133. Chicago and Columbus...and GGCC Board Meeting, Plus Miscellaneous

133.  Chicago and Columbus...and GGCC Board Meeting, Plus Miscellaneous

After three days at home it was off on another mini trip.  I had a Board meeting of our newly formed club (I chose to be an advisor to the Board...figured it was time for the "kids" to take over) Global Golf Centurions Club in Columbus OH on July 24 and 25.  I was heading first to Chicago to knock off two courses and then to Columbus to knock off one followed by the Board meeting (which included rounds at two great tracks I had already played).  My flight to Chicago Monday night was uneventful as was my drive from ORD airport to Chicago's South Side.  Got to my hotel around midnight and to bed quickly as I had a tee off time at 7am the next morning.

Olympia Fields Country Club-South, July 23, 2019:  OFCC was founded in 1915 and its first course (Course #1) designed by Tom Bendelow opened in 1916.  Course #2 designed by William Watson Jr. opened in 1918 and then in 1920 Course #3 (a collaboration by Bendelow and Watson) opened for play.  Finally in 1925 Course #4 by Willie Park, Jr. was completed (blog readers will recall his work at Huntecombe, Sunningdale, and Maidstone).  So in the mid-1920's stood a complex of 72 holes, all designed by notable Scots, close to downtown Chicago.  All remained very bright until the Depression commenced in October 1929 followed by World War II...and by the end of the War, the club had been forced to sell off half of its land.  OFCC's remaining golf assets were comprised of two courses: 

• the North Course, which was comprised of all 18 holes of Park's Course #4, and
• the South Course, which contains holes from courses 1/2/3  (but predominantly Bendelow's Course #1).  

In October 2012 I played North (my only round there).  North is OFCC's "heavyweight course" and has hosted 2 US Opens, 1 PGA Championship, 1 US Senior Open, 1 US Amateur, 4 Western Opens, and 1 KMPG Women's PGA Championship.  Few courses in the USA can match that record.

In 2013, 2015 and 2017 OFCC's South Course was included in Golf Digest's USA 2nd 100 Greatest list peaking at #176 in 2013.  The South Course also hosted the US Girl's Junior Championship in 2011.  

The South is a solid golf course.  It totals 7106 yards (par 72), and its best hole is #6 a 375 yard par 4 with a narrow "volcano" green (which falls off sharply on all sides).  I also thought holes 11-14 represented a very strong stretch of golf...although they are followed by #15 which I thought was "cramped", tight and felt out of place.  The course is very well bunkered but its flow is interrupted by some long green to tee walks on the back nine.  Much of these issues are probably a function of South being a composite of three different courses.   Course was very green as a result of copious amounts of rain this spring and summer. 

I played OK on the front and very well on the back, shooting a 42 - 39 = 81, but the highlight of the morning was running into member Peter Korbakes (a strong figure in golf social media) in the pro shop before my round.  Peter and I played together for 18 holes at Ohoopee GC last November and he was nice enough to come out and watch me play a few holes on the front (including seeing me birdie the above mentioned 6th hole).

Overall OFCC's two courses make for an excellent 36 hole combination...but not in the same class as what I would consider to be the world's finest 36 holes facilities:

Barnbougle (Australia),
Royal Melbourne GC (Australia),
Sunningdale GC (England), and
Winged Foot GC (New York).

Close behind this group is Cabot Links & Cliffs in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Sand Valley (Wisconsin)...and excluded from consideration is Bandon Dunes since it has four world class courses (actually five including the 13 hole par 3 Bandon Preserve) 😆😆!!  Tough company to break into!!

After the round I joined good friend (from Pinehurst) Greg O. for lunch.  Greg had just returned from a wonderful trip to Scotland and it was good to catch up...we both had a good chuckle over each other's crazy golf exploits.  Greg was admitted into GGCC two months ago after completing a GM World 100 by finally playing Augusta National in late May.

Ridgemoor Country Club, July 23, 2019:  Since June 2018 I have been saying that I had finished playing all of the Men's Major Venues in history.  While this has been 100% true in terms of strict definition, I realized about two months ago that it was not accurate in spirit.

During World War II, the USGA suspended play of its National Championships, including of course, the US Open. In 1942 a "Hale America Open" was organized and played at Ridgemoor.  After an ordinary 72 the first round, Ben Hogan went on to win the event.  For details, I shall quote from Wikipedia:

"Many supporters of Hogan and some golf historians feel that his victory at the Hale America Open in 1942 should be counted as his fifth U. S. Open and 10th major championship, since the tournament was to be a substitute for the Open after its cancellation by the USGA. The Hale America Open was held in the same time slot and was run like the U.S. Open with more than 1,500 entries, local qualifying at 69 sites and sectional qualifying at most major cities. The top players, who were not away fighting in World War II, participated and the largest purse of the year was awarded."

So, two months ago, Ridgemoor CC, site of the 1942 Hale America Open was added to my to-do list, and I looked forward to closing this gap in my records.  I am glad I played it and would opine that the critics who say that Ridgemoor was not up to US Open course standards are certainly not wrong.  But being a big fan of Mr. Hogan (my biggest regret regarding the game is never having watched him hit balls in person), I did want to close this loop.  One Ridgemoor legend is no one wants to break Mr. Hogan's course record of 62 (although one person has has tied it).  I had the chance to do so, but complied with that tradition (in part because I had to play all 18 holes to check it off my list).

The club was founded in 1902 as Irving Golf Club.  By 1908 the facility had expanded to 18 holes, and by the next year the club had changed its name to Ridgemoor Golf Club (and then to Ridgemoor CC in in 1913).

Ridgemoor lies about 7 miles east of O'Hare airport so getting to my late flight to Columbus was easy.  I arrived at John Glenn Airport around 12:30am and at my hotel some 50 miles east of Columbus around 2:15am!!  Tee off time Wednesday was 8am.

Virtues Golf Club (formerly Longaberger Golf Club), July 24, 2019:  Located about 40 miles northeast of Columbus, this club was originally called the Longaberger GC (named after its parent company which manufactured wooded picnic weaving baskets).  I first heard of Longaberger in September 2015 when our friend John C. (from Kingston Heath in Melbourne) was in Pennsylvania and Ohio (I joined him for part of that trip) and inquired regarding this course.  Longaberger sold the club in 2013 for $4 million and its name was changed to Virtues GC

I was playing  because it was included on the GW USA Top 100 Modern list from 2001-2003, peaking at #106 on my Merged GW list in 2003.  The course was designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1999.  The course is built on a lot of land...and is very hilly.  Overall it is a big course playing 7243 yards from the tips.  It played very soft and wet...yes, Ohio received a lot of rain but this track was much softer than the other two courses I would play over the following 30 hours.  

Overall for a public access course I thought this was an excellent course, but if you are looking for a great course to play (and have access), it would be better to stay closer to Columbus.  I think the best hole is #8, a 444 yard downhill, dogleg left par 4 to a peninsula green.  Almost any drive (unless you play way left to a risky spot) faces an approach with the ball well above your feet.  I had a 39 - 42 = 81. 

Finished playing before 11am leaving me time to get back to Columbus.

Double Eagle Club, July 24, 2019:  As you will recall, last May the first meeting of Global Golf Centurions Club (post #110...it was originally named Century Conquerors Club but the name was changed to "protect the innocent"...as they used to say on "Dragnet") was held in Westchester County north of New York City.  Our second gathering is planned for Los Angeles next April, and in the interim we held a Board meeting in Columbus, Ohio on 7/24 and 7/25...at Double Eagle Club and The Golf Club.  We started off with a working lunch at Double Eagle and then played its wonderful course.  I had played it once before in September 2012 (prior to blogging days).  Interestingly, back then the club was dealing with a mini drought, and just the opposite this year.

The course opened in 1992 and was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish.  It is located north of Columbus, plays top about 7200 yards (par 72), and is built on relatively flat former farmland.  The front nine is situated in heavily wooded property and a creek/ravine plays an important role on several holes, most notably the par 4  #5 (long/tough) and #6 (short/tight).  The back nine is more open and I think the superior nine.  Best holes on back I think are #15 (Cape driving hole that doglegs left around a large lake) and #17 (Weiskopf's always present drivable par 4).  Hole #18 is a very good par 5 of 550 yards with a lake in front of the green, but I would have preferred it if the fairway leading to this water extended about 20 yards further thereby leaving a shorter approach for the average player who lays up...not a huge quibble.  The scorecard was misplaced but I think I ended up with a 42 - 43 = 85...and I can confirm that the greens are tough to read.

What is simply astounding is the condition of the course.  The efforts to keep poa annua off of the course are amazing.  When you arrive, your shoe bottoms are throughly washed to eliminate any trace of poa...and I have heard from multiple sources that tweezers are utilized to remove poa from the greens.  I saw exactly zero traces of poa anywhere.  And the greens have absolutely no grain.  I cannot think of any other modern greens I have played with no grain...except some that are predominantly poa.  The greens (as well as the rest of the course) were simply in perfect condition.  Yes it would have been better off if they were firmed and browner...but with the rains this summer that would be unrealistic to expect.

Rating wise:

GM World 100---Made 100 four straight times (1995-2001)...highest #74 in 1995
GD USA 100--On every year 1997 thru today...highest #56 in 2009 (now #92)
GW Merged 100--On from 1997-2017 (#10 in 1997 and then off in 2018 and '19)
GM USA 100--On 1993-2013 (highest #41 in 1995)
Top100golfcourses.com (USA)--On 2006-2010 and off since (highest #41 in 2006)

Overall, Double Eagle's rating have generally declined consistently over the past 20 years, I would think more due to the profusion of wonderful new courses built (and older classics restored) in this Second Golden Age, than to any signs of decline at Double Eagle.

Dinner at Double Eagle was superb as were the accommodations.  This one is really worth seeing...in a town with four outstanding world class tracks (Double Eagle, The Golf Club, Muirfield Village, and Scioto).

The following morning we had a very good Board meeting and then proceeded to The Golf Club which lies east of Columbus.

The Golf Club, July 25, 2019: Prior to 1961 Pete Dye was a very successful insurance salesman, and a very good golfer (won Indiana Amateur in 1958 after qualifying for the US Open in 1957).  With the support of his wife Alice (winner of 1968 North and South Women's Open as well as the 1978 and 1979 US Senior Women's Amateur) and disregarding the advice of other friends, Pete embarked on a career as a golf course architect in 1961/62, designing his first two courses in Indianapolis. 
Between 1964 and 1969, three great courses designed by Dye opened...Crooked Stick (1964, IN), The Golf Club (1967, OH), and Harbour Town (1969, SC)...and his career had been catapulted.

Many of the features of Dye's courses came from observations during his initial Scotland trip in 1963.  I distinctly remember playing the 3rd hole at Prestwick GC in Scotland in July 1981...and realizing that was where Dye had first seen the use of railway ties to hold bunkers.  TGC makes wonderful use of railways ties on two fabulous holes...the par 3 3rd and the par 4 13th.  Its wide fairways were for sure unusual...no, not unusual but very rare for a USA course built in the 1960's.  And it may have been the first use of "waste bunkers"in the USA.  Yes, some of Dye's later courses approached extreme...but that was Pete...always testing and trying new things.  That is what geniuses do!

I first played TGC in 1980, and revisited it in September 2015.  During 2015, Dye commenced his restoration of the course.  Today it plays to 7433 yards (par 72 like almost all of his courses).  My favorite holes are 6, 8, 13, and 17...but there are no weak holes.  Holes that look simple are deceptively complex (example is #1).  And the combination 18th green, practice green, and 1st tee make for a wonderful start.  I played well and had a 40 - 43 = 83.

Rankings are very high and consistent:

Overall...TGC has been on every USA Top 100 except GD's 1966 and 1967 200 Toughest and GCA's 2018 "147 Custodians"...and 42 of the 49 World Top 100's tracked on my spreadsheet.
World 100...highest on a current list is #59 (final Links Magazine list); highest ever is #32 (GM 1993)
USA 100...highest current list is #30 (final Links Mag); highest ever is #6 (GW Merged 1999)
  
The only thing at TGC that is comparable to the course is the locker room...clearly modeled after Seminole's.  The food, service etc., are outstanding, and the club has a "feeling" about it, like the country's great old clubs.

After the round, I had to change and head to the airport...unable to stay for dinner as I had to get back to Boston.  Good thing I was able to arrange a late tee time for Brookline's Club Championship qualifying round the next day (actually the same day since I got home at 1:30am)!

Miscellaneous, July 26-30, 2019:  Well, played a poor front nine Friday and a good back nine, so qualified for match play over the weekend (Super Senior).  Played really well Saturday in the semis, and won 8 and 7.  Felt good about my game.  That lasted less than 24 hours as the ugly twin showed up on Sunday in the finals and I lost 5 and 4 due both to my poor play and the fine play of my most worthy opponent, Sandy T.  As loyal Brooklyn Dodger fans used to proclaim (until 1955): "Wait till next year".

Whaling City Golf Course, July 30, 2019:  Formerly known as New Bedford (MA) Municipal Golf Course, Whaling City originally consisted of a 9 hole Donald Ross.  In 1964, Sam Mitchell added 9 holes.  Around the same time I-195 was constructed and that must have resulted in some of the course's holes being taken by eminent domain.  In 1967 Whaling City was included on Golf Digest's 200 Toughest Courses in the USA...so here I was.  How it got on that list I shall never understand...just as you probably cannot understand what I was doing there this day.  But I did get it the full 18 in, and checked it off my list.  No need to follow my footsteps!

Button Hole Golf Course, July 30, 2019:  This is a feel good story!  About 18 years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Eddie Mauro in Pinehurst.  Eddie is from Rhode Island, had a highly successful career as a businessman, and many moons ago (sorry Eddie) won the RI State Amateur.  In other words, he was a player!  

More importantly, Eddie is practically Mr. Golf in RI...and is simply a wonderful human being.  About 20 ago he raised some money and purchased a 26 acre run down abandoned sand/gravel pit in a tough neighborhood in Providence.  Since then it has been converted into a beautiful green facility including a 9 hole par 3 course, a good sized driving range, and a teaching facility for underprivileged kids.  The name of this OASIS is Button Hole.  The likes of PGA tour greats Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade have helped Eddie bring this puppy along, and now they were launching a Capital Fund Drive, and I wanted to attend.

This place is truly an OASIS in a tough part of Providence...and if you have the resources and want to support a well run place that is doing real good things to improve a small part of the world, give what you can to Button Hole  (https://buttonhole.org)

Status of my Quests

Golf courses played to date:1169.   Golf holes played to date: 20,627

States Played--all 50
Countries Played: 45
World Top 100 Ever (11 publications...49 lists...343* courses) COMPLETED
USA Top 100 Ever (6 publications...72 lists...371* courses) COMPLETED
Men's Current Major Venues EVER (4 majors, 123* venues) COMPLETED
Senior Current Major Venues EVER (5 majors, 83* venues) 2 to go 
Women's Current Major Venues EVER (6 majors, 85* venues) 5 to go 
Amateur Major Venues EVER (5 majors, 223* venues) 33 to go (28 US Jr and 5 US Sr)
Cups/Team Competition Venues EVER (5 Cups, 4 Team Comp; 117* venues) 2 to go
Players Championship/Tour Championship Venues EVER--COMPLETED
Federal Express Playoff Venues EVER--COMPLETED
World Golf Championship Venues EVER--3 to go
Golf Week USA Classic Top 100 EVER--1 to go
Golf Week USA Modern Top 100 EVER--10 to go
Golf Digest USA Top 101-200 EVER--12 to go
*all numbers of courses exclude courses that I have not played but "no longer exist".