Your golfing highlight of 2014

[Brandon Urban]

But, if it has to end this year, I am thankful to my golf friends, and satisfied that with the trip to my personal holy grail of the Sand Belt and Australia in general, and my continued love affair with our own Sand Hills of Nebraska, and the experience at the 5th Major, well... it has been a fine golfing life in deed.  

Dick,

It was great to meet you and play a few holes with you at Dismal. So sorry to hear of your health troubles. I completely agree with you, though. If I'm going to go out, I can't imagine a better place to do it than roaming the sand hills of Nebraska.

All the best,
Brandon

[John Kavanaugh]

... I may be closing out my golfing life since as a surprise in late September I suddenly acquired the Neuro Muscular disease of Myasthenia Gravis.  I have not been able to see single vision, or keep my eyelids from closing without the aid of taping them open, and not able to drive further than a few blocks to the store, and other things like my chewing muscles weakening and imbalance in my walking.  There is no cure, but there are symptom treatment drugs and therapies that have widely varied results as to success or not.  I am starting the drug therapy this past few weeks, and am not getting any benefits yet.  But, it could take time.  
...

Sorry to hear that Dick. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Garland,

Thanks for reading all the way through Dick's post and revealing this tragic turn of events. 

Dick,

A quick Google search reveals that some progress is being made in the fight against Myasthenia Gravis through the use of alternative medicines.  May I suggest a return trip to Colorado?  I would hope that just because you aren't playing golf that it would not be an end to our relationship.  Any golf trip would be enhanced by your story telling alone.  I would be happy to serve as a designated driver as you experiment with "treatments" that may at least relieve some of your pain.  Would 4/20 work?

[Jon Cavalier]

2014 was my best golfing experience highlight, and possibly my last.  (see explanation below)

Thanks to several wonderful GolfClubAtlas friends here in the U.S. and across the world in Australia, and New Zealand, my wife and I were able to take a trip of a lifetime, that included golf dates and arrangements made by a number of the generous and kind people that are among our world wide list of contributors.  Golf Club Atlas friends not only arranged for some dates to play some of the most iconic and wonderful golf courses of Australia and Tasmania, but were there to offer advice and guidance on other aspects of our trip.  I am honored that many of you on GCA.com followed our trip and took vicarious interest in our adventures on a multi-week thread here:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,57792.0.html

Thanks to Michael "Pup" Taylor (who has battled his own set of very difficult circumstances) and accompanied by Andy Gray, who plays a dual role in my excellent year, arranged a game at Sydney's New South Wales Golf Club.   I agree with Pup that it is as beautiful of a course and setting as any on the planet.  

On to the Sand Belt and a round at the iconic Kingston Heath with David Elvins and hosted by member Matthew Mollica.  It is a true Sand Belt gem in every detail, and the day was followed by a night of true golf camaraderie, and hospitality shared with gentlemen who are all regular golf friends in Melbourne.  And, they welcomed my wife to our golf pizza party- 19th hole fest as well.  And not to forget a separate happy hour with Mark Furgeson on another late afternoon.  

And to Tom Doak, who arranged the pinnacle of my golf dreams, a round at Royal Melbourne playing with that club's CEO, Mr. Rak, and a special tour of the entire two courses and clubhouse and back of the house facilities was the highlight of my highlights in Australian/Tasmania.  

A trip up the Great Ocean Road to meet Hundred Hole Brett Morrisey, and tour Port Fairy and Mike Clayton's work with infrequent GCA contributor Shane Gurnett was wonderful.

And my deep regret that I ran out of time and schedule to not go further on to Adelaide to meet James Bennett, who played a big role in getting us set-up and recommended to a wonderful hotel in Melbourne and several great suggestions of things to do and places to see, which we followed to our great benefit of added Australian experiences.  

Thanks to Greg Ramsey, of Hobart Tasmania.  He is the man who was the initial promoter of the now dream golf destination course of Barnbougle Dunes.  Greg gave me a special tour of the Arm End project he has also heavily promoted.  Along with GCA contributor Dieter Jones, and an appearance by a famous Milwaukee WI native - now resident of Hobart, a great tour of the land where one of the world's great golf courses will someday be located, was a memorable experience.  But, Greg Ramsey's hospitality and generosity did not stop there, he personally drove us to the middle of Tasmania, where in the community of Bothwell, he hosted us on a Sunday that was to also be a milestone evening for his family, where he guided us on a tour of his family homestead, Ratho Farms, which included Australia's first golf course, and a national golf museum.  With a final few days at Barnbougle, and a trip back to Melbourne to celebrate our 37th anniversary, it was off to New Zealand, where I did not play golf, but was still guided via some phone calls with Grant Saunders and Ash Towe emails, and a week of great tourist enjoyment, despite a lost or stolen camera.  But, thanks to memory chips, not much off the trip was lost and insurance replaced the video camera.  

But, my highlight for 2014 was not over.  I was able to join host Eric Smith and all the 5th Major group, and team up with my Australian golf pal from earlier in the year when I visited him at New South Wales., Andy Gray.  He was on a holiday of his own with his girl friend Autumn, who was attending her sister's wedding in Ohio.  So Andy dropped into the 5th Major, and as a team, we managed to win the 5th flight, perhaps a very modest accomplishment, but a thrill none the less.    And, it was a pleasure to meet up once again with Dismal River's General manager and partner, Chris Johnston.  He is one of the finest people I have met in the golf world.  

And, it is amazing to me how Tom Doak has been so intertwined in my golf life,  a man I have only met up with in person once when he hosted us at High Pointe and Crystal Downs and spent and evening showing us the drawings of Pac Dunes, not yet built.  Tom's influence has been ever present by virtue of the fact that he has designed several courses I have loved, including BallyNeal of past years played, and this highlight year of Barnbougle, restoring and fine tuning Royal Melbourne and arranging my round there, and Dismal River red.

So, this was my highlight year of a golf lifetime.  I may be closing out my golfing life since as a surprise in late September I suddenly acquired the Neuro Muscular disease of Myasthenia Gravis.  I have not been able to see single vision, or keep my eyelids from closing without the aid of taping them open, and not able to drive further than a few blocks to the store, and other things like my chewing muscles weakening and imbalance in my walking.  There is no cure, but there are symptom treatment drugs and therapies that have widely varied results as to success or not.  I am starting the drug therapy this past few weeks, and am not getting any benefits yet.  But, it could take time.  

I am on the bubble of whether my symptoms can be tamed and that I may  re-acquire visual abilities and motor skills to take up golf again.  I'll do my best and follow MDs orders.  

But, if it has to end this year, I am thankful to my golf friends, and satisfied that with the trip to my personal holy grail of the Sand Belt and Australia in general, and my continued love affair with our own Sand Hills of Nebraska, and the experience at the 5th Major, well... it has been a fine golfing life in deed.  

Beautifully said. And my best wishes to you that you may make a full recovery and pick up your sticks again.

[Matthew Sander]

It was a good year for me. Having three little kids, quantity is not part of the deal. Therefore I have to find some opportunities for quality experiences.

Spending three days at Ballyneal for the Hundred Hole Hike would take the cake most years. Needless to say, the course/club are marvelous and spending my time there with great people only made it better.

I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at Crooked Stick with my brother. We play together far too infrequently due to time, family, and distance constraints. It was a great time and I look forward to the next time we can get out together.

BUT the golf highlight of this year has to be...

















...playing real golf with our two oldest kids. It was an absolute blast, and as long as they ask me to play, I'll be happy to take them. I look forward to our youngest son rounding out the foursome in a few years.

[RJ_Daley]

Thanks for the kind offer Barney.   I heard and read a bit about those Colorado drugs and my vision thiing...  

I'm lucky as I have zero pain.  And, I'm starting an aggressive drug therapy as of last week.  The MD is confident he'll get it knocked back.  I only say, this "may" be the wrap up of destination golf.  I ain't giving up on that goal of my other bucket list golf in GB&I or going away from GCA.com, no matter how much blarney and  blather I spread.  I'll always try to keep learning about GCA and the great game through all of our contacts and discussions...

I probalably missed the reference among other posts and such, I don't get 4/20.  A guy never knows with you, and it may be anything from refering to some special formula for those CO medicines to a special date... IM me as I am clueless...  

[BHoover]

My highlight of 2014 was my trip to Michigan to play Oakland Hills and Kingsley.  The golf was great, but the company of Matt Schmidt, Howard Riefs, Michael Wharton-Palmer, Brian Finn, Tim Bert, and a surprise visit by Buck Wolter was the really great part of the trip. 

[Eric Hammerbacher]

My golfing highlight of 2014 has to be playing Myopia Hunt Club and staying in one of the rooms upstairs in the clubhouse overlooking the 18th green.  I arrived the day before I was playing and I was the only one staying there, so I was able to wander around and just take in the history, old photos, and browse through all the great old books everywhere.  I slept with the windows open and let the crews wake me up when they cut the 18th green.  Waking up and walking downstairs to play golf is a rare treat.  It is truly a special place and I was fortunate to be able to go up for a few days.  

When I asked the secretary what time I needed to be out by, she said " Oh you can just leave whenever you want to, it doesn't matter."-and I briefly had dreams of living upstairs for a few years.

[JReese]

Finding that my oldest daughter would rather watch golf when dada is home than the usual mix of Dora the Explorer and Doc McStuffins.  She also now loves (after a little persuading) looking through my copy of Planet Golf USA and telling me where we are going to go play. 

[Rich Goodale]

9 holes with Josie a few weeks ago on our first Thursday golf date.  9 holes at the incomparable Auchterderan (the "sacred" nine of Scotland).  50 degrees, no wind, only 2 other players on the course, £8 per person for an all day ticket.  Golf heaven.....

[Mac Plumart]

My golfing highlight for 2014 was getting beaten by my son, 43-42, in 9 hole stroke play.

I'll never forget the look on his face when we added it up after the round was over.  And I'll never forget the 25 foot eagle putt he sank on the 3rd hole.

[Andy Troeger]

I took an 8,101 mile road trip across the eastern part of the US, playing 42 rounds over 6.5 weeks with various friends, including some GCA'ers. Played a few decent courses too: Pine Valley, Merion, Fishers Island, Winged Foot, The Country Club, Kinloch, Somerset Hills, Old Town, etc.

It was the road trip of a life time, covering 22 states. If I get more time later I'll add more details.

I'd love to hear more about your trip, since I was part of it at Ballyhack.

Tommy,
Yes! Staying in the cottages and playing 36 at Ballyhack was a great part of the trip! I wrote this top ten awhile back, but in hindsight maybe should have included my moment on #15 of the second round where I made a birdie on my regular ball and an eagle on the second attempt I played from the short porch.

Top ten playing highlights:
10. Making par from the back tee on #18 at Winged Foot West, including an up-and-down from in front of the green over the huge ridge. Also had five birdies in 36 holes that day!
9. Birdie on #18 at Newport CC
8. Three-wood from 260 (?) out on #13 at Pine Valley onto green for a two-putt par. I laid up off the tee 
7. Three-wood from 255 out on #18 at Wedgewood on the green for a two-putt birdie.
6. Hitting the green on #5 at Pine Valley with a full-out three wood and making par.
5. Fishers Island--all of it!
4. 190 yard 4-iron out of fairway bunker into the wind on #15 Oyster Harbors that finished about 8 inches from the hole.
3. A punch-cut hybrid out of the right rough on #3 at Stonewall to kick-in eagle range.
2. Shooting 75 at Kirtland CC in the last round of the golf-intensive part of the trip
1. At Mattaponi Springs I got off to a lousy start and needed to play the last five holes in (-1) to break 80. Made four pars in a row, then hit my tee shot on #18 on the side of a hill and behind a small tree. Hoisted nine iron from 145 out as high as I could over the tree to three feet and made the birdie for the 79.

Biggest lesson: I called this trip "The Great Adventure" and did the planning after reading a book by Bob Goff called "Love Does" where I read the author's assertion that people often wish, talk, or plan things to happen in our lives, but never actually get around to them. The accompanying career change and road trip were about "doing something" and I'm now tasked with remembering that the trip itself might be over, but "The Great Adventure" and the mindset it requires is only just beginning!

[Doug Wright]

So many great stories in this terrific annual thread that encompass all that is great with GolfClubAtlas.com.

My modest highlights this year are, first, my trip to Bandon in February to meet up with three strangers led by GCAer Scott Weersing, who quickly became good friends and golfing buddies. Thanks guys for including me.

Second, my Hundred Hole (61 hole--I always "play my age") Hike at my home course, Denver CC, where I had great support from the club, two great caddies, and a special final seven holes with my wife. Plus the head pro and my best friend gallerying my final hole. The Hundred Hole Hike is a terrific concept--thanks Jim Colton.

Third, a return visit to Bandon solo in late September following my daughter's wedding in early September--postponed due to a need to attend to my Mom following her fall and broken hip leaving the wedding reception. Is there any better place to recharge one's batteries? Bandon is indeed special.

PS Get well soon Dick!

[Greg Tallman]

Playing what some (many) label as the best Nicklaus (Punta Espada), best Fazio (Chileno Bay) and best Dye (Teeth of the Dog).

Will detail the disappointment with what virtually everyone considers the best  of the three once I get back home and caught up a bit.

Looking forward to that commentary.  Teeth of the Dog reminds me a bit of your course.

Jason, see my thread "Love the architecture..."

[Eric Smith]

Dick Daley,

My heart sank when I read that. Then I read your subsequent post and my spirit brightened a bit. Here's to hoping you get it all back real soon so that you can enjoy some more trips to wherever the hell you want.

[Eric Smith]

Dick,

P.S. That you didn't get John's reference to 420 really surprises me, especially knowing that you're an ex cop. Which leads me to believe that "a 420 is police radio code for marijuana" is nothing more than just another urban myth. Hey look its 4:20 in Geneva, Switzerland!

[Pete_Pittock]

Dick,
For the last week or two I have been scanning in pictures from long ago trips to Australia and thinking of you viewing the same scenery, and happy you weren't engaging your snow blower near Buffalo instead of Green Bay. Best wishes for the future.

[RJ_Daley]

Eric, I'm an old foggey.  I had to read Barney's link.  Never heard of it, and never imbibed, no sheet.  No 10 signal for it in my day.  Plenty of funny characters and stories about it, particularly around the UW scene.

[Will Lozier]

If you ever feel like testing your limits, open a bar tab for a bunch of Scottish caddies.

The best advice I've heard all year!

[Dave McCollum]

Dick Daley,

In my highly unreliable memory, you were one of the first guys to welcome me warmly to this site.  I repaid your cordial invitation to participate by being mostly a lurker and only managed 500 some posts over seven or so years.  Less than 75 a year, mostly during the dregs of winter.  One reason I didn’t post more is there was nothing to add to the discussion because thoughtful contributors, such as yourself, had already said what mattered much better than I could muster.  I’m guilty of skimming through threads, reading the first few words or sentences of some posts, moving on, or worse, skipping some guys’ comments based on some ill-conceived notion I got in the past. 

I rarely did that with your posts.  I like your writing, your world view, your passion for golf, for life.  The grace, gratitude, and positive outlook with which you are handling your present health difficulties is inspirational and further proof of the strong character that has shown brightly throughout my years here.  You have contributed so much to my enjoyment of these discussions.  I hope the docs can give you some relief and keep you in the game.  You had an incredible year, such incredibly rich experience followed by a classically tragic blow.  Fight on, we need your voice to keep us geezers interested going forward. 

[Colin Macqueen]

I like your writing, your world view, your passion for golf, for life.  The grace, gratitude, and positive outlook with which you are handling your present health difficulties is inspirational and further proof of the strong character that has shown brightly throughout my years here.  You have contributed so much to my enjoyment of these discussions.  I hope the docs can give you some relief and keep you in the game.  You had an incredible year, such incredibly rich experience followed by a classically tragic blow.  Fight on, we need your voice to keep us geezers interested going forward. 

Dick, I wanted to comment on what has come to pass in regards to your health situation but cannot improve on what Dave has penned. Here's hoping beyond hope that  you get some respite and can meander across many a more golfing fields. Thinking of you.

Colin

[Ally Mcintosh]

This was mine:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58358.0.html

And the day I spent with David Tepper at Dornoch and then Golspie (with Jon Wiggett also) was thoroughly enjoyable... And the previous one where Jon showed me round Brahan because it was unlike anything I'd seen before. Unusual and all the better for it.

Ally

[Daniel Jones]

This was mine:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58358.0.html

Ally

What a day, Ally! It doesn't get much cooler than that..

[Mark Bourgeois]

  I would be happy to serve as a designated driver as you experiment with "treatments" that may at least relieve some of your pain.  Would 4/20 work?

This would make one hell of a road movie.

Dick, like Eric my heart sank when I read your post. You do such a great job of keeping to the high road on here that whenever I see one of your posts I remind myself not to be petty or to descend into ad hominem responses.

Take care and On Wisconsin!

[BCowan]

I have to say Matthew Sanders post is top notch.  You just brought so many memories back.  I wish I had kept my Hogan jr set. 

The nicest 2014 experience for me was playing 36 with Ryan Taylor this year at CC of lansing and Pilgrims run.  Chris Detoro joined us at CCL for the morning round.  Taylor and I followed our afternoon round at PR with a 2 hr stop at Founders Brewery.  There is something about playing 36 that brings back the childhood sense of enthusiasm and then topping it off with Founders makes it a highlight for me.  I played much better courses this year, but the 19th hole didn't compare. 

[Chris DeToro]

I have to say Matthew Sanders post is top notch.  You just brought so many memories back.  I wish I had kept my Hogan jr set. 

The nicest 2014 experience for me was playing 36 with Ryan Taylor this year at CC of lansing and Pilgrims run.  Chris Detoro joined us at CCL for the morning round.  Taylor and I followed our afternoon round at PR with a 2 hr stop at Founders Brewery.  There is something about playing 36 that brings back the childhood sense of enthusiasm and then topping it off with Founders makes it a highlight for me.  I played much better courses this year, but the 19th hole didn't compare. 

+1, that was a great day.  I was bummed I couldn't make it to PR with you guys, but what a perfect day at CCL.