GCA.COM Participant Familiarity With Other Participants?

[RJ_Daley]

Aside from those participants that have attended other multiple GCA.COM golf events and social/dinner gatherings;  how many of you actually regularly play frequently and carry on our discussions face to face, on a regular basis?  I mean actually teeing off 1,2 or more times a month, then spend some time at the 19th hole annalyzing the same things we examine on the internet forum? 

I'm guessing more regular actual golf meet-ups take place in the hotbeds like Ny, Philly, ATL, Chi, LA and OZ GB&I.  But, what is the frequency?

Care to name, names. 

[Jim Tang]

Obviously, I play golf with my brother quite a lot as well as Jim Colton, whom I grew up with.  Those relaitonships clearly existed before joining GCA.  There are a few other guys on the board, like Matt Sander, who I will get out with at least a few times a year.  GCA and talk of golf course architecture are always in the mix when I'm with all those guys.

[Bill Brightly]

Geeze, after thinking about it I realize that I have played with Mike Whitaker on 9 different courses, in 4 different US states, 3 different countries, and 3 different continents!

[RJ_Daley]

Bill, I don't know who is more impressive with such a record, you or Mike.  Good on both of you!  

[Brad Tufts]

I think its fun that many of us have GCA "family trees" of guys we have introduced to the site.

I will take credit for Ryan Simper, Mitch St. Peter, and my brother Roger...those last two barely post though.

Fergal O'Leary found the site on his own, but I have been encouraging more participation!

[PCCraig]

The Minnesota GCAers do a pretty good job of keeping in touch and getting together fairly often. Patrick Hodgdon set up a "Google Group" e-mail list that everyone is one, and that is used fairly frequently to communicate/schedule rounds of golf, happy hour/dinners, chit-chat, etc. 

New this year, I believe it was Jason Topp's idea, is a series of group playing events at different courses once a month or so. I believe Jason is hosting the first event at his home club later this month, then we are planning on doing one event at the newly renovated Keller GC, etc. 

[Tom_Doak]

I don't have a regular golf game with anybody, but I am pretty sure I have had more GCA participants on payroll than anybody else -- unless you count Ran losing golf wagers 

[JLahrman]

I am not a big networker, nor do I even get to play that much golf. That being said, I've relocated twice in the past five years. Each time I did, I looked up threads and GCA members in my new city and sent some PMs/comments. It was great for getting the skinny on the golf scene in my new cities, and some GCA members were among the first people I met after I moved.

I also went to the 2011 KPI having never previously met in person any of the other 31 players that were attending. I had a great time and have kept in touch with quite a few of the other attendees.

Conversations on the course have been rather light on the architecture talk. But then again, I have not been playing golf with the more effusive posters.

[Jason Topp]

The Twin Cities GCA Tour will be a highly esteemed set of events this year.  If anyone is visiting the 4th Sunday of a month, drop me a message and I will see if we can add you to the group.

Nearly every time I am traveling and want to play golf, I can identify someone local to play with.  It is probably my favorite aspect of this site and makes those rounds more enjoyable than playing on my own.  Often, the person seems like an old friend even though we have met in person a limited number of times.

[Joe Bausch]

I mostly play golf with former GCA members.   

[Bart Bradley]

I don't have a regular game with any GCAers but I get to see a lot of them every year.  I have made some really good friends through GCA and even learned some stuff  . 

Joe, do I have to get thrown off to play with you again?

[Peter Pallotta]

I mostly play golf with former GCA members.  

Those are the best kind.....

In terms of current participants, I prefer to imagine golfing with most of you, lest I actually play with you and have to re-think my warm feelings and high regards. I wouldn't want any reason to doubt that you:

walk and carry your own bag, play very fast, make smart strategic choices, replace your divots, are 8 handicaps, love watching the ball bound along hard brown surfaces, keep your politics to yourselves, relish firm, fast and heavily contoured greens, taken irons off the tee, use a putter from 40 yards away, never keep score, play with only 6 clubs (for more fun and challenge), are always friendly with women, children and small dogs, tip your caddies handsomely, drink heavily, talk about and listen to nothing but golf architecture,  enjoy each other's company immensely, and always dress appropriately -- all under 3:45 minutes.

Now, all of that may in fact be true....but I'd rather not risk finding out for sure

[RJ_Daley]

Yes Joe, I was thinking of some of your NLE on GCA.com playing pals.  At least you forward back to us, some of their current thoughts.

Jason, and Pat, I fully intend to make more trips to the TC since my daughter is on track to deliver real twins there late summer.     I'd love to join in the TC tour when possible. My day at the old Keller with some of the TC guys was wonderful and I can not wait to see Richard Mandell's restoration to be open.  Is there any chance of a soft opening late this summer?  Probably not...

I'm really tossed between the Wild and Hawks... I sure hope it gets to a game 7 and then challenge my rooting interest to the max. 

I think Phil McDade and I have to fire up some Cheeseheads to get more active on GCA and on the golf course. 

[PCCraig]

I can not wait to see Richard Mandell's restoration to be open.  Is there any chance of a soft opening late this summer?  Probably not...

As far as I know Keller should be open by June or July...

[Norbert P]

In terms of current participants, I prefer to imagine golfing with most of you, lest I actually play with you and have to re-think my warm feelings and high regards. I wouldn't want any reason to doubt that you:

walk and carry your own bag, play very fast, make smart strategic choices, replace your divots, are 8 handicaps, love watching the ball bound along hard brown surfaces, keep your politics to yourselves, relish firm, fast and heavily contoured greens, taken irons off the tee, use a putter from 40 yards away, never keep score, play with only 6 clubs (for more fun and challenge), are always friendly with women, children and small dogs, tip your caddies handsomely, drink heavily, talk about and listen to nothing but golf architecture,  enjoy each other's company immensely, and always dress appropriately -- all under 3:45 minutes.

Now, all of that may in fact be true....but I'd rather not risk finding out for sure

  Peter, I make an effort on those points  (play with 10 clubs), but I fear my dream of ever being an 8 handicapper is fading fast.

Bottom line . . . I never met a GCA agent I didn't like.  And I should play more with these knuckleheads fine people.

[RJ_Daley]

Jason sent me the TC schedule, and that Keller, 08\24 date looks very twinzy! O:-)

[Ben Malach]

I met a few of the wonderful members of this board last year in St. Andrews and hope to meet more this summer in Cape Breton. One of my goals for the next couple of years is to play in one of the events organized for members as I had to skip the King Putter this year due to me moving across Canada.

[Dan Kelly]

Jeff Shelman and I play very regularly at our mutual home course.

We mostly talk about how underappreciated it is, and which other trees could go. Quite a few have already departed, with extreme prejudice.

Dick, just let me know when you will be in town.

[Jason Hines]

Hi Dick,

Timely topic, here in northeast Kansas, Brandon Urban, Daryn Soldan and me try and get together 3-4 times per year.  We have posted some of our reviews and hope to get together again this month if we can make it work.  I can tell you it is very interesting how easy it is to pick right back up from where we last left off each and every time.  We attempt to play something “significant” or with merit and at the very least pick a small little spot out on the prairie where the fairways are rough and the people and spirit of the game are very real.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,56696.msg1317413.html#msg1317413

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,55800.msg1295146/topicseen.html#msg1295146

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,51727.msg1183917.html#msg1183917

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,57068.msg1328846.html#msg1328846

Jason

[BCowan]

In the Motor city we meet up every 6 weeks or so.  The pub served as a nice way to beat the winter blues.  Golf is on the horizon. 

[Sean_A]

I meet a fair few of the England Section of GCA.com a few times every year, maybe more when someone organizes a bigger doo.  A few of the guys I am better than acquainted with and wouldn't hesitate to invite myself to their place  .  One GCAer is now a steady Torda Cupper so thats something.  That said, I don't see any GCAer on a regular basis, but I wouldn't mind playing more games with that lot.

Ciao