Hello Everybody,
My name is Mike Viscusi and, like most new members, I have been lurking around the board for a while and finally worked up the nerve to jump in. I am excited to finally join the action and I appreciate the opportunity Ran has given me to be a part of the group. I look forward to discussing the merits of golf course architecture and getting to know some of you.
I was born and raised in the Philadelphia area and currently reside in the Western Suburbs of Philly. Since graduating from Penn State University in 2001, I have been involved in the golf industry in several capacities. For the first few years I worked on the Club side at Jericho National GC (Hurdzan/Fry design), the ACE Club (Player/Henderson) and RiverCrest GC (Ron Coruzzi), mostly in the capacity of managing outside services/Caddiemaster. I then transitioned to the business side and for the last 6+ years I've worked for a software company called BlueGolf. I'm sure some of you in the golf industry are familiar with BlueGolf as they are the software provider for many PGA sections, Mini Tours, Junior Tours and Golf Associations throughout the US and Canada, providing online registration and tournament management services. I also just recently accepted a side position to do sales work as an authorized distributor for a company called Golf Flagstick Media, which makes a patented advertising flagstick, which I hope to market to Charity Golf Outings for sponsorships and low to mid-end Public Golf Courses to turn what is traditionally an expense into a source of revenue. I also run a freelance web design company in my spare time, so between work and my family (married with a 19-month old son), I don't have nearly as much time to play golf as I would like, but I suppose that's the case for a lot of us here!
I don't have a tremendous portfolio of courses played but I've made some progress over the past few years on my Philly Bucket List (fwiw, I have played most of the public courses). My favorite courses I have played in the area are probably Philadelphia CC and Applebrook GC. At the top of my wish list, aside from the obvious Pine Valley, Merion and Aronimink (although I have walked all three), are Gulph Mills (I've heard great things from several people I trust) and Stonewall's Old Course. I tend to enjoy the more natural school of design so, like most on this board, I am attracted to designs by Coore/Crenshaw, Doak and Gil Hanse, whose work I am really becoming a huge fan of. Of the Classical Architects, I gravitate most towards the work of MacKenzie, Flynn, Bell/Thomas and Ross, although I really enjoy studying the unique variety and style of just about everyone.
Again, thank you for allowing me to join the GCA community, I look forward to contributing to the site and getting to know more of you.
- Mike