As many of you know I was born and bred in Baltimore ended up going to college at The U. It was a terrific 4 years. I was a member at Baltimore CC as a child, but never played golf. I was a baseball player, but loved watching golf on TV. I designed my own 9 hole course in my backyard and even made a scorecard for it. I only wish I could find it now. Anyway, it had 9 tee boxes with the same green (a dirt area our family used as the pitchers mound for whiffle ball games). I dug a hole in it and put in a plant pot as a cup. So I would go in the back yard with a 9 iron and a putter and "play" my course. I only broke a few windows
. That was the start of my golf love affair.
I did not play a regulation course until much later and only after college did I start to play. I even dropped my BCC membership for a while because I loved playing different places. I finally rejoined in 1996 after I figured it would be good for my business (small financial planning firm with my 3 brothers). We have clients in 40 states so I travel a lot and bring my clubs with me most of the time. In 1989 I started keeping track of where I played and started to try and play quality courses. I played most of the top 10 by 2002 when a friend asked if I ever considered being on the GD panel. Who wouldn't? I have played over 750 different places with my top 10 being CPC, NGLA, Pine Valley, Shinnecock, Rock Creek, Sand Hills, Pac Dunes, Merion, Oakmont, Prairie Dunes. Of the Golf Digest current top 100, I have played 87. ANGC is the big one I am missing (who isn't). I have a trip set to play Crooked Stick and Sycamore Hills in a few weeks. The pro at CS used to be at BCC and was a great help to me in getting on a lot of courses in the beginning. I miss Tony, but he is back in the midwest where he belongs.
GCA has been instrumental to me in looking at courses differently. I have learned a lot here and through reading numerous books. Please ask away. Oh yeah, I am so hooked on golf, my son's initials are G.O.L.F. I had the right last name for it.