''Brian, Josh, myself, and many others have suggested that we grew up playing courses very similar to this and Goat Hill isn’t all that unique to us. Many have suggested that this looks like a fun place to play, but only Ben and Jeff and maybe one or two others have suggested they’d go well out of their way to play it. Jeff, Ben, would you be willing to discuss the courses you grew up on? I know Ben grew up playing at his parents’ club, which I doubt looks much like Goat Hill. Jeff, where did you learn the game? I suspect Goat Hill might be much more unique to your background than it is to mine, and perhaps that’s why courses like it occupy such a high ground in your eyes. I’d be happy to post some photos of my childhood courses if I get back to them this year. I think anyone who loves The Goat would be likely to find those courses similarly charming. While there’s endless space in my heart for courses like this, there’s frankly very little space for them in my travel itineraries these days. I’d happily stop in if I was on the island, but I doubt I’d take the ferry solely to visit.''
Jason,
Were the courses you played built on sand? I grew up at a modest club, and many of my friends didn't that I caddied with. I also started at 12 and saved up enough money to buy my own car at 16, did you? We played all the courses in the city. Ottawa Park Golf course in Toledo,OH was claimed to have started in 1894 says SP Jermain. It was the first to host the Pub links Championship. We used to play emergency rounds there all the time. A few courses in the area got firm when the clay dried out after a couple weeks of no rain, but nothing to the extent that Jeff described. I love your admiration for ''Main Street'' one minute then you claim ''Trolley's'' look tacky. Jeff also tried to explain to you his reasons in about 3 separate occasions which you failed to address, but instead turned it into a diatribe of Golf in America and roots.