Name: Bill Shamleffer
residence: Springfield, Mass (from: St. Louis, Mo.)
age: 41
This is my first posting. I found this site by accident during some googling for golf sites back in 2003 and have been a regular reader since. Only now am I joining as a poster in addition to being a reader.
I began as a caddie in 1977 with my older brothers at Algonquin Golf Club in St. Louis, Mo. (One of my top five favorite courses due to my emotional attachment, but really a very fine course with some fun holes.)
From 1977 to 1991 I had jobs at golf courses. These included caddying, the grounds crew, in the bag-room/cart-barn, and on the driving-range. It also included two years as caddie master at Algonquin in 1988 & 1989 (we had about 70 active caddies at that time).
Being a caddie though was my favorite job. This eventually led to caddying in half-a-dozen PGA events including the 1990 U.S.Open.
Since 2001 I have resided in Springfield, Mass. as a life insurance underwriter for MassMutual. Currently I am also an evening law school student, which should result in a J.D. in Dec. 2007.
Golf though is my hobby, and an obsessive one. I enjoy accumulating a golf library, now numbering over 200, covering golf course architecture, golf history, and books about caddies.
Since my high school days of caddying and reading Golf Digest and Golf Magazine I have been interested in golf course architecture. Since moving to New England I have played George Wright in Boston and Highlands on the Cape, and I have walked Bethpage Black, Winged Foot, and Sleepy Hollow. In addition I have taken my daughter to walk Yale, The Orchards, Longmeadow, and this summer have planned our family vacation on the Cape so that I can take my wife and 7 year-old daughter to see Newport C.C. host the Women's Open. (My then 5 year-old daughter actually enjoyed sitting by the 9th at Yale and watching some of the groups in the NCAA regional qualifier.)
In addition to golf, my other interests include walking new cities to view the architecture, classical music, live theater, the history of St. Louis, and baseball (specifically the Cardinals).
Although I enjoy seeing the great golf courses (and playing them when possible), I have a special place for municipal and public courses. I treasure playing courses like Breckenridge in San Antonio, Swope in Kansas City, George Wright, and especially Forest Park in St. Louis, and currently Franconia in Springfield, Mass.
Due to my very busy schedule (see above) I will not challenge as one of the top posters by quantity. However, I look forward to contributing when possible, and especially about St. Louis golf.
Finally, I must comment that I think this is the BEST internet site of postings. The commentary and debates are so more intellectual and reasoned then anything else of this type occurring on the internet. Even when the debates tend to get somewhat testy, they still resemble a good caddie yard disagreement of opinions, rather then as the group talk time in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest. The difference is that on this site, although one is unlikely to change a heartfelt opinion, the response is with some sort of reasoned analysis and not just by attacking the other's competence to participate in that discussion.
I think one of the principal items that separate this site from those other sites is that on this site contributors post under their real name. I think this practice is what results in the higher quality of debates. Therefore, this is a practice I will gladly continue.