranks then decided to dedicate myself to fitting and teaching.
I am a golf junkie, like equipment, courses and everything involved with the game. Got on the architecture kick 20 years ago when I made friends with a guy who was into it, moved to No Cal this year partially because of the abundance of great courses.
Favorite courses in No Cal:Cypress, Pebble, Menlo, Cal Club, Pasatiempo and Meadow Club
Favorite courses outside No Cal:Chicago Golf Club, Muirfield, North Berwick, Prarie Dunes, Shinnecock
Courses I Most Want to Play:Seminole, Crystal Downs, LACC, Merion, Royal Melbourne
Glad to see a fair amount of Cleveland guys on here, just moved from there in June!
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Name: Drew Farron
Age: 55
Residence:San Jose, CA
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Family: Single, two daughters 23 and 19, 2 grandsons 4 and 1
Home Course:Blackhawk CC, Danville, CA
Occupation:Teaching pro
Background: Born and raised in Southfield, MI, played college hockey at Bowling Green. Took up golf between my junior and senior years and decided to be a club pro. Worked my way up the club pro ranks then decided to dedicate myself to fitting and teaching.
I am a golf junkie, like equipment, courses and everything involved with the game. Got on the architecture kick 20 years ago when I made friends with a guy who was into it, moved to No Cal this year partially because of the abundance of great courses.
Favorite courses in No Cal:Cypress, Pebble, Cal Club, Pasatiempo and Meadow Club
Favorite courses outside No Cal:Chicago Golf Club, Muirfield, North Berwick, Prarie Dunes, Shinnecock
Courses I Most Want to Play:Seminole, Crystal Downs, LACC, Merion, Royal Melbourne
Glad to see a fair amount of Cleveland guys on here, just moved from there in June!
Bowling Green NCAA Hockey Champs 1984! They still advertise this. Attended many BG games, nice arena. Welcome aboard.
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Name: Nick Spears
Residence: Rochelle, IL
Age: 34
Married, 2 boys
Occupation: City Street Department
Born and raised in northern Illinois. 60 miles west of Chicago in the middle of cornfields on a farm. Started golfing at age 8 on a 9 hole track where my mom worked. They made kids where hard hats while on the course! It wasn't until the '99 PGA at Medinah til I started loving "the course". My home town was a few miles from Rich Harvest Farms and I would find ways to drive by just to catch a glimpse of a fairway or green. In '07 I played RHF and Medinah and I thought there was nothing better than tree lined fairways and tall rough. After years searching out courses like those for buddies trips, I decided in 2011 to try The Prairie Club in Nebraska. Game changer! To this day the Dunes course is the most fun course I've played. Trying to play as many top 100 public courses as I can. Not someone with connections so my ability to comment or debate with most of you on the top tracks around the world will be slim to none.
Top 5 played: Straits, Kiawah Ocean, Medinah, Streamsong, Sawgrass.
Top 5 wish: Chicago, Sand Hills, Cypress, Augusta, Pine Valley
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Welcome Nick to another public employee. I hope you can fulfill some of your wish list. But don't forget there are many courses within a days drive of you that have lots of interesting architecture and won't cost you a paycheck to play. And, if you get back to the Sand Hills, don't overlook Wild Horse and Bayside for plenty of sand hill flavor and fun.
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Since I don’t post much and mostly read as a winter activity, I thought George’s alphabetical index of this thread to be incredibly helpful to remind us geezers about the personalities of the posters. With so many new folks, I wish that index would be updated. It seemed to me a herculean task when he did so, so I’m grateful for his effort and think he has done enough. However, I ask if there is a way that an alphabetical index could be created that we could update ourselves as we post, update, or edit our own information? I know I should go back and edit my own so I don’t sound like such a moron. But that moron wrote it, probably after his third scotch, so I let it stand as fair warning to pay no attention to what I say.
I don't get out much. I attended just one cga.com outing. I encourage all the new guys and gals to do that. Despite the fact that a few of our discussions sometimes get out of hand and get into shouting matches, I've never met a better random collection of golfers. We may be nutcases, but at least we are interesting. And there are many here who really know what they are talking about. I've really learned a lot from many here.
And, BTW, I learned long ago to shut up after my third scotch. Hell, I'm asleep after one nowdays.
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The alphabetical list is on this thread
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45175.0.html
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Thanks Pete. Stupid me. When it comes up, I only go back so far as last read. I bookmark it in my favorites. That one is only three pages long when I open it or about as long as my attention span. I once read all of the "who are you guys" threads in one all night session and came to begging for whisky. My kids asked me to quit drinking. I did for awhile and am now a moderate.
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Sorry, I didn't click on the link. Yeah, that's the one that I bookmarked. Very useful. I guess that means nobody believes my previous attempts at humor. About being a moderate. OK, here's the truth: I'm institutionalized in a secret government facility for criminally insane alcoholics and fed a steady diet of 151 proof grain alcohol to research how much cognitive damage can occur before death. I play all my golf on video games. ;D
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Since I never introduced myself to this board I thought the reappearance of this thread would serve to suffice.
Name: Charlie Ray
Age: 34
Location: Central Louisiana
Occupation: Roman Catholic Priest
I became interested in Golf Course Architecture from the moment I played my first round at 15. The course I played looked nothing like Augusta National and I wondered why. I did not start playing in earnest till I got to LSU in Baton Rouge as a naïve freshman. The campus course had recently been renovated. It had 9 original holes from the 30’s and 9 brand new holes. I thoroughly enjoyed the older ones, but when I expressed my favoritism to others I was looked at as odd. Why like the old more than the new. Over the next few years I gravitated to the older courses in and around Baton Rouge.
One particular Saturday morning I was playing with my girlfriend’s dad at the Bluff’s Country Club. An Palmer design. It was at the time rated as the #1 course in the state. On the 14th green I said something to the effect of, “Doc, (Gf’s dad) I would rather play Webb Memorial Park (1924 Baxter Spann design; municipal course)” He looked at me like I was crazy, “why would you rather play that municipal course than the finest course in Louisiana,” he asked.
“Because it’s more fun”
We never played again, although I continued to date his daughter for a couple of years.
I eventually found this website in 2003. And have been stalking the board ever since.
I studied six years in Columbus, OH at the Pontifical College Josephinum. I was fortunate to play 3 of the ‘big 4’ in town and found myself disliking Murfield Village. I played the majority of my rounds at Champions Golf Course (the old Jewish club turned municipal)
I am now on permanent assignment in Central Louisiana. There are 4 courses within an hour’s drive (this area, and Louisiana itself has very little quality and quantity of courses), but I play the majority of my rounds at Alexandria Golf and Country Club (1945 rumored, but not true to be a Press Maxwell routing). Nearby is Links on the Bayou; a course built in the early 2000’s that I walked on numerous occasions while it was being shaped ( it is a Mike Young design; although I have wanted to ask for years why he doesn’t list it on his website) and found it the idea of playing in the dirt fascinating. Glad to be on board.
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Sorry, I didn't click on the link. Yeah, that's the one that I bookmarked. Very useful. I guess that means nobody believes my previous attempts at humor. About being a moderate. OK, here's the truth: I'm institutionalized in a secret government facility for criminally insane alcoholics and fed a steady diet of 151 proof grain alcohol to research how much cognitive damage can occur before death. I play all my golf on video games. ;D
I hope they don't serve tilapia with every meal :)
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Welcome Fr. Ray !!!
I suspect you may be the first Catholic priest on the discussion board, but I could be wrong. ???
I'm sure you already know that there are many locations around the world that are in need of young priests; many of them just happen to have great great golf courses too. ;)
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Father Ray,
Welcome to this temple!
There can be fewer better places for contemplation than the golf course!
Cheers Colin
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Fr. Ray, it is a pity we lost John "Tiger" Bernhardt from Baton Rouge. A golf play date with you two might have led to some great stories. Or, perhaps you knew him?
I have to ask, LSU or Notre Dame? Or, is it possible to balance both?
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Thanks for the kind welcome. I have searched 'Tiger's' past post and follow his leads when discerning amongst our mediocre courses in Louisiana. How could I cheer for Notre Dame. There isn't much that is truly Catholic about the school besides superficial things. And yes I have sat in on some Philosophy and Theology courses there. When teens come to me and say they desire to attend a Catholic University; Notre Dame is way down the list. Thus go Tigers! (maybe Michigan will take Miles off our hands; it does cross my mind to pray for this often)
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Welcome Father from another newbie. I do not feel sorry for you in the least having Miles as your coach......could be like my alma mater and have Tim Beckman at the helm.
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Welcome Ray. It will be nice not to be the only clergy person on the site. I am a retired Lutheran pastor.
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Now you guys had to go and ruin a perfectly nice thread by mentioning Tim Beckman.
I am going to sit down and be grumpy now.
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Thanks for the kind welcome. I have searched 'Tiger's' past post and follow his leads when discerning amongst our mediocre courses in Louisiana. How could I cheer for Notre Dame. There isn't much that is truly Catholic about the school besides superficial things. And yes I have sat in on some Philosophy and Theology courses there. When teens come to me and say they desire to attend a Catholic University; Notre Dame is way down the list. Thus go Tigers! (maybe Michigan will take Miles off our hands; it does cross my mind to pray for this often)
Tiger was my best golf buddy ever, was fortunate to play with him a lot here and in the UK. He is really missed. One thing he did to balance his twin addictions to golf and LSU football was to play the best course in a host city before going to the game. I remember him playing Sahalee before a Washington Husky game, and Peachtree before a UGA game, etc. One of my regrets is never playing his Dick Wilson home course, Oakbourne, with him.
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- Name: Chris Pearson
- Residence: Austin, TX
- Hometown: Louisville, KY
- Age: 33
- Family: Engaged with a baby girl due in February 2015
- Occupation: Software architect (with a focus on website development and design)
I started playing the game in the early 90s after my stepdad, a fairly avid golfer himself, bought me a set of junior sticks (Bullet—remember those?). From 1997 to 1999, I spent my summers in the caddy program at Valhalla, and that's really where I discovered the social component of golf that so many of us here find so enjoyable.
Off to college (Georgia Tech) in the fall of 1999, I took up the game a bit more seriously and even made a couple of trips over to Augusta to see the Masters. Despite playing club golf for school and going out 2–3 times per week, I was still mostly focused on maximum distance and low scores. Architecture was not on my radar, and I viewed courses through the very narrow lenses of conditioning, prestige, and exclusivity.
Upon graduation in 2003, I quit playing golf entirely in order to "be a responsible adult" and get my start in business. After 11 years away, I returned to the game in May of 2014 and went on what I consider to be a fairly epic golf binge for a non-retired person.
Since May 28, I've played roughly 95 times, and I hit balls and/or putted on most of the days I didn't play. I literally didn't work a minute for 6 months. (Despite this manic obsession, I've only managed to get my handicap down to around 6, which is pretty much where I was when I stopped playing in 2003.)
Regardless, I've had the architecture bug since August, and at this point, I'm all-in on playing every noteworthy course I can. Thanks to a couple of early connections on here, I've already gained a few notches in the belt, and I love the fact that this forum is more or less the key to a ton of courses that would've only been pipe dreams before.
In the future, I hope to catch a game with as many of you as possible, and if you're ever in the central Texas area, don't hesitate to shoot me a PM!
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Chris, where are you playing in Austin?
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Bill, I typically play Mo Willy and Roy Kizer, but I try to work in as many other local courses as possible via GolfNow or connections. Even including the private courses (which are mostly just Nicklaus and Fazio anyway, and not their best work, IMO), Austin has a bit of a paucity of solid architecture. Sure, Crenshaw is a local, but he's only worked on a few tracks, and one Austin Golf Club doesn't make up for dozens of highly penal, canyons/mesquite/cedar/rocky routings.
Most of the "good" courses around here look very much the same and also play similarly (straight or else). I'll take Mo Willy and Kizer just about every time, though I wish I could make about half the patrons disappear. All in all, golf in Austin mostly lacks that "wow" factor. San Antonio has a few courses that crush anything we have here, but it stinks to drive an hour and a half just to get my architectural thrill on.
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Bill, I typically play Mo Willy and Roy Kizer, but I try to work in as many other local courses as possible via GolfNow or connections. Even including the private courses (which are mostly just Nicklaus and Fazio anyway, and not their best work, IMO), Austin has a bit of a paucity of solid architecture. Sure, Crenshaw is a local, but he's only worked on a few tracks, and one Austin Golf Club doesn't make up for dozens of highly penal, canyons/mesquite/cedar/rocky routings.
Most of the "good" courses around here look very much the same and also play similarly (straight or else). I'll take Mo Willy and Kizer just about every time, though I wish I could make about half the patrons disappear. All in all, golf in Austin mostly lacks that "wow" factor. San Antonio has a few courses that crush anything we have here, but it stinks to drive an hour and a half just to get my architectural thrill on.
What's going on at Lyons? I really liked that course but I hear it's going under the knife for Longhorn U.
Austin Golf Club is interesting, very low key, no stand out holes but really good when you finish.
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Bill, Lions is still one of the most popular courses in Texas, but it'll be NLE in 2019. UT can generate a lot more revenue (and supposedly-needed housing) from that acreage, so the course is doomed.
In 2008, Coore & Crenshaw and at least one other design firm submitted proposals to turn Lions into a premier daily-fee course. The plans I saw included a massively-reworked, 7,100-yd routing with holes spread across Lake Austin Blvd. all the way to Town Lake. These plans were ultimately rejected by UT because the economics of a golf course simply don't make sense in such a coveted area.
I find this to be a damn shame, too, because the gently rolling terrain on that course coupled with the awesome views of Westlake hills makes for an exciting golf experience.
As it stands now, though, I absolutely hate the Lions layout and never play it, despite the fact that I live less than a minute away. Conditioning is usually poor, too, due to the 85k+ annual rounds the course receives.
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Also created a new member thread a few weeks ago…..
Age: 32
Hometown: Taylorville, IL
Currently Reside: Crown Point, IN
Occupation: Pharmacist
Family: Wife, 2 kids (2yo, 6mo), and a golden retriever who also thinks he’s a kid
Home Club: None at the moment
Background: Grew up in Taylorville (as a previous poster wrote – if you know where that is without looking at a map I’ll buy you a beer) working at the local golf course as soon as I was of age. Played high school golf but was in no way good enough to continue to play competitively. Went to undergrad at U of I in Champaign – thank God basketball season is upon us - and pharmacy school at Midwestern U in Downers Grove.
Hdcp: ~ 9
Favorite Courses Played: Kapalua Plantation, OFCC North, Evanston Golf Club, Cog Hill, Weaver Ridge
Wish List: To play more!
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bumping for new board members to introduce themselves
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Name: Mark Greer
From: Oak Ridge, TN
Email: greerod@comcast.net
Age: 53
Occupation: Optometrist
Club: Oak Ridge CC
Index: 2.4
Married for 25 years with a 22 year old son (who won our club championship as an 18 year old) and a 17 year old daughter
I grew up in Richwood, WV and played golf at WVU back in the day. Made all conference my last year. And I've won 5 club championships at 3 different clubs. But I suck these days. Can't hit it out of my shadow. I'm most proud that my son and I are the only father and son to have won a club championship over the 78 year history of ORCC. I love to play golf. My favorite course is Pikewood National. But I love old courses and classic architecture. The Old White in WV is also one of my favorites. I became interested in golf course architecture at about 16 years old when I drew up plans to add 9 holes on to the 9 holer I grew up playing on. It's still a 9 holer. I love to read about golf courses and architecture. I'm always looking at The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses and just read Anatomy of a Golf Course. I've developed a man-crush on Tom Doak. :) I've played a lot of the great courses in the US and Canada. Never played in Scotland and Ireland but certainly plan to one day. Some of the best times in my life have been traveling and playing with my son. We've played some great ones together...Pebble, Olympic, Pasatiempo, Congressional, Honors, Kinloch, Cascades....nothing I'd rather do than play golf with my son. Anyway, I appreciate being here.
(https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10577021_682837545133789_3753689585200087636_n.jpg?oh=95cbc0075394f88378f6406a03c91177&oe=5564ED15)
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2.4 Index? Wish I could suck that bad Mark!
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Mark,
I believe you have violated the logo guidelines of the web site. Please search for the latest statement on logos, and make a move towards the GolfClubAtlas logo.
;D
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I haven't posted in here yet. I've shared enough about myself over the course of the threads so I'll keep this brief:
Name: Brian Colbert
Place of Residence: Chicago, IL
Age: 24
Occupation: M&A Consultant
Handicap: +2.7
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This is my first post on GCA, nerve wracking:
Age: 50
Hometown: Akron, Ohio
Currently Reside: Chicago, Illinois
Occupation: Originally an Architect (of buildings, not golf courses unfortunately), now work for a Canadian modular wall manufacturer that uses 3D software. Fun.
Family: Wife and 15 yo. daughter
Home Club: None
Background: First introduced to golf as a teenager, caddying at the local private course in Akron, Portage Country Club. Did it for the money at first (one decent loop on a Saturday and I could buy all the baseball cards my heart desired!) but grew to love the game being around it so much and hacking at the turf myself. Didn’t golf much through college and beyond and only picked the sticks back up in earnest about 4-5 years ago. Love course architecture more and more each day. Finding this site 7-8 years ago was a revelation and when Ran accepted me back in December I was over the moon! I read as much as I can on course histories and design theory and give it a go myself designing courses with 3D software (APCD). Love the visualization aspects of that, since I don’t have an actual plot of land to walk on.
Hdcp: 11.6. Working out and lessons the last few years has brought that down considerably from what it once was. For decades, I can assure you, I would swing at the golf ball and not have a single notion of where it was going.
Favorite Courses Played: Whistling Straits Irish, Torrey Pines North, Cog Hill no. 4, The Heritage Club, Predator Ridge, and every course I play in Scotland when I go there later this year!
Wish List: To design and build a golf course.
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Age: 32
Hometown: Edinburgh, Scotland
Currently Reside: Notre Dame, Indiana
Occupation: Doctoral candidate in history, writing a dissertation titled "English Peoples, British State: Forging a National Identity in Maryland, 1688-1763."
Home Course: The Warren Course at Notre Dame
Background: I enjoyed watching golf from a very age. I played my first ever 18 hole round at Braid Hills #2 on my tenth birthday in 1992. That track no longer exists as an 18 hole layout. My father played (still does) and I caddied for him from about age 10. My first golf memory involves the final round of the 1987 Open Championship at Muirfield on the BBC. The bunker with the island right of the 18th green fascinated me. It still does. My father attended during the Saturday's play, which included high winds and heavy rain. For reasons best known to himself, he bought a Panama hat, which he still wears. The vendor did not sell any others that day. He brought me back a bunch of other memorabilia, including a cotton badge, which I think (hope) I still have somewhere. I had a membership in Edinburgh until 2005 when I moved to the United States. Golf took a back seat until I enrolled at Notre Dame in 2010. It took a backseat again in 2012-13 when I broke my hand, put out my back, and took candidacy exams. I had enjoyed studying golf course architecture during my teens and college years. I had the opportunity to play Camargo in July 2014, where I encountered Raynor for the first time. I find the transplantation of European culture in North America fascinating. I spent several months going through the GCA archives for threads about the history of architecture. I'm excited to have the opportunity to contribute to this discussion.
Handicap: I kept a handicap through The Grint from the beginning of 2014, finishing at 8.1. I had never bothered to check how to keep a handicap in the U.S., but will keep an official handicap at Warren when we open next month.
Favorite Courses Played: Camargo, Dunbar, Mortonhall, Strandhill, Warren. I have a soft spot for Braid Hills.
Wish List: Finish my dissertation; write a history of golf in the U.S. Will likely play Dundonald with JJS sr. to celebrate his 70th birthday this year. I have a short-notice trip home next month, during which I hope to play Gullane #1 (for the first time), plus Craigielaw (where my father plays.) I think I will walk round North Berwick West with him when he plays a team match there for Craigielaw the day after I arrive.
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Age: 69
Currently Reside: Southern Pines, NC
Occupation: Farrier
Home Course: Pine Needles/Mid Pines
Background: I have been posting for a while here but have signed up for the Dixie Cup and felt it would be appropriate to share a bit about myself. My father worked for Philadelphia Electric so my golf started at McCall Field, a company owned 4400 yard course outside the city. I have played many great courses through the years: Pebble, Cyprus, The Country Club, Yeaman’s , #2 and more without the appreciation for what made them great. GCA for the past 5 years has been a great learning experience, akin to learning a new language.
Handicap: 15
Favorite Courses: Mid Pines, Mid Pines, Mid Pines and the courses I will play in May on my 16 day jaunt around Ireland.
Walk and carry unless required to ride.
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Age: 32
Currently Reside: Raleigh, NC
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Occupation: Financial Advisor
Family: Newlywed (just passed the 6 month mark)
Handicap: 5
Background: They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, but I feel like I do have that opportunity at GCA. I started reading and participating on this site back when I was 16 years old (around 1998 or so). I was lucky enough to meet some great people back then, some of which I still see on a regular basis. With college and then law school, I fell out of touch with the board. My interest in golf never waned, but it was maintained purely from a playing perspective. Since I moved to Raleigh, my interest in the architecture behind the courses I love (and even those I don't quite love as much) has returned. Perusing the board over the past few weeks, I've noticed a lot of familiar names. I look forward to participating more and connecting with new friends in the years to come.
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Age: 38
Hometown: Princeton, NJ --> Chicago (in June)
Occupation: Supply Chain and Logistics
Family: Married with 3 Girls (8, 5, 5)
Handicap: 11
Home Course: Springdale, but now homeless at the moment with the move to Chicago
Background: After lurking here for 10 years and being fascinated (and occasionally incensed) at some of the discussions, I figure I might as well start contributing. I grew up in Augusta, but didn't really play golf (baseball and later rowing). College was in Philly and then moved to Princeton. Now I'm headed to Chicago (Riverside) this Summer. I started playing seriously a few years after college and eventually joined Forsgate, and then later Springdale. Both decisions were largely influenced from information found here (along with the ability to walk). Architecture became an interest while looking at clubs to join and now, for better or worse, I find myself analyzing way too much when I play. This is a neat place and I'm looking forward to participating more in conversations and events now that my working life is settling down and my girls are getting a little older.
Random, useless fact: In Augusta, Spring Break for school is scheduled around Masters week. For a few years in the early to mid 80's, I would go on Tuesday with my brother, sit on 16, and get Autographs from pretty much every group that came through. It was just something that was fun to do then, but now I have some treasured notebooks (and memories) full of autographs from many of the greats (Arnold, Jack, Seve, Snead, Watson, Faldo, etc).
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Wow, I knew how old I was getting, but didn't realize the high school youngster that used to post enthusiastically got lshockingly older, through university and law school as well! ;) ;D 8) Nice to see you around here again, Andrew.
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Hello all, by way of introduction! -
Age: 41
Lives : Gullane, Scotland
Occupation: Digital financial services
Family: Wife and 2 kids (7 and 3)
Club: Archerfield
Handicap: 13.7
Background: I grew up in Edinburgh paying 50p for a round on the local council courses - the greats of Carricknowe, Silverknowes and the Braids - in my summer holidays. My Dad used to work at the Open every year and would take me along where I would walk the courses from 7am until close of play. Definitely more of a links golf fan than other forms and that was part of the reason for settling in Gullane, about 500 yards from the first tee at Muirfield. I actually work in England for most of the week but the quality of life in this part of the world is hard to give up, and the golf even moreseo. I don't play as much as I would like to but try to get out every couple of weeks and really love planning trips for me and mates to great golf courses. This year I have planned hosting some friends during the Scottish Open and we are playing North Berwick, Muirfield and Renaissance. Later in the year planned a trip to Long Island with hopefully Shinnecock, NGLA and a couple more.
Favourite Courses: Most of my golf has been in Europe with a sprinkling of US and South Africa. I love North Berwick (which is handy as it is a 7 minutes drive away) as well as TOC, Dornoch, Portush (I preferred it over RCD but need to go back), Turnberry and Royal St Georges. In Europe Fontainebleau, Valderrama, Falsterbo and further afield if I'm ever near Arabella near Cape Town again I'll be straight to the tee.
Favourite golf possession - my MacKenzie Walker bag. May an airline never lose it.........
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David,
Ca' the yowes to the knowes,
Ca' them where the heather grows,
Ca' them where the burnie rowes,
My bonie dearie.
You mention a wee course, Silverknowes in Edinburgh, which allowed quite forgotten memories to come flooding back to me. In retrospect it was my first "vacation" golf.
At the tender age of fourteen I bundled myself and my sticks ( no putter in those days - a sawn down 3-iron sufficed!) onto the train at Dundee to visit my aunt in Edinburgh. My aunt indicated that she had enquired about golf in the district and Silverknowes it was!! No Muirfield, no Gullane simply Silverknowes!! The next day I caught a bus, still lugging my armoury in a tattered shoulder bag, and at six-pence a round spent the whole glorious summer day playing 36 holes. There is not one that I remember but I do remember the course seemed a bit boggy compared to Ashludie at Monifieth!
The funny thing was that my aunt gave me half-a-crown to go to one of the auction shops, nearby to where she lived, to bid and purchase a putter. Well, did I get myself into trouble! The wee hickory shafted putter I spotted was included in a bunch of hickories. Now I am a wee laddie, green and callow, but heart in mouth bid up this bunch of clubs to the maximum of two-and-six ….my half crown. Little did I know that normally regulars would get a bunch for about a shilling or so and then sell the clubs individually in their pawn shops for a tanner (sixpence) each. I was outbid of course but did not realise I had stirred up one poor soul as he had to cough up an inordinate amount for this particular bundle. At any rate, disappointed and despondent, I returned to my aunt's digs and she suggested that the next day I visit the pawn shops to buy a putter. Well Sod's Law dictated that the first shop I went into was owned by the disgruntled winning bidder from the day before! Was I chagrined when he told me in no uncertain terms that ANY F******* PUTTER in his shop was going to cost me three shillings! This youth fled, and traumatised, did not get a putter for a further six months!
Thanks for the memories and welcome to the site.
I wonder who else on this board has played Silverknowes!?
Cheers Colin
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Thanks for the welcome Colin and what a great story. All a bit different from the way we buy putters in this day and age!
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Hi everybody. "PJ" here, long time listener, first time caller...kidding...I love the site and finally decided to ask to join the forums to join the conversation on golf course architecture. Thanks for having me. Here's some info about in case we've not met in 'real life.'
Age: 35
Hometown: Dowagiac, MI by way of Dayton OH
Currently Reside: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Counsel
Family: I'm married and we're expecting our first in October (at the end of golf season!), and we also have a 3 year old black lab named 'Alley.' I have two younger brothers, the youngest of whom has become a fantastic golf buddy in recent years...and unfortunately has been better than me as of lately...I blame this on work.
Home Course: Ravisloe CC, Homewood, IL (and given that a few of my regular foursome have moved away and/or had children, I'm always up for a new match. Just message me...until October :)
Background: Born in Ohio but grew up in Southwest Michigan. I've lived in Chicago for the past 14 years...long enough that I've started thinking of myself as a Chicagoan. My grandpa, Bill Horrell, cut down a 5-iron and taught me how to grip the club probably 30 years ago. I've loved the game ever since. He also taught me that if you stop making putts, that you should teach the putter a lesson by getting a new one. Luckily the first time my wife ever asked about all the putters, I thought to tell her that I 'collect' them and somehow legitimized the stack in the corner as a 'collection.' I recommend this as an excuse to anyone else who needs one. As far as a golfer, I didn't play better than bogie golf until law school, when my best friend Greg and I collected golf courses like youthful bad decisions and tried to play near-everything public in the Chicago area along with a couple beautiful private tracks. I got my handicap down to single digits for the first time when we were members at Ravisloe for a short time before it went public. I've remained loyal to the course since. I love it there despite it's faults (conditioning sometimes in the past few years, and a slightly gimmicky front 9 for D.Ross) and it has made me appreciate Donald Ross for his ability to design courses that are imminently playable while rarely easily beatable. They also seem extremely fun to play over and over and over and over like I have Rav (and Lake Wales CC in FL). My best scores are not there, but neither are my worst, and I plan to continue to stick with it for that reason until I somehow manage the funds to join...say Beverly. But that could be a while.
Index: 8.1 as of 5/1/15
Favorite Courses Played: Favorites that I've played and would go back to ASAP if I could, no order/ranking: Lahinch, Whistling Straits, Olympia Fields North, Caledonia Golf and Fish, Beverly CC, Chambers Bay, Old Head. For nostalgic reasons: Lake Wales CC, Ravisloe CC, Berrien Hills CC. These beat me up the first time too much to truly enjoy them, but I wouldn't say no to going back and I'd hope to hit it better - Medinah #3, Point O' Woods, Erin Hills.
Wish List: 1. Successfully teaching my forthcoming child to love golf as much as I do (your tips are welcome!)
2. Bucket list courses - Royal County Down, The Old Course, Ballybunion, Waterville, Carnoustie, Royal Melbourne, National Golf Links, Bethpage Black, Chicago Golf Club, Mountain Lake CC, Pebble, Pasatiempo, Pinehurst, French Lick, The Dunes Club (MI), Dunes Golf and Beach Club (SC), Oakland Hills CC, all of Bandon, and a RTJ road trip through bama with buddies.
3. And I think I'm content to dream about Cypress, Pine Valley, and Augusta, since they seem so unrealistic.
Thanks!
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Hi everybody. "PJ" here, long time listener, first time caller...kidding...I love the site and finally decided to ask to join the forums to join the conversation on golf course architecture. Thanks for having me. Here's some info about in case we've not met in 'real life.'
Age: 35
Hometown: Dowagiac, MI by way of Dayton OH
Currently Reside: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Counsel
Family: I'm married and we're expecting our first in October (at the end of golf season!), and we also have a 3 year old black lab named 'Alley.' I have two younger brothers, the youngest of whom has become a fantastic golf buddy in recent years...and unfortunately has been better than me as of lately...I blame this on work.
Home Course: Ravisloe CC, Homewood, IL (and given that a few of my regular foursome have moved away and/or had children, I'm always up for a new match. Just message me...until October :)
Background: Born in Ohio but grew up in Southwest Michigan. I've lived in Chicago for the past 14 years...long enough that I've started thinking of myself as a Chicagoan. My grandpa, Bill Horrell, cut down a 5-iron and taught me how to grip the club probably 30 years ago. I've loved the game ever since. He also taught me that if you stop making putts, that you should teach the putter a lesson by getting a new one. Luckily the first time my wife ever asked about all the putters, I thought to tell her that I 'collect' them and somehow legitimized the stack in the corner as a 'collection.' I recommend this as an excuse to anyone else who needs one. As far as a golfer, I didn't play better than bogie golf until law school, when my best friend Greg and I collected golf courses like youthful bad decisions and tried to play near-everything public in the Chicago area along with a couple beautiful private tracks. I got my handicap down to single digits for the first time when we were members at Ravisloe for a short time before it went public. I've remained loyal to the course since. I love it there despite it's faults (conditioning sometimes in the past few years, and a slightly gimmicky front 9 for D.Ross) and it has made me appreciate Donald Ross for his ability to design courses that are imminently playable while rarely easily beatable. They also seem extremely fun to play over and over and over and over like I have Rav (and Lake Wales CC in FL). My best scores are not there, but neither are my worst, and I plan to continue to stick with it for that reason until I somehow manage the funds to join...say Beverly. But that could be a while.
Index: 8.1 as of 5/1/15
Favorite Courses Played: Favorites that I've played and would go back to ASAP if I could, no order/ranking: Lahinch, Whistling Straits, Olympia Fields North, Caledonia Golf and Fish, Beverly CC, Chambers Bay, Old Head. For nostalgic reasons: Lake Wales CC, Ravisloe CC, Berrien Hills CC. These beat me up the first time too much to truly enjoy them, but I wouldn't say no to going back and I'd hope to hit it better - Medinah #3, Point O' Woods, Erin Hills.
Wish List: 1. Successfully teaching my forthcoming child to love golf as much as I do (your tips are welcome!)
2. Bucket list courses - Royal County Down, The Old Course, Ballybunion, Waterville, Carnoustie, Royal Melbourne, National Golf Links, Bethpage Black, Chicago Golf Club, Mountain Lake CC, Pebble, Pasatiempo, Pinehurst, French Lick, The Dunes Club (MI), Dunes Golf and Beach Club (SC), Oakland Hills CC, all of Bandon, and a RTJ road trip through bama with buddies.
3. And I think I'm content to dream about Cypress, Pine Valley, and Augusta, since they seem so unrealistic.
Thanks!
Welcome Paul, what brought you to play Lake Wales CC and when was the last time you played there?
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Hi everyone. Will here, love the site, content, and most everything on here. Excited to start contributing, learning, and taking part.
Age: 30
Hometown: Dowagiac, MI
Currently Reside: Chicago
Occupation: I have a brother who is a doctor, a brother who is a lawyer, so naturally I'm the Indian Chief. J/K, Project Manager for Microsoft and Holland America Line
Family: Two older brothers, one of whom is directly responsible for my recent addiction to this site as well as my larger addiction to this maddening game. A lady who more than tolerates my obsession with this game and even gets out for 15-20 rounds a year with me. A recent Uncle to one niece and one more on the way this fall.
Home Course: Ravisloe CC, Homewood, IL. But plenty of my golf season is spent in SW Michigan as well as a few weeks up in the Traverse City area.
Background: Born in Michigan and learned the game from my grandfather and older brother. Spent summers learning and caddying at the Point O'Woods CC and was even lucky enough to loop a few times during the Western AM. (Unfortunately never carried for Tiger or Figjam though). Golf took a backseat to basketball and football through high-school and college but I rediscovered my passion and love for the game around 2010-11 when I joined my brother's regular group as their 4th. At that point the affliction became real. Most of my rounds for the past few years in Chicago have been spent at Ravisloe CC and because of that I've grown to love and appreciate Donald Ross. This love is accentuated via extension through many rounds at my grandfather's home course in Lake Wales Florida, Lake Wales CC. Learning through one of the most famous architect's of the game has taught me to appreciate numerous elements of both classic and modern courses. It also has produced a desire to search out a wonderful track and I find myself more excited for rounds because of the architect's name rather than because the pro's may have played there.
Index: 7.4
Favorite Courses Played: In no particular order: Beverly CC, Whistling Straits, Caledonia Golf and Fish, Point O' Woods, Fallen Oak, Chambers Bay, Arcadia Bluffs, East Dunmore GC, Streamsong Blue (If you asked me the day we walked off, I probably would have said Red, but 4 months later and I find myself recalling more holes from Blue than Red as being "memorable"), Ravisloe CC, Lake Wales CC.
Wish List: Dunes Club (Michigan), Kinglsey Club (hopefully playing this summer), Crystal Downs, Bandon Dunes, The Ross Course French Lick, Pinehurst #2, Oakland Hills, Lost Dunes (Bridgman), The Old Course, NGLA, Erin Hills, Gator Creek GC (Sarasota), Olympia Fields, Detroit CC, Seminole (Florida), Sand Hills and countless others that I've spent looking at online via Google Earth
Thanks for reading and looking forward to a great experience!
-Will
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Will take this opportunity to update my bio...
Joel Lahrman
Age: 37
Occupation: Working for a brand consultancy, live in Oakland CA, work in San Francisco.
Handicap: USGA index is listed as 9.7. I post a lot of scores in the 90s. Not sure how that translates to a single digit index.
Home Course: Metropolitan and Monarch Bay.
Married, 15-month-old daughter, 2 dogs.
Favorite course: Camargo
Wish list: To find a way to play more golf. 40 rounds a year would be a dream for me, jealous of those for whom it's an off year.
I grew up in Cincinnati and had the good fortune to work in the bag shop at Camargo (also worked at Scioto while I was an undergrad at the Ohio State University). Back in 2003 a friend of mine wanted to know more about Camargo. I did a search to see if I could find any pictures online and came upon Ran's writeup. I got hooked reading the course profiles, eventually moseyed over to the forum. I met only a few GCAers over the years until attending the 2011 KPI at Bandon. Always seem to enjoy playing golf with whoever I meet from this website.
Other interests: After 20 years of basketball I have switched to tennis. Easier to find one person than nine, and fewer dislocated fingers and sprained ankles. I play to about a 3.5 but don't practice this sport enough either. Should have started when I was younger. I am a mediocre guitar and banjo player. I also enjoy volunteering at my local animal shelter and learning principles of dog training.
Updating (yet again):
Age: 40
Occupation: Working for a predictive analytics/simulation modeling company. Live in Austin, TX.
Handicap: 11.6, on the way up.
Home Course: Would have to say Roy Kizer.
Married, 3-year-old daughter, 1-year-old son, 2 dogs.
Favorite course: Camargo
Wish list: To find a way to play more golf. 20 rounds a year would be a dream for me, jealous of those for whom it's an off year.
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8) JLahrman,
When was the last time you had some Skyline or Graeter's ice cream?
(http://www.skylinechili.com/images/Skyline-Chili-logo.png) available at your local krogers?
or are you a gold star type guy?
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8) JLahrman,
When was the last time you had some Skyline or Graeter's ice cream?
available at your local krogers?
or are you a gold star type guy?
I have been a vegetarian for about six years and have not had red meat in 9 years, so it's been awhile on the chili. Yes I am a vegetarian living in the BBQ capital of the world (Austin TX).
I had a lot of Skyline growing up though. A lot. I definitely preferred Skyline to Gold Star but I certainly did not turn down any Gold Star chili.
Graeter's has been awhile as well. Now that my parents have moved to Houston, I don't have a lot of reason to visit the Cincinnati area. I would say probably 3 years on Graeter's. It's good stuff, the raspberry chocolate chip is killer.
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Welcome Paul, what brought you to play Lake Wales CC and when was the last time you played there?
[/quote]
Rees,
As Will mentioned after your question 9not sure if you saw it), our grandpa lives on #1 green at Lake Wales CC. I'm a big fan of the course when the greens are rolling nicely, and it's hard to find a better pro than Bob Forward. Second to Ravisloe and the courses I grew up playing I probably have played LWCC more than any other track. Most recently we were there in January, along with a round at Southern Dunes and a couple at Streamsong. And for any Donald Ross lovers who are in that neck of the woods, its much simpler to get on LWCC than say Mountain Lake. I actually think LW may be allowing some public play.
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Are we officially calling Lake Wales a Raynor now?
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Are we officially calling Lake Wales a Raynor now?
We should be, I just passed along my thread to Will & Paul.
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Hi Everyone,
Ran just set me up as the first guinea pig signing up with the new forum architecture. Living in New York now I have found learning the history, design process and construction of courses makes me appreciate the game when I am able to get out. With so many of the great new courses coming in as remediation sites, I am interested as how they aren't as nature made them but still provide great set-ups for the game (with varying success). We can't go back 100+ years and claim the best golf land but there is something powerful about taking what was discarded and turning it in to something great. Not all are great but seeing some interesting things with Streamsong, Chambers, Bayonne, Ferry Point and Liberty National.
With that, here is a little more on me.
Don
Age: 26
Hometown: Livonia, MI
Currently Reside: NYC
Occupation: I work for an Energy Venture Capital firm, investing in start-ups in both renewable and traditional energy technologies
Family: Four siblings and parents who don't play. Grandpa who was a club champion level player back in the 80s but lost his health before we got to play together. Lots of old trophies and clubs laying around that make me wish he was still around.
Home Course: I belong to Golf & Body (6 simulators and a nice gym) in the city which helps work on the game for when I am able to get out. It is amazing what seeing every swing does for instant feedback and makes you feel in your swing. Play a good bit back in Michigan and around the country when I travel for work. Looking to join somewhere as a national/junior member that I can get to a handful of times per year and maximize use.
Background: Played in the muni junior leagues when I was younger but got away from the game for a few years. Attending U of M where playing an Alister design for $25 got me in to what a great course looks like (and Radrick, the early Pete Dye). Since then, played as much as I can, whether that is the best thing locally with some friends gambling more than the greens fees or the best courses in Michigan and now around the country.
Index: 15.1
Favorite Courses Played: In no particular order: Whistling Straits, Erin Hills, Chambers Bay, Arcadia Bluffs, Streamsong, Bethpage Black and Red, Kingsley, Pete Dye Golf Club, Bandon (probably Old Mac and Pacific tops)
Wish List: Crystal Downs, NGLA, Shinnecock, Sand Hills, Winged Foot, Baltusrol, Machrihanish, Old Course, Cabot (waiting for both courses to be open), Yale
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Perhaps Tommy Williamson would like to peruse.
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Age: 54
Hometown: Houston, TX
Occupation: Regional Banking and Insurance Company
Family: I'm married and have two sons (16 and 13).
Home Course: Champions Golf Club, Houston, TX (Jackie Burke's club)
Background: Have been playing golf since I was 12 years old. My brother and I started traveling the country and playing significant courses in 1984 and have been doing so ever since. Really love to get out and see new courses in different parts of the world. Have been on a magazine rating panel for the past 16 years.
Why am I here: Met Joe Andriole at NGLA this fall and he said that I needed to join
Handicap: My wife and two kids!
Favorite Courses Played: Blonds, Brunnettes or Redheads? I have been fortunate to have met some wonderful golfers who have allowed me to play most of the best courses around, but have found nothing better than Shinnecock Hills!
Favorite Architects: Tillinghast, Raynor, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Flynn, Doak, Coore/Crenshaw, Dye
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Perhaps Tommy Williamson would like to peruse.
I did. Is there some reason you thought I wouldn't?
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Age: 35
Hometown: Gaithersburg MD
Currently Reside: Tianjin, China
Occupation: Middle School and High School Choral Director
Family: married for 10 years with two boys ages 4 and 6
Background: Got my first set when I was 11. Got a job at the local muni (Needwood Gold Course) when I was in high school so I could afford to play regularly in the DC area. Continued to work at courses in Texas through College and Grad School. Even had a brief stint as an assistant pro. Now I just use my free time from teaching summers off and location to play golf all over China and hopefully Asia. I'm also looking to spend some time in the summers getting to great courses when at home in the U.S.
Why am I here: I've enjoyed reading the content here for a couple years. Out of thanks I gave a donation and was contacted by Ran. He offered to let me be a part of the discussion group.
Handicap: 5
Favorite courses played: U.S.: Pinehurst #2. China: So far Lake Course at Spring City for Design. Stone Forest Leaders Peak for sheer craziness and spectacle.
Wish List: NGLA, Cypress, Pine Valley, Sand Hills, Crystal Down, Merion
Favorite Architects (courses seen in person): Ross, Curley, (soon mackenzie, Doak, Coore Crenshaw, after my epic oz trip in January)
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Age: 25
Currently Reside: New York City
Hometown: New Canaan, CT
Occupation: Financial Services Consultant
Handicap: +1
Background: I grew up in Connecticut about an hour outside NYC and played at an old Willie Park Jr. layout, the Country Club of New Canaan. I started playing competitively in high school and ended up playing in college as well. I spent my freshman year at the University of California, Berkeley where I was lucky enough to play courses like Lake Merced, The Meadow Club, and San Francisco Golf Club on a regular basis. I ended up transferring back east and finished my last three seasons on the golf team at Georgetown University where we also played some solid courses; TPC Potomac, The Members Club at Four Streams, and on occasion Columbia CC, and Congressional. Certainly not a bad rota, especially when you factor in the annual winter trips to Seminole, and the summer trips to NGLA. We were clearly treated to some great golf and my only regret is that I didn't appreciate the nuances of architecture then as I do now.
While these days I’m more of a weekend warrior than a competitive player, I love the game more than ever. This growing passion is in part due to my appreciation of simply being on the course and not at a desk, but primarily due to the acumen, insight, and curiosity I have developed through reading GCA. I’ve easily spent hundreds of hours reading GCA articles and photo tours. I’m excited to be a part of the community and contribute where I believe I can.
Well, you have the last name for it! ;)
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Age: 35
Hometown: Gaithersburg MD
Currently Reside: Tianjin, China
Occupation: Middle School and High School Choral Director
Family: married for 10 years with two boys ages 4 and 6
Background: Got my first set when I was 11. Got a job at the local muni (Needwood Gold Course) when I was in high school so I could afford to play regularly in the DC area. Continued to work at courses in Texas through College and Grad School. Even had a brief stint as an assistant pro. Now I just use my free time from teaching summers off and location to play golf all over China and hopefully Asia. I'm also looking to spend some time in the summers getting to great courses when at home in the U.S.
Why am I here: I've enjoyed reading the content here for a couple years. Out of thanks I gave a donation and was contacted by Ran. He offered to let me be a part of the discussion group.
Handicap: 5
Favorite courses played: U.S.: Pinehurst #2. China: So far Lake Course at Spring City for Design. Stone Forest Leaders Peak for sheer craziness and spectacle.
Wish List: NGLA, Cypress, Pine Valley, Sand Hills, Crystal Down, Merion
Favorite Architects (courses seen in person): Ross, Curley, (soon mackenzie, Doak, Coore Crenshaw, after my epic oz trip in January)
Never thought I would meet a fellow Needwood Alum! What I wouldn't give to go back and see the executive 9 now that I am not 14. Out of curiosity, what is your favourite course in the G-burg area?
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Age:29
Currently Reside: NYC
Hometown: Westfield, MA
Occupation: Financial PR
Handicap: 2
Background: The summer before ninth grade I was dropped off daily at a real dog track of a course in western Mass. and, resigned to know my mother or my friend's mother wasn't coming back for four hours, begrudgingly learned the game. It took longer than it should have for us to realize we could try and beat one another, but thus started what I anticipate being a lifelong passion for golf.
I didn't have much of an interest in golf course architecture till I started playing more varied courses in college, and then in the metro New York area. Home course through high school and college was The Ranch, in Southwick, MA (my dad ponied up for the new membership there when it opened quite literally across the street from the old track), which is a modern kind of rambling thing but retains a soft spot in my heart. I'd played a fair bit of decently Ross-ian Ross courses, who through college was probably the only designer I could name, much less speak to (Springfield CC, Longmeadow CC, The Orchards).
My parents now live in Old Saybrook, CT, which aside from a charming but otherwise deficient 9-holer, appears nearly bereft of quality golf. I spend some weekends in the summer on Cape Cod, which has a wealth of fun, cheap public courses all filled with decent folk with a passion for golf; it's an enjoyable thing.
Because I'm fairly well-groomed, polite, and able to put most of my full shots in the air, I've been able to play a number of golf courses well out of reach of my own personal socioeconomic standing. On the luck-out list are: NGLA, Fishers, Camargo, Baltusrol, and a professional acquaintance with a Pine Valley member who will surely fall victim to my charms this calendar year.
I'm eager to participate more actively on this forum because I find that my own golf course criticism lacks the sort of sophistication necessary to share with others. I'm more often than not instinctual in my assessments, armed with only the most basic language of template holes and design elements (redan, alps, bunker, etc.). I often fail to properly appreciate the strategic merits of certain holes unless I sit Indian-style in the fairway and think about them. That said, last year I took a Streamsong trip with a friend and nearly fell over - completely gobsmacked by every hole - and better understood that a hallmark of conscious and good design has something to do with presenting a specific question to the player at the tee box. So, with that, I'm looking forward to GCA.
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Age: 45[
Currently Reside: Epsom, Surrey
hometown: Brighton
Occupation: Media sales
Handicap: Me......4.6
Background: first picked up a 7 iron and putter with my grandad at my local par 3 course in Abington park, Northampton, I think I must have been 9 or 10. Loved it from the first time, I really did. I remember the joy of seeing that little ball fly up into the blue sky...going into later teenager years, golf took a back seat to b & b (booze and birds!!). Really took up the game again 1993 and have played almost every week since. Very lucky that brother in law was travel editor for Golf World, so got too play quite a bit at some lovely tracks...RCD, Muirfield, Morfontaine, RSG, Valderrama... I also worked for Arnie, working on his official mag, Kingdom, so that was quite nice. Have played most of UK's top 50 so feel quite blessed but am looking to get out a couple of times to the US this year. Became a wandering golfer as wanted to see as much variety as I could. I LOVE THIS GAME.
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New to the Board, so using this as a chance to introduce myself.
Age: 38
Reside: Chicago
Occupation: M&A attorney
Index: ~16 (and hopefully headed in the right direction)
Family: My wife and I have two young sons, which means that at the moment I spend more time thinking about golf course architecture than playing golf.
Home Course: North Shore Country Club (C.H. Alison)
Golf Affiliations: Leadership Committee (aka Junior Board) of the WGA/ESF
I grew up on a great course in the Chicago area, but only played sporadically due to other interests and obligations. After a business trip or two presented opportunities to see new and different golf course styles (Raynor, AWT, Ross, Doak, C&C), I came to appreciate that there was more to the game than just hitting the ball around with friends. I still don't get as much time to play as I would like (got to spend time with the kids while they still think I am cool), but now seek out opportunities to play somewhere that might teach me a thing or two about architecture.
I have been a lurker here for quite some time, but finally ready to stick my neck out in hopes that it teaches me a bit more.
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Welcome to the board Tim. We can never have too many Chicago guys around here.
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Welcome to the board Tim. We can never have too many Chicago guys around here.
Debateable....(says the Wisconsin poster...)
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Age: 45[
Currently Reside: Epsom, Surrey
hometown: Brighton
Occupation: Media sales
Handicap: Me......4.6
Background: first picked up a 7 iron and putter with my grandad at my local par 3 course in Abington park, Northampton, I think I must have been 9 or 10. Loved it from the first time, I really did. I remember the joy of seeing that little ball fly up into the blue sky...going into later teenager years, golf took a back seat to b & b (booze and birds!!). Really took up the game again 1993 and have played almost every week since. Very lucky that brother in law was travel editor for Golf World, so got too play quite a bit at some lovely tracks...RCD, Muirfield, Morfontaine, RSG, Valderrama... I also worked for Arnie, working on his official mag, Kingdom, so that was quite nice. Have played most of UK's top 50 so feel quite blessed but am looking to get out a couple of times to the US this year. Became a wandering golfer as wanted to see as much variety as I could. I LOVE THIS GAME.
Welcome to the board, Sam. The NY thread, well I wish I could un-see that one, but as Faldo said to Norman on the 72nd green, don't let the bastards get you down.
Speaking of bastards, another GCAer and I will be in London first Saturday in July and although the golf is already sorted we're planning to take the tube into central London afterward and drink ourselves silly. Please advise... ;D
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My info:[/size]Joe HellrungAge: 36Home: Alpharetta, GAOccupation: Corporate Attorney
I had the opportunity to play golf most of my life, but didn't fall in love with the game until my late 20's. I grew up in upstate New York, and played some of the classics like Oak Hill, CCR, and Monroe without appreciating what they are. By the time I fell for the game I was a married man with an infant and a mortgage. I logged most of my rounds at Atlanta municipal courses, with my favorite being Brown's Mill in South Atlanta. My father also treated me to the occasional round at his private course in North Atlanta.
Starting in my young 30's, I developed an appreciation for golf architecture and desire to learn more through a close friend who is also a GCA poster. My slow education in this area has enhanced my appreciate for the game, and added to my enjoyment of each round. [/color]
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Jim Dales
Age: 57
Home: Northville MI
Family: Wife Jennifer & two boys, 15 & 13
Occupation: Small business owner-graphic arts supply dealer, and my wife has a bar/restaurant.
Cap: 4
Started in the game at 11 when I trash-picked a set of clubs from our neighbor, took rec department lessons with whiffle balls at a baseball field, and then started playing at a nearby par 60 course, Brooklane, that NLE. Caddied and played on Mondays at Meadowbrook CC, and then made the high school team which played every morning at Brae-Burn, a beat up Wilfred Reid course from the 20’s. Looking back now, it was those greens that led to being on this site today. In college, I had a chance to play some classic New England courses- The Country Club, Yale, Taconic, Concord, the original Brae-Burn. I have continued to play and compete locally ever since. I was a member at Detroit Golf Club for a dozen years and in 03 moved back to Northville where I now live on the third hole at Meadowbrook. Our course is being renovated this year by Andy Staples and I am looking forward to viewing the project from a front row seat.
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Joe Schackman
Age: 28
Home: NJ
Course: Shackamaxon
Been lurking here for a while so excited to be a part of it all.
Started playing when I was young, 6 or 7. Played in HS and college (Dickinson College in PA). Went to Bandon Dunes a few years ago and read Dream Golf and completely changed the way I looked at golf courses/architecture. Been trying to get up to speed ever since.
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Age: 45[
Currently Reside: Epsom, Surrey
hometown: Brighton
Occupation: Media sales
Handicap: Me......4.6
Background: first picked up a 7 iron and putter with my grandad at my local par 3 course in Abington park, Northampton, I think I must have been 9 or 10. Loved it from the first time, I really did. I remember the joy of seeing that little ball fly up into the blue sky...going into later teenager years, golf took a back seat to b & b (booze and birds!!). Really took up the game again 1993 and have played almost every week since. Very lucky that brother in law was travel editor for Golf World, so got too play quite a bit at some lovely tracks...RCD, Muirfield, Morfontaine, RSG, Valderrama... I also worked for Arnie, working on his official mag, Kingdom, so that was quite nice. Have played most of UK's top 50 so feel quite blessed but am looking to get out a couple of times to the US this year. Became a wandering golfer as wanted to see as much variety as I could. I LOVE THIS GAME.
Welcome to the board, Sam. The NY thread, well I wish I could un-see that one, but as Faldo said to Norman on the 72nd green, don't let the bastards get you down.
Speaking of bastards, another GCAer and I will be in London first Saturday in July and although the golf is already sorted we're planning to take the tube into central London afterward and drink ourselves silly. Please advise... ;D
I just saw this post. Remembering the carnage that followed the Silloth beer festival I'm not sure this is a sensible plan! Nonetheless, London has some fantastic pubs, what sort of establishment are you looking for, aside from ones that will let a reprobate like you in through the door?
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I just saw this post. Remembering the carnage that followed the Silloth beer festival I'm not sure this is a sensible plan! Nonetheless, London has some fantastic pubs, what sort of establishment are you looking for, aside from ones that will let a reprobate like you in through the door?
Those that don't serve cider of course! ;) ;D
At the moment our plan is to meet my sister (who lives in London) and her husband and friends at the Shakespeares Head on Carnaby St. (https://goo.gl/maps/8HZSfq7yfD62) Had a good time there my last visit. If you're down that weekend please come join us! If not, the next week at Bamburgh Castle will do just fine I think.
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Jan Visser
Age: 43
Hometown: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Email: visserjan@hotmail.com
Occupation: Physicist
Homecourse: Noordwijk
Handicap: 4
Background: started golf in 1988 at a public course and have been fortunate live close to the Hoge Kleij
near Amersfoort where I became a member and there I began to appreciate the better courses more
and especially links courses. Moving to Amsterdam, I was lucky to be able to become a member at Noordwijk.
Last few years I made some really cool trips to the UK playing many good courses, which makes me want
to play more of them!
Favorite courses played: Royal St. Georges, courses at St. Andrews, courses at Bandon, Sunningdale, Prestwick, North Berwick
Wish list: 2016: Machrahanish in May and hopefully a return to Bandon in October.
overall: play many more links courses and the sand belt courses in Australia
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I thought I had posted to this, but I will post again...
Charlie Dusic
Born May 8, 1965
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Email: rcdusic@gmail.com
GCA Member since: 2000-2001
I am the Chief Financial Officer and partial owner of WV Media. Our Company owns 8 television stations (3 CBS, 2 ABC, 2 FOX and 1 NBC), a weekly business publication and a digital company that covers West Virginia University sports. I have been playing golf my entire life. I grew up playing at a private club in Charleston, WV designed by William Gordon called Berry Hills. It is a narrow, hilly course with very small greens that really puts a premium on short game. Ironically I got pretty good at trouble/recovery shots because of this but I tend to struggle with more straightforward short game shots. I played competitively until I started my professional career and probably never achieved the level of golf that i ever should have. My biggest accomplishment was probably playing in the US Junior at Crooked Stick when I was 17. My lowest score is 64. I am currently don't have an official handicap but probably still play to about a 4 or 5 handicap.
My favorite golfer was my father. He passed away in 1997. He was very passionate about the game and we played a lot of golf together. One of my favorite memories is when I finally treated him to a golf trip to the Homestead less than a year prior to him passing away from throat cancer. I am married and have two kids, none of them play golf. My favorite place for anyone who has read any of my threads is Bandon but I also want to visit either Ireland or Scotland for my 50th birthday to see some of the courses there.
Charlie, Just read your profile above. I suppose you competed against Todd Satterfield in high school and junior events along with my older (not wiser) brother Paul. Played a WV Junior at Berry Hills way back in the day and my Director of Instruction, first cousin of GCAer Mark Greer, spent a couple years there recently before we brought him back to Cabo. While your 50th may have come and gone you'll have to get down to Cabo in the near future and play golf with a couple of WV boys here at Cabo del Sol.
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Michael Sweeney
Age: 39, married with 2 boys 4 and 6 years old
Home: New York City
Home Course: Yale Golf Club
Ireland "Home" Course: Enniscrone Golf Club, Co Sligo
Just add on 14 years to those ages and carry on!
“The majority of the stupid is invincible and guaranteed for all time. The terror of their tyranny, however, is alleviated by their lack of consistency. (http://izquotes.com/quote/226600)”―Albert Einstein (http://izquotes.com/author/albert-einstein)
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Jan Visser
Age: 43
Hometown: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Email: visserjan@hotmail.com
Occupation: Physicist
Homecourse: Noordwijk
Handicap: 4
Background: started golf in 1988 at a public course and have been fortunate live close to the Hoge Kleij
near Amersfoort where I became a member and there I began to appreciate the better courses more
and especially links courses. Moving to Amsterdam, I was lucky to be able to become a member at Noordwijk.
Last few years I made some really cool trips to the UK playing many good courses, which makes me want
to play more of them!
Favorite courses played: Royal St. Georges, courses at St. Andrews, courses at Bandon, Sunningdale, Prestwick, North Berwick
Wish list: 2016: Machrahanish in May and hopefully a return to Bandon in October.
overall: play many more links courses and the sand belt courses in Australia
Welcome Jan, are you still refereeing on the European Tour?
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Hi Tony,
Thanks! Always good to read things here, but often not enough time to really put some info back in.
Still every year the Dutch Open and a year and a half ago I did the World Match Play at
the London golf club. Mainly as a walking referee, which I really enjoyed!
Hope we meet again sometime. Invite to Noordwijk still stands!
Cheers,
Jan
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I see Mike Sweeney - my much taller brother, hanging with the homies on America's eastern wall, has updated his bio. Thus, it is time I updated my resume - if only to own up the rumors and admit all of the stories are probably true - except the parts having to do with the unnatural embrace of farmyard animals. I will admit to a kernel of truth in the the Rees Jones stories - the rest were grossly embellished. Originally, I received a Guest Pass from the Great Bahto and Brains Goodale; Moriarty and my unqualified hero Pat Mucci was nice enough to wave me past the velvet ropes. I don't consider Tommy N. anything less than my Italian twin - in turn, I have made him an honorary Armenian. To this day I NEVER wear a hat indoors, fearful that Sir Bob will scold me for improper manners. No matter how hard I try, I cannot stay mad at Barny - despite the fact he is a penis with golf spikes. We all miss the Huckster, and I'm told Dr. Childs is a brilliant conversationalist; one day I'll hopefully be smart enough to understand what he does for a living - having no clue how to map DNA cancer cells. I still live in a little hamlet near the San Francisco Airport, Her Redness is still directing films, to which I am the humble D.P. - I peddle veggies by day and my daughter is following dad and starting USC in the Fall. My ex-wife still hates me, my mother still loves me and despite decades of effort to the contrary, I still play a block-push, with ball flight so low it would make a Scotsman proud. I'm 56, an aging member at Olympic of only 42 years and still believe Raynor routed Cypress Point. Aside from that, I love you guys and cannot express how much fun this completely irrelevant site for nerds and loons has brought to my life.
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I love you guys and cannot express how much fun this completely irrelevant site for nerds and loons has brought to my life.
The feeling is entirely mutual.
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my daughter is following dad and starting USC in the Fall.
I am feeling a good Fall of 2016 OT college football threads. Let's get Patrick back on here and teach those SEC guys a lesson. I have some new weaponry in my arsenal. :)
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Hello all,
I believe I'm the newest member of the discussion board, so I thought I'd introduce myself. Here's my info:
Parker Page
Age: 34
Reside: Nashville
Occupation: Teacher/School Administrator
Index: 5
Family: Very understanding wife of 12 years and two kids (5 and 2)
Home Course: vagabond – the various Nashville municipal tracks; I'm also a panelist with Golf Digest, so I get much of my play that way
I grew up playing golf and played competitively until college. I always enjoyed golf courses, but I didn't pay much attention to architecture until after college. It's been a slow learning process since then with this site playing a major role in my education. I've been lurking on the site for some time, and I hope I don't foul anything up by joining the fray. I hope I also get a chance to meet some of you as the opportunity presents itself.
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Welcome Parker. Are you from the Nashville area originally? Favorite courses played?
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Mark-
No, I'm from Atlanta originally. Are you from Nashville? If you mean favorite courses in Nashville, it's The Golf Club of Tennessee by a decent margin. Then Richland, then Westhaven. If you count Sewanee and Sweetens Cove as being in the Nashville area, then they both go ahead of Golf Club. Were you asking specifically about Nashville or more broadly?
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Parker-Nashville and beyond. The Sewanee/Sweetens combo is pretty good!
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Pardon the interruption. Newest member here and wanted to introduce myself:
Name: Ben Smith
Age: 29
Current City: Houston, TX
Profession: Attorney
Index: 1.5
Home Course: Champions GC
Similar to most, I've been a fan a GCA for a long time. It's changed the way I perceive courses and I look forward to learning more from everyone here. I'm married to a general surgery resident so I get a pass to play on most weekends she is working. No kids, yet. Look forward to connecting to other members any time y'all are in Texas!
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Welcome Ben.
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Welcome, Ben.
I recently had the opportunity to play Champions. What a wonderful place. The course is great fun and I have to say I've never been to a clubhouse the fits in to the general vibe of a club more than Champions! I look forward to reading your posts.
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Welcome, Ben.
I recently had the opportunity to play Champions. What a wonderful place. The course is great fun and I have to say I've never been to a clubhouse the fits in to the general vibe of a club more than Champions! I look forward to reading your posts.
Thanks, Josh. Hopefully you got the chance to talk to Jackie.
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Name: Ari Marcus
Age: 24
Current City: Orlando, FL
Profession: Production Associate at Golf Channel
Index: 1
Home Course: Boca Rio Golf Club
I grew up in South Florida and currently reside in Orlando. I work at Golf Channel, working primarily on our "Live From" shows. I enjoy traveling to major championships and playing new golf courses. I am here on GCA to learn more about golf course architecture.
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Pardon the interruption. Newest member here and wanted to introduce myself:
Name: Ben Smith
Age: 29
Current City: Houston, TX
Profession: Attorney
Index: 1.5
Home Course: Champions GC
Similar to most, I've been a fan a GCA for a long time. It's changed the way I perceive courses and I look forward to learning more from everyone here. I'm married to a general surgery resident so I get a pass to play on most weekends she is working. No kids, yet. Look forward to connecting to other members any time y'all are in Texas!
Welcome Ben, note, some are already here counselor... 8) We're in The Woodlands, does your wife play??
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Welcome, Ben.
I recently had the opportunity to play Champions. What a wonderful place. The course is great fun and I have to say I've never been to a clubhouse the fits in to the general vibe of a club more than Champions! I look forward to reading your posts.
Thanks, Josh. Hopefully you got the chance to talk to Jackie.
Ben,
One of my favorite quotes from Mr. Burke's book is along this line:
A golf club filled with high handicap players is like a yacht club filled with people that can't sail.
Ken
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Hello All,
Longtime lurker, thought I would finally introduce myself, as Ran was nice enough to provide me a log in.
Michael Wolf
Age: 45
Reside: Birmingham, AL
Index: 7-11
Background: Grew up caddying at Clovernook in Cincinnati. Eventually became caddymaster while in college. Took an interest in achitecture from researching Clovernook's first head pro, Archie Simpson, and playing and looping in tournaments at most of the great courses around Ohio. I'm pro-Graeters and Camargo, anti-Skyline and Coldstream.
Current gig: Business manager for Tour players. Owner of 288 Sports. I'm on site at 6-8 events a year.
Personal GCA focus: My main area of concentration are the ties between great courses and the events and players they've hosted over time. I've been lucky enough to play all of the Rota courses, and almost all of Walker cup sites. Still plenty of US Open and USAm sites I'd like to visit. After 22 playing trips to the UK, I'm thinking it's getting to be time for my first trip to Oz.
It's nice to meet everyone electronically.
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Welcome, Michael! I'm a Cincinnati native myself, but anti-Skyline? C'MON! ;)
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Michael,
I'm in Austin TX now but I also grew up in Cincinnati (Loveland HS). My dad (Roger Bacon HS) learned the game while caddying at Clovernook. Dick Plummer, who would eventually become the longtime head pro at Camargo, was an assistant at Clovernook while my dad was there. I worked in the bag shop and caddied at Camargo for several years. I'm a vegetarian now, but ate two lifetimes' worth of Skyline growing up.
Nice job you have there...don't they usually say getting a job in the golf business is a great way to not play much golf? Doesn't seem to be true for you.
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Mr. Plummer must have been working for Frank Gelhot at Clovernook, the longtime pro before Bob Harrison. He would still occasionally come around in the mid 80's. Mr. Gelhot finished in last place in the 1939 US Open, making him the only player Ben Hogan finished ahead of!
Mr. Plummer was very generous in letting us play Camargo on Monday's. But most of the time we were asked to skip 1,9,10 and 18 if there were members expected in the clubhouse.
Jason Thurman has posted a nice write up on Clovernook already, and I know a GCA group visited the Nook and Hyde Park a couple of years ago. With a little encouragement, Clovernook could be brought up to almost Lawsonia level IMO. Although sadly it seems to be trending in the other direction.
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Yes we had to tread carefully around #9 and #10. No teeing off on #10 if there were members eating out on the patio. And no hitting approaches to #9 if there was anyone in that little pavilion...which is certainly understandable - a thinned shot could easily wind up in there! I definitely miss all the time I spent there. Unfortunately I've never played Clovernook or Hyde Park; I was hoping to get to that outing a few years ago but couldn't make it.
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Hello to Everyone,
Recent addition to this great site.
John Murray
McHenry, IL
Attorney - private practice now. Previous CPT in JAG Corps.
Index 2.3
Member - Geneva National (three courses - Palmer, Player, Trevino)
email: murrs15@yahoo.com
my website - www.thegolfsage.com (http://www.thegolfsage.com) - my public scrapbook of golf course pictures and reviews of my experiences. My website comes more from the perspective of what everyday golfers can expect at the courses I go to and what they will encounter as a player.
Look forward to learning from the experiences of each you and the different viewpoints of what makes golf and courses great or duds.
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Hello All,
Longtime lurker, thought I would finally introduce myself, as Ran was nice enough to provide me a log in.
Michael Wolf
Age: 45
Reside: Birmingham, AL
Index: 7-11
Background: Grew up caddying at Clovernook in Cincinnati. Eventually became caddymaster while in college. Took an interest in achitecture from researching Clovernook's first head pro, Archie Simpson, and playing and looping in tournaments at most of the great courses around Ohio. I'm pro-Graeters and Camargo, anti-Skyline and Coldstream.
Current gig: Business manager for Tour players. Owner of 288 Sports. I'm on site at 6-8 events a year.
Personal GCA focus: My main area of concentration are the ties between great courses and the events and players they've hosted over time. I've been lucky enough to play all of the Rota courses, and almost all of Walker cup sites. Still plenty of US Open and USAm sites I'd like to visit. After 22 playing trips to the UK, I'm thinking it's getting to be time for my first trip to Oz.
It's nice to meet everyone electronically.
Hi Michael
I'm interested in what you have learned about Achie Simpson's time in America. As you may or may not know, I wrote an article about him and his architectural achievements several years ago:
http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/The-Pioneer-Archie-Simpson
Please feel free to ping me if you want to chat off line, and hopefully we can meet some day.
Slainte Mhor
Rich Goodale
rfgoodale@gmail.com
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Welcome, Michael! I'm a Cincinnati native myself, but anti-Skyline? C'MON! ;)
I'm with Michael... I love Graeters Ice Cream and Camargo, but did not like the Skyline chili which is really just runny spaghetti sauce.
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Hi Everyone,
I'm a new addition to the group, as well. I've been poking around on the site for years now but thought I'd take the plunge into the discussion. Thrilled to be "official" now. Looking forward to some good conversation and hopefully crossing paths on the course.
George Smiltins
Cleveland, Ohio (grew up in Buffalo so Bills and Sabres are my teams but have been more than happy to adopt Indians and Cavs)
33
Retired Attorney (never practiced), now work as an administrator at a University.
Member at Canterbury Golf Club
4.2 index (feel more like a 10 right now)
email: smiltins@gmail.com - Feel free to get in touch if you want to play if you're in the area.
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Welcome, George! I like your choice of baseball and basketball teams!
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As a native Clevelander, I certainly agree. But the real questions is, which course do you prefer? I imagine it would be fun to have access to two courses with vastly different character.
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As a native Clevelander, I certainly agree. But the real questions is, which course do you prefer? I imagine it would be fun to have access to two courses with vastly different character.
I joined having only played Sand Ridge which I really like (Secluded. Easy walk. Generous driving areas) but Mayfield has really grown on me. I first played it on a cold March day without pins in the greens. Reached the 2nd tee and saw a fairway that looked like it was built on top of a department store with a green somewhere on the other side. I only played a few more holes due to time constraints and resigned myself to sticking to the other course. But I persisted (persisted being a key word as Mayfield is a very tough walk but still my preferred method of travel) and have been steadily acquiring the local knowledge needed to have a blast there. Very solid greens, too.
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Hi everyone,
I just wanted to introduce myself, as I'm a new member here. I've been lurking this discussion board for years, blown away by the input and knowledge shared here. You guys have really made me look at course and holes in a different manner. I'm from the Philadelphia area, Bucks County to be exact. I've played primarily public courses my entire playing career but am very intrigued by the new memebership pricing and structuring of Philmont Country Club, I hope to pull the trigger in the next few days. I really got the GCA bug right before my first visit to Pinehurst about 4 years ago, #2 is probably my favorite course I've ever played. I look forward to learning more and sharing some input of my own here. Thanks again to Ran for allowing me to join.
Bob Simons
38
Bucks County, PA.
Union Carpenter Superintendent
Index: 9.2
Simons6329@gmail.com
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I have posted way more than I informed Ran I would when he graciously allowed me to join so I should introduce myself properly:
Ira Fishman
Age 59
Bethesda, Maryland (but heart remains in the Chicago area of my youth)
Kenwood CC
Hope Valley
I do not keep a handicap because it is a foolproof way to say no when my wife wants to play in mixed couples events, but the pro says I am 13-14.
Chief Operating Officer for the National Football League Players Association
Thanks for inspiring me to plan seeing more courses.
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I will also add to the wave of newbies to post an introduction. I am now 41 and I feel like the only one in my generation that can say I learned the game on the sand greens of a small 9 holer in Montana. I was a former club pro. I was lucky enough to spend most of my time at Pumpkin Ridge GC - Witch Hollow. It was a great experience where I met a handful of you. After a back injury, I got into insurance simply because they were hiring. I have since moved to Scottsdale and am playing about 65 rounds a year throughout the western US. The handicap is on the rise, 3.3 after today's revision. I have spent the last 3 years reading your opinions about the great courses in the world. Your comments, review, and photos have inspired me to play more golf. I am honored to join such a knowledgeable group of golf course architecture aficionados.
Steve
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Longtime lurker. Saw too many threads that I wanted to comment on, so I eventually caved and joined!
Ryan Carey
founder, Green Jacket Auctions
Age: 36
Boston, MA (I'm new to Boston), originally Tampa, FL
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Live in New Orleans
46 years old
Married
7 year old daughter
Index bounces from .6-2.0 the last couple years.
Learned of the site from Ben Cowan (Michigan) while at a walking golfer event. Lurked for a while then decided to begin posting. If anyone comes around NOLA please give me a shout.
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Name: Ari Marcus
Age: 24
Current City: Orlando, FL
Profession: Production Associate at Golf Channel
Index: 1
Home Course: Boca Rio Golf Club
I grew up in South Florida and currently reside in Orlando. I work at Golf Channel, working primarily on our "Live From" shows. I enjoy traveling to major championships and playing new golf courses. I am here on GCA to learn more about golf course architecture.
Ari - I had the pleasure of playing your course a few years ago. It is a lovely walk.
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I'm new to the site after reading for about 6 months. Not enough playing experience to comment on many of the topics here but will if I have something to add. Thanks to the kind administrators for providing access!
Name: Brad Troy
Age: 36
Married with 2 boys (5 and 1)
Current City: Near Scranton, PA
Profession: College administrator
Index: 7.5
Home Course: CC of Scranton
Favorite Courses Played: Kapalua Plantation, Champions GC, Baltusrol Lower, CC of Scranton, Talking Stick North
Wish List: ...
bradjtroy@gmail.com
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Name: Peter Gannon[/size]Age: 43Married with 1 DaughterCurrent City: New York City and East Hampton, NYProfession: Advertising Music Supervisor Index: 6.2Home Course: Bethpage & Montauk DownsFavorite Courses Played: Pinehurst no 2, Mid Pines, Bethpage Red, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, LACC(North)Wish List: National Golf Links of America, North Berwick, Royal Dornoch, TOC
Hello GCA! Thank you Ran for adding me to the Group. I am another long time reader, but am excited to join in! Golf Club Atlas is truly unique, and hope it stays strong for many years!
My first introduction to golf was in the Pocono Mountains, but at age 10 my family moved us to Corpus Christi, Texas. I alternated my golf from the scrubby dunes of Padre Island Country Club (defunct) to the now dormant Kings Crossing Country Club (Bill Coore) and the inland, parkland Corpus Christi Country Club (RTJ Sr) My dad was in the catering business, so I worked the range, bag rooms, and occasional loop.
I went to the University of North Texas, where I worked at Eagle Point Golf Club for David Foster who was the UNT Men's Golf Coach. Yup, Eagle Point is now gone, as well. There might be a pattern here.
Years as a starving artist living in NYC kept me away from the game, but after entering a career in Advertising, I returned to playing. I lived in Portland, OR in 2011, and during that time played the courses at Bandon Dunes for the first time. Being a history minor, I was compelled to find out who the "MacDonald" in Old MacDonald referred to, and the course, and homage hooked me.
Today, I remain fascinated with aspects of design in respect to environments courses are built. How wind is considered, how to alter one's play; whether to hit a 5 iron high 175yds, or punch a 5 iron 125yds into 35 mph wind. I get excited by courses with variety, and greens that ask me to position the approach a certain way.
I've learned much from reading Golf Architecture in America, the Confidential Guides, Brad Klein, the GCA Feature Interviews, this board, and Course Guides. I equate an architect's design to works of art, or great pieces of music, with every artists' voice, humor, and intent there to be discovered. In the US, the NYC area also fascinates me in regards to the growth of the game in parallel with societal forces. The Gold Coast to the People's Country Club. All rich with history, sociology, art, commerce, and commentary of the game's progress. My greatest hope is to learn more about the architects, and ideally contribute to Friends of Montauk Downs, and see the restoration of the 4th hole to once again being the first!
I have a curious mind and know I have a lot to learn, but willing to be teachable with questions along the way.
Thanks all!
Peter Gannon
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Name: Greg Hohman Age: 57
Current domicile: San Diego CA
Profession: Writer (newmonumentsgc.com) with a day job
Family: partner Suzanne, no children
On a whim in 2009, I joined an outing organized by coworkers, became hooked. Books by Shackelford, Doak and Strawn were early influences. I have not warmed to Darwin, Feinstein, Jenkins, Rice, Wind, Wodehouse, &c., though I continue to sample. GCA lurker since about 2010, member since 2016 (who rarely posts): I’m here to learn – and live vicariously.
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Name: Greg Smith
Age: 53
Location: Smithsburg, MD (that's near Hagerstown, 75 mi W of Baltimore/DC)
Profession: Oncology nurse (Bone Marrow Transplant); @ Johns Hopkins
Home course at this point: Maryland National GC, Myersville, MD
Handicap: As a teenager I was an 8; now an 18
Favorite ODGs: MacDonald/Raynor/Banks
Also like: Langford, Herbert Strong
If could join any club in the world: Yeamans Hall
Started playing golf at age 10, and by age 17 I was at my best playing level. Grew up at a club in Fairfax, VA with a decent junior program, which meant I played 2-3 times per week in season. In adult life I have been too busy to practice much (if at all), and really can't justify a club membership playing only 5-6 rounds a season. That's OK -- the semi-private (or is it upscale public) I generally play at is a very reasonable venue, though it's a bit too modern for my taste.
I haven't the finances to be a well-traveled golfer, but I do consider myself a fairly well-read one. When I started playing the game as a boy, I took an immediate interest in the academic/architectural/historical side of things. In that era, naturally the original WAG was my lodestone. But I moved on from there and have become a bit of a book collector. My golf architecture library has really filled out nicely. I also collect art, but I'm pretty particular about what I'll have. If I can't find portrayals of a particular hole/routing map/etc, I'll usually just draw it myself in the field, or sketch it from photographs. My *other* degree before nursing was in architecture, BTW.
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Greg:
Glad you joined. Enjoy the site!
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- Name: Adam Tomasiello
- Residence: Durham, NC (~9 years)
- Hometown: Cromwell, CT (~17 years)
- Age: 26
- Occupation: College Admissions Officer, likely applying to business school this year
Background: Too many high school football injuries turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Doing somewhat of a 180, I immersed myself in the game of golf. I worked as outside staff at both public and private courses, picked up trash at the local Travelers Championship, found a job building, repairing, and selling used equipment at an eBay startup in Hartford, CT, served as a USGA Boatwright Intern for the Carolinas Golf Association, and even learned a little bit about golf course brokerage. I led the Duke Club Golf team as an undergraduate and now play in CGA events when I have the time.
A friend introduced me to GCA in college and I have been an addict since. Though I have not posted frequently, I read the site constantly and value all of the tips, advice and insight available here. It was a privilege to be added.
I currently track all of the courses I play (157 as of last week) and take notes on memorable holes, challenging shots, etc. Some of my favorites in that list include Shennecossett, Bethpage Black, Pinehurst #2, Pine Needles, Roaring Gap and Old South Golf Links (yes - big fan of Donald...).
My work in admissions has allowed me to travel quite a bit, and individual conversations with members on this site have led me to some really wonderful courses. Thanks to all who have enthusiastically replied to my messages! This fall in admissions I will be covering South Carolina and parts of Georgia/N. Florida. After work, I'll be shooting to play courses including Augusta CC, Timuquana, Yeoman's Hall, Greenville (Chanticleer), Camden CC and Musgrove Mill. Thanks to the many forums on this site, I know I have countless public backup options in tracks like Aiken, Forest Hills, and so many more.
I look forward to continuing to dig into this site and again appreciate all of the input by our veteran members. Your tips make a real difference for someone starting their golf course architecture journey.
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Another victim! Welcome. Don't be shy...
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Hello gents. I am new to the site and thought I would introduce myself. I have been lurking around GCA for quite a while now, so it was about time I join the discussion. I have a lot to learn, but I am thankful to be a part of this incredible website. I look forward to contributing when I can.
Name: Conley Hurst
Age: 22
Hometown: Little Rock, AR
Current Residence: Oxford, England
Home Course: Country Club of Little Rock
Current Handicap: +0.2
Background: Watching the 2006 Masters was my first exposure to golf (and golf architecture), and I have been hooked ever since. Indeed, it was architecture that first drove my interest in the game. I dreamed of becoming a course architect and would spend my evenings sketching out course designs on butcher paper. As a junior golfer, I spent my summers traveling around the South with my parents competing in tournaments, an experience that exposed me to a wide range of courses. I was lucky enough to attend Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where I studied history and was captain of the golf team for two of my four years. I graduated from W&L this past May and am now pursing an M.St. in U.S. History at Oxford. I am playing golf here for the Oxford University Golf Club, an unbelievable experience to put it mildly, particularly on the golf architecture front.
Favorite courses I've played so far: Cypress Point, Winged Foot West, Pinehurst No.2, Homestead Cascades, Old Town Club, Royal St. George's, Royal Porthcawl, Old Memorial, Pasatiempo, Texarkana CC (literally obsessed)
*selected* Wishlist: Shinnecock Hills, NGLA, Somerset Hills, Bandon, LACC, The Old Course, Swinley Forest, Royal Melbourne
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Welcome, Conley.
I see that Swinley is on your wish list. Great course, but don't miss Sunningdale (both courses) while you are there. Colt architecture at its best!
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Thanks, Jim. I actually played Sunningdale Old with my dad in September. Such a world-class collection of short par 4s. I'll be back for our OUGC fixture there in February, and I am looking forward to seeing the New. The debate over which is the superior course is alive and well here in England, as I've noticed.
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Been following this board for about 10 years and finally joined up this summer. Thanks to Ran for letting me participate.
Phil Carlucci
Age: 35
Current City: Massapequa Park, NY (five minutes from Bethpage)
Home Course: None
Favorite Courses Played: Bethpage Black one July 4th afternoon -- nobody ahead, nobody behind
I started a website called Golf On Long Island in 2008 when I wanted to start playing more courses but realized there was no adequate online resource for finding out about all of the Island's public courses. Started reading GCA around the same time. The site continues to serve as a resource for public golfers and promote local golf.
I'm also a local-history buff and two years ago published a photo-history book called "Images of America: Long Island Golf." Spent a few months traveling around Long Island meeting some interesting, dedicated people -- both in and out of the golf world. A few GCA posters offered some guidance along the way.
Picked up golf when I was 14 -- my grandfather took me to an open field with an ancient driver and a 7-iron, and that was all it took. Started out playing nine-hole munis in the mid-1990s when the waits were two hours. Love the sport -- if I could figure out how to break 90 consistently, I'd love it more...
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Hello gents. I am new to the site and thought I would introduce myself. I have been lurking around GCA for quite a while now, so it was about time I join the discussion. I have a lot to learn, but I am thankful to be a part of this incredible website. I look forward to contributing when I can.
Name: Conley Hurst
Age: 22
Hometown: Little Rock, AR
Current Residence: Oxford, England
Home Course: Country Club of Little Rock
Current Handicap: +0.2
Background: Watching the 2006 Masters was my first exposure to golf (and golf architecture), and I have been hooked ever since. Indeed, it was architecture that first drove my interest in the game. I dreamed of becoming a course architect and would spend my evenings sketching out course designs on butcher paper. As a junior golfer, I spent my summers traveling around the South with my parents competing in tournaments, an experience that exposed me to a wide range of courses. I was lucky enough to attend Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where I studied history and was captain of the golf team for two of my four years. I graduated from W&L this past May and am now pursing an M.St. in U.S. History at Oxford. I am playing golf here for the Oxford University Golf Club, an unbelievable experience to put it mildly, particularly on the golf architecture front.
Favorite courses I've played so far: Cypress Point, Winged Foot West, Pinehurst No.2, Homestead Cascades, Old Town Club, Royal St. George's, Royal Porthcawl, Old Memorial, Pasatiempo, Texarkana CC (literally obsessed)
*selected* Wishlist: Shinnecock Hills, NGLA, Somerset Hills, Bandon, LACC, The Old Course, Swinley Forest, Royal Melbourne
GO GENNIES!
Welcome Conley!
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Hello all. I’ve been a keen reader of this site for some time and am very grateful to Ran for his kind invitation to join the group. I’m sure I’ll continue to do a lot more reading than posting, but here’s a brief introduction:
Name: James Reader
Age: 47
Hometown: Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, England
Member of Huddersfield and Sherwood Forest Golf Clubs
Current handicap: 7
Occupation: Insurance company CEO
Favourite courses played (in no particular order): North Berwick, Kingsbarns, Silloth, Royal St George’s, Deal, Swinley Forest, Hollinwell, Woodhall Spa, Alwoodley.... and Sherwood Forest (OK, I know Tom Doak wasn’t keen, but I’ve been a member for over 35 years and love the place)
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Conley I hope Oxford is going well, you are settled into playing first team golf and up for the Varsity Match at Royal Porthcawl.
Mark your RSG guide!
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So after years of reading, I am now being more proactive in writing replies and posts, so here goes.
Name: Justin Houlihan
Age: 36 (37 in January)
Hometown: Wabash Indiana
Current city: Glendale/Phoenix AZ
Job: Registered Nurse
Home club: None
Handicap: 10
Email justin.houlihan.2011@gmail.com
765-620-0223
I grew up in a small town playing the same 3 courses for about 98% of rounds played until high school was complete. After starting college I had many free hours in the middle of days Monday through Friday. This allowed me to study (which i did some) and also to practice and play golf between classes. I went from barely breaking 100 when graduating high school, to shooting a +1/ 73 my junior year of college.
I then graduated and moved to Chicago from 2009 to 2015. Here I joined GCA and met some amazing folks both online and in person. I played much less golf while living downtown. I did own a car and did get to the suburbs but a quick 9-18 was just not possible like in the past. I appreciated playing more, especially when getting to play at locations I previously thought were not possible. Playing at Flossmoor and Black Sheep with GCA members opened my eyes to what great golf resides within 90 minutes of the downtown hustle and bustle.
In 2015 I moved to Glendale/Phoenix and have loved the move 100%. Summers are hot and winter temperatures allows you to play all 12 months without a break (many of which in shorts/pullover). I have been lucky enough to again meet and play with several GCA members here as well. This summer making the plunge and taking my first "golf only" trip ever. Here I joined past GCA members and many new members at the 5th major is Dismal River Nebraska. The drive from Denver was more that more worth the wait. Along the way I was also able to play Ballyneal CO, Prairie Club NE, and Wild Horse NE. Each of the 3 were great, but nothing compared to my time at Ballyneal. I had been looking forward to the trip for months and it did not disappoint. I look forward to 2018 and my next "golf only" trip. Now to decide on the location!
Play as often as you can and I look forward to meeting many of you on the first tee!
Justin
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Brock Peyer
age: 31
email: bndpeyer@hotmail.com
wife: Deanna
13 month old daughter: Palmer
occupation: Mortgage Consultant
I started playing seriously after the 86 Masters with my Dad and have worked at 5 different courses while in high school and college in KY and NC, most notably Porters Neck in Wilmington, NC, a Fazio course, and Cape Fear CC also in Wilmington, a Ross. I used to play 300+ times a year and was scratch but now play 10-15 times a year and am happy to break 80. I can't wait for the day until I can take my daughter to the driving range with me. I haven't played alot of the classic courses but now that I don't play much I am trying to play one or two great courses a year.
I don't get on here much very much these days but this thread is intriguing to learn some new names but also to peer back a few years. My Daughter, Palmer is now 15 and can hit her driver 200 yds and my son, Ross, now 10, can hit his about 140. Incredible how life has changed, while I still don't play much golf, I am thankful to have played many great courses and nearly everything here in Atlanta. In addition, over the years, it is great to have developed many wonderful friendships with the knuckleheads on this site.
Updated info:
Occupation: Commercial Banker
Email: Brock.Peyer@gmail.com
Phone: 404-502-3078
Hit me up if you're ever in town.
Merry Christmas, Happy holidays.
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Brock,
What's your dogs name...Raynor?
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Brock,
What's your dogs name...Raynor?
Brock-You named your daughter after Palmer the player and not the architect right? ;)
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Hey, let’s not indict our guy Brock. I’m an elected and unabashed Democrat. My two daughters are named Hilary and Chelsea. When I first met Bill Clinton in 1991 (the girls were 4 and 6) he was amused. I quickly reminded him that I had just met him, so I wasn’t thinking Clinton when we decided on their names. Accidents happen.
I’ll wait for Brock to tell us if his dad was a Cubs hating Cardinals fan. 🤮
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I’ll wait for Brock to tell us if his dad was a Cubs hating Cardinals fan. 🤮
Good thought, but it's my understanding that his dad stole the name from Ludwig von Brockenhorst, a famous 17th century robber baron from the Basque region.
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Hello gentleman, like many here, I've been a lurking reader for years and finally decided to get in on the discussion. Thanks to Ran for allowing me in.
Jake Marvin
Age 19
Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Residence: St. Paul, MN/South Bend, IN
Home Courses: Keller Golf Course (MN), The Warren Course (IN)
Handicap: In the neighborhood of 5-7, ask me when the snow melts.
I picked up the game on the pasture courses in the far northern reaches of Minnesota and the Dakotas and was hooked by the time I was eight or nine. I was never much of a competitive golfer and enjoyed the courses at least as much as the playing of the game itself. I've been lucky to play quite a few fantastic courses (my top ten thus far includes the lost course at Sutton Bay, Sweetens Cove, Tobacco Road, The Straits, Lawsonia Links, Sand Valley, Mid Pines, Streamsong Red, Dormie, and the Quarry at Giants Ridge), but through my reading I've built a bucket list of sorts - a highly unrealistic one that contains several hundred courses at this point and seems to grow faster than it can be attacked. At present, I'm a student in finance and economics at Notre Dame, and I invest and write on the side. In 2018, I've got plans to see a bunch of courses in the Great Lakes area, including Culver, Stoatin Brae, Moraine, and Kankakee Elks, and I'm excited to broaden my knowledge of golf course architecture and learn from everybody here.
Wishlist (among many others): Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Shinnecock, NGLA, TOC, Merion, Sand Hills
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I’ll wait for Brock to tell us if his dad was a Cubs hating Cardinals fan. 🤮
Good thought, but it's my understanding that his dad stole the name from Ludwig von Brockenhorst, a famous 17th century robber baron from the Basque region.
Jim, if he was Australian...........the home of massive numbers of Brocks, his name would be traced back to this bloke.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Brock
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Michael Sweeney
Age: 39, married with 2 boys 4 and 6 years old
Home: New York City
Home Course: Yale Golf Club
Ireland "Home" Course: Enniscrone Golf Club, Co Sligo
I grew up in Philadelphia area and played on the St Joe's Prep golf team. I was fortunate to play Merion Golf Club as a guest numerous times with a golf teammate that I still visit at least once or twice a year. Our home course at St Joe's was Cobbs Creek, Hugh Wilson's only other design other than Merion East and West. I still think the West at Merion is very underated.
Moved to New York City after graduate school at Cornell where I played often on the RT Jones Course at Cornell despite the weather. I have been lucky enough to play many of the great courses around the Met area, especially out on The East End where we are just about to sell our second home to be closer to my wife's family in Connecticut. There is lots written here about NGLA, and I can only tell you that it is all true. It is my favorite course in the world, but I still have a lot more comparison shopping to do.
I am very open to taking GCAers to Yale so don't be afraid to ask. I have also played The Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda, and obviously CB MacDonald is my favorite architect. I joined Enniscrone in Ireland after taking a trip to Sand Hills last summer. At Sand Hills, there was a father playing with his son on a retreat and so I decided to create a similar atmosphere for my son's and I at Enniscrone, where we can get away from the daily pace of life and play golf in a remote corner of the world.
I also want to acknowledge Ran. I have a slim idea of how much work it takes to keep this going, and it is appreciated.
Holy cow!!
Not much has changed, however:
- Son #1 and I have never made it to Ireland, but perhaps in 2019 when he graduates from college. He has caught the golf bug, which is nice, see below.
- Son #2 is Special Needs, and I have been working on his caddying skills in Maine - https://www.instagram.com/p/BbDC8XKFVoF/?taken-by=mikesweeney51 (https://www.instagram.com/p/BbDC8XKFVoF/?taken-by=mikesweeney51)
- I now prefer The West over the now closed Merion East. Let's see what happens on the other side of the Merion renovation.
- Cobbs Creek is now cool via Mike Cirba and Joe Bausche :)
- First wife is still a "golf widow"
I still appreciate Ran for keeping this going. That dude has a serious golf problem. :)
Happy New Year.
(https://cvws.icloud-content.com/CAEQARoQnGVKM6jIZqRN85ro-dBrlA/01a717c5ab53568df898889a4fa9b093b12c843672/IMG_0437.jpg?v=0&z=https://p25-content.icloud.com:443&x=1&a=BkzHAAZCw4Io3kokdZPg0Q2y1teXA8UyQQEAAA%3D%3D&e=1518674212000&r=3e7ddf59-de43-4310-ac7a-bb60dd8f144e-29&c=&s=XTMbXGyKo1Yd3tVNpIN3p-gzDVE)
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name: Brad Tufts
from: Marblehead, MA (20 mi. N of Boston)
attended: Marblehead HS '99, Middlebury College '03
occupation: salesman of Tuition Insurance
club: Tedesco Country Club
handicap: 0
age: 29
Married to fellow Midd grad Laura, no kids so far.
What should you know? Golf Digest Panelist, wrote my senior history thesis on American Golf Course Architecture. Lover of the Golden Age, Ross especially, and the hidden gem. Collector of vintage scorecards (I have about 2500 stymie-era cards). Tournament player, have made match play in the Mass Amateur in 2005, 2009 and 2010, winner of two club championships (and runner-up in 4 others, dammit). I've played over 550 courses in several countries and half of our states, and I'm always looking to add some more. Introduced at least three others to GCA at my insistence...Ryan Simper, Mitch St. Peter, and my brother Roger.
Please ask if you are passing through Boston and you want golf venue advice, a round at Tedesco, or to know if you are getting hosed on the price of Red Sox tickets!
I would also like to come back in a future life as John Mayhugh.
Updates to these are always interesting!
Now 36, with two kiddos, Addy 5.5 and Jack 18 months. Still at Tedesco, and I have added three more club champs, and I made the quarters in the Mass Am in 2012. I'm up to about 750 courses played in 43 states, and I still aspire to be Mayhugh!
I've been involved in a Ron Forse resto-reno project at Tedesco the last several years, which will be finished next Spring. It's been a blast to get to know Ron a little and to see what goes into a project of this scale.
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Name: Cory Lewis
Age: 28
Location: Wilmington,DE
Married
HDCP: 0
Occupation: 1st Assistant Golf Professional, DuPont Country Club
After reading Brad & Mike's updates, I figured I should do one as well. My last update was 9 years ago. It's amazing how time flies. I'm still married, just not to the same person ;D
I moved to North Carolina in 2010 and am currently the Head Golf Professional at Little River Golf & Resort in the Pinehurst area. I played my 1000th course in 2012 and did a thread on GCA about my journey. Little did I know that this would result in my being called "the thousand course guy" at GCA gatherings for the next several years.
I'm currently at 1350 courses played and hope to get to 2000 in 8 years. I probably will not do another thread when I get there ;) As always many thanks to Ran for creating this wonderful site. I've played golf with at least 100 people from this site and have many lifelong friends because of it.
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Name: Adam Uttley
Age: 38
Married with two girls (6 & 4)
Live: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK
Profession: CFO of a cancer charity
Hdcp: 5
Home Courses: Centurion Club and Woodhall Spa
Favourite courses: Prestwick, New Zealand, Kingston Heath, Cape Wickham, Pasatiempo, Swinley
As with others, I have been lurking for quite a few years with very occasional posts. I found GCA as a resource to planning trips and it has opened my eyes to different types of courses and the thinking behind them. Sean’s Course tours are a marvel.
It is also now a good antidote from the conversations with my normal golfing buddies where I often feel I’m banging my head against a brick wall. I wish I had a pound for every time I had tried, but failed, to explain that ‘good’ does not just equate to ‘well conditioned’ or that playing the back tees of a great course you aren’t seeing the course as it was intended.
Finally, thanks to the wonderful piece by Guy Bennett and John Churchill on Sunningdale, I have begun to be really interested in the history of courses and often spend my time on google maps trying to see what remains of old routings or courses (eg Addington New).
At the moment I don’t tend to get involved in the discussions much, but hopefully I will have something to add in the future. I feel like the GCA equivalent of that 28 handicapper playing with a group scratch players and ignorantly shouting ‘great shot’, only to see the ball sail out of bounds!
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Hello all. I’ve been a keen reader of this site for some time and am very grateful to Ran for his kind invitation to join the group. I’m sure I’ll continue to do a lot more reading than posting, but here’s a brief introduction:
Name: James Reader
Age: 47
Hometown: Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, England
Member of Huddersfield and Sherwood Forest Golf Clubs
Current handicap: 7
Occupation: Insurance company CEO
Favourite courses played (in no particular order): North Berwick, Kingsbarns, Silloth, Royal St George’s, Deal, Swinley Forest, Hollinwell, Woodhall Spa, Alwoodley.... and Sherwood Forest (OK, I know Tom Doak wasn’t keen, but I’ve been a member for over 35 years and love the place)
I didn't expect to find anyone else from the Calder Valley on here. I was born and bred in Mytholmroyd and learned the game at Ryburn Golf Club where you need one leg longer than the other. I'm now down south but generally up every month or so. I agree with you on Sherwood, I absolutely loved the course.
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Name: Matthew DeVito
Age: 24
Hometown: Hoboken, NJ
Occupation: Financial Analyst (Morgan Stanley)
Member of Montclair Golf Club
Handicap: +1
I am an avid player who was introduced to the game at a very young age by my dad. I have been fortunate to play some of the great clubs in the US and Scotland. My favorites are PV, Merion, Seminole, TOC, Dornoch and Lahinch. Having the opportunity to play some of the golden age courses like PV and Merion has really opened my eyes to the intricacies of golf design. As an above average player I enjoy playing courses that find ways to challenge players beyond some of the typical defenses such as length
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Name: Matthew DeVito
Age: 24
Hometown: Hoboken, NJ
Occupation: Financial Analyst (Morgan Stanley)
Member of Montclair Golf Club
Handicap: +1
I am an avid player who was introduced to the game at a very young age by my dad. I have been fortunate to play some of the great clubs in the US and Scotland. My favorites are PV, Merion, Seminole, TOC, Dornoch and Lahinch. Having the opportunity to play some of the golden age courses like PV and Merion has really opened my eyes to the intricacies of golf design. As an above average player I enjoy playing courses that find ways to challenge players beyond some of the typical defenses such as length
Matt-Montclair’s par 5 10th hole on the 3,4 nines is one of my favorites anywhere. The way Banks sited the green is fantastic.
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My original was in 2004:
Steve Shaffer aka/formerly known as acer2xAmbler, PA(suburban Philadelphia)Age:59Occupation: Attorney("tassel shoed trial attorney")Handicap Index:13.4Club: Social member at Talamore at Oak Terrace, formerly member at Commonwealth National where I served on Greens Committee and Board of Governors,currently contemplating a new club affiliation. I returned to golf after a long hiatus in 1988. I grew up in Philadelphia playing the munis-Cobbs Creek, Juniata and Walnut Lane- and banging balls over the fence at Burholme Park driving range.Shell's WWG was an eye opener for me. I watched it religiously.I used to sketch golf holes in some of the more interesting high school classes. I learned how to play better golf from my room mate at Penn State. He was a scratch golfer from Bethpage, NY. In law school, I played mostly at Walnut Lane. An injury caused my long hiatus. Since I returned to golf, I have immersed myself into the game and courses. I try to visit AZ and FL every winter and try out the new courses there. I thought I knew a fair amount until I came here. This site has been and continues to be a great learning experience for me. I now have read Tom Doak's Confidential Guide and will soon read Discovering Donald Ross, The Life and Work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie, The Evangelist of Golf and The Golden Age of Golf Design. I am a charter member of The Shivas Irons Society.
Now, I've retired and relocated to the Arizona Desert in The Valley of the Sun, full time beginning in 2012 and as a snow bird before then from 2010. No longer a member of a private club but am a resident golf member in an "active adult" residential golf community with 45 holes of " senior friendly" golf and 9 more to open by the end of 2018. I'm Vice- Chair of our Golf Committee where we oversee course conditions. We currently register 110,000+ rounds and are very busy from November to May.
Some thoughts on golf architecture:
I miss the classic courses of the East Coast. The closest I've come here is Red Lawrence's Desert Forest- before and after- and Harry Collis' Phoenix CC. Maybe Papago too.
I'd rather play Hidden Creek than Galloway.
I really enjoyed Goat Hill Park.
I'd like to build a MacRaynorBanks course in the desert.
Some fun courses I've played:
Merion West
LuLu
Lakota Canyon
Forsgate
Elephant Rocks
Lederach
North Shore(Long Island)
I won't name drop the more famous courses I've played over the years.
2016 was my favorite year in golf- 3 holes in one and 2 eagles on par4s! Since then, due to injuries and illness, my game has been sporadic but still exhibits flashes of brilliance, on occasion. The older I get, the better I used to be.
My international golf experiences have been limited to Mexico and Bermuda. I intend to remedy that very soon.
I continue to read about golf and the business of golf. I own the Life magazine issue featuring Ben Hogan's Secret. I'm still searching for it but I believe " it's in the dirt."
I've met many GCA members over the years and look forward to meeting many more.
In case anyone is interested, the avatar is of William Flynn.
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Steve, we ain't getting any younger. I hope you begin to fill out that international dance card this year. Ireland and Scotland are the logical choices to start, but OZ is obviously incredible as well. Mr. Warne would certainly be the best consult for Ireland, IMHO. ;D
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Age: 39 (until March)
Currently Reside: Erie, PA
Hometown: North East, PA (in Erie county)
Occupation: Golf - Instructor, trainer/teacher of other instructors, writer, software developer, website owner, college coach… etc.
Handicap: +1
Family: Wife (13 years), daughter (step-daughter technically) of 15 years.
Background: I was late to the game, compared to many here. I played a lot of soccer and became quite good at it from age 3 onward. When I was 13, I attended a two-hour golf camp with my cousin. We hit drivers or 5W or whatever for an hour, and then chipped and putted for an hour. I played a little baseball too, and the sight of seeing the ball go so far (even if it was only 140 yards or whatever) hooked me right away. I bought a 7-iron from the local course and practiced all winter, reading everything I could during the snowy months and walking a quarter mile to the soccer fields to hit balls whenever I could. I used my Christmas AND birthday money that winter to buy a set of Jack Nicklaus MacGregor VIP Tourney muscle back irons and persimmon woods from my great uncle (his grandson had already lost the 6-iron, somehow) and joined the local course for $150 that summer. I think my average round cost worked out to about $0.34, even if I had to bike the three miles to the course when I couldn't catch a ride. :) I think, ultimately, I simply liked the individual nature of the game - nobody on your team could screw things up for you, and when you did screw up, you had only yourself to blame. If you worked hard, you could get better, and reap the rewards. I liked that.
I, like many here, would sketch golf holes on my notebooks. I've always appreciated the way a golf course is built - the way it makes you feel, the challenges it asks of you, or the questions… the way your play can change and shift over time or because of different conditions, etc. One of my fondest memories is as a 17-year-old trying to get a quick 18 in before sunset… I'd finished the front nine in about 1:15, and was on track to finish in the twilight, until I got to #11 and saw about 10-15 deer - not anything special; I'd see them all the time as a kid - in the 11th fairway just grazing and walking about. I stopped and sat on a bench and watched them until it would have been too dark to return had I not known every inch of the way back to the clubhouse.
I'm fairly well accomplished as an instructor, but as well as I've done there I've not had the opportunity until now to really go beyond the sketches on my notebooks re: design. I will likely not speak much about design, as I know next to nothing, but look forward to reading a lot, and poking my head in only on the topics where I have an opinion worth (I hope so, anyway!) sharing. I often come off differently than how I am in real life, because I assure you that even though I may disagree with anyone from time to time, we all have the wonderful, wonderful game of golf in common, and through that, are all brothers (and sisters), and I'd happily share a round with anyone here.
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Name: Scott Senior
Age: 49
Hometown: Saddle River, New Jersey
Occupation: Volkswagen Dealer
Member of The Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, NJ
Handicap: 10
Officially new to the site (although I have followed the discussion group for several years).
I will certainly lurk more then I'll ever post...and learn here more then I would ever be able to teach.
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Name: Scott Senior
Age: 49
Hometown: Saddle River, New Jersey
Occupation: Volkswagen Dealer
Member of The Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, NJ
Handicap: 10
Officially new to the site (although I have followed the discussion group for several years).
I will certainly lurk more then I'll ever post...and learn here more then I would ever be able to teach.
Scott-Welcome to GCA. You are a lucky guy to be a member at Ridgewood!
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Hello All,
I just joined a few days ago and stumbled across this thread.
Name: Nick Prafke
Age: 33
Occupation: Engineer/Project Manager
Home Course: Butte Des Morts CC - Appleton, WI
Index: 1
Originally from Ludington, MI attended Michigan State and just moved to Wisconsin last year.
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Not sure if anyone cares, but I posted a bit about myself below. I enjoyed reading this thread the last couple days. Impressive group! 8)
Name: Jeff Schley
Age: 44
Marital Status: Never married, no kids (haven't been blessed)
Live: Saudi Arabia
Profession: Run University Relations for Saudi Aramco
Hdcp: 12
Home Courses: Rolling Hills GC, Dhahran - Saudi Arabia
Favourite courses: Chicago GC, Baltursol, Pacific Dunes, Winged Foot, Innwood in Joliet, Ill. only course I ever played growing up as my dad worked there part time..
From Chicago area and go back to see my family there a couple times a year. Love being Uncle Jeff and I'm the Godfather to 4 of my 6 nieces/nephews . Big Chicago Bears / Cubs fan.
I played football and baseball in college graduating from the University of Iowa. My dad was a coach so I always wanted to follow him so I coached college football for 4 years, one at Midwestern State Univ. in Texas, then 3 at UCLA. Got my masters from UCLA as well and that was a great school. Thought coaching was what I wanted to do until I realized I didn't want a profession where you get fired through no fault of your own. )
Left to become a teacher and coach in So Cal teaching special education for 7 years then took a mission trip with my church and decided I wanted to teach overseas. Almost went to the Philippines, but stumbled onto this oil company in the middle east and I ended up here in 2008. After 2 years teaching, been running their University Collaboration Office ever since. Got an MBA a couple years ago from the Hong Kong University of S&T and almost made another career change, but here for now.
Love to travel, gamble-poker & blackjack, euchre, scuba dive, snow ski, strat-o-matic NFL football (ANYONE PLAY? We play here in KSA), active in Catholic Church and charities when I am able over here, NFL, MLB, college football, classical music, and of course golf. I really love to travel and play golf and being here in the middle east makes it so close to places so far from the states. My lowest handicap I have ever been was an 8 and that was like 25 lbs. ago. ;D
I have always observed golf course topography and architecture while playing and as we all do, critique the course as I go. Often making excuses for my poor shots. ;D I found this website numerous times over the years in my google searches and glad to finally join and learn from the various threads. Looking forward to being part of the social get together s when able and even perhaps put a few on myself if I can figure it out here in the Middle East.
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Name: Jason Thompson
Age: 46
Married
Live: East Liverpool, Ohio (between Pittsburgh and Youngstown)
Profession: Former bond trader turned photographer and real estate investor.
Hdcp: 9
Home Courses: Mill Creek (Ross)
Favorite courses: Muirfield, Oakmont, Pacific Dunes, Sand Hollow, Greywalls.
I've met several in the group already via Summer Ball last year and at prior Walking Golfer Society events. I think the first person I met from GCA was Mike Cirba, when over lunch he casually mentioned his 1000th course played was Muirfield. This told me a couple things: 1. I have found a great group of people to learn from and hopefully play more golf with. 2. Any fears that I had I was spending too much time thinking about or playing the game are entirely unfounded.
I've lived most of my life in Ohio, most of which until recently was in Columbus, where I still spend a fair amount of time via work.
I have played golf since I was 15 when my grandfather took me out on an April afternoon to play 9 holes when he knew the course would be mostly empty. The bad news for him was that he missed watching a 46 year old from Columbus winning his final green jacket. The good news was that I've loved the game ever since.
My interest in golf courses and architecture started in earnest only about six years ago. Up until that point I had always enjoyed travel and seeing different courses but I never really gave much thought to what made a hole or course great. For my 40th birthday we took a trip to Bandon Dunes and experiencing the four courses, playing those kind of firm and fast conditions for the first time, all while discussing the nuances of each course with my caddy, left me wanting to learn more about how courses are designed. A trip a couple years back to Scotland and Northern Ireland only heightened my interest further about architecture.
Those of you who I've met know that I'm always up for a game. It doesn't much matter to me if the course is public, private or whatever; if either the company or the course is fun, I'm there! On the same token, if any of you find yourself in eastern Ohio and want to play just let me know. My backyard is a slightly rough-around-the-edges 9-hole layout by Willie Park Jr., East Liverpool CC. I'm best reached at (614)330-0226
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Name: Jason Thompson
Age: 46
Married
Live: East Liverpool, Ohio (between Pittsburgh and Youngstown)
Profession: Former bond trader turned photographer and real estate investor.
Hdcp: 9
Home Courses: Mill Creek (Ross)
Favorite courses: Muirfield, Oakmont, Pacific Dunes, Sand Hollow, Greywalls.
I've met several in the group already via Summer Ball last year and at prior Walking Golfer Society events. I think the first person I met from GCA was Mike Cirba, when over lunch he casually mentioned his 1000th course played was Muirfield. This told me a couple things: 1. I have found a great group of people to learn from and hopefully play more golf with. 2. Any fears that I had I was spending too much time thinking about or playing the game are entirely unfounded.
I've lived most of my life in Ohio, most of which until recently was in Columbus, where I still spend a fair amount of time via work.
I have played golf since I was 15 when my grandfather took me out on an April afternoon to play 9 holes when he knew the course would be mostly empty. The bad news for him was that he missed watching a 46 year old from Columbus winning his final green jacket. The good news was that I've loved the game ever since.
My interest in golf courses and architecture started in earnest only about six years ago. Up until that point I had always enjoyed travel and seeing different courses but I never really gave much thought to what made a hole or course great. For my 40th birthday we took a trip to Bandon Dunes and experiencing the four courses, playing those kind of firm and fast conditions for the first time, all while discussing the nuances of each course with my caddy, left me wanting to learn more about how courses are designed. A trip a couple years back to Scotland and Northern Ireland only heightened my interest further about architecture.
Those of you who I've met know that I'm always up for a game. It doesn't much matter to me if the course is public, private or whatever; if either the company or the course is fun, I'm there! On the same token, if any of you find yourself in eastern Ohio and want to play just let me know. My backyard is a slightly rough-around-the-edges 9-hole layout by Willie Park Jr., East Liverpool CC. I'm best reached at (614)330-0226
Jason-That is a great first post. Welcome to the Discussion group. For your grandfather to have brought you out on Masters Sunday with Ohio’s favorite son in the mix says all we need to know about him. Sounds like an amazing guy. Enjoy and post often!!!!
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Name: Doug Lionberger
Age: 33
Married with three kids (6, 4 and 1)
Live: Houston, Texas
Profession: Capital Markets/M&A Attorney
Handicap: 12
Home Course: Champions Golf Club
Favorite Courses: Oakmont, Bethpage Black, California Golf Club of San Francisco, Champions – Cypress Creek, Bandon Trails, Pacific Dunes
I grew up in the suburbs of Houston and really started golfing when I was 16 and worked as a cart boy at a country club (Weston Lakes in Fulshear, Tx). The course allowed us to play as much golf for free as we wanted. I played high school golf my junior and seniors year but frankly was never very good (mainly played to hang out with my friends who all played golf). I then went to college at Texas A&M and law school at the University of California – Berkeley where I did not play much golf for whatever reason. We move to New York City when I started practicing law and I began golfing at Bethpage on the weekends as a way to relax and do something I loved again. We moved back to Houston, Tx in 2012 when our first son was born and I began working on my game again to get my handicap below a 14 so I could join Champions which I finally did in 2013. In 2014 we had our second child and my time to golf became severely limited. To help satisfy my golf fix I became very interested in golf history and golf course architecture which is how I found this site. I’ve begun golfing regularly again this year and hope to get my handicap back into the single digits and be able to get out and travel more to play some of America’s great courses.
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Name: Edward Glidewell
Age: 34
Live: Atlanta, GA
Profession: Attorney
Handicap: 15
Home course: Don't have one at the moment
Favorite courses I've played: Sedgefield CC Ross, Dormie Club, Bull's Bay, Caledonia, Old Tabby Links, Augusta CC
I'm originally from Greensboro, NC and went to undergrad at the University of North Carolina. Attended law school at Mercer University in Macon, GA and then moved to Atlanta. I didn't really play golf as a kid (unfortunately, since I could have played Sedgefield as much as I wanted and would probably be a much better golfer now); basketball was my main sport. I started playing regularly in law school and although I'd love to play several times a month now, my friends that do play rarely have any time available on weekends. Most of my yearly golf is clustered around trips to the beach where I play daily.
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Welcome Doug and Edward!
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Who are Bill Charles and Nick Ribeiro? Are they plants from the Refuge here to destroy this site? Enough is enough. When Tom Doak starts a heart felt thread about his visit to Crooked Stick for the Alice Dye memorial and even it becomes unreadable you have to question what is going on. Or maybe I am wrong.
So Bill and Nick...How about a little history on who you are?
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My name is William Charles. I’ve played many different golf courses but my favorite is National Golf Links. It is the best course on the planet along side the old course. I’ve played golf my entire life and I have been watching from a distance here for a while. I decided to join when I saw Nick was spreading lies about courses being good that terrible and not friendly to all skill level golfers. I am sick of being bullied by the USGA and TV ratings. We must stand up against championship style golf courses before our gems are taken over. This war must be fought across all platforms so I decided to join the battle. I will stand up to Nick and anyone else who tries to convince this great community courses such as Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines, crooked stick, and any other courses just built for the pros are good courses.
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Where do you play now, Bill?
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My name is William Charles. I’ve played many different golf courses but my favorite is National Golf Links. It is the best course on the planet along side the old course. I’ve played golf my entire life and I have been watching from a distance here for a while. I decided to join when I saw Nick was spreading lies about courses being good that terrible and not friendly to all skill level golfers. I am sick of being bullied by the USGA and TV ratings. We must stand up against championship style golf courses before our gems are taken over. This war must be fought across all platforms so I decided to join the battle. I will stand up to Nick and anyone else who tries to convince this great community courses such as Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines, crooked stick, and any other courses just built for the pros are good courses.
I'm not sure what a "plant from the Refuge" is, but this post was so impersonal that you might be one!
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My name is William Charles. I’ve played many different golf courses but my favorite is National Golf Links. It is the best course on the planet along side the old course. I’ve played golf my entire life and I have been watching from a distance here for a while. I decided to join when I saw Nick was spreading lies about courses being good that terrible and not friendly to all skill level golfers. I am sick of being bullied by the USGA and TV ratings. We must stand up against championship style golf courses before our gems are taken over. This war must be fought across all platforms so I decided to join the battle. I will stand up to Nick and anyone else who tries to convince this great community courses such as Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines, crooked stick, and any other courses just built for the pros are good courses.
I'm not sure what a "plant from the Refuge" is, but this post was so impersonal that you might be one!
The refuge is a golf forum on nolayingup.com. Its mostly not about GCA and trends more towards golf in general with less seriousness to it.
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My name is William Charles. I’ve played many different golf courses but my favorite is National Golf Links. It is the best course on the planet along side the old course. I’ve played golf my entire life and I have been watching from a distance here for a while. I decided to join when I saw Nick was spreading lies about courses being good that terrible and not friendly to all skill level golfers. I am sick of being bullied by the USGA and TV ratings. We must stand up against championship style golf courses before our gems are taken over. This war must be fought across all platforms so I decided to join the battle. I will stand up to Nick and anyone else who tries to convince this great community courses such as Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines, crooked stick, and any other courses just built for the pros are good courses.
Bill for me the cat is out of the bag now in that you are obviously someone's alter online personality designed to troll this site unfortunately. You can't exist without "Nick" and apparently you don't know him or never met him, but yet every damn post is about him, so either Nick is bi polar or both are a trolls for this last couple weeks have been far from why I and others visit this site.
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Nick's profile and all his posts were scrubbed from the Refuge about the same time this all started. Odd because they could have just given him a 1000 year suspension. As they did me, well deserved I might add.
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1000 year suspension? You can’t do that to the Oracle of MySpace!
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Nick's profile and all his posts were scrubbed from the Refuge about the same time this all started. Odd because they could have just given him a 1000 year suspension. As they did me, well deserved I might add.
When will this site observe the same standards and boot him from here?
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I feel like I answered something like this pretty early on, in a different topic. But I looked back and didn't see much, so I'll just write something fresh here.
I came to golf a bit late - I grew up playing soccer. My cousin took me to a camp in the summer of 1992 when I was 14 (March birthday). I played varsity soccer that fall, bought a 7-iron, and read just about every golf book I could get my hands on. I combined my Christmas and birthday money to buy my first set of clubs and a heavy cart bag (no legs). MacGregor/Jack Nicklaus VIP Tourney blades and a 1, 3, and a 5-wood, persimmon. I learned to play at the local public course before realizing the local private club was only $25 a year more ($175) for juniors, so I played there before my junior and senior years.
Scores went from about 92 to 82 to 72 over the next three years (ages 15, 16, 17), and I won the EDGA Junior Stroke Play as a senior-to-be at 17, and went to states from our high school district qualifier and placed well there, too.
I went to college at Ohio Northern University where the golf coach said "we have one spot open" because he kept everyone from the previous team who returned, regardless of how many good freshman or new players tried out, and when offered the spot, I declined it. I spent five years in school earning degrees in French, Computer Science, and Medicinal Chemistry. I moved to Delray Beach, FL for three and a half years where I did computer stuff, played a few of the courses down that way (including Emerald Dunes before it went private - $25 for all-you-can play in a cart after 2pm!, now it's a few hundred grand initiation).
Moved back to Erie, PA as my high school sweetie got in touch with me again in FL, and still lived in my birth town. Been here ever since (October 2004). Got down to a 1.4 index on my own in 2009 before finally taking lessons with a guy, Dave Wedzik, who opened my eyes to the idea that golf instruction is not all bullshit, but actually has logic, science, geometry, cause-and-effect, etc. behind it, contrary to everything I'd witnessed thus far. Became a PGA apprentice in 2010 and a PGA member in 2018 (hey, very little incentive to rush through the program, given how little it has to do with instruction).
As a kid (albeit 14 and onward), I was like many here, sketching golf holes on the covers of notebooks or scraps of paper. Despite hitting a draw then, I favored doglegs right with an angled mound that kicked the ball further down the hole and around the dogleg, but which required a longer tee shot if you went left than if you went right. I'd imagine every one of my "courses" back then had one of those holes.
I've always been interested in the challenges that golf course architecture provides, mostly from the playing perspective. I tend to play holes that have a clear challenge or strategy well - I don't mind being forced into making a decision. It's holes that are bland or just repeatedly ask the same simple questions over and over that tend to bore me. Unless I have another reason to focus, I tend to play better on the more engaging courses, even if they're more difficult, when the problems I have to solve vary throughout the round.
I've been to Scotland, played North Berwick, Turnberry pre-Trump, the New, Jubilee, Castle, and Old, and a few others and I've played probably about 250 courses in the U.S., though my list of the courses I remember playing (I only spent an hour or two writing the list down, with a few updates since then) tops out at about 170 right now.
My daughter plays golf, so I've also gotten to see (but not play) a number of good courses that she's played, like Indiana CC, Allegheny CC, and I coach a college team for the last four years, and so I've seen some of the great courses THEY have played, or played them myself on spring break trips, etc. That included, for example, RTJ's first course - Midvale CC (they also played Mendon), Avalon Lakes, and a bunch of others. As a PGA member I've also attended or played many events at Augusta National, Muirfield Village, Oak Tree, Monroe, Locust Hill, Crag Burn, Kiawah Island, Camargo, Oakmont (and almost all the Pittsburgh area private clubs). I also volunteer as a course rating captain (in my 14th year) of courses for West Penn Golf Association, which has also gotten me to see and/or play courses like Laurel Valley, Nemacolin, and many others.
My entire life has, since golf was introduced, really been about an obsession with golf, save for a bit of time when I was more focused on school in college. I spend maybe 80+ hours per week thinking about golf, whether it's teaching, volunteering, driving or helping my daughter, or reading (mostly) and posting (when I feel I have something to contribute, which is often NOT on the architectural heavy discussions) here.
My daughter wants to go, now, so I'll cut this off here. Hope that all helps.
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Decided to update my profile. This morning I dropped off an application at Astoria G&CC, but will continue to have status at The Reserve Vineyards & GC through summer, weaning my friends there.
Other changes are age (74) and shelf feet of golf books (from 20 to 38), closed the book on volunteering as a rules official.
To update do a search of "who are you guys" within 'topic subjects' and look for the alphabetized thread, which will tell you the date of your entry for this thread, Or if you are wondering about some poster you can do the same.
Also, the first page of the alpha links thread has this: Okay, I linked all the posts in the "Who Are You Guys (revisited)?" thread to posters' names. You can now use this thread as a reference to find someone, click the name and then you will be redirected to his/her post.
Thanks in advance for your patience and cooperation, apologies in advance for any mistakes I make. If you notice a mistake, please send me a message and I'll fix the link.
Btw, here are links to the various Who Are You Guys threads:
The original thread (lots of really good info on the longest tenured among us, thanks Scott Burroughs for finding this) (http://web.archive.org/web/20010726234108/www.golfclubatlas.com/board/ubbhtml/Forum1/HTML/000687.html)
Who Are You Guys (revisited)? (http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,240.0/)
Who are you guys......really??? (http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,12410.0/)
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45175.0.html (https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45175.0.html) Who are you Guys - Alphabetical Links
At the suggestion of one of the wiser members of our group (Joe Bausch - get to know him, you won't be sorry), I will link to Get To Know threads for folks who didn't post on the Who Are You Guys threads.
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Peter Pittock
74 years old. Single, no kids. Graduate of Oregon State University. Always lived in Portland, Oregon. Retired from 28 years with Portland Police taking and looking at fingerprints. Was a posse member at Sagebrush in Quilchena, BC until it closed. Usual trip was a 1 day drive up, double rounds each day, then the one day drive back, about three or four times a year. Previous was member at Tualatin CC for 23 years, left the year after it experienced back to back 100 year floods, hasn't flooded since . Business card reads "Had game, will travel."
Handicap has inched up to 13.3, but had to keep moving forward. Relegated to riding a golf cart. Closed the rules book for officiating at the end ov 2019 after 28 years of volunteering with the Oregon Golf Association . Started golfing with my father when I was about five, then he dropped membership at Portland GC when I was old enough to join him on Sunday afternoon. First extended golf trip was 1975 when dad and I went to Scotland and have loved links golf ever since. Also found out it was easier getting on good GB&I courses than in the states. Now know that also applies to Australia. At least ten overseas trips. Played about half of the world top 100.
Have about 38 shelf feet of golf books, including first editions . Collect logo golf balls (400+). Wear logo golf shirts everywhere and don't feel ashamed Long time participant in the King's Putter, and have enjoyed many other GCA outings in MI, BC, NC, GA. VA, FL.
Worst golf related decision: In 1975, passed up a chance to get on the waiting list to become a patron (two tickets) for the Masters. Would have vested about 1995.
Was a member at Tualatin CC 1975-1997. Then moved to Reserve Vineyards &GC (back to back 100 yr floods at Tualatin) and am still a member. This morning put in an application at Astoria G&CC (The St Andrews of the Pacific), which is more relatable as the Prestwick of the Pacific.
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Bump. We have a bunch of new guys that I'd like to know more about.
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Name: Enno Gerdes
Age: 41
Divorced, two kids (8 & 5)
Originally from the northwestern corner of Germany
Living near The Hague (NL)
Profession: director at a mid-sized consultancy firm
Handicap: 12
Home course: Broekpolder (near Rotterdam, NL)
Favourite courses played: Deal, North Berwick, Royal Hague, Norderney.
I had been reading posts and course profiles on GCA for years, mainly to educate myself on golf course history and architecture. I’ve learned a lot, but not nearly enough to feel comfortable contributing much to the discussions. One of the first things I did after signing up here was sign up for Buda 2020. So let’s hope the virus is under control by late summer!
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Name: Nicholas Ackland
Age: 33
Married with no kids
Live: Melbourne, Australia
Profession: Director of a small but growing tech company
Home Course: Peninsula Kingswood CGC
HDCP: 17.5
Favourite course played: Royal Melbourne (west)
I became interested in golf relatively late compared to most, when three years ago I purchased myself a set of clubs as a post-chemo (all clear now) gift. I have a habit of becoming obsessed with things quickly, and golf was no different.
I would spend hours reading blogs about golf and golf course architecture, and once I found GCA.com, quickly disappeared down the rabbit hole even further.
I've read almost every Course Profile, and probably most of the In My Opinions on GCA, and just can't get enough.
After about two years of reading everything i could find, to educate myself as much as possible on architecture as possible, I reached out to Ran early this year and joined.
It's certainly a very odd time, with all courses in my state now closed, so I will probably be spending even more time than normal here.
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Angus Moir introducing myself here for first time...still down as a newbie despite joining via David Davis intro several years back. Brought up near Cruden Bay and learned my golf there and at nearby McDonald GC in Ellon, my golf really took after after 4 years on a golf scholarship at Uni of St Thomas, Houston, Tx where we played all the great Houston courses regularly...A mere 40 or so years later after a lifetime in the golf industry with Wilson and Nike, now residing in Lincolnshire UK and a member of Market Rasen GC.
Like a lot of folks on here have been lucky enough to play a lot of the famous courses around the world but still enjoy the company I lay with as much as the course I play..
Love reading all the comments and POV on the discussion group and hope to post more as I edge towards retirement from my consultancy...
Biggest course regret was turning down a weekend at The National courtesy of Golf magazine but hope to get back there one day...
My 85 year old 20 handicap Dad still plays most Monday’s at Cruden Bay on the wee course(not currently of course) and my 29 year old 7 handicap son plays at St Ives Cambridge UK...
Here’s to getting back on the links soon!
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Even though I always enjoy my golf with other golfers, I mean Play as opposed to Lay...let the barracking commence GCA ers...
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Name: Enno Gerdes
Age: 41
Divorced, two kids (8 & 5)
Originally from the northwestern corner of Germany
Living near The Hague (NL)
Profession: director at a mid-sized consultancy firm
Handicap: 12
Home course: Broekpolder (near Rotterdam, NL)
Favourite courses played: Deal, North Berwick, Royal Hague, Norderney.
I had been reading posts and course profiles on GCA for years, mainly to educate myself on golf course history and architecture. I’ve learned a lot, but not nearly enough to feel comfortable contributing much to the discussions. One of the first things I did after signing up here was sign up for Buda 2020. So let’s hope the virus is under control by late summer!
Enno, whereabouts in northwest Germany? My paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States in 1928, but I've been back over to visit my extended relatives several times. My grandfather's family is from the Nellinghof/Neuenkirchen/Damme area, and my grandmother's family is from Lorup. Not sure if that counts as northwest Germany to you though?
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Wow, I had no idea that the original thread had been uncovered back in the catacombs of the Internet. Here's what I wrote over 20 years ago;
posted February 03, 2000 08:57 PM (http://web.archive.org/web/20010726234108im_/http://www.golfclubatlas.com/board/ubbhtml/edit.gif) (http://web.archive.org/web/20010726234108/http://www.golfclubatlas.com/board/postings.cgi?action=editpost&forum=Golf+Course+Architecture&number=1&topic=000687.cgi&ReplyNum=000014&TopicSubject=Who+Are+You+Guy|APO|s|QUS|)
Let's see...brief bio..tall order for a guy as naturally verbose as me!Born in the coal country of NE Pennsylvania, I was reluctantly introduced to golf on a somewhat crude, rural nine-holer by some older friends just before my 13th birthday. By the time I stepped on the first green about 8 swings later, I was totally captivated. My prior dreams of pitching the World Series or catching the winning touchdown pass soon disappeared into summer days spent playing from sunrise to sunset where my Dad would join us after work.
Alright,...it did say brief..In any case, I played to a low handicap in high school and college, and had brief dreams of making it a career. A degree in journalism was hardly leading to financial success during the recession years of the early 80s. I took some computer classes at night, and ended up managing Information Systems, which is how I continue to make my livelihood today.
My hobby, and passion, is golf and golf courses. I've always been fascinated by golf history, architecture, and have found the study of golf courses to be a never-ending source of delight. I have been fortunate over the years to have played over 500 courses in 23 states & 4 countries, and have found something to enjoy at most of them. I am primarily a public course golfer, but have also played a number of private courses through friends and good fortune. I also have done some pretty extensive research on course design origins in the mid-Atlantic, and have shared those findings with Cornish & Whitten.
I'm 41 and have a 16 year old son, and 11 year old daughter. We live just north of Philadelphia, and I feel fortunate as a golfer to live so close to so many wonderfully historic courses. In my spare time, I also do some writing for regional golf publications, and consider myself an editor's nightmare.
These days, I play to about a 6 handicap, but can be wildly inconsistent from one day to the next. Must be due to standing on the wrong side of the ball. Still, as I get older, I take quite a bit of solace in the realization that any given day's score is eventually meaningless, and what is left in the end are the friends I've met, and the memories I've gathered.
Mike Cirba
Today, as I approach age 62 I have to say in the immortal words of Chico Escuela, "Golf and GolfClubAtlas have been berry, berry good to me!".
I'm remarried with three additional kids, 8 grandkids, and have met so many wonderful people through this site that it's truly been a godsend for a guy with my passion for golf courses and golf history. Thank you Ran and the rest of you for that. I'm now also up to 1,132 courses played and as I sit here self-quarantining not knowing what the future holds in this time of sad crisis, it's good to know that we can all still come here and discuss our favorite topic together. Stay safe, my friends.
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Updated the links to other threads on reply 876, and will refresh the alpha link
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Name: Enno Gerdes
Age: 41
Divorced, two kids (8 & 5)
Originally from the northwestern corner of Germany
Living near The Hague (NL)
Profession: director at a mid-sized consultancy firm
Handicap: 12
Home course: Broekpolder (near Rotterdam, NL)
Favourite courses played: Deal, North Berwick, Royal Hague, Norderney.
I had been reading posts and course profiles on GCA for years, mainly to educate myself on golf course history and architecture. I’ve learned a lot, but not nearly enough to feel comfortable contributing much to the discussions. One of the first things I did after signing up here was sign up for Buda 2020. So let’s hope the virus is under control by late summer!
Enno, whereabouts in northwest Germany? My paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States in 1928, but I've been back over to visit my extended relatives several times. My grandfather's family is from the Nellinghof/Neuenkirchen/Damme area, and my grandmother's family is from Lorup. Not sure if that counts as northwest Germany to you though?
Well, it's a small world! Lorup certainly qualifies as northwest Germany. I grew up in Papenburg, which is about 15 miles from Lorup.
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Hi Guys - Long time lurker, first time poster (thanks for adding me Ran)
Name: Kyle Cruickshank
Age: 33
Married with no kids
Live: Musselburgh, Scotland
Profession: Greenkeeper at Muirfield
Handicap: Lapsed
Home Course: Balmoral, Aberdeenshire
Favourite Course: Royal Melbourne (both)
Been Greenkeeping for 15 years and have been lucky to work at a few top courses - Muirfield, Royal Melbourne, Le Golf National and Gleneagles PGA Centenary. Was Deputy Course Manager at The Roxburghe for 4 and half years but wanted to move closer to Edinburgh for personal reasons and have been working at Muirfield for over 3 months now. I have worked at over 20 Tournaments including the 2014 Ryder Cup, 2019 Solheim Cup and 2015 Australian Womens Open.
Always had an interest in Golf Course Architecture and have undertaken alot of construction works but in the last few years my interest has really deepend. Love listening to Podcasts and reading books about Architecture, Design and History of the game. Must admit im not actually that keen of a Golfer, even though i do really enjoy playing. I have paid for my season ticket on the Musselburgh Old Links and play with a set of Hickories which is tremendous fun! I'd quite happily walk round a Golf Course with a camera without having the urge to play.
Looking forward to contributing to a few threads and hopefully getting to know a few of the other contributors.
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Welcome Kyle!
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Welcome, indeed.
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A most distinguished golf surname. Welcome.
Ira
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Great addition to the fold!
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Kyle welcome aboard. I'm not sure we would stand up to being "honorable company", but give it time. ;D
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Welcome Kyle!
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Welcome Kyle! I was verbally shamed for a horrible 4th hole that I aced the 5th at Musselburgh Old so look forward to teeing with you when the time comes.
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Cool and old thread; there's no way I can read through it all but I'll add to it.
Peter Bowman
Age: 39
Home: Walpole, NH
Email: peterlbowman@yahoo.com
Occupation: Dentist and "implantologist"
Shareholding owner of Hooper Golf Course;
Hooper Greens Committee and Chair of the Marketing Committee; 2020 CLUB CHAMPION!!!!
Gorgeous wife, 2 daughters aged 9 and 11. 11 year old is mildly autistic and comes with all the associated baggageI moved to NH from CA because I wanted to live in my grandparents' big Victorian house some day and play a lot of golf at Hooper.
Dreams comes trueMy dad was a golf course Superintendent when I was a younger kid, so we moved around a lot. I had tons of free golf for the taking but I never cared to play golf until I played Hooper for a week with my grandfather while visiting. I was hooked after day 2. He motivated me to play by offering a new set of clubs if I break 90 playing with him. I did that a year later with an 81 at the Hoop. I asked about breaking 80. He said he's take me to San Francisco GC to play with his best bud Ed Callan. That never got to happen :(I had 2 dreams jobs in high school: dentist and golf course architect.
Since I managed the dream of becoming a dentist by being the last one accepted in my class 3 days before classes start at WVU AND I now live in my dream home (the family hole of now 7 generations in Walpole, AND having a lifetime member at Hooper by owning (unintended/unplanned dream), I will aspire to make a second career in golf course design by becoming an intern and playing with the big boy toys shaping golf courses. Perhaps thereafter I will do both things around age 50: continue doing dentistry and either join or own a golf design firm.How's that?
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Quick introduction to add to the thread:
Jurrian van der Vaart
Age 35
Hometown: Breukelen, The Netherlands
Email: jv@infinitevarietygolf.nl
Occupation: Design Associate of Frank Pont - Infinite Variety Golf / CDP
I have partnered with Frank Pont two years ago in order to work together on all our Dutch projects and this has slowly evolved in lending a helping hand in the German, Belgium and CDP business as well.
I've played professionally in Europe and the USA on the European Tour and Challenge Tour for 10+ years, have a degree in Environmental Sciences from Virginia Tech University and am currently enrolled to become Assistant Headgreenkeeper here in the Netherlands.
I hope I can learn from the other group members and maybe contribute some practical information here and there.
Proudest moments are the All-American Honors in my senior year at VT, the rare occasion my dog doesn't chase every rabbit or duck, and my wife telling me she misses my playing days.
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Jurrian
Welcome aboard. Now for your interview ;)
Favourite Course in Holland ?
Best Course in Holland ?
Favourite course played on Tour ?
Favourite course ?
And why, to all of the above !
Niall
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Jurrian
Welcome aboard. Now for your interview ;)
Favourite Course in Holland ?
Best Course in Holland ?
Favourite course played on Tour ?
Favourite course ?
And why, to all of the above !
Niall
Let's get my media training skills out:
1. I am very fond of playing Eindhovensche, it is a friendly place with fun holes, short grass surrounds and some strong par-4's.
2. Best tournament course is Royal Hague; hole 1-17 are great, you need all the shots, grand scale, no unnecessary fluff
3. Euro tour visits some abysmal places, but Spey Valley (Dave Thomas design in Aviemore, Scotland) is a great course. The Dye course in Oman was't bad either.
4. Bit of cop-out - played the St Andrews Links trophy as an amateur - best and most inspiring course to play 3 days in a row, added benefit that most other players don't "get" it. Mid-Pines post-Franz renovation was a real treat while playing US-based mini-tours.
I wish a had more time to be a professional golf course player.
Editors note: "Made the cardinal sin of attributing the beautiful work done at Mid Pines and Pine Needles by Kyle Franz (http://www.kylefranzgolf.com/)to another great architect in his own right, Kris Spence (https://krisspence.com/), who's Sedgefield and CCNC Dogwood courses I've enjoyed. Rereading Golf by Design by RTJ JR as punishment seems in order"
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Have been a lurker of this site for years recently joined a few years back but never added my information so:
Justin VanLanduit
Age:41
Hometown: Walnut, Illinois
Occupation: Medically retired Golf Course Superintendent; now playing catch up dad to 2 young daughters; Rourke (5) and Raynor (2) and named after Seth. Wife and I debated names and she allowed me to choose which our list was all golden age architects; Colt, Alison, MacKenzie, Raynor, Tilly, Flynn
Handicap: 5
Golf has been a part of my life since age 8. My grandparents house and our family farm was across the street from a 9 hole public course. My grandparents got me into the game; will never forget the shot that hooked me: downhill par 3 211yds, used my grandmas ChiChi Rodriguez 2 wood and piped it to end up just short of the green. Anyway, spent many afternoons at the golf course as my Grandma ran the kitchen the course and my mom helped. Would get dropped there by the school bus and just go out and chip and putt. Over time my time there was noticed and we had moved into the farmhouse now. One day mowing the yard the Superintendent came across the street and asked me if I wanted a summer job; $5/hr getting 20 hours a week at the age 11. I took him up on the offer and I took a love to it. By age 13 I was mowing greens and cutting cups in the morning with other responsibilities to follow like irrigation repair, moving quick coupler sprinklers at night since I was just across the road. Eventually took those talents further by getting a Bachelors Degree in Turf Management.
While working on the course I continued to play golf and really excelled. Played all 4 years in high school with a 9th place finish my junior year. My senior year I was one of the top players in the state but unfortunately tore my tricep muscle in Physical Education just before tournaments to qualify for state and ultimately didn't make back to state. I ended up playing a few years in college but then left the team to concentrate on enjoying school.
My adolescent years working on courses were at low budget public courses, it wasn't till moving to Denver in 2000 where I had a short stint at Green Gables Country Club before joining the grounds team at Cherry Hills. My experience at Cherry Hills was where my juices really got flowing for the care of a club and architecture due to the care that was put into the club and the history it had. I ended up returning to Illinois and had a short stint at The Ivanhoe Club in the northwest suburbs of Chicago before becoming the Superintendent at Briarwood County Club on the north shore of Chicago. I spent just shy of 12 seasons at Briarwood before retiring due to my degenerative neurological disease just made it too hard to carry out the grind. Very proud of the years at Briarwood as GCS; we accomplished many great things to the course to bring excellent conditioning and opening the Alison design back up to be seen from behind all the trees that had consumed it.
I've just completed my first year of medical retirement and it has been very hard. I really miss the time on the course, the members (not all), and lastly the crew. One of my biggest supports and consider a dear friend is on this site as well. I'm sure over time it will get better but after being on a golf course every summer for the last 33yrs it was quite the change. Hard to play anymore due to some of the negatives Muscular Dystrophy has created but working hard to hopefully work some playing back into my life. Currently, been getting my playing enjoyment out of taking our 5yr old to TopGolf and watching her while I hit some short wedges and we share the iron skillet brownie.
Enjoy reading the posts on here to learn as well as from time to time chime in on some of the course care stuff to offer my opinion/experience.
Cheers!
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Justin is a truly talented superintendent and a lover of GCA. We worked closely at Briarwood and unfortunately, due to his disability, we were unable to complete the vision for our course. A former assistant, Nate Bolhaus, has taken the reins and is doing a wonderful job while Justin consults from afar. I hope that Justin will pitch in on this site; particularly regarding issues regarding the interface between maintenance and course design.
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Justin is a truly talented superintendent and a lover of GCA. We worked closely at Briarwood and unfortunately, due to his disability, we were unable to complete the vision for our course. A former assistant, Nate Bolhaus, has taken the reins and is doing a wonderful job while Justin consults from afar. I hope that Justin will pitch in on this site; particularly regarding issues regarding the interface between maintenance and course design.
Ur too kind Shelly. U were a phenomenal advocate and supporter. Love seeing the stuff u guys continue to do although is hard to see as I wish it was me and that feeling of “quitting” comes in. All for the right reasons though. Be well sir.
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Justin, thanks for becoming part of our little messy group.
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From my friend Bob Lively:
First of all I would like to thank you all for letting me join this large group of people who appreciate the game of golf as much as I do. My name Bob Lively I'm a golf course superintendent in the Chicagoland area. I actually did a feature interview back in 2009-2010 with Ray Hearn ( architect ) about the renovation we did at the Flossmoor Country Club. I'm not all sure what I can contribute to this forum but I love any discussion that revolves around golf present and past and am looking forward to sharing what I know about golf courses from a superintendents perspective.
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My Info
My name is Robert Giuffra III. I live in New York City and Southampton. I’m in seventh grade. I love golf course architecture.
Golf is first and foremost a game of strategy. Old Tom Morris, the first great architect, did not manufacture strategic elements in his courses. He found his courses in the lay of the land. He created bunkers out of animal burrows and greens out of slopes in the terrain. As the game evolved, architects like Charles Blair Macdonald and Alistar MacKenzie, began to incorporate deliberate strategic elements in their designs. Macdonald drew his inspiration from the Old Course, North Berwick and other early courses and popularized templates such as the Redan hole and my favorite, Punchbowl. Drawing on his experience designing trenches for the military during the Boer War, MacKenzie designed some of the most strategic courses ever built, from Augusta to Cypress.
Golf is humbling. I have been fortunate to have played some great golf courses. The design on these courses is truly magnificent. My favorites are Shinnecock and National, courses that border each other, but could not be more different in their style of play. Shinnecock is a championship golf course, where good shots are rewarded and errant shots are penalized -- sometimes severely. It plays far harder than its neighbor. National includes more blind shots, more opportunities to play running shots, and the rough off the fairways is not as heavy. Almost every hole at National offers the golfer different routes to the hole, with different risks and rewards. The greens at Shinnecock have more subtle contours than those at National. Both courses are of the finest quality, and I have no conclusive opinion on which course is better. I look forward to discussing architecture and getting to know everyone.
Best,
Robert Giuffra III
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Robert,
Welcome! I knew your Father many years ago. So glad to meet a rising gca fan and analyst.
Ira
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Thank you. Do you know my father or late grandfather?
I look forward to talking architecture with you.
Best, Robert
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Your father. I worked for the White House when he worked for the Senate Banking Committee. It was a long time ago so I would not be surprised if he does not remember me. Yes, look forward to discussing Gca.
Ira
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Welcome, Robert!
I read your introductory post and the one on the Streamsong Blue thread and can see already that you'll be a valuable contributor here.
All the best
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Thank you very much!
The people who you meet in golf really do make it a special game.
Thanks,
Robert
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Welcome to the DG, Robert. I look forward to our conversations about golf courses.
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Name: Walker Thomas
Age: 21
Live: Currently studying Construction Management at Auburn University in Alabama, my hometown is Tampa, FL
Home Course: Palma Ceia G&CC
Email: walkerwwt2000@gmail.com
Hey everyone! My name is Walker Thomas and I have been keeping up with threads on this site for almost 2 years now and never got in contact with Ran to make an account until a couple weeks ago.
I have always had golf in my life. My father is a PGA member of 25+ years and has been very involved with my home club in Tampa. I never really cared for the game until for some reason I stopped and finally appreciated the sophistication and thought behind the design of my home course, Palma Ceia. I learned that there are people who do this as their profession and learned my home course was built by Donald Ross.
Since then I have been reading books about golf design by MacKenzie, MacDonald, Thomas, Discovering Donald Ross, etc. I find myself on this site, reading architecture books, looking at courses on maps, scouring through all my Confidential Guides for multiple hours a day trying to learn everything I can about golf courses.
I never started going on golf trips until this last year my father, brother and I flew up to Chicago to play Olympia Fields, Chicago, and Erin Hills. That was the highlight of my 2020. After this trip and playing Mountain Lake it is clear that MacDonald/Raynor are my favorite architects of the golden age! This past fall I was working for a general contractor on The Reynolds Plantation in GA this past semester and made some awesome day trips to see some cool courses in Aiken, Augusta, Atlanta. I met some GCA guys at Aiken GC and they were some of the coolest people I’ve met and inspired me to keep learning about architecture too! I will be working in Charlotte this summer and hoping to see some awesome courses in The Carolinas.
Happy to be part of this site and contribute to some discussions and meet some great people too! Thanks!
-WT
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Having been a GCAer for nearly twenty years now and hitting the big six-oh! back in December, it’s really gratifying to see 7th-graders and 21-year-olds joining us. Welcome, young fellas. May your GCA journey be as happy and life-affirming as it has been for me. I’ve met, golfed and stayed with so many wonderful people here from all corners of the globe and made friendships that I value over just about everything else. Travel, see and play as many great courses as you can and enjoy all the wonders of the golfing world. Boy, I sound like an old man. Wait a minute - I AM an old man!
Cheers,
F.
PS I’m in Scotland and you have to get here if you really want to know golf course architecture!
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Hi, I'm Brett Meyer! I'm 35 and a 3ish handicap who lives in Washington D.C, but I'm originally from Michigan and still spend a lot of time there in the summer. I've been interested in golf course architecture for about 20 years and toyed with becoming a golf course architect when I was in college, even spending a semester studying landscape architecture.
[/size]I'm a political scientist and work for an international think tank.[/size] Grad school/research took me to New York, then Berlin. Then when I was finished (most relevant for golf course architecture), my post-doc took me to London where I spent three years (2015-8). Perhaps even more than for my career, this was formative for my experience of great golf courses. Thanks to the accessibility of the UK's great courses, I would take the train every other week or so and visit some new place that I had read about/seen pictures of.
I've been lurking on this site for longer than I should admit but I've finally decided to contribute because I've seen enough of the commonly discussed courses that I feel that I can make a contribution to serious criticism (as per the recent call). I've been trying to do this for the past few months on my website (http://www.brettandrewmeyer.com/golf-course-reviews), where I've been turning 5 years of golf course pictures (since the beginning of my time in the UK) into detailed reviews of the courses that I've seen.
Looking forward to meeting many of you and discussing a topic of common passion!
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Welcome Walker, Robert and Brett. New voices and views are always helpful. I have learned a lot from this site myself.
God bless.
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Walker,
My younger brother is also studying construction management at Auburn at the moment. Small world. He is a sophmore. Welcome to the site.
Cal
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Pro tip. FWIW this thread includes an somewhat outdated alphabetical list in the first few entries.
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45175.msg988245.html#msg988245
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Michael Sweeney
Age: 39, married with 2 boys 4 and 6 years old
Home: New York City
Home Course: Yale Golf Club
Ireland "Home" Course: Enniscrone Golf Club, Co Sligo
Speaking of "Truth to Power," I don't care about the Yale Golf Course golf architecture any longer. What they did to the YGC employees this past year is a complete disgrace. It has been reported to https://yaledailynews.com, and I hope they do the right thing for our friends that have been very kind to GCAers for 20+ years.
I am now 58 years old, and Kevin Na is a hero :)
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Hey guys!
My name is Kurt Everett and I live in the Kansas City area. I've lived in Kansas all my life and and a new member on GCA. My great grandfather, Emerson Carey, founded Prairie Dunes, among other ventures in Hutchinson, Kansas....so golf is kind of in my blood. I was a cart kid, Head Pro and later GM in the golf business before my current career. I now manage sales for Loma Vista Nursery and ship trees and plants all over the Midwest. In season, I travel to Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana to see customers and am always looking to play new courses.
I'm glad I found this site and happy to be a member.
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Name: Jake Hoeffel
Age: 38
Married with three children (ages 6, 4, and 2)
Live: Abington, PA
Profession: Attorney
Handicap: 8.9
Home Course: Huntingdon Valley CC (PA)
I am thrilled to be here. I have been lurking for a while now and Ran was nice enough to grant me access recently. I am not sure when I first found GCA but it may have been a few years ago when I purchased Wayne Morrison's book on William Flynn as a gift for my father. We live very close to our home course and spend a lot of time at HVCC as a family, using all the amenities the club has to offer. I am lucky enough to currently serve on the Green Committee and I try to soak up the information that Scott Anderson and his talented assistants impart upon us.
I play most of my golf at home but have been making an effort to see 5-10 other courses during each season. I feel like I could spend a lifetime on the eastern seaboard and not see all the courses I want to see. Courses I am currently scheduled to see this season include Stonewall (all 36 holes), Whitinsville (MA)(all 9 holes), and Rolling Green. I am excited to see all of them.
I really enjoy golf and ingest a lot of different forms of golf "entertainment" (Golf Channel, PGA tour coverage, LPGA coverage, Youtube personalities, Instagram, this website, and magazines (plural)). I try to keep an open mind to all golf opinions, even when those opinions are clearly wrong. I am intimidated by the knowledge possessed by most (all?) of the contributors to this DG but look forward to discussing everything golf with you all.
Lastly, I truly believe that the golf course at HVCC is architecturally significant and I would be happy to show it to anyone who would be interested.
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Jake,
Welcome to gca. Let me know when you’re coming to RG.
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Welcome newbies!
Everyone here knows everything ... and nothing .... ;-)
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All,
New to the site as of today. I believe I first came across the site while looking up Holston Hills after playing it the first time 4 or 5 years ago. Really have come to appreciate golf course architecture over the last few years. Cannot quite explain why I like what I like but certainly looking forward to learning more about it as we go. Been lucky to play some great courses and meet some great people along the way. I have caddied for the last 18 years, the last 14 of which have been part time on the weekends. Would call myself a fairly big Ross fan and am really looking forward to a Wannamoisett trip I have this month. I've lived in the Richmond area most all my life and am always up for a round of golf, fishing, or a hike.
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All,
New to the site as of today. I believe I first came across the site while looking up Holston Hills after playing it the first time 4 or 5 years ago. Really have come to appreciate golf course architecture over the last few years. Cannot quite explain why I like what I like but certainly looking forward to learning more about it as we go. Been lucky to play some great courses and meet some great people along the way. I have caddied for the last 18 years, the last 14 of which have been part time on the weekends. Would call myself a fairly big Ross fan and am really looking forward to a Wannamoisett trip I have this month. I've lived in the Richmond area most all my life and am always up for a round of golf, fishing, or a hike.
Jon-Welcome to GCA! Wannamoisett is a marvel on the small piece of property and difficult to post a score with the par 69 scorecard. There is a fiendish set of greens but even more so on the shorter par four holes like 5,7,11,14. Enjoy and report back after you play.
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Michael Chadwick
Los Angeles, CA
33 yo
Home: Rustic Canyon
National: Ballyneal (waitlisted)
Instagram: mj_c_golf
michaeljchadwick@gmail.com
Hi all. My one claim to recent golf lore is that the first 18 hole round I played as a child was at Tom Doak's NLE High Pointe. About which I published an essay in Vol. 6 of Caddie Magazine, with the aid of Mr. Doak fact checking my nostalgia.
I've enjoyed a sweet return to the game and its architectural heritage after falling out of love for well over a decade. Lurking on GCA helped rekindle the passion, and, along with acquiring The Confidential Guide, I never would have added courses such as Royal Ashdown Forest, The Addington, and Cleeve Cloud to an English itinerary in 2018.
Rustic Canyon is directly responsible for me dragging my feet in the search for a home club in LA. Perhaps some of you can dissuade me, but Riviera's price tag would prevent me from taking golf trips anywhere else ever, and LACC won't admit those who commit the mortal sin of working in the entertainment industry. But let's chat other ideas.
I use Instagram solely for golf, and--in the spirit of Ran--frequently hit the max character allotment in my post's caption. Just finished a first foray to the northeast, seeing Friar's Head, Somerset Hills, Aronimink, Lancaster, and Rolling Green. You can find me at mj_c_golf
Looking forward to enjoying more rigorous discussions of architecture than what's customarily found on IG comments.
Michael
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Michael Chadwick
Los Angeles, CA
33 yo
Home: Rustic Canyon
National: Ballyneal (waitlisted)
Instagram: mj_c_golf
michaeljchadwick@gmail.com
Hi all. My one claim to recent golf lore is that the first 18 hole round I played as a child was at Tom Doak's NLE High Pointe. About which I published an essay in Vol. 6 of Caddie Magazine, with the aid of Mr. Doak fact checking my nostalgia.
I've enjoyed a sweet return to the game and its architectural heritage after falling out of love for well over a decade. Lurking on GCA helped rekindle the passion, and, along with acquiring The Confidential Guide, I never would have added courses such as Royal Ashdown Forest, The Addington, and Cleeve Cloud to an English itinerary in 2018.
Rustic Canyon is directly responsible for me dragging my feet in the search for a home club in LA. Perhaps some of you can dissuade me, but Riviera's price tag would prevent me from taking golf trips anywhere else ever, and LACC won't admit those who commit the mortal sin of working in the entertainment industry. But let's chat other ideas.
I use Instagram solely for golf, and--in the spirit of Ran--frequently hit the max character allotment in my post's caption. Just finished a first foray to the northeast, seeing Friar's Head, Somerset Hills, Aronimink, Lancaster, and Rolling Green. You can find me at mj_c_golf
Looking forward to enjoying more rigorous discussions of architecture than what's customarily found on IG comments.
Michael
Welcome Michael !
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Michael Chadwick
Los Angeles, CA
33 yo
Home: Rustic Canyon
National: Ballyneal (waitlisted)
Instagram: mj_c_golf
michaeljchadwick@gmail.com
Hi all. My one claim to recent golf lore is that the first 18 hole round I played as a child was at Tom Doak's NLE High Pointe. About which I published an essay in Vol. 6 of Caddie Magazine, with the aid of Mr. Doak fact checking my nostalgia.
I've enjoyed a sweet return to the game and its architectural heritage after falling out of love for well over a decade. Lurking on GCA helped rekindle the passion, and, along with acquiring The Confidential Guide, I never would have added courses such as Royal Ashdown Forest, The Addington, and Cleeve Cloud to an English itinerary in 2018.
Rustic Canyon is directly responsible for me dragging my feet in the search for a home club in LA. Perhaps some of you can dissuade me, but Riviera's price tag would prevent me from taking golf trips anywhere else ever, and LACC won't admit those who commit the mortal sin of working in the entertainment industry. But let's chat other ideas.
I use Instagram solely for golf, and--in the spirit of Ran--frequently hit the max character allotment in my post's caption. Just finished a first foray to the northeast, seeing Friar's Head, Somerset Hills, Aronimink, Lancaster, and Rolling Green. You can find me at mj_c_golf
Looking forward to enjoying more rigorous discussions of architecture than what's customarily found on IG comments.
Michael
Welcome Michael! Your social media shows a very nice run of courses, which hopefully leads to some spirited discussion.
BTW I can think of a couple nice options for a home club in LA.
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Welcome Michael! So glad to have you here and looking forward to having your spirited prose make it's way from Instagram to GCA.
It's always nice to have another fellow Rustic Canyon local here.
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Doubtless out of morbid curiosity, I went back and thumbed through the first few pages and was struck how many OG stalwarts are no longer with us - and also the number that drifted away and never returned.
My own bio may as well be from a previous lifetime . . . . .
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Hi guys
Ran has just provided me with login details for the first time, many thanks to Ally McIntosh for the introduction, please find my details below:
Name - Shane Derby
Age - 45
Single
From Dublin, Ireland - living in Portmarnock
Current Hcp - 4
Home Course - Royal Dublin GC
Favorite Courses - Kingston Heath, Portmarnock, Royal Portrush, Royal Adelaide, St. Patricks Links
I first came across GCA.com in 2004 while working in Belfast and have dipped in and out of it over the years reading many of your great pieces and doing a little scanning of the discussion group to boot. I fell down a deep GCA hole after coming back from a trip to Oz 2 years ago (prior to C19) and have been reading and listening to books and podcasts ever since in the search for more understanding...unknown unknowns etc. Excited to be here and have the opportunity to participate.
Best
Shane
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Name – Jordan Beasley
Berkeley, CA
Age – 36
Married, with a daughter (7) and son (4)
Occupation: CPA
Handicap: 11
Favorite Courses: St. Enodoc, Pebble Beach, Crail Balcomie, Sand Hollow, Glens Falls, Northwood
Hi everyone! I’m also new to the discussion group this week, and look forward to interacting with such a smart and well-traveled group. I started playing golf as a youngster (when given a starter set of clubs through the “Hook a Kid on Golf” program), but didn’t fall deeply in love with the game until I spent my 22-year-old summer living with a friend’s family in Queensbury, NY. They were members of Glens Falls Country Club, and somehow convinced the golf pro that I was part of the family. At the time I had never heard the term “golf course architecture” or the name “Donald Ross,” but by summer’s end I was addicted for life.
In 2015 I took a 2-year work assignment to London, and was gifted the 1st volume of The Confidential Guide. That book was my gateway drug to a dual addiction, not just for golf but for course architecture as well. I managed to play a handful of great GB&I courses during this stint, including my personal favorite – the Church Course at St. Enodoc.
In the years since returning to Berkeley, I’ve tried to expand my education through building a small GCA library, and seeing new courses. A trip to the Pinehurst area a few years ago was a highlight, and I’ve played most of the Northern California public-access courses listed in TCG. RIP, Aetna Springs!
I’m here to learn, and when I do chime in I’ll be bringing an “everyman” perspective to the dialogue. I’m a mid-handicapper who’s never had a golf lesson or a job in the industry, and if I’m lucky I play 15 rounds a year. A few of my initial views on GCA are as follows:
- Golf at its best heals us spiritually and provides a connection with the land and the community where the course resides. The more a course embraces and exists in harmony with both, the better. High priority should be given to supporting local ecosystems and preserving/creating habitat for bees, birds, and other animals.
- Variety is a virtue. I favor a mixture of design styles across a course (and especially being taken through compression and release), instead of wall-to-wall pursuit of tree clearance, width, and angles.
- People hit too many drivers. I’m charmed rather than frustrated when a course forces (or strongly encourages) me to keep driver in the bag on at least a few tee boxes.
Jordan
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Name – Jordan Beasley
Berkeley, CA
Age – 36
Married, with a daughter (7) and son (4)
Occupation: CPA
Handicap: 11
Favorite Courses: St. Enodoc, Pebble Beach, Crail Balcomie, Sand Hollow, Glens Falls, Northwood
Hi everyone! I’m also new to the discussion group this week, and look forward to interacting with such a smart and well-traveled group. I started playing golf as a youngster (when given a starter set of clubs through the “Hook a Kid on Golf” program), but didn’t fall deeply in love with the game until I spent my 22-year-old summer living with a friend’s family in Queensbury, NY. They were members of Glens Falls Country Club, and somehow convinced the golf pro that I was part of the family. At the time I had never heard the term “golf course architecture” or the name “Donald Ross,” but by summer’s end I was addicted for life.
In 2015 I took a 2-year work assignment to London, and was gifted the 1st volume of The Confidential Guide. That book was my gateway drug to a dual addiction, not just for golf but for course architecture as well. I managed to play a handful of great GB&I courses during this stint, including my personal favorite – the Church Course at St. Enodoc.
In the years since returning to Berkeley, I’ve tried to expand my education through building a small GCA library, and seeing new courses. A trip to the Pinehurst area a few years ago was a highlight, and I’ve played most of the Northern California public-access courses listed in TCG. RIP, Aetna Springs!
I’m here to learn, and when I do chime in I’ll be bringing an “everyman” perspective to the dialogue. I’m a mid-handicapper who’s never had a golf lesson or a job in the industry, and if I’m lucky I play 15 rounds a year. A few of my initial views on GCA are as follows:
- Golf at its best heals us spiritually and provides a connection with the land and the community where the course resides. The more a course embraces and exists in harmony with both, the better. High priority should be given to supporting local ecosystems and preserving/creating habitat for bees, birds, and other animals.
- Variety is a virtue. I favor a mixture of design styles across a course (and especially being taken through compression and release), instead of wall-to-wall pursuit of tree clearance, width, and angles.
- People hit too many drivers. I’m charmed rather than frustrated when a course forces (or strongly encourages) me to keep driver in the bag on at least a few tee boxes.
Jordan
Jordan-Welcome to GCA! Have you been back to Glens Falls CC since your interest in architecture has taken hold? You must have a greater appreciation for it after being exposed to a lot of good courses in the last fifteen years. Did you eat any chili dogs at New Way Lunch when you were there?!
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Name – Jordan Beasley
Berkeley, CA
Age – 36
Married, with a daughter (7) and son (4)
Occupation: CPA
Handicap: 11
Favorite Courses: St. Enodoc, Pebble Beach, Crail Balcomie, Sand Hollow, Glens Falls, Northwood
Hi everyone! I’m also new to the discussion group this week, and look forward to interacting with such a smart and well-traveled group. I started playing golf as a youngster (when given a starter set of clubs through the “Hook a Kid on Golf” program), but didn’t fall deeply in love with the game until I spent my 22-year-old summer living with a friend’s family in Queensbury, NY. They were members of Glens Falls Country Club, and somehow convinced the golf pro that I was part of the family. At the time I had never heard the term “golf course architecture” or the name “Donald Ross,” but by summer’s end I was addicted for life.
In 2015 I took a 2-year work assignment to London, and was gifted the 1st volume of The Confidential Guide. That book was my gateway drug to a dual addiction, not just for golf but for course architecture as well. I managed to play a handful of great GB&I courses during this stint, including my personal favorite – the Church Course at St. Enodoc.
In the years since returning to Berkeley, I’ve tried to expand my education through building a small GCA library, and seeing new courses. A trip to the Pinehurst area a few years ago was a highlight, and I’ve played most of the Northern California public-access courses listed in TCG. RIP, Aetna Springs!
I’m here to learn, and when I do chime in I’ll be bringing an “everyman” perspective to the dialogue. I’m a mid-handicapper who’s never had a golf lesson or a job in the industry, and if I’m lucky I play 15 rounds a year. A few of my initial views on GCA are as follows:
- Golf at its best heals us spiritually and provides a connection with the land and the community where the course resides. The more a course embraces and exists in harmony with both, the better. High priority should be given to supporting local ecosystems and preserving/creating habitat for bees, birds, and other animals.
- Variety is a virtue. I favor a mixture of design styles across a course (and especially being taken through compression and release), instead of wall-to-wall pursuit of tree clearance, width, and angles.
- People hit too many drivers. I’m charmed rather than frustrated when a course forces (or strongly encourages) me to keep driver in the bag on at least a few tee boxes.
Jordan
Jordan-Welcome to GCA! Have you been back to Glens Falls CC since your interest in architecture has taken hold? You must have a greater appreciation for it after being exposed to a lot of good courses in the last fifteen years. Did you eat any chili dogs at New Way Lunch when you were there?!
Thanks Tim! No; sadly I have not returned yet to Glens Falls. It's a mecca on my bucket list for sure. And yes a very cool experience slowly learning over the years "why" I loved it so much.
And how did I miss New Way Lunch? It looks amazing. Just another regret from my early 20's I guess...
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Name - Will ThrasherAge - 32Married, Son (7) Daughter (5).Warsaw, INCurrent Hcp: 10Home Course - Stonehenge Golf Club
Hello everyone. I've been a lurker on this forum for years now, and Ran was gracious enough to give me login credentials last year. I'm a golf junkie like most everyone on here, and truly enjoy the intelligent and thoughtful dialogue. GCA, The Fried Egg, and other resources have kindled my love and interest for Golf Course Architecture. I'll play just about anywhere with anybody because I love the game, and good company on a goat ranch beats most other hobbies, but what is it about great courses that stick with you and leave you dying to return? That's the part that I love.
I haven't been blessed to play many of the most notable courses, but until I do I live vicariously through many of you. I am lucky enough to live close to the Culver Academy course, and buddy it lives up to the hype.
If you ever find yourself in Northern Indiana, don't hesitate to reach out.
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Name: Colin Christman.
Age: 33.
Home: Collinsville, CT.
Home Course: Tumble Brook CC, Bloomfield, CT.
Bio: Growing up in Falmouth, MA, my first rounds were played at Cape Cod Country Club, the renamed but otherwise reasonably well-preserved Devereux Emmet design. With its sandy soil, minimal rough, bold green contours, and strategic design, I found its challenges and rewards in sharp contrast to the other area public courses that I could play in the 1990s. Growing up, I was a pretty skilled soccer player, and ended up playing through college. I graduated from Yale in 2011, and it was during my time there that I realized the common thread between Cape Cod Country Club and the Course at Yale. For all the significant differences between the two courses, there were commonalities that stood in contrast to many of the municipal and daily fee courses with which I otherwise had experience. I've always enjoyed the novelty and playing challenge of a new course, and over time I found this place and others to enrich my understanding of what a golf course is and how different minds and eras have participated in that evolution.
I remain unmarried and without children. I'm a therapist. I play left-handed. Perhaps as a consequence of early exposure to excellent greens, I consider putting one of my strengths and my absolute favorite part of golf. This season will be my first at Tumble Brook, a course that combines Willie Park, Orrin Smith, and George Fazio holes into a 27-hole layout. While I don't consider it an architectural revelation, I think it is one of those courses that represents a fundamentally sound presentation of good and thoughtful golf.
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Welcome Shane, Jordan, Will, Colin.
Great to have new posters here. Hope your enjoy and look forward to your contributions. We all are still learning from each other.
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Name: Lincoln Duff
Age: 31
Home: Chattanooga, TN
Handicap: 2
Favorite Courses: Riv, Monterey Peninsula CC, Trinity Forest, Honors Course, Fox Chapel, Pikewood National
Bio: Living just outside of Chattanooga, I was fortunate to grow up caddying at The Honors Course from 7th grade through college. The real perk was playing on Monday's but also meeting so many great people (and a few ass holes) as a looper for all those years. I spent a few years in Orlando after college and a couple in Atlanta while getting an MBA at Georgia Tech. Now I'm back in Chattanooga with my wife and two little kids. I've worked in tech and finance, but have always tried to figure out a way to marry my love of golf with my business background. I run acquisition efforts at Evergreen Partners, a boutique owner/operator of high end golf/country clubs across the US, where I help lead our acquisitions team, so always looking for clubs that might want to learn more about a recapitalization. I am an avid traveler and am hoping to play golf in all 50 states before I turn 50, I have 20 or so to go.
I have always loved golf, but it wasn't until I went to Sweetens Cove early in 2015 and met and befriended Rob Collins and GM Patrick Boyd, followed by a subsequent trip to Pasatiempo that I really got hooked on the architecture and learning as much as I could about that side of the game. Since then I've been a long time lurker here, listened to and read lots of content from Andy at the fried egg, and have been lucky to play many great classics since then. I love links golf and was blown away last year from a visit to Trinity Forest, I've yet to make it overseas to play, but can't wait to experience all that true links golf has to offer. I always love meeting new folks who like the game in the same ways I do, if any of you are in or around the Chattanooga area, please reach out. I'd love to join for a game, or just a drink.
-Lincoln Duff
lincoln.duff@evergreenclubs.com
423-503-8839
Instagram:Dufferstravels
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Lincoln, welcome from the other side of the Volunteer State. Enjoy your time here--a great group of guys with a shared interest.
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Name: David Cronan
Home: Sarasota
HDCP: None. Only play a couple times/year now. Was a 2 when I quit 6 years ago
Age: Old enough to have watched Seve in his prime
Family: 20 year old twins and my Much Better Half
Favorite Courses: Too many to list
Used to be a long-time participant in this group but was exiled due to a public spat with somebody in the Group. Played a bit of golf from my teens until I had a total shoulder replacement about 7 years ago. Since my absence here, I’ve moved from Louisville to Davidson, NC to SW FL. Have had the opportunity to play quite a bit in the UK and Ireland, as well as in the States. My son, who is a sophomore at Purdue, was just accepted to the University of Queensland for next year, so we’re subsequently planning a 6 week trip to Oz and New Zealand. I hear there are a couple ho-hum courses over there, so I guess I should probably start playing again so as to not completely embarrass myself while Down Under.
That the Cliffs Notes version. Any more would bore you further.
It’s good to be back.
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Name: Brad Steven
Home: Cleveland
HDCP: +1
Age: 54
Family: (Non-golfer) wife, 20 year-old daughter and 17 year-old son
Favorite Courses: Ocean Course, Pacific Dunes, Westmount Country Club
New member with an evolving appreciation and understanding of golf course architecture.
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Cronan……welcome back! It’s amazing how many have come and gone here, but you were always an active participant back in the day….
Brad Steven, welcome! I like your line about “evolving appreciation and understanding….” It’s true for all of us, whether we realize it or not. Have fun here….
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8) David Cronan,
Welcome back... Do you still get up to Northern Michigan in the summer? I never did take the Jeep to explore the backwoods of Highpointe, but it now has a new transmission and is ready to go this summer if your back can take it...
Did you ever get used to NASCAR?
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Cronan……welcome back! It’s amazing how many have come and gone here, but you were always an active participant back in the day….
Brad Steven, welcome! I like your line about “evolving appreciation and understanding….” It’s true for all of us, whether we realize it or not. Have fun here….
Hi Joe. Hope all is well and it’s good to be back.
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8) David Cronan,
Welcome back... Do you still get up to Northern Michigan in the summer? I never did take the Jeep to explore the backwoods of Highpointe, but it now has a new transmission and is ready to go this summer if your back can take it...
Did you ever get used to NASCAR?
Hey Steve.
I seldom get back to Northern Michigan since I became divorced. My ex got the Torch Lake cottage and I got a couple of Bassett Hounds. All in all, I’ve no complaints.
My son and I decided to go hiking through the NLE High Pointe several years ago. He was probably 11 or 12 at the time and in the car, he asked:
“Don’t you think you should put on pants instead of wearing shorts, Dad?”
“Nah, I don’t want to turn around and go back.”
“We’re still in the driveway.”
“I’ll take my chances, son.”
Who knew the chances were in my favor of contracting Lyme Disease? In any event, it was very cool walking the property.
Never was a NASCAR fan but met a lot of people in my little town who either worked for, or drove for, NASCAR teams. Wonderful folks.
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Name: Cal Carlisle
Age: 49
Home: Shaker Heights, OH
Handicap: 9
First of all, I'm pretty stoked to be on here. I've beeing reading the site for roughly twenty years and really enjoy some of the insightful posts some of you cast into the world.
After graduating with a degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State I worked for a couple of years and then went back to get a turfgrass degree from the same school. Whilst there, I worked at two well known courses in Columbus. I had the good fortune to work under an awesome superintendent that was not shy about giving you exposure to a lot of different jobs on the crew.
Right before I was to graduate, I was approached by a golf course irrigation consultant to come work for him. Since I had the Autocad experience from Landscape Architecture and the agronomics from turfgrass, it was a good fit. I primarily GPSed top ranked golf courses and created irrigation maps and programming for their irrigation systems. It was a pretty cool job to say the least.
An opportunity arose back in Ohio that I really couldn't pass up, and so I left the golf biz and now take my place in civilian life with the rest of you. But fear not! We civilians play much more golf than many of those guys in the golf industry.
Hands down some of the most awesome people you're ever going to meet are turfgrass people. They're "doers". They get up early, they go home late (depending on where you work), and they are one hell of a resourceful bunch.
I had about a seven year period where I had back problems and had felt I needed to give up the game. A friend of mine told me about a book by Dr. John Sarno called "Healing Back Pain". He said if I read that book over the winter, we'd be golfing together in the spring. He was right! I've been pain free for three years and haven't looked back.
Yes, I, once again, spend too much money on golf architecture books. I have a Google map "Business Trips" that overlays golf courses of interest with client locations. As a Japanese woodblock printmaker in my spare time I've even dipped my toe in making golf prints.
It's great to be back in the game, and with a little luck I hope to meet many of you in the future.
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Name: Cal Carlisle
Age: 49
Home: Shaker Heights, OH
Handicap: 9
First of all, I'm pretty stoked to be on here. I've beeing reading the site for roughly twenty years and really enjoy some of the insightful posts some of you cast into the world.
After graduating with a degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State I worked for a couple of years and then went back to get a turfgrass degree from the same school. Whilst there, I worked at two well known courses in Columbus. I had the good fortune to work under an awesome superintendent that was not shy about giving you exposure to a lot of different jobs on the crew.
Right before I was to graduate, I was approached by a golf course irrigation consultant to come work for him. Since I had the Autocad experience from Landscape Architecture and the agronomics from turfgrass, it was a good fit. I primarily GPSed top ranked golf courses and created irrigation maps and programming for their irrigation systems. It was a pretty cool job to say the least.
An opportunity arose back in Ohio that I really couldn't pass up, and so I left the golf biz and now take my place in civilian life with the rest of you. But fear not! We civilians play much more golf than many of those guys in the golf industry.
Hands down some of the most awesome people you're ever going to meet are turfgrass people. They're "doers". They get up early, they go home late (depending on where you work), and they are one hell of a resourceful bunch.
I had about a seven year period where I had back problems and had felt I needed to give up the game. A friend of mine told me about a book by Dr. John Sarno called "Healing Back Pain". He said if I read that book over the winter, we'd be golfing together in the spring. He was right! I've been pain free for three years and haven't looked back.
Yes, I, once again, spend too much money on golf architecture books. I have a Google map "Business Trips" that overlays golf courses of interest with client locations. As a Japanese woodblock printmaker in my spare time I've even dipped my toe in making golf prints.
It's great to be back in the game, and with a little luck I hope to meet many of you in the future.
Cal welcome aboard, good to have someone as knowledgeable as you posting actively. Please give more details on your golf print idea. PM if you prefer as it sounds interesting to use Japanese woodblock.
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Hey guys!
My name is Kurt Everett and I live in the Kansas City area. I've lived in Kansas all my life and and a new member on GCA. My great grandfather, Emerson Carey, founded Prairie Dunes, in Hutchinson, Kansas. My dad put a club in my hand when I was 4. Glad I found this site and happy to be a member.
Kurt Everett
Overland Park, KS
Home: Brookridge CC
Married w/ two kids (girl-12 boy-10)
Job: Nursery Stock Sales
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Just found this thread:
Rich Thomas
40 years old
Live in Las Vegas NV
+2 handicap
Retired early from a law enforcement career, and currently work in the casino industry
Married to a wife who doesn't golf, no kids, 4 dogs and 2 cats.
I've been a poster on this site for a little less than a year now, but lurked for a year or so before that when I became more interested in the architecture side of the game. I've been reading a few books on the subject (Grounds for Golf (Geoff Shackleford), Golf Course Architecture in America (George Thomas), Links (Robert Hunter), and Spirt of St. Andrews (Alister Mackenzie). I've had a club in my hands since I was 5 and was lucky enough to earn a scholarship to a small D1 school in the midwest where I grew up. Life took me out west for work where I didn't play for almost 8 years, and then a 2 of my squad mates were murdered in the line of duty and that changed everything for me. I immediately planned a trip with my dad to Pebble Beach and I was hooked on Golden Age golf. I have since played Pinehurst #2, Pasatiempo, Banff Springs, Jasper Park, and Cape Arundel. I have a huge bucket list of courses to play, but will play a muni and have just as much fun. My opinion is that munis are where the game lives and thrives. I look forward to hopefully learning more about the game I love through this site, and would also enjoy the chance to meet a few of you for a round or two.
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My opinion is that munis are where the game lives and thrives.
Well said that man. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Niall
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Just found this thread:
I have a huge bucket list of courses to play, but will play a muni and have just as much fun. My opinion is that munis are where the game lives and thrives.
I'll echo Niall. Well said.
Rich, if you're ever near NC/SC, just yell. Your wife and pups are always welcome (keep the cats at home ;) ).
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Ran granted me access to GCA in 2006 even though I had (still don't) any "credentials." I enjoyed the site and wanted the opportunity to ask questions.
I avoided this post because I couldn't (still can't) sniff the knowledge/experience/"status" of those who contributed here since then.
Peter Sayegh
Myrtle Beach, SC.
55 years old.
Handicap: my iron game.
Grew up on Jersey Shore and played any course with public access. Lived next door to MRGC.
Went to college in L.A. Played only Brookside and Arroyo Seco. Like others, I was a poor, working student.
Still exploring the Myrtle Beach courses I have yet to visit.
I've been a "member in residence" at Pinehurst for three years now. I consider myself very blessed (lucky).