Who Are You Guys(revisited)?

[Kevin Robinson]

Name: Kevin Robinson, PGA
Location: Terre Haute, Indiana
Hometown: Canton, NC (Asheville area)
Occupation: Head Women's Golf Coach / Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Employer:  Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology - Terre Haute, Indiana
Age: 41

Formerly an Assistant Golf Professional at:
Lost Tree Club - North Palm Beach, FL
Yeamans Hall Club - Charleston, SC
Lost Dunes Golf Club - Bridgeman, MI
Berkeley Hall - Bluffton, SC
The Bay Club - Mattapoisett, MA

After lurking for longer than I care to remember, Ran has been kind enough to allow me to join the discussion. My interest in GCA was piqued by the two years I spent living on the property at Yeamans Hall in Charleston, SC. After 15 years in the golf business, I have switched career paths and could not be happier. I'm actually beginning to enjoy the game again!!

My favorite courses - in no particular order:
Biltmore Forest
Yeamans Hall
Merion (East)
Chicago Golf Club
Myopia
Hyannisport
Bulls Bay
Asheville Municipal
Highlands (NC)

[Mark Saltzman]

Name: Mark Saltzman
Location: Toronto, Canada
Home Course: National Pines GC; Bigwin Island GC
Current RCGA Index: 3.9
Age: 25
Occupation: Happily unemployed (and recently graduated with a J.D. from the University of Western Ontario)

Introduction to golf: When I was 12 my sister asked me if I wanted to take semi-private golf lessons with her at the local muni.  I said "no".  Mom said I had to go with my sister.  After our series of five lessons ended and I practiced for a while I went out for my first actual round of golf.  I was hooked.  I played a round everyday for the next 25 days, rain or shine!

Introduction to GCA: I was bought Anatomy of a Golf Course as a present.  I had no interest in reading it and it sat on my shelf for years.

Introduction to GCA.com: Every year I go on a 'Boys Trip' with my Dad and brothers.  It seemed that every time I wanted information on golf in an area or about a certain course, the most reliable site to go to was GCA.com.  When I realized the whole site was devoted to course architecture, I blew the dust off of Anatomy and read it.

Introduction to GCA (2): After reading Anatomy I started seeing golf courses differently.  My eyes were opened.  A golf course like Essex in Ontario, which is very flat went from being a course that I thought was boring and overrated (it doesn't have any waterfalls), to one of my favorite golf courses I have ever played.

I love to see new golf courses, travel to new places and meet new people.  In my limited time on GCA.com I have met some exceptional and generous people and look forward to continuing to make new friends. 

If ever in Toronto, please send me an IM and let's get together for a round.

Mark Saltzman
2011 5th Major Champion

[Jeff Doerr]

Hello golf wackos,

My name is Troy Alderson and I am the golf course superintendent (head greenkeeper) at Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort and Casino in Central Oregon.  I am a golf fanatic.  I love the game, the classic golf courses, and how the classics were maintained in the old days.  I am 37 with an old golfing soul.  I am also rather overeducated too, Washington State U. (BS), Rutgers U. (Turf Mgt), and Marylhurst U. (MBA) in that order.  The future holds for me, my own golf course somewhere, I just need to find it.

I ran across this site while looking for golf course pictures and started reading the interviews and opinions.  Great stuff.  I am a 13 handicap and supervise a golf course designed by William P. Bell and Sons (front nine) and Gene "Bunny" Mason (back nine) in the early 1970s.  The golf course is the oldest Indian owned and operated golf course in the country, unless someone can prove otherwise.

I look forward to contributing to the group.

FOOUURR!

Troy Alderson

To update who I am...

Now an Assistant Superintendent at Reames G&CC in Klamath Falls, Oregon.  Left Kah-Nee-Ta Resort to pursue golf equipment sales which did not work out.  Landed the Reames position through my connection with the GM/Pro.  I have become even more confident in my abilities to maintain a golf course in the PNW to the style of an Australia/UK course.  My wife and I are looking to move to the Portland, Oregon area when I can land a Superintendent position there.

Reames has fast and firm conditions, below average budget for a country club, consistent greens running 10 to 11, narrow 30 yard tree lined fairways, and 9 holes irrigated by quick coupler impacts.

Troy, Reames was in great shape when my son played in the junior event down there. Is the renovation work going forward? I remember seeing a proposal map. Cheers, Jeff

[John Penny]

No sense starting my own thread:

Name: John Penny
Residence: Denver, CO
Occupation: Management Consultant
Age: 29
Home Course: Meridian GC.  Handicap: 4
Favorite architect: Unknown, I prefer the style created by farmers where trees are planted in a line, modeled after the famous wind rows and cornfields of the Great Plains.

Long time lurker, fortunate enough to meet several of you and thought I'd join in the fun.  Grew up in Eastern CO, playing on buffalo grass fairways (see above), worked at 2 unique CO courses during school.  Consider myself a student of all things golf, I have learned a ton from this site and hope to continue.

John

[Terry Lavin]

John,

I'm sure you'll give us more than a penny of your thoughts.  Welcome.

[Matt Ingraham]

Matt Ingraham
Omaha, Nebraska
age: 33
Handicap: 7
Occupation: Attorney
Home Course: Omaha CC 

I grew-up in Arizona and started playing when I was 12 or so.  In college played at a juco in AZ and then at a little NAIA school in Kansas.  I didn't play much for five years while in law school and after law school while working for one of the few non-golfing judges in America.  I started regularly playing again about four years ago and am still trying to rediscover the magic behind regularly hitting long irons on the screws.  It seemed so easy when I was younger.

If anyone is ever in Omaha with a desire to play Omaha CC please do not hesitate to email me.  Omaha CC is the site of the 2013 US Senior Open.

Matt 

[Mark Saltzman]

Matt, Welcome!

What a generous offer, as well! I've heard that Omaha CC is excellent especially with the recently completed work (Keith Foster?).

I'm sure you'll get at least a few interested parties, with 60+ GCAers coming out to Nebraska for the 5th Major.

Enjoy!

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

Matt Ingraham
Omaha, Nebraska
age: 33
Handicap: 7
Occupation: Attorney
Home Course: Omaha CC 

I grew-up in Arizona and started playing when I was 12 or so.  In college played at a juco in AZ and then at a little NAIA school in Kansas.  I didn't play much for five years while in law school and after law school while working for one of the few non-golfing judges in America.  I started regularly playing again about four years ago and am still trying to rediscover the magic behind regularly hitting long irons on the screws.  It seemed so easy when I was younger.

If anyone is ever in Omaha with a desire to play Omaha CC please do not hesitate to email me.  Omaha CC is the site of the 2013 US Senior Open.

Matt 

Matt -

Welcome.  Omaha CC is a great course... the epitome of a Hidden Gem.  Whenever the dicussion of going to Sand Hills comes up, and whether to fly into Omaha or Denver (for those w/o the G5), i say fly into Omaha and try to play OCC... it's well worth it!

[Eric Smith]

Yes sir, welcome Matt! I haven't heard back from you since our prior email exchange, but am hoping you'll make your way out to Mullen this summer.

Have fun with the site!

[Tom Allen]

Thomas Allen
Outside of Cincinnati, Ohio
Attorney (Miami University, Ohio undergrad; Univ. of Cincinnati College of Law)
48 years old
Home Course: Brown's Run, Middletown, Ohio
HCP: 6.8
Married, with two kids, 4 and 5.
Started playing in 1990 or so (late-comer to the game).
Favorite courses played for far:  Pebble, Oakland Hills, Inverness.  Trying to play as many of Golf Digest's Top 100 as I can, but
If anyone is in Cincinnati or visits Cincinnati, look me up and we'll play Brown's Run if you like.  Lovely little course, built in the 50's, with outstanding greens and fairways.
Really enjoy the discussion here.

[Mark Steffey]

Mark Steffey
live west of Boston, MA
born south of Pittsburgh, PA
investments (operations)
Boston University
California U of PA
44 yo
married
four kids (13,9,7,3)
home club(s) - Oak Hill CC (Fitchburg MA) & Sunnehanna CC (Johnstown PA)
index - 8
started playing in jr high school
favorite course(s) - New England (Newport CC) PA (Laurel Valley)

...glad to be here.  learn something every time i visit.

[Ted Harris]

Name: Ted Harris
Hometown: Vancouver B.C.
Age: 38
Handicap: as low as an 11 but rising
Home Course : North Bellingham G.C.
Occupation: planner for Air Canada Cargo
Favourite Courses: Royal Portrush, Ganton, Eastward Ho, Pasatiempo, Pacific Dunes and Sagebrush
Favourite Architect: Harry Colt

2012 plans - hoping to get to Cabot Links and TOC and possibly Thailand.........but that won't be 100% golf related

[Brian Finn]

Brian Finn
35 years old
Married with 2 kids - daughter (4) & son (1)
Born & raised - Rockville Centre, NY (Long Island)
Currently reside - Powell, OH (Columbus area)
Lived in NYC 6 years and San Diego 5 years before landing in the Midwest
Notre Dame undergrad, NYU Stern MBA
Home Course:  Free Agent since relocating to OH...seriously considering Brookside Columbus
HCP - 4.5

Really glad this thread was bumped up, as it reminded me that I never properly introduced myself to the group.  I've been reading GCA since 2001 or so, and only became a member a few months ago.  I really enjoy the course profiles, photo tours, interviews, and spirited discussion.  Hoping I can make some genuine contributions to the group over time.

Played Bethpage courses every chance I got between 1993 and 2005...still get back a couple of times each year, and Red is my favorite of the 5.  Other personal favorites so far include Harbour Town, Portmarnock, Sleepy Hollow, Pinehurst #2, Chechessee, Olivos GC (Argentina), Kiawah Ocean, and Spyglass.

Planning to see many new courses this year, including several in Pinehurst area, a few back home on LI, and as many as I can squeeze in all around OH.  Also hoping to get to the Sand Hills ASAP, with a stop in Omaha to pick up my brother.  Especially excited to meet many of you at the Midwest Mashie.  Big fan of the ND Warren course (although I guess I am a little biased).

Thanks for having me!

[Evan Fleisher]

Brian,

Welcome to a fellow Ohioan transplant.  Michael George is putting together an impromptu gathering on Thursday night to watch hoops and meet other GCA'rs.  If you are interested, check out the thread here...

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=51506.0

Would love the chance to meet others from the area.

[JLahrman]

Thomas Allen
Outside of Cincinnati, Ohio
Attorney (Miami University, Ohio undergrad; Univ. of Cincinnati College of Law)
48 years old
Home Course: Brown's Run, Middletown, Ohio
HCP: 6.8
Married, with two kids, 4 and 5.
Started playing in 1990 or so (late-comer to the game).
Favorite courses played for far:  Pebble, Oakland Hills, Inverness.  Trying to play as many of Golf Digest's Top 100 as I can, but
If anyone is in Cincinnati or visits Cincinnati, look me up and we'll play Brown's Run if you like.  Lovely little course, built in the 50's, with outstanding greens and fairways.
Really enjoy the discussion here.

Can't understand why Brown's Run never gets a mention around here...but very few people in the Cincinnati/Dayton area seem to know much about it either. I only played it once but really liked it. It certainly seems to be a course that warrants at least a bit of discussion here.

[David Davis]

Clearly I've started to figure out the search function and realize this is an oldie, even dating back a decade, amazing which means that some of your kids are all grown up and even some of you are all grown up. Hcps are much lower of course, natural progression, you're all older and wiser and have seen much more golf courses than you can remember. Wooden clubs have left the bags for the most part.

As some of you have learned in the last couple days already I too rather enjoy my golf. Since I'm quite isolated from most of you in terms of location I'm always thrilled to receive enthusiastic golfers in the Netherlands were I live. We've got a handful of great clubs here in the Benelux countries (Netherlands and Belgium mainly).

David Davis
42 years old
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Home Course: de Noordwijkse Golf Club
HCP: lower back, SI Joints, grey mass between my ears. numerical value right now 7.5, dropping fast.
Divorced, two beautiful daughters, 11 and 14.
Started playing 9 yrs ago, 100+ rounds a year the last couple years.
Home: Grew up in Oregon near Portland, learned to golf in Europe - lived here 20 years now.
Favorite courses played: Royal County Down, Kingston Heath, Pacific Dunes, Cypress Point, Cruden Bay, Ballybunion, Royal Dornoch and my home club.
Toughest courses (also taking my form into consideration on the that day): my home club everyday, Black Wolf Run, Brookwater (Brisbane area), Pebble in windforce 6 from the US Open tees (last on the tee box and could choose between the old guys tees or all the way back with someone with a 1 hcp determined to cut off more than they could chew).

Work: I have my own little company working in internet marketing, advertising and strategy. Concentration on targeting specific niches audiences, helping clients to improve acquisition and ROI through their web presence. Also sales and business development in Europe.

Hobby work: review, rank and rate golf courses. Also a new member of my clubs course committee which is exciting as we are on the forefront of making some great changes for the future which I strongly believe will make us Top 100 in the world material.

Anyone coming to NL (The Netherlands) drop me a line.

DD - your man in Amsterdam

[David Davis]

Clearly I've started to figure out the search function and realize this is an oldie, even dating back a decade, amazing which means that some of your kids are all grown up and even some of you are all grown up. Hcps are much lower of course, natural progression, you're all older and wiser and have seen much more golf courses than you can remember. Wooden clubs have left the bags for the most part.

As some of you have learned in the last couple days already I too rather enjoy my golf. Since I'm quite isolated from most of you in terms of location I'm always thrilled to receive enthusiastic golfers in the Netherlands were I live. We've got a handful of great clubs here in the Benelux countries (Netherlands and Belgium mainly).

David Davis
42 years old
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Home Course: de Noordwijkse Golf Club
HCP: lower back, SI Joints, grey mass between my ears. numerical value right now 7.5, dropping fast.
Divorced, two beautiful daughters, 11 and 14.
Started playing 9 yrs ago, 100+ rounds a year the last couple years.
Home: Grew up in Oregon near Portland, learned to golf in Europe - lived here 20 years now.
Favorite courses played: Royal County Down, Kingston Heath, Pacific Dunes, Cypress Point, Cruden Bay, Ballybunion, Royal Dornoch and my home club.
Toughest courses (also taking my form into consideration on the that day): my home club everyday, Black Wolf Run, Brookwater (Brisbane area), Pebble in windforce 6 from the US Open tees (last on the tee box and could choose between the old guys tees or all the way back with someone with a 1 hcp determined to cut off more than they could chew).

Work: I have my own little company working in internet marketing, advertising and strategy. Concentration on targeting specific niches audiences, helping clients to improve acquisition and ROI through their web presence. Also sales and business development in Europe.

Hobby work: review, rank and rate golf courses. Also a new member of my clubs course committee which is exciting as we are on the forefront of making some great changes for the future which I strongly believe will make us Top 100 in the world material.

Anyone coming to NL (The Netherlands) drop me a line.

DD - your man in Amsterdam

If anyone uses Linked-in or Facebook and wants to connect there please drop me a request:

https://www.facebook.com/david.davis1
http://nl.linkedin.com/in/ddavis1969

Cheers,

David

[Ted Sturges]

Ted Sturges
Age 50
Reside in Carmel, Indiana

Favorite courses:

National Golf Links of America
The Old Course
Pine Valley
Royal County Down
Cypress Point
Royal Portrush
Yeamans Hall

I have held memberships in my life at Greensburg Country Club (Indiana), Hillcrest Golf and Country Club (Indiana), Rolling Hills Country Club (Indiana), Evansville CC (Indiana), Quail Crossing (Indiana), Broadmoor CC (Indianapolis), Yeamans Hall Club (South Carolina), Lost Dunes (Michigan), and Tain Golf Club (Scotland).  I currently only hold a membership at Quail Crossing.

I served as a USGA Committeeman for 13 years, serving as a rules offical for countless regional qualifiers and state and collegiate events.  I also served in leadership roles for the Indiana Golf Association and the Indiana Golf Foundation.

I was blessed to be introduced to the game by my loving father, Jim Sturges at the age of 5.  I currently play off a 6 handicap.  Dad turns 80 next month and we still play golf together.   

I graduated from Hanover College in 1984 where I played on the varisty tennis team.

I am in the financial services industry and reside in the greater Indianapolis area.  I was one of the early participants in this site, lured in by my friendship with Golf's Most Beloved Figure.  I have recently returned, and am enjoying my reindoctrination to all things GCA.  I am blessed to be in a blended family with 4 great kids.  My wife Cheryl graciously tolerates my passion for golf (I drug her along on my recent trip to Nova Scotia, and she enjoyed seeing a new part of the world and even walked a few golf holes).

I've made many friends from this site over the years, and look forward to making many more new friends.  

TS

[RJ_Daley]

Ted, the only think that surprises me in your update, is your age!  Having only spoken once with you on the phone, and still thankful for your invite to YH many years ago now, I just thought you were my age or older.     I guess you are one of those who they say has an 'older soul'.   

[Nigel Islam]

Nigel Islam
Evansville, Indiana
Age 40

Favorite Courses I have played:

Pebble Beach
Crystal Downs
Pinehurst #2
Harbor Town
Crooked Stick
Victoria National
Arcadia Bluffs
Harrison Hills
French Lick Hill (uh Ross) course
Sultan's Run
Quail Crossing

I attended IU, and have lived in Corydon, Bloomington, Indy, Jasper, and Evansville in Indiana.  If anybody is going to be playing anywhere close let me know. I'll drive hours to play if I can fit it in my wife's plans.

[John Kirk]

Bump.

We have several new members checking in with new member threads.  Historically, we've had a perpetual thread for introductions.  Could each of our new members also add a small introduction here as well?  Thanks.

[Kevin_D]

Kevin Dreyer
35 Years Old
Married, no kids (yet), 1 dog (a very sweet doberman pinscher)
Live in NYC, raised in Wayne, PA (outside Philly)

Member of Wykagyl (van Etten/Ross/Tillinghast/Coore & Crenshaw) in New Rochelle, NY and Stonewall (Doak) in Elverson, PA

I am so far relatively limited in my play of great courses - but working on it!

Thoughts so far:
Best overall course played: Shinnecock Hills
Best public: Bethpage Black
Favorite course played: Maidstone
Favorite outside US: Swinley Forest
Most underrated course: Stonewall North

And think my home course, Wykagyl can more than hold its own despite some famous neighbors in Westchester.

Kevin

[JLahrman]

Will take this opportunity to update my bio...

Joel Lahrman

Age: 37

Occupation:  Working for a brand consultancy, live in Oakland CA, work in San Francisco.

Handicap: USGA index is listed as 9.7. I post a lot of scores in the 90s. Not sure how that translates to a single digit index.

Home Course: Metropolitan and Monarch Bay.

Married, 15-month-old daughter, 2 dogs.

Favorite course: Camargo

Wish list: To find a way to play more golf.  40 rounds a year would be a dream for me, jealous of those for whom it's an off year.

I grew up in Cincinnati and had the good fortune to work in the bag shop at Camargo (also worked at Scioto while I was an undergrad at the Ohio State University).  Back in 2003 a friend of mine wanted to know more about Camargo.  I did a search to see if I could find any pictures online and came upon Ran's writeup.  I got hooked reading the course profiles, eventually moseyed over to the forum. I met only a few GCAers over the years until attending the 2011 KPI at Bandon. Always seem to enjoy playing golf with whoever I meet from this website.

Other interests:  After 20 years of basketball I have switched to tennis.  Easier to find one person than nine, and fewer dislocated fingers and sprained ankles. I play to about a 3.5 but don't practice this sport enough either. Should have started when I was younger. I am a mediocre guitar and banjo player.  I also enjoy volunteering at my local animal shelter and learning principles of dog training.

[Jeb Bearer]

Also a new member, just saw this thread so:

Jeb Bearer
17 years old
Junior at Georgetown Prep High School in North Bethesda, MD
jbearer95@verizon.net

I've been playing golf seriously for about five years now, and I've been into architecture for about two. Being just a "yute", I haven't had the opportunity to play a wide variety of well-regarded courses. I've played some good ones though. This past summer my family and I went to Canada and I was able to play Banff and Jasper with my dad. Later, in July, I went with some friends on a pilgrimage to St. Andrews, where we played the Old Course, Elie, Muirfield and Carnoustie. So I've been very fortunate so far to play some great tracks. I hope that luck continues cuz I've got a long list and getting longer!

Looking forward to having a great time learning about GCA on this site.

[Mike Schott]

Michael Schott
55 Years old
Born in Detroit and I live in Farmington Hills, MI
Occupation is Sales Representative. My office is in Michigan but my sales territory is the SW US and includes some great golf states including CA, AZ and Texas.

I've golfed since I was a teen but didn't get serious about the game until after graduating from Michigan State University with a BA in Marketing.
I play mainly public and resort courses. My home course is our local muni, the Farmington Hills Golf Club, a pretty nice city owned course.
I don't keep a handicap right now but when I did it averaged about 18. I don't get much chance to play these days due to a wife who works and goes to college and to our amazing 2 year old son. Time on the course is precious.

Favorite courses played:
Pasatiempo
Bethpage Black
Donald Ross Memorial at Boyne Highlands
Gailes at Lakewood Shores Resort
Belvedere Golf Club
High Pointe :-(
U of M
Forest Akers West
Thousand Oaks-Grand Rapids, MI
Forest Dunes

I have an open invitation to play The Meadow Club and hope to take advantage my next trip to the Bay Area.
I also plan on playing Rustic Canyon soon as I visit LA every 6 weeks.

Thank you,
Michael Schott.