Sand Hills: 50 words or less

[Jim Franklin]

I just got back from 6 rounds at Sand Hills and the place just gets better everytime I play it. While in the airport, someone asked me why it was so good and I went on for I don't know how long. Can anyone summarize why Sand Hills is so great in 50 words or less?

[A_Clay_Man]

Sand Hills is great because it ignores the failed commercial design principles that infected what was supposed to be an intellectual pursuit.

[Jeff_Mingay]

Grass-covered dunes, firm turf and wind  

[Mike_Sweeney]

Can anyone summarize why Sand Hills is so great in 50 words or less?

Dick Youngscap.

[Mike Hendren]

I only need four:  It's the land, stupid.

[Jim Franklin]

Are you talking to me? Or is that how you would describe it to anyone that has never been there?

[T_MacWood]

Chess is an intellectual pursuit, but golf isn't because it is a game? Come again.

Dave
What do you have against sheep farmers?

Sand Hills is otherworldly. If golf has a twilight zone, Sand Hills is it.

[mike_malone]

 I haven't been there yet , but from all I read and see and hear it seems two words do it well.


      Sand Hills

[RJ_Daley]

Sand Hills is golf's destination for a manifest renaissance:

Manifest Destiny -- a phrase used by leaders and politicians in the 1840s to explain continental expansion by the United States -- revitalized a sense of "mission" or national destiny for Americans.  

Golf's manifest renaissance is a return to the scene of that American continental expansion, in a retro-golf architectural design sense, and revitalizes the game's origins in an authentic and natural field of play and environment that recaptures the game's ethos.  Sand Hills is the starting place for that manifest renaissance.  

How many words is that?

 

[Evan Fleisher]

Sand Hills is golf's destination for a manifest renaissance:

Manifest Destiny -- a phrase used by leaders and politicians in the 1840s to explain continental expansion by the United States -- revitalized a sense of "mission" or national destiny for Americans.  

Golf's manifest renaissance is a return to the scene of that American continental expansion, in a retro-golf architectural design sense, and revitalizes the game's origins in an authentic and natural field of play and environment that recaptures the game's ethos.  Sand Hills is the starting place for that manifest renaissance.  

How many words is that?

 

On the nose!  Good work, mayor...

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

To take the words off the Bandon dunes hat. "Golf as it was meant to be". Sand Hills is without question one of the three best non competitive golf experiences in my rich golf life. It depends on the moment whether it is 1 2 or 3.

[THuckaby2]

On the nose yes, and good work yes, but I count 87 words.

So Dick is sadly DQ'd.

 

Why is Sand Hills so great?  I can do it in two words also.

"Why not?"

 

ps - I like Tiger's summation.  

[Mike Hendren]

Jim,

I was absolutely NOT talking to or about you.  

I just don't get this intellectual mumbo-jumbo.

IT'S THE LAND.

Sand Hills would not be AS great without Mr. Youngscap, without wind, without firm and fast conditions, without Ben Crenshaw, without Bill Coore, without - whatever.  

It would still be great, however, as the greatness of that golf course predates the birth of the game itself.

Mike

[A_Clay_Man]

Dave, I'lll answer you this way... The mind is like your hands as it relates to the swing. It's the connection between one point and another. Get it?

p.s. Is there a reason you ignored my request for the name of that course in your muni thread?

[Bill Weber]

Hard fast challenging exciting pure natural unaffected homelike retreat ever-changing consistent links-like blowouts strategic windy isolated welcoming steaks hamburgers Ben’s porch dismal river brand logo fun thrilling fair restful fulfilling sunsets vast expansive unique legacy friendly kindred select unspoiled stunning sky vistas proud memories joy smiles cathartic therapeutic wistful loveit

[Jason Topp]

Jim - we must have been there at the same time.  I was there Sunday and Monday.

As to your question:

 The course takes advantage of the location such that two players will try completely different shots from the same location and feel like they have a chance to succeed.  The setting dwarfs concerns about the quality of one's game.


Incidentally, I thought Wild Horse was nearly as good, just on less dramatic land.  

[Jim Franklin]

Mike -

I saw your winking icon and figured you weren't, so I came back with my favorite DeNiro line. You are so right that without those things you mentioned it would not be the same. I just really enjoyed my times there and sometimes have difficulty in condensing my thoughts into, say, an "elevator talk". I would love to tell someone what makes Sand Hills so good during a short ride in an elevator rather than a long soliloquy at an airport. I do like some of the responses though as they make sense.

Jim

[Michael Moore]

steak blend seasoning

playing cards   money clips    sand

hills golf shop dot com

[Jerry Kluger]

I'm wondering, is Sand Hills so good that there is no close second? Jim played 6 rounds at Sand Hills - is it so good that if the choice is between 2 rounds at each of the courses at Bandon or 6 rounds at Sand Hills that you would choose Sand Hills.  I have not been to either place yet although I am planning to do so next summer so I am just wondering how much I have to look forward to.  

[Dan Kelly]

For the Bogey man:

Some say Dick (Youngscap).
Others insist: Bill and Ben.
It's the land, stupid!

[THuckaby2]

Whoa... Jerry that is a great question, one I haven't seen before.

The three courses at Bandon are all fantastic.  They need to be seen and played.  Playing golf there is indeed what golf is meant to be.

But there is only one greatest course on the planet.  Strange for me to say given I usually prefer multiple courses over just one, but in this case give me the six rounds at Sand Hills.  Because it is the best, and it changes on an hourly basis due to the wind, if not the choice of tees.  Six rounds also means you get to spend some TIME there, which is a big part of the perfection.

Yes, it is that good.

[Jim Franklin]

Jerry -

That is a wonderful question and while Sand Hills is an awesome experience, so is Pacific Dunes. I might have to split my trip into 3 at Sand Hills and 3 at Pacific Dunes. I have only played 7 holes at Trails so I cannot comment on that one. What a trip that would be. Just don't fly commercial for that one .

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jerry Kluger,

Given a more realistic choice, if I had six rounds to play, I'd play four at Sand Hills and two at Wild Horse.

However, if someone were to choose two rounds at Sand Hills and four rounds at Wild Horse I couldn't fault them.

Both are excellent and unique in their own way.

[mark chalfant]

peaceful, harmonious with the natural landscape,
very well designed, unforgettable to play
worth a trip from Istanbul to play 36 holes !

[THuckaby2]

Brian, if that's 50 words then I'm a skinny Cablinasian golf purist.

But that is well said... as it was the first time you posted it, upon your return from golf heaven.

We are always watching.....