[Eric Smith]

It's difficult to choose just one highlight in a year seemingly full of them but I will say that the cloudless fall afternoon a couple of buddies and I spent at Friar's Head is one I won't soon forget.

[Carl Rogers]

had 3 ranked in this order:
1. meeting and playing a round of golf with Darius Oliver & Tommy Williamsen at Ballyhack
2. Dixie Cup, meeting more GCAer's, playing at Holston Hills, Lookout Mt & Sweeten's Cove
3. Playing Pinehurst No. 2 (finally)


for me it was all very good

[Ronald Montesano]

shot my career low of 65

Braggart...I know that your golf highlight of 2016 will be when we get to tee it up in October, when you are up my way.

[Michael Whitaker]

I had a LOT of highlights in 2015 involving Conrad Gamble, Howard Reif, Michael Wharton-Palmer, Martin Bonnar, Mike Devries, Craig Disher, Brian Sheehy, Robin Hiseman, all the Buda boys, all the Dixie Cup boys, Ben Crenshaw & Bill Coore, and a handful of fellows who have hired Coore & Crenshaw to build golf courses for them.


But, my favorite might have been the afternoon Bill McBride and I spent with Archie Baird at his "museum" in Gullane, Scotland. Archie is a glorious host and has a fabulous collection. It might very well prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

[BHoover]

So many highlights of this year, but most especially meeting and getting to know so many great folks here in the Twin Cities.


A secondary highlight, and one of which I am rather proud, is that I completed another year in which I avoided having to meet John Kavanaugh! I intend to do the same in 2016.

[Doug Bolls]

Shooting my age during the week I turned 73 in May.

[Ash Towe]

Congratulations Doug.


I always think shooting your age is a significant achievement.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Coming close to my age with a 75 on a regulation course(par 72) (and a career low) and scoring lower than my age on a Par 59 course with a 69.

[Niall C]

2015 was a bad year for golf for me, with a dodgy knee, sore hips and several skin surgeries that kept me sidelined too much. I did have a very good trip to Scotland with the highlight a round at Leven with th genial and jovial host, Martin Bonnar, when I had a chance to meet Niall Carleton who actually reached the monster 18th in two, and visit with Rich Goodale.  Also played the Eden course for the first time, loved the convoluted greens but not so much the heinous par 4 at the far end of the course with the pond.  A week in Scotland is good for the soul, especially with Mr. Whitaker driving!

Bill

That really was a cracking day. Absolutely loved meeting you and playing golf with you at Leven. Hopefully see you, Mike and Stan over here again in the near future.

Niall

ps. thanks for not mentioning the 3 putt !!

[Ronald Montesano]

When was the last time a GCA pal declared to me, "You've facilitated so much great golf for me over the years, that I want to repay you by meeting you in Bandon to celebrate your 50th. It's on me." The answer is 1.5 months ago. Four days in golf's american paradise. That's my highlight.


It overshadows playing Butterfield Trail, Pasatiempo, Rustic Canyon, Chambers Bay, Bandon Crossings, Sandpiper and many others for the first time. Thanks, Amigo.

[Niall C]

Ronald

You really should name names, and did no one tell this other GCA'er I was 50 this year as well ? 

Niall

[Bill_McBride]

Coming close to my age with a 75 on a regulation course(par 72) (and a career low) and scoring lower than my age on a Par 59 course with a 69.

But did you beat Mrs. Shaffer, who I think beat us all at the 500 Club?  😀😀

[Duncan Cheslett]

Breaking 80 for the first time from the back tees.  One of the many great things about golf is that you can take it up and get better at it in your fifties. I can't think of much else in life of which that can be said!

Also taking my 2 year-old grandson on the practice green at Reddish Vale with his cut-down putter. He would quite happily spend all day there! I can't wait to see his face on Christmas Day when he unwraps these babies...

[Ronald Montesano]

Ronald

You really should name names, and did no one tell this other GCA'er I was 50 this year as well ? 

Niall

Niall,


You are the best. I think the caveat was, that I've put out over the years. Can you say the same? Seriously, if we all had a golfing pal like this guy, we would be the happiest of golfers. As someone said earlier in the thread, it's the company we keep that makes the game special. I played a lot of those other rounds by my lonesome, and it wasn't the same. Watching him hit hickory clubs one round, moderns the next, bump it, run it, fly it...he was in his glory and I ceased frowning for that time.

[Bill McKinley]

This is always a fun thread to read and participate in! For me it was a great year...


1.  My 100 Hole Hike at Canterbury on June 29th.
60,859 steps
32.16 miles walked
First shot was struck at 6:00am and final putt holed just after 6:30pm.  Scores: 79,72, 75, 74, 74 and +2 on my last ten holes.  Finished with a tap in birdie and putted terribly all day!  Final donations for the Evan's Scholar Fund of over $17,000.  What a day!

2.  Trip with members to Bandon Dunes, with a day in San Francisco too.  I'll put it this way, when the low point of the trip was a morning round at The Olympic Club (Lake) on a wonderful sunny day, it was a pretty amazing trip!  The whole Bandon experience was just off the charts.  I can't wait to go back.  And to top it all off The Cal Club is a special place that may have been the best course on the entire trip.

Honorable Mention... A return trip to Long Island with stops at Piping Rock, The Creek, Friars Head and a 36-hole day at Fishers Island.  (I pinch myself that that is an honorable mention highlight!)

Here's to an even better 2016!!!

[Daniel Jones]

A few great memories made this year. I set a goal on January 1st of writing a book on the history of Ocala Golf Club. I'll hit submit to the publisher tomorrow.. Enjoyed getting back to Streamsong, and discovering the Eagle course at Eglin AFB. The random afternoons with my 3 year old nephew were special. As was the round at Seminole with a few GCAers. But I'd say the top of the list happened yesterday.


After getting beat down by Bay Hill, we played gin and enjoyed a beverage for roughly an hour in the locker room when in walks The King.

[Matthew Essig]

171 yards. 7 iron. My first Ace.
It still feels like a blur or dream that didn't actually happen.






P.S. I did fix the ball mark after the pictures 


Honorable Mention: Playing the Sheep Ranch with my father.

[Tom_Doak]

I saw 101 new courses this year [added two yesterday] and played 60+ times, on four continents.  Some terrific memories there.


Most of all, though, I got to cross two things off that had been on my bucket list for 20+ years:


1.  Playing at Banff and Jasper, and
2.  Building a fully reversible, 18-hole course.  [Close to home, at that!]

[Peter Pallotta]

Matthew - Congratulations! Well done - especially because, like Mr Nicklaus did in '86 for the last round at Augusta, you wore the perfect colour shirt to go with your "green jacket" (symbol of the Masters and, for today at least, inaugural aces!)

Tom - you're doing it right, sir. And it's a sure sign (as if one was needed) that you found your vocation and avocation both a long time ago. When a man in his fifties renews and revitalizes himself not by buying a Porsche and/or dating a 22 year old, but instead simply by doing more of what he has always done (and loved), you know that he's always been on the right track.

(Unless of course you also bought yourself a Porsche....)

[Marty Bonnar]

To begin with, I thought I'd had a pretty tame year, but on reflection it turns out it was pretty good.
I'm not going to mention any names, cos, given my advancing years I'm beginning to forget previously easy to remember details. If you were there please feel free to remind me!
I'm going to start in December 2014, as it was a special one. Florida with old and new friends. Streamsong, wow! Then New Year at Machrihanish with no golf (too windy - yes, that's possible!!!) was a major frustration.
Back home, a weekend staying and playing at Gleneagles was awesome.
Hickory golf! Great fun and very near home...
Playing in the Czech republic. A bit mad, but great fun.
A couple of special days around Leven. You guys know who you are.
A trip to a west coast links with more great chums. Always cool! Although that was the single worst I've ever played golf since I was about eight.
A great, great, great Ireland trip. Again, you know who you are.
North Berwick. As always, just a great day!
Gullane for a guy on a special trip with a fine companion.
Shit, if I've missed anything, major apologies. Suffice it to say, I had a great year. Looking forward to 2016 and many more beyond.

F.

[Garland Bayley]

Eagled my home course 400 yd alps hole with driver/7 iron.


Lowered my personal best on my home course to 82.


Reached my lowest handicap index since returning to the game post family.

[Chris Mavros]

Shooting my PB 85 at Equinox up in Manchester Village, Vermont. 


My rookie appearance at the Dixie Cup. 


Playing in 6 new states (trying to get to all of them) and 21 new courses. 

[James Brown]

Playing with my 72-year old Dad for his first round back in the game [size=78%]after surviving triple bypass surgery last year - and shooting 4 under.  Playing well in front of your dad never gets old!  [/size]

[size=78%]My runner up would the round I played at Brora where me and my caddie were the only people on the course at last light.  My first time there and it was amazing.  [/size]

[Bill_McBride]

Shooting my PB 85 at Equinox up in Manchester Village, Vermont. 


My rookie appearance at the Dixie Cup.  AND MEETING A FELLOW GAUCHO!


Playing in 6 new states (trying to get to all of them) and 21 new courses.

[David Wuthrich]

Meeting Joe Andriole at NGLA on afternoon and spending a wonderful 10 hours the next day playing a morning round Shinnecock, flying to Fisher's Island and playing afternoon round at FI as the sun set over the sound.  He thought we were crazy to do it and I guess we were, but great to meet a new friend who will do crazy things like that on the spur of the moment. 

Golf is all about who you are playing with, wonderful golfers you have met along the journey, playing special golf courses and planning the next great golf adventure!

What a great 2015, looking forward to more in 2016!!

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