[MCirba]

Just as Ran's "Next Fifty" on this site provides some indication of what type of courses he's primarily interested in seeing/playing,  taking his idea with a retrospective twist, I thought it might provide some insight into the interests/biases/experiences of each of us to list the "Last Fifty" new courses we sought out and played. 

In my case, I see a proclivity favoring courses of some historic note, as well as just being plain old OLD.   I'd suggest that I don't have anything in particular against modern design, but have to admit that given my druthers, I'll play something with some vintage against the latest novelty anytime.  I'm therefore somewhat less than surprised in seeing that 13 of the 50 were opened in year 1900 or earlier.

It might be fun as well to tally up the total age of the last fifty.   In some cases, where the exact age of a course is lost to antiquity (i.e. Old Course), we should probably put a cap of say 250 years on it for comparative discussion purposes.

Here's mine;

Miacomet (MA) - 1963 - 53 years
Quicksilver (PA) - 1971 - 45 years
Silver Creek (Championship) (PA) - 1948 - 68 years
Alwoodley (GBI) - 1907 - 109 years
Muirfield (GBI) - 1891 - 125 years
Renaissance (GBI) - 2007 - 9 years
Musselburgh (GBI) - ~1567 - ~250 years
Gullane (#1) (GBI) - ~1650 - ~250 years
Royal Lytham & St Annes (GBI) - 1897 - 119 years
Fairhaven (GBI) - 1895 - 121 years
Royal Links (NV) - 1998 - 18 years
Fallen Oak (MS) - 2006 - 10 years
Great Southern (MS) - 1909 - 107 years
Joseph M. Bartholemew (LA) - 1952 - 64 years
English Turn (LA) - 1988 - 28 years
Meadia Heights (PA) - 1923 - 93 years
Ballyhack (VA) - 2009 - 7 years
Waynesborough (PA) - 1965 - 51 years
Lawrenceville School (NJ) - 1894 - 122 years
Greenacres (NJ) - 1932 - 84 years
Johns Island (West) (FL) - 1988 - 28 years
CC of Florida (FL) - 1956 - 50 years
Breakers (Ocean) (FL) - 1897 - 119 years
Sandhill Crane (FL) - 1991 - 25 years
Palm Beach Par 3 (FL) - 1961 - 55 years
Lake Worth (FL) - 1926 - 90 years
Cape Arundel (ME) - 1900 - 116 years
Kebo Valley (ME) - 1894 - 122 years
Dundee (NS) - 1983 - 33 years
Cabot Links (Cabot Cliffs) (NS) - 2015 - 1 year
Cabot Links (Cabot Links) (NS) - 2011 - 5 years
Cape Breton Highlands (NS) - 1939 - 77 years
Mount Washington (NH) - 1895 - 121 years
Forsgate (Banks) (NJ) - 1931 - 85 years
Rossmoor (NJ) - 1966- 50 years
Bath (NY) - 1954 - 62 years
Spring Creek (PA) - 1932 - 84 years
Michigan University (MI) - 1930 - 86 years
Radrick Farms (MI) - 1965 - 51 years
Ottawa Park (OH) - 1899 - 117 years
Inverness (OH) - 1903 - 113 years
Sylvania (OH) - 1919 - 97 years
Tomassos (NY) - 1962 - 54 years
DJs Par 3 (NY) - 1962 - 54 years
Caves Valley (MD) - 1991 - 25 years
Wanango (PA) - 1914 - 102 years
Foxburg (PA) - 1887 - 129 years
Indiana (PA) - 1920 - 96 years
Overbrook (PA) - 1952 - 64 years
Deal (NJ) - 1898 - 118 years

If I did the math right I end up with a total of 2,465 years with an average course age of 49.7, which is a bit less than I expected.   On the other hand, 17 of the 50 courses are older than 100 years, and 30 of the 50 existed before I was born in 1958.  It's been a fun magical history tour, for sure.   

[PCCraig]

Mike,


You should really get out more often...

[MCirba]

Mike,


You should really get out more often...

 It's been a rough 15 months, Pat.   I blame Joe Bausch.   

[Tim Martin]

Mike-If you were able to cut and paste that list then there may be some help for you. If on the other hand you typed all that information I would say the train has left the station.

[MCirba]

Tim,

A little of both which is probably a fair assessment.

[Steve Lang]

Mike,


You got a nice flavor of old Toledo ( I grew up playing Ottawa Park), but did you take in 1932 vintage Tony Packo's??

[MCirba]

Steve,

We ended up eating at the one near Sylvania's 1st green before driving home.   

[Tom_Doak]

Mike:


I like your idea of a list but I would prefer just to list all the courses I've gone to see this year.  It's just as important to note which courses make you want to go back, isn't it?


Unfortunately I don't keep as accurate of a calendar as I used to, except at the office and I am presently 8,500 miles away from the office, so I'll have to just go off the top of my head.  *s are courses I hadn't seen before:


San Francisco GC
Bel Air, California
*Oakbourne, Louisiana
*Squire Creek, Louisiana
Pennard, Wales
St. Enodoc, England
Westward Ho!, England
Saunton (East), England
Burnham & Berrow, England
*Blackwell, England
*The Worcestershire GC, England
Notts GC, England
*Cleeve Cloud, England
*Minchinhampton Old, England
Woodhall Spa, England
*Domaine Imperial, Switzerland
*Buenavista, Tenerife
*Abama, Tenerife
*Golf del Sur, Tenerife
*Costa Adeje, Tenerife
*Los Lagos, Tenerife
*Tecina, La Gomera, Canary Islands
Tara Iti, New Zealand
Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand
*Natadola Bay, Fiji
*The Pearl Pacific Harbor, Fiji
*Denarau Island, Fiji
*Royal Samoa, Samoa
Waialae, Hawaii
*Ko'olau, Hawaii
*Mid Pacific, Hawaii
Pacific Dunes, Oregon
Bandon Preserve, Oregon
Ballyneal, Colorado
Cherry Hills, Colorado
Rock Creek, Montana
Stone Eagle, California
Rochester, Minnesota
*StoneRidge, Minnesota
*Sand Valley, Wisconsin
Lawsonia (Links), Wisconsin
*Davenport CC, Iowa
*TPC at Deere Run, Illinois
*Spirit Hollow, Iowa
*Amana Colonies, Iowa
*Cedar Rapids CC, Iowa
*Veenker Memorial, Iowa
*Harvester, Iowa
*Des Moines (North), Iowa
*Waveland, Iowa
Wakonda, Iowa
Chicago Golf Club, Illinois
Medinah (No. 1), Illinois
*Forest Dunes (The Loop), Michigan
Crystal Downs, Michigan
*Stoatin Brae, Michigan
Kingsley Club, Michigan
*Grosse Ile, Michigan
*Barton Hills, Michigan
Inverness, Ohio
*Moundbuilders, Ohio
*Mohawk, Ohio
*The Virtues, Ohio [fka Longaberger]
Granville, Ohio
The Golf Club, Ohio
*Pikewood National, West Virginia
*Old Silo, Kentucky
*Idle Hour, Kentucky
Sebonack, New York
Stonewall (North), Pennsylvania
Stonewall (Old), Pennsylvania
*North Jersey, New Jersey
*CC of Scranton, Pennsylvania
*Royal Montreal (Blue), Quebec
*Royal Montreal (Red), Quebec
*Laval (Blue), Quebec
*Laval (Green), Quebec
*Mt. Bruno, Quebec
*Kanawaki, Quebec
*Beaconsfield, Quebec
Oyster Harbors, Massachusetts
*National (Ocean), Australia
Barnbougle Dunes, Australia
*Ocean Dunes, Australia
*King Island Golf & Bowling C, Australia
*Cape Wickham, Australia
Barwon Heads, Australia
St. Andrews Beach, Australia
Royal Melbourne (West), Australia


That's 53 first-time visits and 35 return visits ... on four continents!  No wonder I'm so tired!


I didn't plan to do it, but the best part was probably getting back to nearly all of my own top courses, if only for one round at most of them.  I missed only Streamsong and Dismal River.

[David Davis]

Mike,


I'll follow Tom's lead on this one: * indicates new courses played for the first time.


Golf Valley (Munich)
Noordwijkse Golf Club (Noordwijk, The Netherlands)
Diamante El Cardonal (Cabo, Mexico)*
Cabo Del Sol (Cabo, Mexico)*
Diamante Dunes (Cabo, Mexico)*
Quivira (Cabo, Mexico)*
The Links at Terranea (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)*
LACC South*
LACC North*
Riviera*
Valley Club of Montecito*
Cypress Point
MPCC Dunes *(only a star because it was a completely different course to what I played before)
San Francisco Golf Club*
Cal Club*
Meadow Club*
Portland Golf Club*
Brandon Trails
Pacific Dunes
Old Macdonald
The Preserve
Chicago Golf Club*
Royal Portrush
Turnberry
Le Touquet Le Mar*
Hardest Les Pins*
Belle Dune*
El Saler*
La Manga North*
La Manga South*
La Manga West*
Finca Cortesin*
La Cala - American*
Royal Hague
Utrechtse De Pan
Kennemer Golf Club
Tokyo Golf Club*
Kawana*
Hirono*
Naruo*
Jack Nicklaus Seoul*
South Cape Owners Club* (Korea)
Nine Bridges-Jeju* (Korea)
The Dunes at Shenzhou* (China)
Shanqin Bay*(China)
Mission Hills Blackstone*(China)
Mission Hills Lava Fields*(China)
Spring City Lake*(China)
Spring City Mountain*(China)
Stone Forest - Leaders Peak*(China)
Ayodhya Links* (Thailand)
The Bluffs* (Vietnam)


12 of those were replays - mainly the courses in The Netherlands + Bandon Dunes course plus Cypress Point (which I could reply that every day)


38 new courses this year in 13 countries.

[MCirba]

Thanks for sharing your lists, Tom and David.   Some very impressive travel from you both!

What limited golf time I have is generally spent seeking out new courses as I still really love the adventure and mystery of the unknown.   You'd think I'd be jaded after 1045 courses, but thankfully I still find it as exciting and enjoyable as ever.

In keeping with your suggestion of also listing courses I've re-visited over the time period that I've played my last 50 new courses, which is about 15 months, I also re-played the following, mostly courses reasonably local to me;

Stonewall (Old) - 1993 (PA) - 23 years
Soaring Eagles - 1963 (NY) - 53 years
Lookaway - 1999 (PA) - 17 years
Pocono Manor (East) - 1911 (PA) - 105 years
Mark Twain - 1937 (NY) - 79 years
Lehigh - 1928 (PA) 3x - 88 years
Shawnee - 1911 (PA) - 105 years
Glen Mills - 2000 (PA) - 16 years
Whitemarsh Valley - 1908 (PA) - 108 years
Stonewall (North) - 2003 (PA) - 13 years
Cobb's Creek - 1916 (PA) 3x - 100 years!!! 
Indian Mountain - 1927 (PA) 3x - 89 years
Rich Maiden - 1932 (PA) - 84 years
Glen Brook - 1924 (PA) 2x - 92 years
Berkleigh - 1926 (PA) 2x - 90 years
Mount Airy - 1981 (PA) - 35 years
Ace Club - 2003 (PA) - 13 years
Merion (East) - 1912 (PA) - 104 years

If I've added correctly, that makes for 76 rounds of golf in 15 months.  I tend to play in clusters when I'm able or travelling, other than that I'm normally a once a week player.   No wonder my handicap is going up! 

[David Davis]

Mike,


Like you my golf is played in clusters and otherwise I'm a 1 time a week guy as well. I also usually try to squeeze in one day of practice, of maybe 1.5 hours.


If I go on long trips I play a lot of courses, like 20 at a time. I'm aiming to see so I don't feel I have to return any time soon. Too expensive and too little time. I suspect that I'll give it another couple years then won't play a fraction of the new courses but just replay some of my very favorites if I'm lucky that is.


By then I should have a pretty good idea of what I like and I can't imagine that I'll ever manage to play 1000 different courses. That's serious long term commitment.


The other thing making that tough is the sheer number of courses here. There are 2/3 what I'd consider world class and there a few that are very good/solid. The rest it's hard to bother so I have to travel if I want to see courses of significant interest. Luckily UK and Ireland are only a stones throw away. If I don't move back to the US or elsewhere I will spend far more time in the UK and Ireland exploring courses after I turn 50...

[Matt Frey, PGA]

Mike: Interesting exercise! With your track record, I am actually surprised that my last 50 has surpassed your last 50 in terms of course age. Total age: 3,472 with an average age of 69.44. Of the 194 courses that I have played, the total is 10,665 and average is 55.26 (average course built 1960.75).


 

Course	Opened	Age
Cobbs Creek - Karakung	1927	89
Cobbs Creek - Olde	1916	100
White Clay Creek	2005	11
Meadia Heights	1922	94
Atlantic City	1897	119
Five Ponds	1988	28
Medford Village	1965	51
Hawk Valley	1970	46
American Classic	2000	16
Rehoboth Beach	1981	35
Harker's Hollow	1929	87
Huntingdon Valley	1928	88
Tallgrass	2000	16
St. George's	1917	99
Paxon Hollow	1926	90
Rich Maiden	1931	85
Mountain Branch	2002	14
Overlook	1928	88
Willow Valley	1975	41
Upper Dublin	1931	85
Mercer Oaks - East	2003	13
Spring Mill	1965	51
Lawrenceville	1897	119
Greenacres	1932	84
Bensalem Township	1960	56
Fieldstone	1998	18
RiverCrest	2004	12
Scranton - Old	1927	89
Scranton - New	1988	28
Youghiogheny	1911	105
Kenwood - Kendale	1930	86
Shaker Run	1979	37
Mount Airy	1981	35
Lulu	1912	104
Ace	2003	13
Lancaster - Old	1920	96
Lancaster - Highlands	1994	22
Bethlehem	1955	61
Elkridge	1925	91
Bala	1901	115
West Chester	1906	110
French Creek	2003	13
Harrisburg	1916	100
Manufacturers'	1925	91
Wanango	1914	102
Foxburg	1887	129
Indiana	1920	96
Green Valley	1924	92
Deal	1898	118
Hollywood	1912	104
	TOTAL:	3472
	SUM:	69.44

[MCirba]

Matt,

I never was very good at math and evidently I'm not much better at using a calculator!   

Something didn't seem right with my numbers so I went back and re-counted.   As it turns out for my most recent "New" 50 courses the total years turned out to be 3962, with an average of 79.24 years old, the average built around 1936.

Of course, I do have two wild cards in there with Musselburgh and Gullane #1 each at 250 years.   With the earliest records of golf at Musselburgh Links going back to 1567 and golf being played on Gullane Hill as early as 1650, I may be shortchanging myself a bit by settling on a mere 250 years for each. 

Thanks for sharing your list.   

[Matt Frey, PGA]

Mike: That sounds better. I keep all the courses I play in a spreadsheet, so all I needed were a couple of formulas to get my numbers. I'm historically poor at math as well.

[Joe Bausch]

Mike: That sounds better. I keep all the courses I play in a spreadsheet, so all I needed were a couple of formulas to get my numbers. I'm historically poor at math as well.

I hate math.  Too many numbers.

 

[astavrides]

Mike: That sounds better. I keep all the courses I play in a spreadsheet, so all I needed were a couple of formulas to get my numbers. I'm historically poor at math as well.

I hate math.  Too many numbers.

 

organic vs physical chemistry. :-)

[David McIntosh]

Tom,

Very impressive list, as are the others. When you say you've gone to see all of those courses, did you get to play them all too?

I know you couldn't list ALL of your courses that you didn't make it back to this year but I didn't see the Renaissance Club on your list of your own top courses you missed. I'm curious as to where you see the RC sitting amongst all of your courses.

[Sean_A]

Last 50?  The last 25 takes me back some 9-10 months...thats plenty of digging into the past. * denotes new play.

Celtic Manor 2010*
Welshpool*
Kington
Burnham & Berrow
Cleeve Cloud
Moortown
Oak Harbor (Ohio)
Birmingham (Michigan)
Palmetto*
Aiken*
Hope Valley*
Weston-s-Mare
Royal Wimbledon*
Worplesdon
St Andrews Eden
Elie*
Lundin
Beau Desert
Gleneagles Kings*
Kingsbarns*
North Berwick
Formby Ladies
Formby
Little Aston
Broadway

Only nine new courses, but I don't really target new courses.  I generally prefer to return to favourites again and again.

Biggest positive surprises

Welshpool
Birmingham
Aiken
Wimbledon
Gleneagles Kings

Biggest disappointment...Hope Valley.

Best...North Berwick pips Kingsbarns and Gleneagles Kings.

Favourites...Kington, North Berwick, Palmetto, Welshpool & Elie.

Ciao

[Kyle Harris]

Cirba,

I feel as though the Streamsong courses should be on your list but perhaps you are more well-traveled recently than I imagined!

Also, what about West Shore?

[MCirba]

Kyle,

We were at Streamsong with you in February 2014.   We need to get back. 

Beyond what I listed above, I've played a few since then, as follows, including West Shore;

Pine Tree (FL)
PGA National (Fazio) (FL)
PGA National (Championship) (FL)
Stone Harbor (NJ)
SkyView (NJ)
Bethlehem Municipal (Executive) (PA)
Brookside (PA)
Culver Lake (NJ)
Edgmont (PA)
Raritan Landing (NJ)
Lynx at River Bend (NY)
Hidden Acres (NJ)
Upper Montclair (NJ)
Doylestown (PA)
Scranton Canoe Club (PA)
Clearbrook (NJ)
Corning (NY)
Hyatt Hills (NJ)
Troy (NY)
Wolfert's Roost (NY)
Plymouth (PA)
Arnolds (PA)
Hemlock Creek (PA)
Yahnundasis (NY)
Tuscarora (NY)
Sunnehanna (PA)
The Creek  (NY)
Schenley Park Bob O'Connor (PA)
Trump Ferry Point (NY)
Concordia (NJ)
Lewistown (PA)
Blue Ridge (PA)
Ardsley (NY)
Bellewood (PA)
Flourtown (PA)
Metairie (LA)
Audubon Park (LA)
Lousiana TPC (LA)
Grand Bear (MS)
Arrowhead Pointe (GA)
Bobby Jones (GA)
Cavaliers (DE)
West Chester (PA)
Fiddlers Elbow (Forest) (NJ)
Forsgate (Palmer) (NJ)
Old York (NJ)
Burlington (NJ)
Kennett Square (PA)
Berkshire (PA)
Tioga (NY)
Newark (NY)
Ely Park (NY)
Medford Lakes (NJ)
West Shore (PA)
Hershey (East) (PA)
Maple Moor (NY)
Metropolis (NY
Westchester (West) (NY)
Westchester (South) (NY)

[Cory Lewis]

Interesting exercise Mike.  My last fifty new courses takes me back to March 19th.  I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit my total trends more modern.  I didn't even realize just how modern focused my trips were this year until I got my total.


My total was 1995, 39.9 average. 


I was disappointed to see I have only played 4 new courses over 100 years old in the last 50 (Wykagyl, CC of Little Rock, Cherokee, & Philly Cricket(St. Martins).

[Kyle Harris]

Interesting exercise Mike.  My last fifty new courses takes me back to March 19th.  I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit my total trends more modern.  I didn't even realize just how modern focused my trips were this year until I got my total.


My total was 1995, 39.9 average. 


I was disappointed to see I have only played 4 new courses over 100 years old in the last 50 (Wykagyl, CC of Little Rock, Cherokee, & Philly Cricket(St. Martins).

This makes sense, though.

Eventually you run out of courses that have been there and seek out the courses that were not there when you started playing courses that have always been there.

[Thomas Dai]

Add-up the cost of greenfees at the named courses. Some serious money.....unless there are rater/industry 'deals' available.


Atb

[Brian Finn]

My last 50 courses takes me back just about a year.  Average age 72, with a median of 77.  Range of 3 to 216.

Course                                               Year   Age
Carolina GC                                       1929   87
Cliffs at Keowee Springs               2008   8
Cliffs at Keowee Vineyard               1999   17
Cliffs at Mountain Park               2013   3
Cliffs Valley                                       1995   21
Cliffs at Glassy                               1994   22
CC of Salisbury                               1927   89
Pinehurst #8                                       1995   21
Fort Mill GC                                       1948   68
New Albany CC                               1992   24
Double Eagle                                       1991   25
Asheville Muni                               1927   89
Grove Park Inn                               1926   90
St. Andrews New                               1895   121
St. Andrews Jubilee                       1897   119
St. Andrews Eden                               1914   102
St. Andrews Castle                       2008   8
St. Andrews Old                               1800   216
North Berwick                               1832   184
Crail - Balcomie                               1800   216
Crail - Craighead                               1998   18
Cruden Bay - St. Olaf                       1899   117
Cruden Bay                                       1899   117
Royal Aberdeen                               1800   216
Leven Links                                       1909   107
Palmetto Dunes - Hills                       1986   30
Pinehurst #3                                       1907   109
Pinehurst #2                                       1903   113
Tanglewood - Championship       1957   59
Granville GC                                       1924   92
NCR - South                                       1954   62
Lancaster GC                                       1939   77
CC of Whispering Pines - West       1959   57
Talamore                                       1991   25
Chester GC                                       1971   45
Carolina Lakes                               2000   16
Bull's Bay                                       2002   14
Mid Pines                                       1921   95
Harbour Town                               1969   47
Palmetto Hall - Cupp                       1993   23
Palmetto GC                                       1931   85
Emerald Lake GC                               1990   26
Mimosa Hills                                       1928   88
Springfield GC                               2001   15
Southern Pines                               1923   93
Monroe CC                                       1930   86
Old Town Club                               1939   77
Camden CC                                       1934   82
Edgewater GC                               2008   8
Sedgefield CC                               1929   87

[Eric Smith]

I'd have to go back to 2013 to get to 50 courses, so I'm a plebe compared to the likes of you guys.   Still think I've played too much golf.

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