Past the yardarm

[Mark_Rowlinson]

It's 6.30 pm here and so I've poured a glass of Brakspeare's Organic Ale, a brew of which I'm particularly fond.  It is brewed in Henley on Thames and it made me think of which golf courses would be the best to play before sampling the local ale at the Brewery Tap, where it always tastes just that little bit better.

Brakspeare's is not a bad choice because Henley is rather a charming and old-fashioned golf course, if a bit up and down hill.  Better still, though, Huntercoombe is just down the road.

Adnams is a choice Suffolk brew (and good wine merchant, too) coming from Southwold.  There's a 9-hole course there but it's close enough to make a good pairing with Aldeburgh.

I don't see Hook Norton Ales on the shelves in this part of England. They are brewed between Chipping Norton and Banbury, almost next door to Tadmarton Heath.  What a combination!

In the summer I enjoy the lighter brews of Badger Ales which come from Blandford Forum.  Ferndown, Parkstone, Broadstone, Isle of Purbeck and Sherborne are all on the list - heady stuff!

I'm not sure I want to travel into Wandsworth to drink after a round at one of the south London Courses - I used to consume a lot of Young's in my London days - but I would drive in to Chiswick from Royal Mid-Surrey or Royal Wimbledon to get round a jar or two of Fuller's in Chiswick.  

Now, what advice is there for a good golfing trip coupled with the best ales of the USA, Australia or Bavaria, for that matter?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Sean,  I'd forgotten about Ruddles (how could I do that!).  It's brewed in Rutland, so Luffenham Heath is the obvious choice.

Don't dismiss Tadmarton Heath - it's a cracking little course.

Have you driven over to Bishop's Castle to sample the two micro-breweries?  Not really much golf over there, but super beer.

[BCrosby]

This has started out as the best thread ever at GCA.

I just wish I had something to add. But don't let me interrupt.

Bob

[Tom Huckaby]

Some fine American submissions by Brian.

How about playing any of the many fine courses near Bend, OR, whilst sampling Black Butte Porter or Mirror Pond Ale, made by Deschuttes Brewery there?

BTW, in England are any brews associated with football clubs?  I'd love to sample the proper North London brew that best goes with my currently-suffering Arsenal FC.

TH

[Mike_Cirba]

Brian,

What brew would you suggest to best forget about Clifford, the Big Red Dog?  

btw, I think Mark's list might be do-able for a traveller in Great Britain but your list might be tough without some really cracking connections in the states.

[Michael Moore]

This is de riguer in Maine

Cape Arundel / Shipyard
Portland Country Club / Geary's
Kebo Valley / Atlantic Brewing
Samoset / Rocky Bay
Sunday River / Stone Coast
Sugarloaf Carrabasset Valley
Penobscot Valley / Seadog

[Mike_Cirba]

Michael,

Do you know much about the history of the course at Samoset.   I've seen where Robert Elder redesigned the course in the 70s and I know a few hands have touched it since then, but hasn't there been a course on the property since the early part of last century?

Rather than go off-topic on this fun thread, perhaps you can shoot me an IM.

Thanks!

[Mike Nuzzo]

The Arrogant Bastard IPA (San Diego) at Maderas, with the company of GCAers at the KPI, is some of the finest commercial beer I've ever had after a round.
It is my beer of choice here in Houston - but that is mostly because Pete L. won't come to my house to brew another batch of his world famous IPA.

Cheers

[Tom Huckaby]

Mike - it remains one of my regrets that I wasn't there to sample that Mucci ale with you.

Just kidding, Pat!  

But yes, if Pete L.'s various brews post-Barona cannot be topped.

[Mike Benham]

You must start (and end for that matter) in Scotland at Dunbar with a pint or three of Belhaven's Best.

As for the states, a round of Anchor Steam after a tour of Olympic Lake or SFGC would be appropriate.  Or if you are a Mackenzie fan, a pint of Pelican Pale at the Seabright Brewery just down the hill from Pasatiempo.

[Tom Huckaby]

Excellent additions, Mr. Benham.

Dunbar would have to be the Mecca of beer.

 

[Andy Doyle]

Athens CC/Terrapin

[Andy Doyle]

This has started out as the best thread ever at GCA.

I think this has started out PREMATURELY as the best thread on GCA as it is only 2:30 EST and I am sitting at my desk filling out personnel effort reports rather than drinking beer contemplating golf courses.

Andy

[Craig Sweet]

Old Works, Canyon River, or Eagle Bend followed by some Moose Drool from Big Sky Brewing....or the organic porter from Blackfoot River Brewers.

[Dan King]

I always like an Anchor Steam on the tee of the 17th hole at Lincoln Park. Time it so it is in the gloaming and it is really special.

I second, third or whatever, the Belhaven's Best at Dunbar, though I'd also like it after the round at North Berwick or the Old Clubhouse in Gullane.

I recently tried a couple of bottles from Unibroue in Quebec. There is a small liquor store in Morro Bay with beers from all over the place. I'll need help from those in Quebec to say what golf to pair some of the Unibroue with.

Dan King

In February 1994, after 18 months of research, Unibroue launched La Fin du Monde (the end of the world). It is a 9 percent alcohol, triple fermentation beer. This type of beer was originally developed by the monks of the Middle Ages to be served on special occasions.
 --Unibroue Web site

[Pete Lavallee]

Summer Lightning is a delicious golden ale, heavy on the hops, that is brewed in the New Forest; right next door to Lyndhurst GC.

Mark,

Aren't Badger beers brewed on the Isle of Wight?

[Tony_Muldoon]

This maybe the oldest tradition of all. As revealed on here recently it is now thought the Chinese may have been the first to play a version of golf.  Well you guessed it they ware also believed to be the first to do something else
"The Chinese brewed beer called ‘Kui' some 5,000 years ago."

Can anyone suggest a golf course to work up a thirst on the Isle of Wight?

[Tony_Muldoon]

Dunbar would have to be the Mecca of beer.

 

Tom, not sure that is the most felicitous phrasing?  

[Tom Huckaby]

Tony, you're probably right, in this day and age.  And that's a shame.  It's not that long ago that that phrase would have meant just what I intend:  I place to which believers make a pilgrimage.

Because dammit Belhaven's Best has to be among the world's greatest brews, and if that's where it's made, I need to go there!

 

[Tony_Muldoon]

BTW, in England are any brews associated with football clubs?  I'd love to sample the proper North London brew that best goes with my currently-suffering Arsenal FC.

TH

No clubs associate themselves with beers and North London has never been to my knowledge a strong brewing area.  The city breweries have been closed for several years. Unfortunately this season your fellow fans have all suffered from sour grapes known as whine.

[Marty Bonnar]

Ahh! - Beer and Golf. What a truly majestic combination.

As a wee laddie I was indoctrinated early in the dark art of the Dark Beer. We were practically weaned on Sweetheart Stout - a truly silky sweet, Black treacly potion with allegedly medicinal qualities. From Alloa, it would have to accompany a round at the splendidly named Schawpark...

Following on into the teens, it was a fairly simple step to then mix a wee S.S. in with an IPA (or Export) to create the 'Black'n'Tan' - yummity yum yum...slightly sweet, dark, chocolatey and a splendid aid to digestion - although potentially quite an 'explosive' mixture. Let's have one at my old muni - the 9-holer at Polkemmet Park.

A hop, step and a staggering jump easily brings us to the late teen years and the 'Guinness Black'n'Tan'. Now we are 19 or 20 and our palates have matured. More bitter, less saccharin sweet and a heady international blend of Ireland and Scotland. Now also, we are beginning to appreciate some of the finer things in life. We have gone to University and are sampling the heady linksy delights of Monifieth and parts NorthEast.

But wait! A rebellion! It's our twenties and 'Brown Ale' is for Old Men! Now we must take to Lager. Ah, but we are too sophisticated for such an inferior Brew and must 'improve' it somehow. But what shall we do? I  know - add Cider! Thus the 'Snakebite' is born. Ten or twelve of these on a friday night and NO PAIN on the first Tee of a saturday morning. Now it matters not WHERE we play - only HOW WELL! Ah, the folly of the Scorecard mentality...

Into the Thirties now and the palate is suddenly strangely ready for the first time for - WHISKY! Naturally, a Beer Chaser is normally necessary. Again we return to the Browner end of the spectrum. On the Course, the delights of the hip-flask are soon discovered. But not for us the snooty Malts - Oh, No! The Famous Grouse, a wee Bell's or a Cutty Sark taste just as good as a Macallan in the fresh air on the Links.

Now we are Forty, it is the autumn of our days and we have come to Dregs of our Vintage Kegs (Thanks, Frank!) Wine is the flavour of the day. Our palates have moved towards 'Quality'. German Beer (gasp, Shock!) is the ultimate. Brown Ales now consigned to the great urinal in the sky until the days of our dotage perhaps, when we can return to the times of our childhood and youth when we could spend every day at the golf course. This time, we will however, be mostly in the clubhouse - talking a good game of golf instead of playing it!

FBD.

[Tom Huckaby]

Tony - I'd be angered and offended if it weren't so true.

 

And the bad news just piles on since we don't even have a beer to call our own.

TH
(newbie fan - get this - adopted Arsenal THIS SEASON after following the EPL dispassionately without a team for many years - my son decided to like them because he loves their logo, colors, name, and the fact they are awesomein the video game we have.  I find those very acceptable reasons for devotion to a football club.  But timing is everything in life, no?)

[Peter Pallotta]

In Toronto, a man could buy a case of Steam Whistle (a nice enough light and refreshing ale) from their brewery near the lakeshore and within 20 minutes be at either the Tillinghast-designed Scarboro or the Thompson-design St. George's.  

Yes, a man COULD do that, but unfortunately I'm not that man.  

Peter

[Steve Curry]

Play anywhere in Vermont and then...


by Longtrail, some of the best  

[Pete Lavallee]

Can anyone suggest a golf course to work up a thirst on the Isle of Wight?

Tony,

I played Shanklin Sandown 2 years ago, not a bad little holiday course. They do need to thin out the trees though. On the southwest there is a downland course, Freshwater Bay, that looks quite nice; great views to the sea.