[Chris_Clouser]

What happened to the Angel's Crossing write-up in the My Home Course section?  

I was going to send the link to someone I work with who was wanting a course to play on an annual golf trip he does to Michigan.  

[John Kavanaugh]

I believe the most excellent writer and generous host of the article no longer calls AC his home course.  Any clues where this fine gentleman now stores his bag?

[Craig Van Egmond]

You can't hide from the wayback machine!!!


http://web.archive.org/web/20060819031451/http://www.golfangelscrossing.com/default2.asp?active_page_id=120

oops... tinyurl is your friend.

http://tinyurl.com/2l4a6r

[Ken Fry]

I believe the most excellent writer and generous host of the article no longer calls AC his home course.  Any clues where this fine gentleman now stores his bag?

As Jim Thompson is one of the course owners, last I knew, what's happened?

Ken

[Chris_Clouser]

Thanks Craig.

[Jim Thompson]

Chris,

I'm glad the tiny url worked and can help your friend.  I would still say AC would be a great track for an annual visit.  Hope everything works out for him etc...

Gang,

I thought this was covered before, but I am no longer at Angels Crossing, although I still retain my small ownership stake, as well as the clubhouse.  If anyone is interested in an investment property, I'm sure my wife and I would make you a hell of a deal on which you could turn a good profit in about three years, but that's another story.  Anyway, my oldest brother, the majority shareholder, concluded that my services were no longer needed with the project.  Above and beyond that, the most you will get me to say is that it is a family issue and deserves to be treated with that level of respect and privacy for all parties and this really is not the forum in which to discuss the issue.  I would appreciate your understanding regarding the issue.

As for the course write up, I originally did the write up as an explanation of the inspirations and thought that went into the design and feature considerations of each hole.  I was really obsessed with that whole look at golf design after my first couple years here on GCA.  I pulled that as I was / am not so sure the original intents of the design and condition will be maintained going forward, something I’m sure everyone who has ever been in the dream stage of a project has to live with.  As a result, I’ve been trying to re-write the profile to include my vision for the features and their intentions so that in however many years from now someone could look it up and read what the real intention of the features and design parameters were at the time on creation.  Frankly, I’ve had a number of personal issues regarding a few negative feelings etc…  That said I still believe that the course and the project continue to have the potential and design to be very special.  Anyway, you can expect a new write up by December that I will hand over to GCA for safe keeping through the years to come.

I am currently up in Grand Rapids at the Highlands.  The Highlands is a Donald Ross remodel from the early 1900’s that has morphed into a hybrid country club / Elks Lodge.  Its membership list includes are very own Ralph Livingston and really has the structure to be returned to its full glory, sadly I think it will take the market a but yet to return to valuing classic function over aesthetic condition.  Golf, as we know it, will be forced to change over the next ten years, but that is a subject probably better suited to a “My Opinion” piece later.  I expect to be moving the family up here in the next 6 months and getting on with things as well.  Hope that gives everyone enough scoop.  As always, those in the “inner circle” are welcome to IM or call.

Cheers!

JT

[John Kavanaugh]

Jim,

Thanks for the update on your situation.  I have always been a huge fan of the Elks course network throughout the country.  Given your talents at writing at golf, a piece in the national Bugle would be informative to our brothers who travel Elkdom spreading the good word.  Good luck and keep in touch.

.  

[RJ_Daley]

I pulled that as I was / am not so sure the original intents of the design and condition will be maintained going forward, something I’m sure everyone who has ever been in the dream stage of a project has to live with.

Jim, the golf course I experienced last year would not need any tweaking of design, IMHO.  The only thing I would consider was the material in the waste bunkers between 1 and 9.  That is not really a design issue, it is a maintenance question, I think.  The hole corridors, FW features, angles, contours, and playability is marvelous.  The greens, surrounds, and contours were as exciting as any I have seen.  The walk out to the first tee and back from the 18th across the lovely bridged wetland was like adding a par 5 on each side of the round.  As I look back, it was a nice place to walk and prepare to play and reflect on the round during the walk.

I flat out loved that course!

[Jim Thompson]

Actually, those bunkers are one example of just what I'm talking about.  I believe Bruce and I even agreed that those areas should be sparse vegetation and for a good part of the grow-in it was.  It was a nice, can't think of a better descriptor sorry, "duney" thin sandy top soil with some very thin growth.  It was later decided that an excavator could go in those areas and "turn over" about six to eight feet of that now famous glacial till, bringing the native red sandy gravel to the surface.  The same was done between one and ten in that now fairway bunker, which was later augmented with some of our imported bunker sand.  I think I took a good dozen passes with a windrower/power rake and it was like a "tater field of stones.  This was my first exposure to what most of us call Augusta syndrome.

Anyway, there you go...

JT

[Chris_Clouser]

Thought I would give a follow up from my co-workers trip.

I haven't been to Angels, but this might give you the mindset of the regular retail golfer.

He felt that the course was ok.  The holes were fine, but him and his group felt the greens were very tricked up.

I asked him if he had ever played a Pete Dye course.  Of course he said yes.  But then he said, "But Pete Dye didn't design those greens, so they shouldn't be that wild."

I just rolled my eyes.  

[Doug Ralston]

I asked him if he had ever played a Pete Dye course.  Of course he said yes.  But then he said, "But Pete Dye didn't design those greens, so they shouldn't be that wild."

I just rolled my eyes.  

ROFL;

That is a classic comment on golf architecture. True GCA line!

[Michael Dugger]

I know nothing about your situation, Jim, but knowing of your dedication and passion to gca, I think your brother needs a good butt kickin'

[Jim Thompson]

Chris,

Actually, I take that as a great compliment!  That's just about what a typical retail golfer should feel after playing Angels.  I like that alot!  The group that believes the middle of the fairway is the place to be, feels they only need one shot shape or only a handful shots to get around will spend a whole bunch of time scratching their heads.  On about the third round they'll "get it".

Mike,

Hey buddy we all have to make decisions in life and they all ain't easy.  It was a hard decision but may be the right one for him at the time.  Anyway, I'm not going there and believe that everything happens for a reason.

Cheers!

JT

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