16. Update on Bucket Lists

Update on Bucket Lists

I am writing this the day after sending out my last blog chapter (Philadelphia trip, Toronto-Buffalo-Chicago—Minneapolis-St. Paul).  I did forget to update all of you on my current bucket list status:

1.     Worldwide Top 100 Ever from seven sources: 261 courses on list, 243 played, and 18 to go (Asia—10, Australia/NZ—5; Europe, USA, and Caribbean 1 each).

2.     US Open Venues: 54 in total, 52 played and two to go (Skokie-IL and Brae Burn-MA)

3.     1939 “First Top 100” (spoof): 101 courses (two tied for 100 spot), 78 played, 5 no longer exist, and 18 to go (England-6; USA-4; Cont Europe-3; S Africa-2; Canada-1; Sri Lanka-1; Vietnam-1)

4.     USA Top 100 Ever from five sources: 337 courses on list, 278 played, 2 no longer exist, and 57 to play

5.     Men’s Major Venues Ever:  total of 121 courses, 93 played, and 28 to go (2 US Open...see #2 above; 26 PGA)

6.     “Cups”—Walker , Ryder, and President’s: total of 70 courses, 56 played, and 14 to play (WC-1; RC-10; PC-1)

Realistically, I am hoping to finish #1 and #2 in the next 12 months.  Should get to about 15 of my 18 missing from #3 in that period as well.  In terms of long term, #3 might be doable but will be very tough (see South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam)…#5 fahgetaboutit…#6 maybe.

I do hope to move full speed ahead on these lists for the next 12 months, but also want to go revisit some of the great one’s I have played in the last 10 years or so.  More on this to come.

Trip to Canada August 15-20, 2015

Since the summer of 2010, Pat and I have spent 4-7 days each year with a couple from Toronto and Pinehurst who are close friends, either playing great courses in Canada (usually around Toronto) or in the Boston area.  In addition, we have taken two trips with them to California. In 2010 we did a “home and home” in both Boston and Toronto, and since then we have alternated each year.  For 2015, Canada was on the menu and late in 2014 we agreed to journey out to the Canadian Rockies…specifically the Alberta towns of Jasper and Banff, home of two courses by Stanley Thompson, certainly Canada’s greatest golf course architect.

Toronto Golf Club:  First stop was Toronto on August 15…and a round at Toronto Golf Club, founded in 1876, moved to its present site in 1911 and built a golf course designed by Harry Colt that opened in 1912.  In 2009-10, Toronto GC underwent a major renovation directed by Martin Hawtree.  Our first visit to Toronto GC was in 2010, which was shortly after Hawtree had finished most of his work, so I never saw the original Colt design.  Some reviewers say that Hawtree eliminated too many of Colt’s design features, but it is difficult for me to assess, having not seen the original.

Those of you who follow the US political scene will recognize Hawtree from his work on Donald Trump’s properties in GB&I (architect for Trump’s course near Aberdeen Scotland, renovator of Doonbeg in western Ireland w work continuing now, and retained to renovate Turnberry over the next year or so).  Donald is of course famous for having grown up 4-5 blocks from your truly, with some additional publicity generated by his real estate investments, golf courses, TV shows, and more recently, some political steps.

Toronto GC’s only citing in a World 100 is in Planet Golf where it is #90.  It is a great old club with wonderful history.  It is also one of those clubs that makes a visitor feel like they have stepped back 100+ years upon entering the grounds and buildings (just to clarify, especially for you Baby Boomers and younger generations…this is meant as a compliment…I would try to explain further but that probably would not be productive).

In any case, I have always been a big fan of Toronto GC…both the Club and the course. Best holes being its par 3’s (which have wonderful variety and include a very good Redan), and the par 4 3^rd, 9^th, 10^th, and 15^th).  One weak hole is the 18^th, a short par 4 that lacks sufficient “trouble” to present a proper risk/reward trade-off.   That of course did not prevent me from making a complete mess of 18 on this day, so perhaps I need to keep quiet (ain’t going to happen).  In fact, for the most part that appropriately describes my entire round.

Jasper Lodge:  The following day (8/16) we flew to Edmonton, Alberta and then had a 4-hour drive to Jasper, a small town in the Canadian Rockies.  This was our first trip to the Canadian Rockies, and we both loved it.  They are “new” mountains in geological terms…so the peaks are jagged, sharp, and pointed.  At the other extreme the Catskills (northwest of NYC) are very “old” mountains, with surfaces that have been worn down over millions of years.  We stayed at The Fairmount Jasper Lodge, a wonderful old hotel (but in need of some updating which has commenced) with an old Stanley Thompson golf course.  Thompson was a brilliant Canadian golf architect who designed six of the top 10 (and 14 of the top 30) Canadian courses built before 1960 (per GolfWeek)…two notable exceptions are Toronto Golf and Hamilton Golf, both by Colt.  To my mind, Thompson’s Highlands course in Nova Scotia (about a 2 hour drive from Cabot Links and Cliffs) is his best…with perhaps the most beguiling greens I have ever played.  His Jasper course has not been included on any World 100 list published in the last 40 years, but did make the 1939 World 100 List “republished” on www.golfclubatlas.com several years ago (see my write up of this list in a blog posting from earlier this summer).  I liked Jasper…its greens are its best feature (which is typical of Thompson) with very difficult slopes.  Holes 12-16 and 18 are a strong collection, and I especially liked the par 5 13^th with a “punch bowl” green necessitating a blind 3^rd shot.  It totals 6683 yards, par 71 and at an elevation of 3500’, plays more like 6300 from the tips.  Problem is with the par 5’s, three of which are 480-492 yards, way too short especially at that altitude.  Two of the par 5’s may have room to move the tees back (#2 and #5)…or how about making it a par 68???  What is the magic associated with par 70-72?  West Sussex is a great par 68!  Had a 78…played much better than at Toronto.

The next day (8/18) was spend on a glorious drive from Jasper to Banff, including a stop for lunch at Lake Louise.  I have to say, this was a day without golf but it was glorious.  Have to be careful with this stuff though!  Seriously if you have the chance, get there…this is a spectacular part of the world.

Banff Springs:  Beautiful spot, and glorious course.  Most of the front nine is right up against Rundle Mountain, which seems to rise out of nowhere at about an 80° angle.  Very interesting topography.  The course is built in the valley, and right up to the base of the mountain, there is almost no upward slope…highly unusual.  Best holes are #4 (signature hole…sharply downhill 192 yds from back par 3 to a green fronted by a pond and surrounded by sharp uphill slopes and bunkers on the other three sides (bringing water into play on 2^nd shot) with a green sloping sharply from back to front, #9 (continuously turning right 501 yd par 5…should be a par 4 with fall off all along the right side from tee to green…creating “cape hole”…bite off as much as you wish to chew…tee and 2^nd shots) and #12 and 14…both tough long par 4’s.  Course was reconfigured some 25 years ago with the building of a new clubhouse.  Current #14 green and #15 tee are right behind the wonderful Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and used to be the 18^th green and #1 tee respectively…probably was a slightly better layout that way.  In any case, my thoughts on Jasper vs. Banff is that Jasper is the better golf course and Banff the more spectacular setting.  Both are certainly worth the trip!  Had an 82 but hit the ball very well…just couldn’t get the green speeds right.  Won Can$4 so all is well with the world!

The next day we drove from Banff to Calgary and flew back to Boston, transferring flights in Toronto.  Our Toronto to Boston flight was 3 hours late, so we arrived home around 12:30am…which wouldn’t have been so bad, except that we had a 3 ½ hour drive to Vermont the next morning (or should I say the same morning) for a mixed Member-Guest.

Ekwanok CC:  Founded in 1899 by James Taylor (relationship to the member of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is unknown), Ekwonok is located in the center of Manchester, VT (see how good I am, no nasty comment about their Socialist Senator).  Its 18 hole course was designed by Walter Travis (3x US Amateur champion and 1x British Am champion) and John Duncan Dunn.  It hosted the US Amateur in 1914, which was won by Francis Ouimet (one year after his US Open victory at Brookline). 

Ekwanok has consistently been included in Golf Week’s Top 100 Classic (built before 1960) course list, reaching a high of  #71 in 2010 and is currently #93, but has never reached my merged GW Top 100.  It is a superb club, with great traditions and a membership to match.  Its course is wonderful to play, and situated in a gorgeous valley…and must be simply exquisite during the first week of October. 

The course, while short (6534 yd par 70), has a wonderful collection of green complexes, most of which slope sharply from back to front, and ball position/distance control are essential for good scoring (I can testify that lack of distance control results in poor scoring). It is a course one can play every day and always enjoy.

Best holes are #6 (186 yd par 3 with very very difficult green complex); #7 (592 par 5 with huge mound 280 yards off tee…make a decision on how to deal with it), #8 and #14 (excellent short par 4’s---which treated me very differently); #2 and #16 (two tough par 4’s of about 430 yards, both uphill). 

We left Sunday morning empty-handed prize wise but thinking about a fun, excellent course, a simply marvelous club, and the wonderful group of folks we were with for a couple of days.  And, looking forward to some well needed rest.

Next on the agenda…a seven day trip to the Midwest 8/29-9/4.