Aerial of the Day #331 - 12 May 2003

[Scott_Burroughs]

Here's a course that receives virtually no talk on GCA,
despite getting good ratings by at least one sector of golfers.

There are some interesting features, though.  Mid-fairway
bunker gives narrower option to get closer.  That one hole
with the serpentine burn looks interesting.  Also, the hole at
the far right reminds me of another from this architect.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Located in Batman's Cave? (state's 2nd largest city)

supposedly, "satistics" [sic] leaving out the "t" is the
common pronunciation in these parts (obscure TV clue,
though still on the air)

Lillehammer games field reporter is from these parts (related
to previous clue)

[Scott_Burroughs]

Those last clues were a little obscure, I admit.

Larry Legend fan developed this course?

Hole at far right mentioned above reminding me of another
of archie's holes was on previous AOTD and has been seen by
most of us on TV.

Does it take True Grit to like this town?

Gene Hackman, "who's yer" coach?

[Dan Grossman]

I didn't realize that this course was a housing course.

I have heard good things, but don't know very much
about the course.  Most folks on this site don't think
too much of this architect, although I have found most of
his "non-signature" designs to be decent.

[Chris_Clouser]

I'm curious what others think of it as well.  

I was supposed to play there this past weekend but got rained out.

It was to be the first time I've seen the course since college.  

Same archie is doing another design in the same state that opens this year.  

[Scott_Burroughs]

A staple in the GD Top 100 for the past 10 years (opened at
#40!), though it's dangerously close to getting the boot, this
is one of those few ranked courses so few of us seem to know
about (or at least talk about).

Magic and company prevented them from winning it all (and
going undefeated).

Another club named after a tree (university?), but not a
commonly used tree name.

I see some Bear trademarks down there, reachable but risky
par 5's, "faded" greens (though for fairness' sake, an equal
number favoring draws), housing development.

[Matt Dupre]

A few members recently relocated to Philadelphia along with their employer.  The ones I've spoken to are in a state of shock due to the long waiting lists for private clubs and the lack of similar high quality country club communities.....

[Scott_Burroughs]

This is Sycamore Hills, in Fort Wayne, IN, designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Sycamore is #100 in GD's Top 100 list, as it has been in the
list since '93-'94.


other clues include:

little talk of this (GD) Top 100 course.

"Located in Batman's Cave? (state's 2nd largest city)" = Fort
Wayne (Batman was Bruce "Wayne", who's cave-like home
was portected like a "fort".  Sort of.)

supposedly, "satistics" [sic] leaving out the "t" is the
common pronunciation in these parts (obscure TV clue,
though still on the air) = refers to Indiana native David
Letterman's references on his show.

"Lillehammer games field reporter is from these parts
(related to previous clue)" = refers to Letterman's mother
("related"), who did some 'sideline' interviews during the
1994 Lillehammer games

"Larry Legend fan developed this course" = refers to Larry
Bird, who played for the Indiana State U. "Sycamores".

Hole at far right mentioned above reminding me of another
of archie's holes was on previous AOTD and has been seen by
most of us on TV. = refers to the 18th hole at Nicklaus'
Castle Pines, host of the Tour's International.

"True Grit"...town = John "Wayne" movie

Gene Hackman, "who's yer" coach? = "Hoosiers"

"Magic and company prevented them from winning it all (and
going undefeated)." = Magic Johnson's NCAA Championship-
winning Mich State team over Bird's then-undefeated ISU Sycamores.

tree (university?) = Sycamore

"Bear" = Nicklaus

[Chris_Clouser]

They do have a website, but I haven't been able to get on it
today for some reason.  www.sycamorehillsgolfclub.com.

The course that Nicklaus is working on is the Sagamore in
Noblesville, IN.  I've mentioned it in the past on here as it's about a mile from my house.  

The one visit I had here in college didn't leave much of an impression as I can only remember one or two holes at best.  
But I didn't pay that much attention back then to the
architecture of courses.  Just the cart girls in the outing I was
in.

As for the statistics comment, I'll leave that alone.