Missing Dixie Cup Blues

[Mike Tanner]

I've played Kinloch and Ballyhack one time each, so in that respect I know what I'm missing at this edition of the Dixie Cup. I've never played a round of golf, much less multiple rounds with any other CGA'ers, so I don't know what I'm missing there.

Sure wish I was finding out this week.

Where you from?

Va. Beach.

If you ever get down towards Texas you let me know.

Thanks, I'll do that.

[Eric Smith]

Any good poetry?

[Bill_McBride]

Any good poetry?

Ribs were great,
Courses better.
Pretty chilly?
Wear a sweater!

[Matt MacIver]

Ballyhack: wild hills,
Undulating greens; Kinloch:
great walk in the park!

or

A grand time was had at the ‘11 Dixie Cup
Southern hospitality abounded and great food was supped;
I don’t mean to pester
Michael, Bill or Lester
The only downside was that the weather sucked!


Thanks to all the organizers and host courses, what a great time not even the weather could put a damper on the fun. 

[Mike Boehm]

When Mike Boehm hit an incredible iron to within 6 feet then made the birdie on 12 on Friday I said,
"Noone is going to cut that skin."  Little did I know Mr. Duran (the greatest fairway wood player I've
ever seen) had eagled it in the group ahead of us.

Little did I know Lou was just foreshadowing the beat down he would go on to give me in our singles match at Providence...

I had a great weekend getting to know everybody and experiencing these three courses - hard to believe the same guy did each of them.  As a Dixie Cup first timer, I really appreciated that the group made me feel welcome.  Everything about the event - the courses, accomodations and the food were planned to perfection.  Many thanks to Craig, Bill, Mike and Lester for organizing this - really enjoyed hearing the stories behind each of the courses from Lester.  Hope to be able to participate again in the future.

[Bill Gayne]

Continuing the chorus of praise and thanks for a great time. As another first time GCA event participant, I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in but found a like minded group that loves the game and enjoys a good laugh. It was well worth it and highly recommend to all others getting involved in one of the GCA events. Thanks to the coordinators Bill McBride and Mike Whitaker, Lester for hosting us, the staff at the different clubs, and my playing partners.

Bill

[David Royer]

I was a first timer as well.  I want to thank Bill and Mike for their leadership in making this event happen.  Bill, I enjoyed the walk at Kinloch and the insights you offered me.  Evan, thanks for arranging the evening of BBQ.  The brisket was outstanding.  Thanks seems hardly sufficient for all the time Lester spent with us.  What a rare treat to be standing on a golf course and having Lester standing there explaining the hole and what he had to work with.  Lester, many thanks!  I also want to express my thanks to the crews who work hard every day in making the course and day accessible.  The caddies, pro shop folks, grounds crew (do) did an outstanding job in course management. To all my fellow cuppers, thank you for the warm welcome!

[Jason Topp]

I snapped these at Kinloch in the early Sunday morning frost as Evan was searching for his camera:

Practice facility:



Bye Green and Lake:



I had a great time and will be amply challenged to capture the weekend in Topp's Travels.  Thanks to all for organizing and participating.  Thanks to the host clubs for their incredible hospitalty.

[Pete_Pittock]

Had a very enjoyable time in Virginia. Cameradie and food, great hospitality. Lester George proved you don't need to have a style, just the ability to fit very good courses into the terrain, especially at Ballyhack. Kinloch is a superior site and a superior product. At Providence he nailed the course with few bunkers and tremendous greens. Thanks to everyone involved with the event, but it all was relegated to 2d place after sitting next to a airman coming home on leave from Afghanistan on my leg from Dallas to Portland.

And greeting to the players experiencing one of the GCA majors for the first time. These aren't closed competitions. Sign up and you will come.

[Jamey Bryan]

I just wanted to add my two cents about another GREAT Dixie Cup!  Thanks to all who worked to put it together.

First, Ballyhack may never receive the "rater" acclaim that I think the course deserves, but it remains one of the most fun courses I've ever played.  While I'd hate to play it under tournament conditions in medal play, it's an outstanding layout and a wonderful match play course.  Even my qualification here has it's qualification....   If your game is on, it's a course that will allow a good score (just not a ridiculously low one!).

Second, this was my second visit to Kinloch and it surprised me (even given the weather) to further impress me.  There is nothing to criticize....  The hospitality is outstanding, the caddies were the best I've had or seen, and the golf course is simply wonderful.  I was particularly impressed that the pins we had confounded even our caddies.....  I love subtle greens (believe me, our caddies were really good) but there were some putts where you needed Divine guidance.

Providence is excellent, but I must disagree a little with some of the previous comments.  It's somewhat obvious from the layout that Lester was constrained with the amount of property.  Don't get me wrong, it's very good.  There're just some holes I didn't/don't think were very good.  The property is great, and I think the 3's and 4's are all very good, but I thought the 5's were all weak.

Anyway, it was a great weekend and I'd echo the sentiment that everyone needs to try to play in one of the GCA majors!

Jamey

[Brad Tufts]

Fun to read the responses, feel bad that I couldn't make it this year!

I was actually in VA last weekend, but up in Middletown/Strasburg attending a wedding.

Any rumors on a 2012 DC venue?

[Evan Fleisher]

Fun to read the responses, feel bad that I couldn't make it this year!

I was actually in VA last weekend, but up in Middletown/Strasburg attending a wedding.

Any rumors on a 2012 DC venue?

Warmer weather, nearer to the Atlantic Ocean...

[Lou_Duran]

Ditto what Jamey and others noted about the DC, the courses, and the architect.  Great fun.  Thanks to the clubs and their staffs, Lester, the organizers, and Jason for assuming the captain's role at the last minute and performing with distinction.

As to Ballyhack's #12, no doubt the finest hole of its kind in the world, the shot with my new (to me)/ used 4 hybrid did go into the hole mostly as the result of sheer luck.  As it so often happens in golf, I nearly topped my shot into the hazard guarding Kinloch's 7th green (our 16th hole) with the same club the next day.  Yes, what the game gives one day, it seems to more than take down the road.  BTW, one of my opponent's (Van) approach to #12 was with a sand wedge.  Now, that was impressive.

BTW2, the BBQ was memorable, the portions obscene, and the experience very enjoyable.  But is there better BBQ in Texas?  Come on down and see.        

[Jason Topp]

As to Ballyhack's #12, no doubt the finest hole of its kind in the world, the shot with my new (to me)/ used 4 hybrid did go into the hole mostly as the result of sheer luck.  

Lou is too modest - that shot was dead solid and looked in the hole the entire time. 

Lou played extremely well in our match. Van and I combined for 7 birdies and only won due to a bladed 40 yard sand shot on the last.  At the turn, Van remarked "We are being pencil whipped!"  I've played with Lou enough to know that we were instead being beaten by fine play. 

[Lester George]

Gents,

Thanks for all the nice stuff but I need to clear a few things up.  Mike and Bill deserve ALL of the credit for the logistics, not me.  I simply aggeed to host and they did all of the heavy lifting.  

There is one thing I have found over the years, even golf architects can't control the weather!  Suffice it to say it was mostly bad did cost us a trip to Kanawha.  The weather demonstrated clearly that the Dixie Cup Contingent was a hardy group with the sporting mentality that allowed for overcoming what turned out to only be a minor distraction.  I mean these guys ARE DETERMINED!  

And what a fun group!  It was very easy to get to know these guys.  They were interested in what we were doing but also interested in the "hows and whys" of the golf course design.  Very diverse group of personalities but all love the game, very refreshing for me and those at the clubs we visited.  

Man we ate some good food and drank some good spirits!  Thanks to Evan for the BBQ idea as that turned out great.  

Just a few housekeeping notes:

The 12th hole at Ballyhack is under consideration for re-design.  Now that two GCA'ers (Jamie Bryan and Lou Duran) have made 2 on the hole, it is obviuos to me I have a design flaw!

I suggest Mark Pritchett become the PERMANENT CAPTAIN of the South team based on his unbelievable pep talk and speech Saturday night!  That may have been the highlight of the entire deal for all of us.  

Yes, I will eventually post the Contenment Master Plan but Dixie Cuppers can not spoil the thing for those who don't know the answers.

Last but not least, I want to thank you guys for coming to see us here in Virginia.  You all should know how I feel about your interest from my comments throughout the weekend.  You made it a lot of fun for me and I won't forget it.  Thanks!

Lester

[Bill_McBride]

Agreed about Mark and his pairings speech, that was the funniest thing I've heard since Andy Griffith retired.   I can't believe no one videotaped it, there would be many many hits on YouTube.

[Wade Whitehead]

Did Jamey make a two on 12?  I thought it was on 11.

WW

[Jamey Bryan]

You're right, Wade!  Mine WAS on 11.  Apparently that entire sequence of holes is flawed.

Sorry about the error.......

Jamey

[Lester George]

Jamey,

After all that noise and commotion, yours was on 11!  Good 2 anyway.

Lester

[Lou_Duran]

The 12th hole at Ballyhack is under consideration for re-design.  Now that two GCA'ers (Jamie Bryan and Lou Duran) have made 2 on the hole, it is obviuos to me I have a design flaw!
Lester

Now that Jamie set the record straight, negating the possibility of a design flaw on #12, your considerable talents might be better trained on the left side of the entry to #1 green. 

[Michael George]

Last but not least, I want to thank you guys for coming to see us here in Virginia.  You all should know how I feel about your interest from my comments throughout the weekend.  You made it a lot of fun for me and I won't forget it.  Thanks!

Lester:

I unfortunately was unable to make Dixie Cup this year.  I tried every approach that I could (as Michael can attest from my PMs), but work required me to remain in the comforts of Northeast Ohio on Friday and Saturday just did not work out.  I have heard nothing but fantastic things about both Ballyhack and Kinloch and the weekend. 

However, the generosity of your time and talents with events like this make the site so special and one that I feel very fortunate to be a part of.  And to follow it up by thanking those that attended.  You must be a true gentlemen.  I would like to attribute it toward your last name  but unfortunately, I may be proof that is not the case.  Anyway, while it may not mean much from a normal guy in northeast Ohio, I really look forward to your comments on Contenment and hope that our paths cross one day at a gca event.

[Lester George]

Michael,

Thanks.  Stop in anytime or let me know when you want to play our courses and I'll try to help. 

Lester

[Mike Hamilton]

First my apologies for the crazy October weather….This time of year in Central Virginia can be anything, hurricanes, nor’easters, or days and days of perfect golf weather which we had just before and after the DC!  But the great golf and camaraderie made up for the weather!

I also want to add my appreciation to Bill, Mike, Lester, and Craig for arranging this year’s DC.  It was my third GCA event and they keep getting better…its a super way to see great golf courses…especially cool when we can play multiple courses from the same architect as we have done the last two years.

Thanks as well to Jonathan Ireland of Ballyhack, Phil Owenby of Kinloch, and Bobby Green of Providence for hosting us and their warm hospitality.

Ballyhack and Kinloch are fantastic places and it was great to see the diversity of golf that Lester has built, but also happy to see the appreciation for Providence.  I play there regularly with my young sons and it was a welcome addition to Richmond public golf when it opened about 9 years ago.  It is a great walk and has some fantastic golf holes (the 10th is my favorite as well).