137. Two local courses in Massachusetts, and Visitors from Down Under

137.  Two local courses in Massachusetts, and Visitors from Down Under

It took about a week to get over jet lag after getting back from France, and I spent most of that week catching up on things and didn't really starting playing golf again until about September 15.  Then last week I arranged to play two very good courses in Massachusetts (first time playing both).

GreatHorse, September 18, 2019: GreatHorse represents a complete makeover of club and 18 hole course near Springfield, MA (about 90 miles west of Boston and 25-30 miles NNE of Hartford, CT).  The site had been the home of Hampden CC which filed for bankruptcy about 9 years ago and was purchased in an auction proceeding for $1.4 million.  The purchaser was the Antonacci family of Connecticut, a very prominent family in the harness racing world.  Architect Brian Silva (think Black Creek in Chattanooga, TN (Post #106) as well as renovations at Fox Chapel (PA) (Post#18), CC of Charleston (SC), and Interlachen (MN)) was brought in and completed a total transformation of the course, while an equivalent transformation was made to the rest of the property.  It opened for play in 2015 and the results are visually stunning.

The property is divided into two parcels (see "Google Earth" shot below):

Wilbraham Road, running between 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock on the above photo, bisects the property (note that north in this overhead shot is at 12:00).  The clubhouse, practice area, and holes 1, 9, 10, and 15-18 lie on the eastern side of Wilbraham, while holes 2-8 and 11-14 lie west of Wilbraham.  The clubhouse lies just west of the parking lot and just right the words "GREAT HORSE" north of the woods and tennis courts on the right side of this shot.  As you can see, all of the 11 holes to the west of Wilbraham run East-->West or West-->East, and the holes on the eastern section run Northeast-->Southwest or SW-->NE.

The clubhouse sits on top of a hill about 220' above the section west of Wilbraham.  The holes on the eastern section are very hilly while the holes on the western section are virtually flat.  The views looking west from the clubhouse are simply spectacular...even if the following two photos are not:

View SW--18th fairway, then 1st fairway, and in background #11, 14 , and 2

View W--18th green front left, practice green to right, #1 and #10 tees behind

The clubhouse facility is outstanding and highly unusual for low key New England...but not IMO "over-the-top".  I have seen three different estimates of the amount of $$ spent on the renovations and rebuilding (course, clubhouse, roads, etc etc)...$30 million, $45 million, and $50 million.  Very casual atmosphere...even allow denim in clubhouse!!  Had lunch after the round and the food and service were excellent.

Now to the golf course.  It is a big one...7602 yards from way back (I played from 6018 yards)...and I counted 190 bunkers (but the head pro said I must have missed 14 others!!).  As you can see from the overhead shot, then fairways bunkers are in clusters that are staggered left/right and different distances from the tee.  As a result, it is critical to know the yardages to reach and carry these clusters.  I counted six par 4's and 5's with bunkers placed in the middle of fairways...further adding to the difficulty and thought required off the tee here.  Given the number and size of the bunkers, this place must have a very large maintenance budget, and I hope the Antonacci's understood that going in.  Interesting architectural features include:

      --a double green for holes #5 and #7,
      --a "horseshoe" shaped tee on the par 3 12th...with a small pond in the interior of the horseshoe, and tees stretching from 157 to 222 yards (where Watchaug Brook is noted on the left side of the overhead shot),
      --a wonderful 4th hole (415 yards from tips) with no bunkers and an angled green protected by water on three sides and a sharp bank along is left-back side, and

Approach shot to peninsula 4th green from rough left of fairway

Peninsula 4th green from back right...note banking on back left side of green  (right side of photo)

      --a very "different" (and superbly effective) Redan hole as the par 3 9th (186 yards)

Par 3 Redan 8th hole.

I started off by almost driving the down hill 1st hole which I played from 300 yards (485 from tips)...and hit the ball fairly well shooting a solid 40 - 41 = 81.  There were some aspects of the design I did not like (such as the long stretch of holes from 2-8 all flat going in just two directions)...but most  of these negatives were simply a function of the site, and I could not figure a reasonable alternative.  And the situation in somewhat alleviated by crossing Wilbraham RD for holes 9 and 10.

Tunnels under Wilbraham Rd are a very "tight fit" for the carts!   Surprised they don't make cart drivers take breath tests!

Some other very good holes are pictures below:

8th hole (623 yd par 5) coming back to Wilbraham Rd and uphill to green; hole has 27 bunkers!! 

16th (440 yard par 4) uphill all the way

#17 is downhill dogleg left off tee to here and then sharply uphill (389 yds)

#18 is uphill dogleg right of 499 yds and reminded me from the tee of #18 at Muirfield Village (OH)

Overall I liked the course...and while I would not want to play it every day...I certainly would want to play it again to get a better feel.  Best word for it might be "intriguing".  Very different "feel" than most New England courses but does not feel "out of place".  This year GW placed GH in its Top 200 Modern list and that placed it at #343 on my Merged GW Top 400.

Charles River Country Club, September 20, 2019:  For some reason I had never played Charles River even though it lies a mere 3 miles west of Brookline and was the second stroke-play qualifying course during the 2013 US Amateur conductor at Brookline and Charles River.  Back in June of this year I was scheduled to play CRCC with three other Golf Magazine panelists but we were rained out.

Charles River was founded in 1921 at its current site with a course designed by Donald Ross...and if you do not know that when you tee off...you certainly know it when you arrive at the first green.  The greens here are big and bold...with very strong slopes and lots of small contours spread throughout the green surfaces.  And, as with many other great courses from the first Golden Age, Charles River has more false fronts than an eighth grade classroom.

The practice green seemed pretty quick but I only took one or two putts there, and then my putt on #1 was very uphill.  I arrived at the green of the par 5 second having "short sided" myself on the right side and hit what felt like a very good pitch from the right rough...only to watch in horror as the ball rolled out about 70 feet and off the left side of the green!  Firm and fast?  No question.  They were rolling about 13.5' on the stimp, perhaps as fast as any greens I had ever played.  I can proudly say that I avoided having a five putt green (but will plead the 5th when asked the length of my gimme 4th putt).  Terrifying is too weak a description.  The greens were perfectly true but you had to be on the correct side...below the hole.  Overall, the course was in nearly perfect condition...fairways could have been a drop drier and faster but the conditions were outstanding.  Learned later that Bill Spence, who retired two years ago after a long career as greens superintendent at Brookline, was consulting for CRCC and I sent Bill a brief email congratulating him on CRCC's superb conditioning.

The course is squeezed into a relatively small plot and is today plays 6701 yards from the tips...relatively short by today's standards.  In 2006 CRCC hosted the Massachusetts Open and exactly one played shot under par (the winner at one under).  The course has 6 blind tee shots that I recall, so local knowledge here is critical...and as the saying goes, "the greens here are the course's main defense...and everything backs up from there."  I ended up with a smooth 43 - 44 = 87 and my tail between my legs!

CRCC has been included in GW's Top 200 Classic courses for most of the last nine years but that just makes the USA Top 400 on my Merged lists.  IMO it is not a USA Top 100 but should be a little higher (perhaps #175-250 range on the Merged list, compared with #382 today).  If you want to test your putting on fast tough greens, this is a place to do it.

Visitors from Kingston Heath GC (Melbourne, Australia), September 21-24, 2019:  It was an Aussie invasion in the USA.  Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison was honored at a state dinner at the White House on September 20, a group of 12 members of Kingston Heath GC was touring USA courses in the Northeast (and played Brookline 9/21), and our good friend from KHGC, John C, visited Boston 9/22-24.

Pat and I were delighted to be amongst a group of 12 Brookline members playing with the KHGC group.  Brookline was beginning to look like a construction zone as modifications planned for the 2022 US Open were proceeding and interesting to observe.

On Monday, I played Brookline with John (and his namesake member) who was last here in 2012.  Then on Tuesday we went down to Old Sandwich in Plymouth, MA...one of my favorite Coore-Crenshaw designs (see Posts #83, 131, and 1005).  OS was in excellent condition and I played fairly well shooting a solid 41 - 41 = 82.  John is in the midst of a quest with which I am familiar.  He is trying to be the 50th person to finish a Golf Magazine World Top 100 and apply for admission to GGCC.  As of this instant he stands at 98 on the most recent lists (2013, 2015, and 2017) and should be at 99 by tomorrow, Friday 9/27.  One to go...and I hope he makes it!!

One final note...we now have proof that the fairways at Brookline are getting much firmer and faster.  When playing with the Aussies, I was able to reach (in fact put it over) the par 4 18th for the first time in over two years.  Definitive proof as I ain't getting longer!!

136: Trip to France...4 days outside of Paris...and ISAGS in Bordeaux

136: Trip to France...4 days outside of Paris...and ISAGS in Bordeaux

Early this summer we signed up for a ISAGS event in Bordeaux, France (see start of Post #69 for brief explanation of ISAGS).  Our original plan was to go to Paris for four days, then take the train to Bordeaux and the ISAGS event for seven days, then fly to Geneva for a day and drive to Como, Italy for about 4 days.  However, we later has to cut the trip down to 12 days...just the portions in France, departing Boston 8/26 and returning 9/7.  As I write this, we are on a train from Paris to Bordeaux on 8/31.

Our flight over to commence this trip was fairly uneventful.  We flew Boston--> Dublin-->Paris via Aer Lingus as these business class seats (full lie flat) were something like 35% the costs of flying nonstop to Paris (yes...65% less).  And on top of that our stewardess was very pretty (Pat said so...I of course hardly noticed).

We stayed for the first five days in the Paris suburb of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which is about 17 miles west of the center of Paris.  We picked this location because we wanted to avoid the hassle of getting around Paris and the hotel was about a mile from one of the golf courses we were playing.  The hotel is a member of Relais & Chateaux...which made its price of about $150/night look extremely reasonable.  Having stayed there 4 nights I will just say I think Relais & Chateaux has taken an axe to its auditing budget...but net net, it was fine and a very good deal for anyplace near Paris.

Golf de Saint Germain, August 28, 2019: Tuesday was a day to get somewhat caught up on time zone change and travel.  Then Wednesday afternoon we played Golf de Saint Germain.  The club was founded in 1902 with a 9 hole course (surrounded by a paddock with gazing sheep) in Hermitage.  At the time membership count was 30 and annual dues 60 francs...both have risen mildly since then.  By 1920 the member count was up to 150 and an 18 hole course was built in the Forest at St Germain on a generous plot of 128 acres.  Mr Harry Colt (Sunningdale-New from scratch; Sunningdale-Old major redo; Muirfield-re do; St. George's Hill; both at Wentworth...before the West was just about ruined; Swinley Forest; Rye; Pine Valley with George Crump and re-do's at Royal Portrush and Royal Liverpool...to name just a few), who is considered by many to be the greatest golf architect in history was brought in to do the new course.

The Club has hosted the French Open nine times and amongst the champions here have been Sandy Lyle in 1981 and Seve Ballesteros in 1985.  Today it plays a relatively short but very very good 6705 yards (par 72).  Course has never been included on a World 100.

Pat hit is well and enjoyed the course.  I started off sinking a 12 footer for par on #1, and that was my last putt made longer than 4 feet!  I missed 8 putts of under 15' from holes 8 thru 18  and double bogeyed perhaps the easiest par 4 on the course after getting an awful lie on my tee shot (4 yards right of the fairway)...and ended the day with a 77...three strokes over my secret age.  Really really hit it well (except for the above bitched about drive on 16).  One of these days, maybe??

Best holes IMO are par 3 #5, par 4 #10, and par 4 #14, and par 4 #18.  No weak holes but would be nice if they could trim back the tree lines...but I should be careful about emailing this from France where the tree huggers might get out a posse for me.

Went back to our hotel and cried in my sparkling water...but made a point that I would stop talking about how close I came within the next 4 months.  Want to make sure I don't harp on it.

Golf de Fontainebleau, August 29, 2019:  We had a 55 mile drive south this morning so were on the road around 8:30 for a tee off time of 11:00...one never knows with Paris traffic (more later).  The drive south was pretty easy and we arrived at the club around 10:10am.

Founded in 1909, the club moved to its present location in 1920, and had their course designed by Tom Simpson (Morfontaine GC and Chantilly GC, just north of Paris; New Zealand GC, in Surrey SW of London; County Louth GC, north of Dublin, Ireland) and then renovated and lengthened in 1963 by Fred Hawtree.

This club is magnificent to behold.  No, it is not Cypress Point...but there is a simple beauty to the place...not influenced by a large body of water or mountains nearby...that is most captivating.  The clubhouse, with its Norman style architecture is absolutely charming and the view from the dining room down the first hole is stunning...even better than the French food!

From Dining Room down first fairway.  Name a better view!

The course in many ways seemed to have a "feel" very similar to Morfontaine Golf Club.  In particular I noticed the very fine sand particles along the walking paths as well as the majesty of the trees.  Behind the 1st and 12th greens stands a very large hill, and leading up to the top of that hill the ground was covered with large boulders and rock outcroppings...and this hill reminded me (and Pat as well) of the hill at the end of the driving range at California Golf Club of San Francisco.

Fontainebleau's 1st green and hill behind green (from front of green)

The club's logo, shown below, reminded both of us of Monterrey Peninsula CC's new (adopted in last 10 years or so) logo (also below).

Golf de Fontainebleau Logo

Monterrey Peninsula Country Club Logo

I would expect this issue to have potential for a lucrative intellectual property lawsuit 😆.

Finally, in the men's locker room were three large steam radiators sitting in the middle of the floor to warm the room on cold days...very reminiscent of the radiators in Brookline's locker room.  But Pat had no comment about things looking the same in these two men's locker rooms

OK...enough of this stuff, on to the golf course.  The course is superb.  While it has never been on a World Top 100, top100golfcourses.com rates it #6 in Continental Europe...and I heartily agree.  It was challenging and great fun.  Tipping out at 6784 yards (par 72), it is a bit short for the modern hitter with today's equipment, but who cares.  For almost all players today...this place is plenty long enough.  Best holes are #1 (see above and below), #2, #3 (see below), #12, and #15 (despite criticism

Fitst golf from the tee

Third hole...par 5 of 527 yards from atop of hill behind #1

from some about a blind second shot).  I had a solid 41 - 40 = 81 and wanted to play it again, but time would not allow.  The greens had been punched just 4 days earlier so they were inconsistent and slow (always happens after punching which its absolutely necessary punching0.   Would love to play it again with normal greens...but very special this day even with the recent punching.

One negative event occurred while playing Fontainbleau...for which I take 110% of the blame.  I place a golf ball in my back pocket which happened to also hold my iPhone...and then sat down.  The results were most predictable expect to moi.  Cracked iPhone face and a need to replace the phone.

After a very good lunch and a brief talk with the Secretary, it was time for what would be a long 55 mile drive back to St Germain.  What would normally be a drive of about 1:15 stretched out to about 2:45 as we got stuck in rush hour...Paris style.  A true nightmare.  Think we moved about 0.5 miles in about 40 minutes...but finally made it back to our hotel.  Not fun, but did not erase the wonderful memories of our day at Fontainebleau.

Friday was a day of rest during the day...and then it was back into Paris (braving the rush hour again but this time pretty easy drives both ways) for dinner with an old friend from high school and his bride of some 53 years...Barry and Bobbi C., who were coincidentally in Paris for a medical conference.  Wonderful to catch up and a special capstone to this portion of the trip.

Visit to Bordeaux Region:  We then headed to a six day event in Bordeaux.  I shall format this portion of this post differently from prior posts.  The sub-sections will be:

-Travel to and from Bordeaux, and social events at ISAGS gathering
-Golf tournament and golf courses (two courses, Chateaux and Vigueres at Golf du Medoc)
-Golf round at Tom Doak's Grand St Emillionais Golf Club

Travel to/from Bordeaux and Social Events at ISAGS: Saturday morning we caught a train ride to Bordeaux and the ISAGS event.  Fortunately we left early for the train station...trains stations are generally not designed for folks with a lot of luggage (including two golf bags)...no push carts, etc. etc., but we got on the train which went smoothly.  That evening we enjoyed a fabulous dinner with several ISAGS folks in the city of Bordeaux, which is totally charming ("Paris without the Parisians" 😀😀).  When we arrived at the main Square in Bordeaux, I found an Apple Store right there, just 300 yards from where we were having dinner.  Before dinner, I made one of history's fastest purchases of an iPhone, and was only 10 minutes late!  The old phone was getting on in years anyhow...wonder what it is saying about me??

On Sunday night, ISAGS always has its Opening Dinner.  For this event it was held at Chateau du Tertre.  As always the dinner is proceeded by a cocktail party and a flag ceremony with representatives of each of the countries present marching in with their country's flags...this year including Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, UK, and USA.  After the wonderful dinner, we were entertained by a performance by a "Beatles" group playing songs mostly from the sixties.  I loved it and was of course at my best when I helped them perform the Beatle's rendition of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode".  Ahhh...like IFC Weekend in April 1965 and April 1966 with Chuck Berry at MIT's Armory!

Paul (aka Chuck Berry) helping out with Johnny B. Goode

Golf du Medoc, September 1/2/4/5, 2019:  Golf du Medoc has 36 holes.  The first course, Chateaux (Chateau), was designed by Bill Coore (who of course later partnered with Ben Crenshaw).  This was Coore's third solo design, and Rod Whitman of Canada guided the construction part of the effort.  Earlier in their careers Bill and Rod had met each other while working under the tutelage of Pete Dye.  The second course, Vignes (Vines), was designed by Ron Whitman and opened in 1991.

Both courses sit on very flat land but with enough movement to make them very interesting.  They have a very similar feel...not surprising given Whitman's efforts on both.  Located some 25 miles east of the Atlantic Ocean in the Bordeaux region of France, they capture some of the feeling of seaside, heathland, and parkland settings, with this area's very sandy soil and exposure to seaside winds from the Atlantic.  The architecture of both courses is similar...wide fairways, most greens open to running approach shots, strategically placed bunkering and sculpturing of fairways, relatively large greens with very difficult slopes and breaks to read, and options available on most shots.  The big wide fairways seem to make things look easy..but if you approach the greens from the wrong angle you shall pay the appropriate price...and if you want the easy angle for your second shot, your drive will most likely have to flirt with trouble.

Totaling 7189 yards (par 71) Chateau is a very good test and great fun to play...requiring real thought before attempts to execute shots.    Best holes IMO include the split fairway par 4 #1 , the short dogleg left par 4 #11, the short par 3 (with shallow green depth on the right side) #12, the par 5 14th, and the long par 4 16th (which ate my lunch).  The French Women's Open is being contested on Chateau starting 9/19.

Vines plays to 6821 yards (par 71 also).  I think its best holes are #4, #5, #15, and #16.  It has very similar characteristics as Chateau, but I think Chateau is more subtle, and interesting and better risk/reward features....but both are very good.

I was surprised at how soft and wet the course's fairways were being kept.  It has the potential to be very "linksy" in feel, but that is not possible with soft, forgiving fairways and greens.

Our schedule included a practice round on Sunday 9/1, followed by tournament rounds Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (Pat's event was three rounds ending Thursday).  Wednesdays are a day off from tournament play.  We are playing a Stableford competition (non-golfers...do not ask...just know that contrary to "normal" golf scoring a higher score is better than a lower).

Pat won the whole "kit and kaboodle" of the women's Net competition by a whopping 14 points.  She captured 43 points Thursday...basically playing some 7 strokes better than her handicap indicates.  Really great playing and wonderful to see.  Here she is accepting the winners trophy (along with Suzanne Bonafede, the winner of the women's gross competition Friday night).

Women's winners at ISAGS event...Suzanne Bonafede and Pat

I finished in the middle of the pack, clearly peaking in Paris a week too early.  As you can see below, my Tuesday round was simply awful.

Sunday 9/1      Chateau      80 (Practice Round)
Monday 9/2     Vines          81
Tuesday 9/3     Chateau      88
Thursday 9/5   Vines          82
Friday 9/6        Chateau      84

The good news is that the trophy gets shipped to us...so no need to get it through customs.  Now about the expanded trophy case required for Pat's haul...

Grand Saint Emilionnais Golf Club, September 4, 2019:  Wiser members of ISAGS take Wednesdays off from golf during these tournament events, but less wise moi generally travels to nearby courses on these days.  Wednesday this week I went (with one of the guys running the event) to play Tom Doak's new (opened 2015) course some 40 miles easy of Medoc, St. Emilionnais GC.  This course is owned by a very prominent golf family in France and the project is in early stages of development.  The land itself is very special...reasonably hilly, and from what I could tell very healthy soil conditions.  A narrow creek runs through the property and affects play on a good number of holes, and the slopes of the land create interesting choices off the tees...on many holes the safe drive puts you in a spot where the second shot is totally blind, while the risky drive (flirting with the creek, a bunker, our trees) if pulled off yields a clear view and much easier approach shot ...strategic design at its best.  From the tips it plays a relatively short 6765 yards (par 72)...but more than enough for us mortals

Readers will recall my description of the 4th green at Huntercombe (Post # 131)...the par 3 third hole and par 4 17th have greens that are excellent adaptations of this Huntercombe gem.  I had a decent 43 + 40 = 83.  The course is tough playing the first time (like all minimalist firm/fast courses) as one must learn the subtleties of the ground.  Also the green had recently been punched and sanded (regular and necessary routine maintenance practices) making putting surfaces inconsistent difficult (temporarily).  Overall I loved the course and would highly recommend it.

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Great trip...even with the mess dealing with 2 golf bags, two large suitcases and two roll ons through train stations Saturday morning 9/7.  Came close to falling down an escalator at Charles de Gaulle airport's train station (long line for elevator and we had a tight connection), but in the end it all worked out.  Now about flight from Dublin to Boston...so on our way back!

135. Short Trip to Knockoff Some Isolated Courses

135.  Short Trip to Knockoff Some Isolated Courses

Before I get into this trip, I need to add one comment to my last post, regarding Century CC.  When I arrived in the locker room, the attendant showed me to a locker for my use that morning.  I immediately notice the locker belonged to Michael Bloomberg.  Observant readers of this blog will recall that on November 1, 2018, I played St. Andrews GC on my journey from MA to NC (post #121).  At St. Andrews I also was assigned Bloomberg's locker.  Perhaps I should start a new bucket list...use Michael Bloomberg's locker at all of his clubs.

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Pat had two girl friends (friends from Pinehurst but one of them lives in NH during the summer months) coming to town for a couple of days, so she gently suggested I should get out of Dodge.  Given that Brookline has punched its fairways a week earlier that seemed like a great idea. 

My immediate thought was to see if I could schedule a short trip to the Rockies and Upper Plains to hit the courses that I could not schedule on my trip 5 weeks earlier (Post #132).  After a few emails the essence of a trip came together.  I would play just four courses in three days (one repeat course and three first timers for me) and be in three adjoining states.  If these states were in New England, this would be a no-brainer…problem was NE, CO, and UT, while being adjoining are a shxx load larger. But better to face the long drives on a single trip than have to knock them off on multiple journeys.   And the trip seemed to be very doable as originally planned.

I was scheduled to depart Boston for Denver around noon on Tuesday August 20 but at the last minute had to depart on a later flight at 6:36pm…that would put me into DEN at 9:19pm. Since I was not scheduled to play on 8/21, that would not ordinarily create an issue…except I had to drive some 258 miles after landing to get to North Platte, NE.  Careful readers of this blog as well as knowledgeable golf course geographers know that North Platte lies right on I-80 and at the southern base of the Nebraska Sandhills…reputed to be the largest contiguous area of sand dunes in the Western Hemisphere (20,000 sq. mi.).  Since the early 90’s the Sandhills has become spotted (hard to fill 20,000 sq. miles) with some brilliant new golf courses.  I first saw the Sandhiills in 2010 and this was to be my 5^thvisit to the Sandhills and my 6^thtrip to NE for golf.  I arrived at my hotel around 2:00am (all times for NE CO and UT on this trip are expressed in Mountain Time for simplicity) and was asleep by 2:30am.  Only problem was I had a 90 minute drive to the course the next morning for a 7am tee time. So my wake up alarm was for 4:45 afforded me a wonderful 2:15 of sleep!  Anyhow, the good news is that it was daylight for my last 15 miles or so driving to the Dismal River Club, as the last 15 miles or so are gravel roads!

Dismal River Club-White, August 21, 2019:  I had been to Dismal River in 2014 to play the Red course (designed by Tom Doak), and loved it (Post # 4).  The White course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2006, about 7 years prior to the Red.  At that time the White had not appeared on a USA Top 100 (the Red has appeared on USA Top 100 lists published by GM, Top100golfcourses.com, and my Merged GW list). The White was ranked #199 on GD’s 2013 #101-200 listing, and since I am trying to finish off that list, I needed to return.

The site is visually stunning as are most sites in the Sandhills, but I thought both Dismal’s Red and the nearby Sandhills GC were both even more stunning.

When it opened, the White was generally criticized for being impossibly difficult given the windy conditions prevalent in this area.  I had heard that it had been softened considerably in the years since but my sense is “not quite enough.”  It’s 5^thhole plays 187 yards from the back, and is straight uphill (sort of like playing the par 3 6^that Augusta backwards) which means the ball’s trajectory upon landing is not very steep…but the green slopes shapely from front to back.  As a result, it is almost impossible to stop the ball on the green when the wind is behind the player.  Those were the conditions that morning (winds blowing about 15mph) and I hit a pitching wedge pretty high and nipped it well to a front pin (105 yards away). My ball mark was one yard into the green and the ball ended up 75 feet past the pin…and the greens were soft this day!!

While there are a good number of excellent holes here (#4 and #18 are superb par 5’s, #8 and #13 are 

Dismal Rive-White #18 from 18th tee...par 5, 500 yards.

outstanding par 4’s, and #15 a very very good par 3), the likes of  #5 and the par 3 10^th(190 yards with 55 yard deep green including a bunker surrounded by wild plants in the middle of the green...a la #6 at Riveira CC??... and at least a 5 foot drop in surface height from the front of the green to the low point about 35 yards deep) made me  wonder. 

Conditioning was not good, which is attributable to a very tough winter in the Upper Plains.  There was much winter-kill in the fairways and the greens were very soft.  From what I have heard this situation is very prevalent in the Upper Plains this year.

The facility has had four owners since it first opened in 2006…the latest incarnation is 

as an exclusive golfing/fishing/hunting club.  Overall it was much better than I expected, but I do not think it compares favorably to the Doak at Dismal and certainly not to nearby Sandhills GC by Coore/Crenshaw. IMO it will take some further softening and some luck with the weather and conditioning…and the green stuff known as money.  In summary, worth playing if you are in the neighborhood, but not worth a special trip to play just White.  

On the other hand, Ran Morrissett who has one of the best set of eyes in the business really liked it…so how do you account for taste? 

Oh…and I played real well, coming in with a 37 – 41 = 78, but must admit to getting about three hugely lucky breaks (for example, on #1…hit a 6 iron to the green for my third shot, without knowing where the cup was…as pin had been left beside the green…and ended up 5’ from the hole and sunk putt for a par).  Parred holes 1-5…and even parred #5 and birdied #10…the two holes I bitched about the most.

After the round it was time to hit the road again.  This time for a 3:40 drive to Hoylake, CO and Ballyneal.  I left Dismal around 10:45 and arrived at Ballyneal about 2:30.

Ballyneal Golf Club,  August 21, 2019:  Pat and I played Ballyneal for the first time in June 2010.  Given that it sits half way between Sandhills/Dismal River and Denver, this gave me an great opportunity to revisit...and I am very glad I did so!

Ballyneal sits on some unusual landforms known as the “Chop Hills”.  Part of the land was owned by the O’Neal family for decades and brothers Rupert and Jim saw their dream fulfilled with the building of the club. We played Ballyneal with Rupert back in 2010 (pre blogging so no post) the day after playing 36 holes at Sandhills GC, which is pretty tough competition.  I later met Jim who was and still is the head pro at The Meadow Club just north of San Francisco.  

Ballyneal was designed by Tom Doak and opened in 2006.  It sits beautifully on the natural landscape…best exemplified by the par 5 4^thand the par 4 16^th.  Both of these holes look like they were designed by the glaciers that covered this land thousands of years ago.  Ballyneal is a walking only club…and as you walk the fairways, one can feel the difference…the firmness underfoot.  One also notices it on tee shots…broken tees are normal here, a sure sign of proper maintenance.  The fescue greens are perfect for this place and the course is the very definition of fast/firm…in fact I hit my approach shots over on 3 of the first 4 greens…before getting back used to real firm/fast conditions.  Surely a sign of insufficient time in GB&I these past 12 months.

Few flat lies are available on Ballyneal’s very wide fairways, and one needs to think about wind direction, pin position, and ground movement before starting each hole…or your next shot will evoke two simple words: “no way”.  The “Chop Hills” are very much like the “Sandhills” with a simple natural beauty of their own.  

I teed off at 3pm…just me and my caddy.  Having played 18 at Dismal (in a cart) and completed two drives totaling about 5.5 hours (all after less than 2.5 hours of sleep) I wasn’t sure if I would make it…but I did so with no problem…even hitting a few pure shots on holes 15-18. However, after finishing 1the 18^thand walking up to the clubhouse, I knew I would have to forgo the 12-hole par 3…but the shower and nap certainly felt great.  Dinner was superb as was a good night’s sleep.  Good news was the toughest part of the trip was in the rear-view mirror.

Denver Country Club, August 22, 2019:  In the years I have been doing this, it is clear that some courses end up being easy to set up to play, and others just are very difficult.  In many cases there is no rhyme or reason for the pattern…yes Augusta National is tough to arrange for almost everyone…but with some other courses it seems like you are jinxed.  One of those for me had been Denver Country Club. Founded in 1887, DCC is near downtown Denver and goes back to the days when this was a “cow town”.  Through MIT alumni and golf activities I knew one of DCC’s most prominent members, Will Nicholson.  Will was a member of ANGC and president of the USGA 1980-81.  Several times when I was planning a trip to CO he asked me to play DCC, but I was too busy playing some top 100 courses in the state…some good (e.g. Ballyneal, Cherry Hills and Colorado GC) and some not so good (and unmentioned).  Will passed away at age 87 three years ago, and later that year I was closing in on completing a “self-created” bucket list…playing all the courses that have hosted one of the “Five Cups”:

            --Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup--Men/Professional

            --Walker Cup—Men/Amateur

            --Solheim Cup—Women/Professional

            --Curtis Cup—Women/Amateur

Through scheduled events in 2020, this totals 108 courses and 163 events (including the “unofficial” Ryder Cups at Gleneagles-Kings and Wentworth-West in 1921 and 1926 respectively, and the unofficial Walker Cup Match at Royal Liverpool in 1921, but excluding the 1939 Ryder Cup Match originally scheduled to be played at Ponte Vedra CC (FL) but cancelled after the start of WW II…please note for the official record that I have also played Ponte Vedra CC).

Since September 2017, I have had three games scheduled at DCC…only to have them cancelled due to bad serious bad weather or maintenance on the course, most recently in July 2019. This time it seemed to have worked…although I kept a close eye on the weather forecast!  I left Ballyneal around 7:40am on 8/22 for the 3:10 drive to DCC.  All looked good as I arrived and met my host, Gary P., a member for a mere 45 years or so. Also joining us were another member, Doug W. (who had hosted my good friend Fergal O’Leary at DCC a month prior), and two other guests of Gary.  After a wonderful lunch it was off to the practice area to warm up…and of course Nervous Nellie Paul could not help but notice a bunch of dark clouds moving in from the west.  Long story short…the clouds blew through, and no rain fell on our parade.

However…another dark cloud appeared just before we teed off as Southwest cancelled my flight that evening to Salt Lake City.  Thanks to text messaging, I was alerted but by the time I could reach SW and Delta, their alternative flights were fully booked…but I was able to get on a later flight with United.

The club was founded in 1887 (!!) making it the oldest US club west of the Mississippi River.  Like Brookline, it started as a club focused on equestrian sports, particularly horse racing…and then evolved over the following 13 decades.  Its first course was in Overland Park and the club moved to its present location alongside Cherry Creek in 1905.  This course was designed by James Foulis who also designed courses at Oswentsia Club (IL) and Glen Echo CC (MO)—a former host of golf at the Olympics.  In addition to Foulis, the following other golf architects and /or ar chitectural teams of note have worked on DCC: Donald Ross, William Flynn, A. W. Tillinghast, William Diddle, Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay, and Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw.  Many of these alterations were dictated by eminent domain property losses as the City of Denver grew from “cow town” to a major metropolitan area.  More recently Gil Hanse commenced a major restoration of the course that is entering its busiest stages.  A major objective of Hanse’s efforts is to bring Charry Creek more into play on many of the holes.

The round started birdie-par but then went downhill…but I finished with a decent 40 – 42 = 82. And, my “Cups Ever Bucket List” is now finally finished!!  

After drinks and a shower, Gary and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the club.  He is a first-class gentleman who I hope to host at TCC later this year or in 2020.  

At 8:00, I was back in the car for a short drive to Denver’s airport and my later flight to SLC, last stop on this trip!

Glenview Golf Club, August 23, 2019:  My flight landed at about 11:55pm and after disembarking I made a mad dash for Enterprise Car Rental to ensure they were still open and I would have a car.  That worked out fine and after collecting my clubs, I headed east of Salt Lake City into the Wasatch Mountain Range.  Located in Park City, UT, Glenwild is a mere 40 miles from SLC airport.  Park City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and is simply a gorgeous town.

Glenwild’s golf course was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2001.  Today it stretches to a hefty 7564 yards (par 72) but plays a bit shorter due to its altitude.  It has not hosted any important pro or amateur event but has been included on all GD’s #101-200 USA listings since GD commenced publishing its second hundred in 2013.  Its highest position on the GD list was #125 in 2013 and it has slipped to #188 in the 2019 list.  

The course makes great use of the overall slopes inherent in its mountain setting…more so than it uses bunkering as a “hazard”.  The greens were in terrific condition…very fast, firm, smooth and true.  This year however, the fairways were attacked by some sort of wildlife pest and were not in equivalent condition.  I would be surprised if this lasts into next year. As many of you know, I am not a big fan of Tom Fazio’s work…but this is one of his better efforts IMO.  And the views are simply stunning.

The club itself appears to be very well run and the service level is outstanding.

In terms of my play, I had a 42 – 39 = 81, so no complaints.  After the round, had a good shower and lunch, and then back to SLC airport for a smooth flight home.  Even though Thursday and Friday were fairly easy going for a trip by moi, Tuesday night through Wednesday evening were a tough 24 hour spell. 

I had three guests at Brookline Saturday and was really tired…they can testify as to the effects of the trip!  But on the positive side…the trip knocked off three of my 37, and put the Cups Ever Bucket list to bed once and for all!

Next on the agenda, Pat and I are headed to France 8/26-9/7…I am in France right now as I type this (still the two finger method).

134. Duxbury Yacht Club (MA) and Two Greats in Westchester Cty (NY)

134.  Duxbury Yacht Club (MA) and Two Greats in Westchester Cty (NY)

Duxbury Yacht Club, August 9, 2019: The Town of Duxbury lies on Boston's South Shore between Boston and Cape Cod.  It is very upscale and almost 145 years ago the Duxbury Yacht Club was founded.  In 1901, a six hole golf course was constructed, and expanded to 9 holes by Wayne Stiles (think Gulph Mills GC-PA, Norwood Hills CC-MO, Prouts Neck CC-ME, and Taconic GC-MA) in  the 1920's.  Then in 1969 an additional nine holes designed by Geoff Cornish and Bill Robinson was added.  The course has never been included on a Top 100 listing or hosted a major event.

I had never played Duxbury before.  It is a very very low key club and a fun course.  On this day the club was hosting "Monster" Member-guest where the tees are set back to "beyond the tips"(as the back tees total 6466 yards we probably played it at 6550 yards) and the pins tucked in corners of greens and/or on slopes of greens. I was invited by member Dick N., an MIT graduate whose wife Beth is a good friend of Pat's.

Could have been much tougher, as only two of the pins were set in impossible spots (where the slope around the pin is so steep the ball will not come to rest near the pin).  Fortunately, the scoring was one best ball per hole for each foursome...and maximum scores were set at net bogey, otherwise we might have been there well past sunset.  I did not keep my own score but our team finished in the middle of the pack, thereby avoiding the dreaded DFL.

The golf course was in very good condition (and the club is removing a bunch off trees which should improve conditions further).  The original nine holes are quite good and lots of fun.  However, the second nine by Cornish/Robinson was build on land replete with wetlands and hence water comes into play on many of these holes...reducing to some degree the "fun" element on this nine.

Must say, the next day I played the Championship course at Brookline...and it was nice to see pins in more normal positions.

Century Country Club, August 15, 2019:  The week of August 11, Brookline underwent normal maintenance that requires 7-14 days for the course to generally recover.  So golf this first week had to on the road.  I emailed Winged Foot Golf Club in Westchester County just north of NYC and was able to secure a tee time for the West course on the afternoon of 8/15.  A few days later I decided to kill two birds with one stone and make it a 36 hole day by playing Century CC early that morning.

My day was to be a long one.  Awoke at 3:40am, and headed south in my car starting at 4:40.  Essentially no traffic so I made great time and arrived at Century at 7:30 (192 miles in 2:50 including pit stop for cheap gasoline near home...cannot afford gas in NY or CT!).

Century is one of the nation's great clubs and its course was designed by Harry Colt and Charles Alison...both giants in the field.  The club was founded in 1898 and initially leased a 60 acre tract in The Bronx on Long Island Sound (about where the northern end of the Throgs Neck Bridge is now located).  A nine hole course was created on this property.  Six years later the club moved north to a 100 acre site in Greenburgh, NY (Westchester County).  Finally, in 1922 the club acquired its present 175 acre site in Purchase (selling the Greenburgh course to Metropolis CC (Post #128)).  While the purchase of the current site was recommended by Walter Travis, the golf course was designed by Colt and Alison (primarily Alison as Colt never visited the site) and opened in 1926.  I could not find any explanation as to why Travis (who passed away in 1927 and was active until his passing) was not retained to design the course.

In 1938 Ben Hogan was hired as an assistant pro by Century.  The Club's website states that the letter recommending his hiring, written by a Century member, stated that Hogan "had a nice appearance." My guess is that member received an I (for "incomplete") many times in school!  In 1940 Hogan was promoted to Head Professional, and the next year accepted the head pro job at Hershey CC (PA).  Its current head pro, Nelson Long, has held that position for about 45 years.

The club is generally considered to be the world's premier predominantly Jewish country club and over the years its membership has included Arthur Levitt (former SEC Chairman), Alan Greenspan (former Federal Reserve Chairman), James Wolfensohn (former World Bank President), members of the Sulzberger family (who control the New York Times), Michael Bloomberg, and almost all of the Jewish titans of Wall Street.  Bloomberg resigned from the club in 2001just prior to campaigning for the mayorship of NYC, and rejoined in 2013 after his last term as mayor.  If you want to really understand the power of Century CC, think about this...it does NOT have a listing on Wikipedia!!

In 2017 Keith Foster completed a wonderful restoration of Century's course, removing many trees and restoring its very special bunkers.  Today it measures 7026 yards from the tips, and for decades has been a Section Qualifying site for the US Open.  It has hosted the Metropolitan Amateur four times, and in 1969 was included in the #81-90 bracket of Golf Digest's USA Best Tests listing.

I had played Century about 5-6 times previously, the first time having been in 1982.  From 1988 to 1995 I lived about 3 miles from Century and really like the golf course.  It is generally in superb condition, its bunkering and green are superb.  Most of all, it "fits" the land it sits on perfectly and has a wonderful "flow".

My favorite hole is #3, a 377 uphill par 4 that very much reminds me of the second hole at Pine Valley.  Other superb holes include #2, 5, 10, 12, and 17.

Approach shot on par 4 353 yard #12

I thought I had made my second hole in one on the short (152 yards) downhill par 3 13th...but it ended up about 12" just above the hole.  I am pleased to report that I made the birdie putt!

Green on #13 from right side---see ball above hole

The club was hosting a Senior Women's event that morning so I started off on #6, played through 18 and then played holes 1-5.  My score (based on the course's normal sequence) was 37 - 44 = 81 with back nine marred by dumb mental errors causing double bogeys on 11, 14, and 16.  No question IMO that "age" affects the mental parts of the game more than the physical aspects!

In any case...worth playing this one if you get the chance.  To tell a true story: a friend and old business associate of mine (who is a member of Augusta National and Cypress Point), once told me that if there was an afterlife, he hoped in his next life to be Jewish...as he wanted to join Century!  Enough said.

After the round said thanks to the staff and drove about 7 miles over to Quaker Ridge where I joined my old buddy Michael F. for lunch (and traded unexaggerated golfing tales) and saw old friend Steve S. thereafter.  

Then proceeded less than 2 miles to Winged Foot where I was scheduled to play the West Course at 2:30.

Winged Foot Golf Club-West, August 15, 2019:  Winged Foot was founded in 1921 by members of the New York Athletic Club (but there is no direct affiliation between these two clubs).  A.W. Tillinghast was hired to design two courses, which opened in 1923.  Six years later the US Open was scheduled to be played on WF's East Course, but heavy rains just prior to the event forced the USGA to move the event to the West which generally sits on higher land on the property.  Bobby Jones won his third US Open that year and the timing of those rains altered the history of Winged Foot forever.  The West has hosted four other US Opens (1959, 1974, 1986, and 2006) and will host its 6th next year.  During these last 60 years the course has been lengthened to its current 7435 yards (par 70).  By comparison, the East measures 6808 yards (par 72).  

In addition to six US Open's, Winged Foot will have hosted a PGA Championship, two US Amateur's, two US Women's Opens, one Walker Cup Match, and the inaugural US Senior Open.

Its record on USA and World Top 100 listings is just as impressive.  Both the West and East have appeared on all but one of the USA and World Top 100 listing I track (in both cases, the missing one is GCA's "147 Custodians").  The West's current GM World 100 ranking is #27 (but that predates Gil Hanse's recent restoration), while its highest current USA rating is #11 (GD).  The East Course's current GM World rating is #83 and its current high on USA lists is #41 (GM).  I expect future rankings to improve as more post restoration evaluations are completed.

Over the past five years Gil Hanse has completed a fabulous restoration of both courses with West reopening in May 2018.  I had played both in June 2013, and East in October 2016.  Now having played both over the past 3 years, I absolutely believe that WF has the finest set of 36 greens in the world.  They are mystifying.  None are ordinary.  They are all different...and yet they fit together...none feels out of place.  Second strongest aspect of this course is the bunkering...which is both beautiful and tough as nails.  Thousands of trees have been removed across the property and that opens top wonderful vistas and allows air to circulate and keep the course dry.  The difference in moisture between Century and WF on the same day was remarkable.  Yes, partly due to morning dew at Century...but this was more than just dew...it is a result of Sub Air technology and the complete rebuilding of West's greens two years ago.

The golf course itself is very very special.  Best holes IMO are #10 (Hogan called it "a 3 iron into someone's living room"), #6---a brilliant drivable par 4 so much better with the trees behind it gone, #2 with its wide wide fairway but heaven help you if you come into the green at the wrong angle, #15---ending in front of Fred Corcoran's old home, #3 playing about 50 yards longer than when Billy Casper laid up every day on this par 3 in 1959, and a group of brutal 470-510 yard holes that will challenge the world's best next year (5, 8, 16, and 17).  No let up...wide enough to not be unfair...but one of the world's great tests.  And did I mention the Tutor clubhouse designed by Charles Clifford Wendehack? (also did clubhouses at The Park (post #82), Mountain Ridge (post #46), Bethpage, Ridgewood (post #128) and Hackensack (post #128).

I must confess to making a major mistake at Winged Foot.  I picked up a scorecard and when I got to the first tee opened it to see that the shortest tees on that scorecard were the Whites...totaling 6522 yards...about 500-600 yards longer than my usual tees.  I chose to play them rather than walk back to secure a ladies card.  Anyhow...after sinking a 5 footer for par on #1 and a 25 footer for a par on #2 starting wondering if I had the appropriate card.  My ending score of 43 - 46 = 89 proved otherwise!  In any case, it was great fun and glad I got to see it again.  I assume you don't need to be told to take it if a round is offered.  Cannot wait to see next year's US Open.

Finished the round at 6:15 and by 6:30 I was on my way home.  The drive may have taken 2:50 in the wee small hours of the morning, but along home took 4:15...precisely 50% longer with no stop for gas!!  Arrive home at 10:45pm, and it was great to get some sleep.  Great day at three amazing clubs and some 395 miles of driving.

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".