I mentioned a few of my favorites in a previous thread. My favorite one was probably hanging out in Kingsley with John Vander Borght, Larry Keltto, and Ralph Livingston. After a little side trip to Frankfort, we settled back in at the cottage, watched baseball and talked golf and baseball.
I argued that Crystal Downs was overrated all night long, though I changed my mind. Ralph was real keen on an old Willie Watson track an hour north called Belvedere, and Larry and I talked baseball statistics.
Next year we'll have to do it again, but we'll stay at the cottage the whole time and cook some meals there. I'll let people know when I'm heading up there.
The round at Crystal Downs yielded one truly amazing shot, and it came early. I wrote a theory a year or so ago that great golf courses yield shots that take a long time to come to rest, thereby keeping your attention and amusement. Well, John Vander Borght, after a fine drive at the long par-4 1st hole, nailed a 4-iron at the right side of the green. It was sunny, and the glare made it difficult to see, but I finally spotted the little dot on the front right of the green. It appeared to be trickling down towards the front left pin. It kept trickling for the longest time, maybe 20-30 seconds after it reached the green. The ball finally came to rest no more than 1 foot from the pin for a great tap-in birdie.
Timewise, it was the longest shot I ever saw. I really appreciate that, and that's one reason why I think that's one of the best opening holes in golf.