2017 5th Major at Dismal River

[Dan Herrmann]

To whet your appetite:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVRLFqELHXs

[Sean Ogle]

Just came across this thread, bummed I didn't see it earlier! Been wanting to get out there for quite some time. Hope the event goes great this week, and to make it out next year.

[Bob Montle]

The 2017 5th Major ended less than two weeks ago, and I am already looking forward to next year.

Eric Smith: THANK YOU for giving me the chance to play these two wonderful courses and to meet so many super folks.

Anyone who has thought of attending but never has: You HAVE to live this incredible experience.

Huge thanks to Joe Madsen for making us all feel special and for organizing the event, to Chef Eric for the best three days of eating that I have ever had, to the service staff for their friendliness and assistance and service, to the hard workers who maintain the course, and to everyone else I have neglected to mention.  You are all awesome.

But the biggest thanks go to the best partner anyone can have Sir Richard Daley!  Thank you all!

PS:  I still think the Nicklaus course is about 10 strokes easier than the Doak course.   The Red course is visually intimidating and would take me about 30 more rounds to figure out how to play it in order to score.  I suppose that is what makes it great.

[John Kavanaugh]

PS:  I still think the Nicklaus course is about 10 strokes easier than the Doak course.   The Red course is visually intimidating and would take me about 30 more rounds to figure out how to play it in order to score.  I suppose that is what makes it great.

I would have guessed 3 strokes. I love how the Nicklaus course has made a complete turnaround where the Red is seen as the more visually intimidating of the two.

[Mike Hendren]

Oops.

[RJ_Daley]

Thanks Bob.  Next time we will have to co-ordinate the logistics better for an airport pick-up and an extra day for Wild Horse on the way back.  CJ was missed for sure.  Personally, I felt I lost a bit of the experience with not having a chance to walk the Doak course this year due to diminished health status.  It is in my view one of the great pleasures in golf.  My highlight was obviously your 80+ foot putt in the putt-off to move us on another hole.  We didn't do too bad for old codgers in high handicapper flight.   

Eric Smith can be proud of the wide variety of friends he has and how they all appreciate his special attention to each and every one of them as a great host for this event.  Now, if we can just get him a cart driving lesson for dark and 'hazy conditions'.   

[Eric Smith]

Thanks, fellas. Means a lot that you continue to make the effort to attend. I always love seeing my friends happy.


Dick, I owe you one, buddy.😉😆

[Bill_McBride]

The 2017 5th Major ended less than two weeks ago, and I am already looking forward to next year.

Eric Smith: THANK YOU for giving me the chance to play these two wonderful courses and to meet so many super folks.

Anyone who has thought of attending but never has: You HAVE to live this incredible experience.

Huge thanks to Joe Madsen for making us all feel special and for organizing the event, to Chef Eric for the best three days of eating that I have ever had, to the service staff for their friendliness and assistance and service, to the hard workers who maintain the course, and to everyone else I have neglected to mention.  You are all awesome.

But the biggest thanks go to the best partner anyone can have Sir Richard Daley!  Thank you all!

PS:  I still think the Nicklaus course is about 10 strokes easier than the Doak course.   The Red course is visually intimidating and would take me about 30 more rounds to figure out how to play it in order to score.  I suppose that is what makes it great.

Did Sir Dick have a kick in eagle like he did on White 9 as my super partner? Stud...

[Dave August]

I cannot thank Eric enough for another opportunity to enjoy three days at Dismal River. It really is a great place. My partner was very impressed and loved the courses as well.


I am already looking forward to next year!


And, yeah, we should work on that golf cart driving....

[Ron Smith]

Thank you Eric for hosting a great event at a truly special place.  It was my first trip to the Dismal River Club.  Both the club and the event exceeded all expectations!  It was hard to decide which course we enjoyed more, but my partner and I agreed late evening golf on the back nine of the red is pretty tough to beat. 

[Blake Conant]

PS:  I still think the Nicklaus course is about 10 strokes easier than the Doak course.   The Red course is visually intimidating and would take me about 30 more rounds to figure out how to play it in order to score.  I suppose that is what makes it great.

I would have guessed 3 strokes. I love how the Nicklaus course has made a complete turnaround where the Red is seen as the more visually intimidating of the two.

I don't know about visual intimidation, but the White course was incredibly thatchy in 2012, and every time since I've been back.  The Red course is young enough that it still plays pretty firm and fast.  However, I haven't played since last year, and since then the course has changed owners and had a year to mature.  Am I correct in saying the White course still plays much softer than the Red?   

[Blake Conant]

.

[Eric Smith]

Am I correct in saying the White course still plays much softer than the Red?   

Hey Blake. Yes, definitely. The thatch buildup on the White Course is something that needs to be addressed and I'm told the folks there are working on a game plan.

[KMcKeown]

Not having played the 5th major but playing both courses and Sand Hills a few weeks later after the 4th of July, it was sad to see Jack's course being so neglected. I played it in 2012 or so and found it fascinating and quite challenging from the back tees. Now it's a shell of itself. The turf is bad, sand is worse in some bunkers (weeds growing) and the greens nothing what they were when CJ had it. I don't know when it was softened (made it easier) but I guess that's how courses evolve with a lack of funding.


The Doak course was great and is clearly getting the attention of staff. It was properly maintained and deserving of the accolades. I wish both courses could get their greens like Sand Hills but maybe it's just not possible till they rip out the grass. I know a few holes on Doak's course have more severe undulations but I wish they could have been firmer. Maybe they just dump water on them in anticipation of a dry summer. 

[Doug Siebert]

PS:  I still think the Nicklaus course is about 10 strokes easier than the Doak course.   The Red course is visually intimidating and would take me about 30 more rounds to figure out how to play it in order to score.  I suppose that is what makes it great.

Interesting you say that, I think it is the other way around. Not anything like 10 shots easier, but I definitely score better on the Red. From the back tees the disparity is even greater. More driving room on the Red and just about every hole is a potential birdie with a good drive.

[Dan Herrmann]

@KMcKeown - you just made me sad by stating that the Nicklaus course seems to have been neglected.   When I played my first 5th, that's all we had, and I enjoyed it so much I returned again.

It's a very fine golf course that I'd be happy playing anytime.

[John Kavanaugh]

Wrong thread.

[John Cowden]

We visited DRC for the eclipse and found both courses playing extremely well and both in excellent condition as well.  Indeed, I'm hopeful the days of cutting little noticed corners are over.  Early indications are both courses are being treated to a higher maintenance standard than recent past.  But make no mistake--in the Sandhills golfers bow to nature first, the greens keeper next.