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Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Best Halfway Houses
« on: February 05, 2002, 06:05:55 PM »
There have been recent threads on "best first tees," "best 18th holes," etc, but I'm a guy who likes to keep his energy up (not to mention his weight), so food is generally important. What's the best halfway house in golf?  Generally this implies the 10th tee is not hard by the clubhouse.  My votes would be for Oakmont, Valley Club and Congressional (Blue).  Three classic golf courses, three great halfway houses!  The burgers on the grill are great and quick at Oakmont.  Valley Club's kiosk is really neat although it's not legally a half way house, being where 8 and 10 come together.  Congressional's is cool the way it sits into the hillside and looks up the 10th fairway.  Any other candidates?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Robert_Walker

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2002, 06:14:00 PM »
When it's there, I like the one at van Cortlandt park in the Bronx. It is simply the best! Pine Valley has a nice one
as does Sand Hills
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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cory

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2002, 06:34:08 PM »
:)  Sand Hills-for spectacular views and atmosphere.  To be sitting out at Ben's Corner when the sun is going down, having a beer,  and watching a group play #9 is incredible.  It is not very  big.  Very small in fact.  However, it is situated on one of the higher elevated places on the course and you can see #1, #9, #10 and #18, very well.  What a great course!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2002, 06:38:08 PM »
Royal Portrush, where you can get a wee dram. :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Richard_Goodale

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2002, 07:01:20 PM »
OK, I'm a broken record, but every 10 years or so (last time I remember it was the day of my wedding) Euan Currie of the Burghfield House Hotel will drive his Mini Metro out to the 10th tee at Dornoch and offer a range of malt whiskies that few permanent establishements in the world could match.....
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Mike Nuzzo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2002, 07:04:22 PM »
Robert,

Is it a pretzel/hot dog street cart?  It has been a long time since I was there.

My favorite would be a distinct separate location from the clubhouse.  Mostly due to the fond memories as a youngster when I used to caddy at the Maplewood C.C., anything used to taste great.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Thinking of Bob, Rihc, Bill, George, Neil, Dr. Childs, & Tiger.

Evan Fleisher

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2002, 07:05:05 PM »
Chicago Golf Club's halfway house was kind of interesting...a little nothing of a building with a cooler and two tables, with an "honor system" for payment, of course!  Almost had a little rustic cabin kind of feel to it.

Another choice (for interest's sake) has to be at Carnoustie, which is also a nothing of a building plastered with bag tags from every imaginable course from all over the world.  I thought it to be quite the place.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:02 PM by -1 »
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Born Rochester, MN. Grew up Miami, FL. Live Cleveland, OH. Handicap 13.2. Have 26 & 23 year old girls and wife of 29 years. I'm a Senior Supply Chain Business Analyst for Vitamix. Diehard walker, but tolerate cart riders! Love to travel, always have my sticks with me. Mollydooker for life!

Mike_Cirba

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2002, 07:31:24 PM »
Quaker Ridge's has to offer the best salads on the planet, while Mid Ocean's hilltop location above the 9th green offers typical Bermudian hospitality.  

Pine Valley has to be tops, however, simply based on the unique building, the golf ball collection, and the unmistakable fact that...well, it's Pine Valley, and you're happy just to be there, much less being offered refreshing nourishment.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Joe Andriole

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2002, 08:03:31 PM »
My vote goes to the "villa" on the Saucon Valley Grace course-good food,wonderful view,great comfort.  Additionally you can drive out there,park; enjoy viewing the golf on 4 holes,putt on a convenient practice green and imbibe as needed.  I have many wonderful memories of hanging out there during my college years
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2002, 08:11:37 PM »
Rich, after the single malt tasting the back nine could be a bit rocky, right?  Actually, the last 34 I had for nine holes was after a couple of brandies at the turn on a frigid day in Virginia!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Stan Dodd

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2002, 08:48:36 PM »
Monterey Peninsula CC.  Grilled Burgers and a view to Big Sur!!
This one is hard to beat anywhere. :o
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Ben Cowan-Dewar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2002, 08:54:47 PM »
Mid Ocean.

How about the Greenbrier halfway houses, small versions of the grande dame, very cool.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Will_Smith

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2002, 10:00:23 AM »
I vote for Maidstone- chili, a Heinikein, and a view of that great linksland with the sound of the surf in the background. Plus you get to stop there twice if the course is not crowded, which is most of the time.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Tim K

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #13 on: February 06, 2002, 10:13:44 AM »
I like the simple charm of:

NGLA
Kittansett
Royal Cinque Ports
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Richard_Goodale

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #14 on: February 06, 2002, 10:25:14 AM »
Bill McBride

The course record at Dornoch is held by an obscure assistant pro who (I have been told) had to be poured onto the 1st tee after a bevy in the town the night before.  If he hadn't sobered up on the 15th, he might have broken 60.

Cheers

Rich
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Matt Schulte

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #15 on: February 06, 2002, 11:13:36 AM »
Ben's Cabin at Sandhills!  I probably spent five minutes looking at all of the pictures on the wall.  The second day we played, we were one of TWO groups for the WHOLE day!  We literally were treated like royalty.  We also discovered that it was a favorite hangout for some local ranchers.  What a view, what an atmosphere.  Nothing like it in golf.  

The halfway house at Pac Dunes may boast the greatest setting between two great holes (4 & 13) but the building lacks personality.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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ChipOat

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #16 on: February 06, 2002, 11:45:07 AM »
I'm afraid this will confirm my curmudgeonly pre-historic attitudes about much of golf.

My favorite halfway houses are at Dornoch - which has none and Garden City Golf which has a water fountain at the front of the 10th tee.  As I recall, TOC and Machrahanish are also lacking this unfortunate impediment to fast play.

Halfway houses are not far behind stupid trees as a pet peeve that should be either eliminated or, at best, only used for outings and other commercial activities.  Members and their guests should play 18 unintrerrupted holes with dispatch (and without cell phones, I might add).  Two of the more unnecessarily elaborate examples of this (mostly) American bastardization of proper golf can be found at Olympic and Baltusrol (Lower).  There are many others with full menus, plentiful seating areas and (natch) air conditioning that are too painful to recollect.

The most absurd and obnoxious examples of this genre are when there is a telephone on the 9th tee so that one may place an advance order!

In the interest of being seen as congenial, I confess to frequenting these "roundus interruptus" structures when the rest of my group wishes to do so.  I'm in favor of adequate water "through the green" for players and caddies on the hottest of days.  Creature comforts are best reserved for the clubhouse.

Bah humbug.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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THuckaby2

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #17 on: February 06, 2002, 11:52:23 AM »
Chip - though I do like some of the halfway houses I've seen, I dig your attitude more.  Bah humbug indeed.  Save it for the clubhouse.

Humbuggedly,

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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SPDB

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #18 on: February 06, 2002, 12:06:11 PM »
I personally don't mind in the quick stop, as long as it doesn't involve "ordering" something, e.g. "turkey with mayo, but not too much mayo, please." Get a gatorade and get moving.

In this respect, i like the one at The Creek, where i'll get a gatorade, 2 crackers with wine cheese, and be on the tee in only +30 seconds than i would have been without the stop.

I also like the honor system stops with the chits, a la Carnegie Abbey, Johns Island West, Gulph Mills.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Bryan_Pennington

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #19 on: February 06, 2002, 12:15:47 PM »
The halfway house at Lineville CC at Grandfather Mountain is great.  You can order something when you come off of #9 and pick it up when you finish #11 (or pick-up one or two more beverages). 8)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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THuckaby2

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #20 on: February 06, 2002, 12:23:10 PM »
Ok, totally contradicting myself here, but I too like the honor system "huts".  Another good one is at Meadow Club, north of San Francisco, CA.

TH
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Richard_Goodale

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #21 on: February 06, 2002, 12:30:17 PM »
Chip

"Roundus interruptus" shall go down in at least my version of the GCA hall of fame.  Is there any wonder why we struggle to play golf in under 4 hours and so many of us are unfit?

Cheers

Rich
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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John_D._Bernhardt

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #22 on: February 06, 2002, 02:36:56 PM »
Monterrey Pen. CC is great and Pacific Dunes and Turnbery are none to shabby either.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Pete L

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #23 on: February 06, 2002, 02:53:04 PM »
I'm with chip on the interuption of the round. However, while walking Industry Hills' Eisenhower course, on a day when the mercury topped 100, when we finished the 9th hole we found out that the vehicular tram that takes you up the nearly vertical hill was out of order. After climbing the goat trail which winds by the gazebo to the top we were never so glad to see the airconditioned box car that they use for their halfway house.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Richard_Goodale

Re: Best Halfway Houses
« Reply #24 on: February 06, 2002, 03:24:16 PM »
JB

When the hell did Turnberry get a 1/2 way house?  I was there 5-6 years ago and it was still pristine.  Sic transit gloria mundi.....

Rich
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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