Quirky course recommendations

[Adrian_Stiff]

Paul:

I actually went to my laptop to copy my review of Painswick from the working copy of The Confidential Guide and paste it here -- but discovered that I have still not written up the course!  My last thorough update of the manuscript was done in 2003, just before our trip over there; I haven't written many reviews since then, although I still keep the index up to date.

I promise you, when I eventually do get around to writing about it, you'll be the first to see a copy.

Some may not know it but I used the word "quirky" in my review of The National Golf Links of America, and several people at the club were offended by that, even though I had said it lovingly.  (It WAS in the Gourmet's Choice section in front, after all.)  After that, Mike Muller used to call me "Quirky" Doak for a while.

Tom- any more thoughts on another reprint of CG?  I am sure there are a few hundred takers on here, you mentioned $100 once before. I'd have 5 for xmas presents.

[Chris_Blakely]

To me, quirky means one thing:  fun.  So I'll nominate Roaring Gap.  Read Ran's write up.  Short, funky, dramatic elevation changes, mountain views and slick greens.  Its just a blast to play.  And I love the casual feel of the clubhouse, staff and membership.  Roaring Gap is one of those places you'll have a smile on your face the whole day.

Ed

Ed;

Are you referring to Olde Beau? If so, I agree completely. 1600ft of elevation change, with about as much uphill as down. I happen to love steep uphill holes, not everyone does.

I remember one shot I had on the course where I was only 90yd to the pin, and hit, from a very uphill lie, a full 8-iron, which nearly disappeared from height before landing 12ft left. Very, very quirky.

Doug

No, he means the following course:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/roaringhighlands1.html

Although, Olde Beau is a blast to play.  Not sure if it qualifies as completly quirky or on an extreme site.

Chris

[John Shimp]

Palmetto
Yeamans Hall

[Doug Ralston]

LOL Chris;

*bonk self* Olde Beau is at Roaring Gap, NC. My bad!

Doug

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I like the idea that quirk equals fun. In that spirit I'd nominate for inclusion Pennard, Bull Bay, Dollar, in addition to those UK courses already cited.

[Phil McDade]

Dunvarety, near Machrihanish; Braid's Glencruitten in Oban, on the western coast; and the nine-hole Traigh, also on the western coast, are three Scottish courses that are pretty darn quirky.

Shiskine probably takes the palm, however, as one Philadelphia writer might say.

[Adam Clayman]

 Cary, A couple of courses that might be in your travel pattern are located near the Monterey Bay.
One is Spring Hill in Watsonville, Ca. The other is Seascape in Aptos. These courses do not go out of their way to mollycoddle the customer, which puts the emphasis on the golf.
 While you are there you might want to checkout Pete Galea's Pajaro Valley. A course not without some quirk.
All will save you a fortune on green fees compared to what I'm sure you use to seeing, or, what's in the vicinity.  

[Tom Huckaby]

Adam:

While Seascape is somewhat quirky, your info is dated as to mollycoddling of customers - that occurs quite a lot there there these days.  I also don't find much to love there period either... tough to recommend this one to Cary.  You have Spring Hills and Pajaro Valley pegged though!

And you must be really pissed at what's going on there now to neglect the king of quirk and best bang for the buck in this area - your former home course Pacific Grove!

BTW another cool quirky one is DeLaveaga (quite near Pasatiempo) - same vein as Spring Hills.  Some love it, some hate it.

[Mike Hendren]

Langford's Gatlinburg CC had a good deal of quirk through ingenious routing through narrow valleys, including three consecutive par fives (10-12).  I believe the course has been compromised since I regularly skipped law school to play there in the early 1980's.  Built in the 50's it must have been one of his last designs.

[Kyle Henderson]

I defiiately second the votes for Lake Chabot and Lincoln Park. A few other quirky Nor Cal tracks that I would recommend are Apple Mountain and Castlewood CC (Hill). Crooked Creek and The Crossings are enjoyable head scratchers near Ralegh, NC

[D_Malley]

a great area for fun and quirk is the poconos in PA

water gap cc
pocono manor east
buck hill falls 27 holes

all within 20 min of each other

[Ray Richard]

I nominate Woods Hole CC in Falmouth, Ma. It's a collection of blind shots, obtuse mounding,  sharp rolling fairways, and a stiff dose of wind from Buzzard's Bay. A bouncing golf ball can take a wild trip on this beloved course.

[Lester George]

Abenakee Club
Biddeford Pool, Maine

LG

[John Keenan]

I would add Gleneagles in SF into the mix. It may well be a triple play. Quirky course, location (certain key holes) and the characters who play there.

None the less I thoroughly enjoy the course.

[Mark Arata]

I would throw Leatherstocking into the mix............many fun and quirky holes on that course.

[Chris_Blakely]

Some of my favorites:

Blair Academy GC, Blairstown, NJ (Arch: Duer Irving Suell)


Mohonk Mountain House GC, New Paltz, NY (Arch: Robert Pryde & Albert Smiley)  Lot of blind shots, some neat greens.  Here are some pics from a previous thread:

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,31485.0.html

Lake St. Catherine CC, Poultny, VT (Arch: Mike Cirba sent it to me awhile back, but I misplaced it)  Front 9 was built in the 20's wild terrain - some blind shots funky greens.

St. Mary's CC, St. Mary's, PA (Arch: Devereux Emmet)

Coudersport CC, Coudersport, PA (Arch:  Unknown built in the early 1930's) built in valley around surrounding mountains - wild greens and fairway slopes)

Culver Military Academy GC, Culver, IN (ARch: Langford & Moreau)

The Powelton Club, Balmville, NY (Arch: Devereux Emmet) Most likely my favorite short par 4 of all time- the 10th and it is almost all about the green).

Immergrun GC, Loretto, PA (Arch: Devereux Emmet - former Charles Schwaab Estate course)

Barberton Brookside GC, Barberton, OH (Architect: Tom Bendelow) several real undulating green, one of my favorite par 3's in Ohio with a meadering creek in front of it, very good risk reward par 4 on back)

Fire Ridge GC, Millersburg, OH (Orginal arch - I have a good idea front 9 built 1920's) back 9 Ron Cutlip - unique alternate route par 4)

Cape Arundel GC, Kennebunkport, ME (Arch: JD Dunn & Walter Travis)

Irish HIlls GC, Mount Vernon, OH (original 9) (Arch: Tom Bendelow)

Hershey CC - Parkview Course (NLE) Hershey, PA (Arch: Maurice McCarty) Had a crazy blind uphill par 3 where only the top of the flagstick was visible from the tee.  Also had one of my favorite built up greens on a short par 4).

Bethpage State Park - Green Course, Farmingdale, NY (Arch: Devereux Emmet)

St. George's G&CC, Stoneybrook, NY (Arch: Devereux Emmet)

[Jason Connor]

Ive played Black and Yellow.  What's quirky about Green?

[Tom_Doak]

Chris:

I had the same question about the Green course, which I've never seen.

I've seen three of the courses on your list [Culver, Cape Arundel and St. George's] and would endorse all three.  Never heard of most of the others, except Mohonk.  Who designed them?

[Chris_Blakely]

Ive played Black and Yellow.  What's quirky about Green?

Almost all of the greens - many of which are still Emmet.  Two or three neet little par 3's.

[Stan Dodd]

In Southern Cal
Marshall Canyon built at the base of Mt. Baldy.  Breaks on the greens somtimes need to be seen to be believed.
Sierra La Verne just a couple of canyons over same applies.
Crystalaire.

[Chris_Blakely]

Chris:

I had the same question about the Green course, which I've never seen.

I've seen three of the courses on your list [Culver, Cape Arundel and St. George's] and would endorse all three.  Never heard of most of the others, except Mohonk.  Who designed them?

Tom,

I have updated my list to include all of the architects that I know of and provide some info of my favorite features (that I remember) on the courses.

Chris

[JMorgan]

... let's see if anyone can ID this course:





(That is a lone sheep.)

[BVince]

I had to look up the definition of quirky to get a grasp on what makes a golf course "quirky" (by the way it means strikingly unconventional according to dictionary.com).  Given that definition, I think Hanover Golf Course at Dartmouth) has some quirky holes and is good fun to play. 

[Mike_Cirba]

Chris,

The first nine at Lake St. Catherine's was designed by members Frank Hicks, George Williams, G.H. Norton, and E. Van Guilder in 1924.

The even quirkier back nine was designed by former Vermont governor turned architect Ray Keyser in 1996.

You're also correct about the Poconos being the Queen of Quirk, which has a lot to do with my instinctive acceptance of the strange in architecture, as well as my disdain for the rote, thoughtless, and mundane.

[Chris_Blakely]

Chris,

The first nine at Lake St. Catherine's was designed by members Frank Hicks, George Williams, G.H. Norton, and E. Van Guilder in 1924.

The even quirkier back nine was designed by former Vermont governor turned architect Ray Keyser in 1996.

You're also correct about the Poconos being the Queen of Quirk, which has a lot to do with my instinctive acceptance of the strange in architecture, as well as my disdain for the rote, thoughtless, and mundane.

Mike,

Thanks for the architect again, I will add it to my file.

Yes, I think the Poconos have some unique courses:

I did not put the following in my list because I believe others named them, but these are also quite quirky:

Water Gap CC, Deleware Water Gap, PA (Arch: Robert White)

Glen Brook GC, Stroudsburg, PA (Arch: Robert White)

Buc Hill Falls GC (27 Holes - 18 Ross; 9 Robert White)

Skytop Lodge, Skytop, PA (Arch: Robert White)

Chris