[Brandon Urban]

My wife and I spent the last week bumming around the Pacific Northwest following our MLS team on a two game road trip. This was preordained as a "no-golf" vacation. With three kids at home we rarely get to venture out on our own so I was looking forward to it even if I didn't get to bring the sticks along.

On Thursday we took the early morning Amtrak train from Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR which is one scenic ride. It hugs the coast with great views of water, mountains and tiny villages.

As we were traveling along a little over halfway thru the trip something made me glance out the "land" side of the window. It hit me immediately. Beautiful dunes with rolling fairways and sloping greens. Gorgeous brown colors mixed in with greens and golds. Chambers Bay!

For some reason, the thought had not even crossed my mind that the train would be going right by the course. I saw golfers teeing off next to the water and my heart sank. I was ever so close to a fantastic looking, well regarded course that I am very much interested in playing and there was no way I was going to even get close to the first tee.

I think the unexpectedness was the most depressing aspect. If I had thought about it ahead of time, I could have prepared myself and just enjoyed the view. Instead she (the course, not my wife) entrapped me and made me long for something I could not have.
Has anyone else experienced this type of "miss". I know we all get close to great courses that we may never step foot on but this one was great and accessible and unexpected, which made this miss the worst I have ever experienced.

[Mac Plumart]

This was preordained as a "no-golf" vacation.

Huh?     I was lost from this point on in your post. 

[Sam Morrow]

Last summer I flew over Pine Valley. Very loudly I said, "Holy shit, that's the devils asshole." The next day I hopped in my rental and tried to bribe the guy at the front gate to let me drive in and see inside the trees. Gonna do the same thing in October at Augusta, I look forward to it.

[Scott Warren]

Mac,

Besides that, I was struck by the fact MLS teams have fans who follow their team on road trips!


Brandon,

On my honeymoon in late 2010 (and I can't complain broadly about missing golf, because I played five days in 24, including a couple of full-day efforts!) I drove right past Forest Highlands while heading from Sedona to the Grand Canyon.

I would have been able to see a hole or two from the road, it turns out, but I was oblivious until a year later when I was back in the US and lucky enough to meet and play with GCA's own Bill Schulz and a mate of his.

When they mentioned being from Flagstaff, I said I had been near there, but not been to the city itself, while driving from Sedona to the canyon.

They pointed out that I would have driven right past Forest Highlands and -- despite 1. it being a year earlier, and 2. having played some great golf on that trip, I was filthy that I hadn't known it was there, if only to pull off the road and have a quick stickybeak.

Even a year later -- and it's coming on two years now since that missed opportunity -- I wished I had done my due diligence a bit more thoroughly!

[Sam Morrow]

MLS teams fly commercial, I can't call that Major League.

[Brandon Urban]

This was preordained as a "no-golf" vacation.

Huh?     I was lost from this point on in your post. 

Mac,

I only agreed because my lovely wife was kind enough to grant a week long pass this summer for the 5th Major. I figured that was good enough to trade for five days of hiking and sightseeing in the PNW.

Scott,

Surprisingly MLS is growing steadily. Our team, Sporting Kansas City, just built a state of the art $250M stadium and it is sold out more than it isn't. I think there were about 100 fans total that traveled for this trip. It's not soccer in Europe, but it's still alot of fun.

Sam,

That's exactly what I'm talking about. It kind of just slaps you in the face doesn't it?

Brandon

[Sam Morrow]

This was preordained as a "no-golf" vacation.

Huh?     I was lost from this point on in your post. 

Mac,

I only agreed because my lovely wife was kind enough to grant a week long pass this summer for the 5th Major. I figured that was good enough to trade for five days of hiking and sightseeing in the PNW.

Scott,

Surprisingly MLS is growing steadily. Our team, Sporting Kansas City, just built a state of the art $250M stadium and it is sold out more than it isn't. I think there were about 100 fans total that traveled for this trip. It's not soccer in Europe, but it's still alot of fun.

Sam,

That's exactly what I'm talking about. It kind of just slaps you in the face doesn't it?

Brandon

It does, it's not fair dammit, I hate country club bluebloods.

[Matthew Essig]

My wife and I spent the last week bumming around the Pacific Northwest following our MLS team on a two game road trip. This was preordained as a "no-golf" vacation. With three kids at home we rarely get to venture out on our own so I was looking forward to it even if I didn't get to bring the sticks along.

On Thursday we took the early morning Amtrak train from Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR which is one scenic ride. It hugs the coast with great views of water, mountains and tiny villages.

As we were traveling along a little over halfway thru the trip something made me glance out the "land" side of the window. It hit me immediately. Beautiful dunes with rolling fairways and sloping greens. Gorgeous brown colors mixed in with greens and golds. Chambers Bay!

For some reason, the thought had not even crossed my mind that the train would be going right by the course. I saw golfers teeing off next to the water and my heart sank. I was ever so close to a fantastic looking, well regarded course that I am very much interested in playing and there was no way I was going to even get close to the first tee.

I think the unexpectedness was the most depressing aspect. If I had thought about it ahead of time, I could have prepared myself and just enjoyed the view. Instead she (the course, not my wife) entrapped me and made me long for something I could not have.
Has anyone else experienced this type of "miss". I know we all get close to great courses that we may never step foot on but this one was great and accessible and unexpected, which made this miss the worst I have ever experienced.

Every time I ride the train down to Portland from Seattle I am always looking for chambers bay along the way.

I even look for it when taking off from sea-tac. (it isn't that hard to find something huge, brown, and light green when it is surrounded by evergreens)

Come to Seattle and we will show you what a real soccer game should feel like!!!!!!!  Go Sounders!!!!!!!!

[Adam Makepeace]

Brandon,

In August 2012, my wife and I are taking a non-golfing holiday to the states, which will include a drive up the Pacific Coast from LA to SF. With an afternoon in Monterey, I trust I will experience very similar emotions.

Hopefully I will have the opportunity to walk a few holes at Pebble with my camera at dusk, and drive past CPC. Unfortunately, that is as close as I will get.

I understand your pain.

[Bill Brightly]

Mac,

Besides that, I was struck by the fact MLS teams have fans who follow their team on road trips!

When he said he was following "his" MLS team, I just assumed he was the owner!

The most common Big Miss has to be Cypress Point, which many get a glimpse of when going to play Pebble.

[Joe Stansell]

Brandon,

I was playing Chambers Bay last Thursday when you're train went passed. We missed you, too!

[Jeff_Brauer]

I was on vacation in Maine a few years back, and my tour guide took us by the Bush compound.  On the way out, I saw the sign for the oft discussed Cape Arundel.  Did no research, was surprised.  Had no clubs, no time to play, but did manage to walk it and photograph it in the rain.  Everything I expected, save one bunker obviously added years ago, but I love finding those museum piece courses, unchanged (largely) since the early 1900's.

[jeffwarne]

I was on vacation in Maine a few years back, and my tour guide took us by the Bush compound.  On the way out, I saw the sign for the oft discussed Cape Arundel.  Did no research, was surprised.  Had no clubs, no time to play, but did manage to walk it and photograph it in the rain.  Everything I expected, save one bunker obviously added years ago, but I love finding those museum piece courses, unchanged (largely) since the early 1900's.

Jeff (and any other architect who's played Cape Arundel),
sorry you missed it-it's great fun.
If a client came to you and said he wanted to build a course inspired by CA, on similar land, with similar yardages,and similar green contours, what would your reservations be, if any?

[John Kavanaugh]

While spending the weekend in Denver my wife made me take her to some fancy mall.  I drove "Wright" past the gates of Denver CC.  I knew that I knew a member but his name escaped me at the time.

[Jim Sherma]

With my wife and daughter in Ireland I made the right turn in Lahinch right in town and realized the clubhouse was right there. We were hearded up to the Cliffs and my clubs had been lost by Aer Lingus (I was playing later in the trip but Lahinch was not on my itinerary). The fact that I had good golf ahead of me (once they forwarded my clubs to be picked up in Cork) made it less painful, but would love to have snuck in a round once we were got settled down in Doolin.

[Carr Harris]

In 2005, I took my wife (then girlfriend) up to Banff in July to celebrate her birthday. It wasn't an unexpected miss, as I knew all about the course. I just didn't have time to play when I was there (she isn't a golfer).

The first full day we hiked to the top of a nearby mountain I just stared down at the course in the valley below filled with regret.

Who knows if I'll ever be back.  Banff is such a remarkably beautiful place, but it's not exactly on the way to anywhere else.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Jeff W,

I would have no reservations in building a circa 1900-1910 replica as good as Cape Arundel.  I have even suggested it to some, to no avail quite yet.  So many gca's retro to 1920's, it would be different to retro to 1900.  Hard to replicate exactly, I would imagine, because those guys built courses without thinking about it too hard as to finished look, whereas by definition, anyone copying that style is by definition, thinking about the finished look!  Add in different technology, etc. and it would be a pleasant challenge for me.

[Brandon Urban]

Brandon,

I was playing Chambers Bay last Thursday when you're train went passed. We missed you, too!

What a small world! Joe, knowing that at least one GCA guy was out there makes me feel a little bit better, but not much.

[Kalen Braley]

Brandon,

Several years ago, before I was a member here, I had heard about these two new courses (at the time) in Bandon, OR.  On a trip from Spokane to the Bay area, I decided I would take Hwy 101 and stop in on the way and have a look, fully knowing I had neither the time nor money to play.

When I pulled in and saw the view from behind 18 green at Pac Dunes, it was like I had stepped on another planet.  I wandered around a bit and looked at the practice green, the 7th green and 8th tee..as well as looked at a few holes at BD. I had never seen, in person, golf like that before.  I vowed to get back there one day again to play it and I did.  I still need to get back and play all the rest of them now.

Kalen

[Joe Stansell]

What a small world! Joe, knowing that at least one GCA guy was out there makes me feel a little bit better, but not much.

Do you still feel the same way if I tell you that I'm a Sounders FC supporter?

[Brandon Urban]

What a small world! Joe, knowing that at least one GCA guy was out there makes me feel a little bit better, but not much.

Do you still feel the same way if I tell you that I'm a Sounders FC supporter?

Yeah, still the same way. I actually feel bad for you now. Your team plays on fake grass.

[Matthew Essig]

What a small world! Joe, knowing that at least one GCA guy was out there makes me feel a little bit better, but not much.

Do you still feel the same way if I tell you that I'm a Sounders FC supporter?

Yeah, still the same way. I actually feel bad for you now. Your team plays on fake grass.

Yeah because all of the soccer games, NFL games, and soon college football games would destroy real grass. Plus you couldn't use the field for other events, for example, the recent motocross event.

[Ronald Montesano]

This may be the unintentionally-funniest thread I've read on this site. I don't have a sports-loving' wife (actually, she doesn't love much these days) so I'm mystified as to what it must be like to share a passion for sports with someone. I like soccer, but these days, if I wear Sambas, they have spikes on the bottom. AND I cannot imagine missing any course. It just doesn't happen. The trip stops for me and I improvise, rental clubs, whatever.

[Sam Morrow]

This may be the unintentionally-funniest thread I've read on this site. I don't have a sports-loving' wife (actually, she doesn't love much these days) so I'm mystified as to what it must be like to share a passion for sports with someone. I like soccer, but these days, if I wear Sambas, they have spikes on the bottom. AND I cannot imagine missing any course. It just doesn't happen. The trip stops for me and I improvise, rental clubs, whatever.

You need to sex her up, all will be well.

[Brandon Urban]

This may be the unintentionally-funniest thread I've read on this site. I don't have a sports-loving' wife (actually, she doesn't love much these days) so I'm mystified as to what it must be like to share a passion for sports with someone. I like soccer, but these days, if I wear Sambas, they have spikes on the bottom. AND I cannot imagine missing any course. It just doesn't happen. The trip stops for me and I improvise, rental clubs, whatever.

Ronald,

Trust me, there was some humor hidden in the original post for all to see. Mostly it was self deprecating. I would have been pretty disappointed if no one gave me any crap about a "no-golf" vacation or traveling to watch American soccer.

The real funny part is that it was a fantastic trip. I saw an area of the country that I had never been to and I would not have wanted to miss any of the things we had the opportunity to do or see for six hours devoted to golf.

I fell in love with the region and will definitely be back. I am also pretty sure the golf courses will still be there.

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