[Ash Towe]

Time to reflect on your golfing highlight of the year.


Without a doubt mine was playing in The Renaissance Cup at Tara Iti early in the year. The course was magnificent
in every way. The format for the competition was very enjoyable and everybody seemed to have a great time. The people involved at the club have created an atmosphere where enjoyment of the game is paramount. I was lucky enough to play there again recently and nothing has changed.


Other highlights were playing at Sunningdale again and a first visit to St George's Hill.

[Brad Tufts]

Shooting 70 at Lahinch right off the red-eye with no sleep, with Patrick Glynn as my tour guide!
More Ireland golf the rest of that week leading to Fergal O'Leary's wedding, may he RIP.
My 4th Club Championship (04/06/11/16).  Shot 78-75-72 to win by one.
32 on my final nine at the Norfolk County Classic to come in T2.
Almost a win in the Concord CC (MA) Invitational...75-69-68 on my own ball was not quite good enough!!!
George Wright with Cob, Lynn Shackelford, and John Geraci
Ekwanok during my brother's wedding weekend.
Hosting Doug Wright at Tedesco, and watching his faux second-ball hole-in-one on #8!
Watching my dad make 2 eagles in a round at Kapalua Bay (he's an 11 handicap)

[Martin Lehmann]

Last July, I had the privilege of playing as an amateur in The Winston Senior Open at WINSTONlinks in Germany (about halfway between Hamburg and Berlin). The format of play was the same they use at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. I played my best golf for a very long time and shot a 76 as partner of Ian Woosnam and a 78 the next day alongside Barry Lane. It was the first time this tournament, part of The European Senior Tour, was played on the WINSTONlinks. The course was in excellent condition and, apart of being spectacular and beautiful, proved to be a great test of golf. The tournament was won by Paul Broadhurst, who went on to win The Senior Open at Carnoustie a couple of weeks later.

[Chris Roselle]

The highlight for me came on June 18th!  36-hole match play final of the GAP BMW Philadelphia Amateur Championship at Merion GC.  Arrived at Merion at 6am to begin golf course preparations for the day.  While the rest of our staff was with the final match I had the pleasure of being out ahead of them doing golf course check.  Just me and the cup cutter going over ever green to make sure the hole locations were in the correct spots.  And what made this extra cool is we used quite a few of the same hole locations used during the final round of the 2013 US Open. 

[Thomas Dai]

Buda in Ireland - thanks again to Ally and Robin for organising and to all those who attended for a great time.
Minchinhampton Old - I have written for quite some time about the merits of this course and played it a couple of months ago in the company of an esteemed contributor herein who had expressed an interest in playing the course. I couldn't help but smile to myself when said contributor got within 50 yds of the 1st green and uttered the word "wow!". 😄
atb
 

[JJShanley]

Finding a golfing community at my campus course.  I still enjoy the 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning solo round before hitting the library, but I'd forgotten how much I enjoy a club-like atmosphere with company.

[jeffwarne]

Playing the Renaissance Cup with my infrequent golfer son at Tara Iti and him covering my disappearance on several key holes.
Arrowtown!
Dunfanaghy jazz festival....err golf trip......Donegal's the best
Traigh 9 by myself and 9 with my son including a holed PW wedge from 100 yards straight uphill on 8.


Note:my son may have the best course resume of anyone in the world for someone who's  played considerably less than 50 18 hole rounds in his life-

[BHoover]

My last two rounds of the year, I eagled the same hole. The first time around, I holed my third shot from 105 yards (the ball spun left and caught the hole). The second time around, I hit my second shot to 3 feet from 229 yards (and, surprisingly, made the putt)


Playing WBYC was also fun...but the consecutive eagles meant more to me.

[Criss Titschinger]

Going 3-0 in my Midwest Mashie matches and bringing the trophy home. The wife and I still disagree on the Mashie's placement and prominence within our house.

A close second would be legit paring Wolf Run's 15th hole.

[Cory Lewis]

My highlight was winning the Match Play Championship at Old Town. Very honored to win at such an amazing club.  I can't think of a more perfect golf course for match play. 1st time I've won any sort of Club Championship type event in almost 20 years.

I also played golf in 26 states this year, 4 better than my previous best, including 6 new states.  Only 5 to go to get all 50!

[Jon McSweeny]

First ever round in the 60s was definitely the highlight. 69 on the Ike at Industry Hills in mid-June.

Knocking a 5 wood to about six feet and dropping the downhill eagle putt in the Simi Hills City Championship (also in June) was definitely the hole of the year.

Unfortunately, I've been fighting with my back since late June, and just about every round since then would be in a tie for the lowlight of the year.

Take care of yourselves and be sure to enjoy your moments of good health. They are sorely missed when they get away.

[Pete_Pittock]

A round at Cypress Point with ideal scoring conditions. Unfortunately, that didn't help. But no ball in the water. Beyond an appearance at the Dixie Cup, 2016 was a poor year. I unofficially retired as a golf referee. 


On the bright side, I am in pre-planning for a trip to Tasmania, King Island, NZ for early 2018 or 2019.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Had the good fortune to play, for the first time, some great courses. Peachtree, Cascata, Whispering Pines, The Golf Club, Southampton, Shinnecock, Atlanta CC, CC of Charleston, Saucon Valley (Old). There is a lot of great golf out there.

[John Kavanaugh]

An unfortunate circumstance brought forth through no ones fault but my own where a man I had only met a few days before refused to leave me behind.

[Will MacEwen]

My last two rounds of the year, I eagled the same hole. The first time around, I holed my third shot from 105 yards (the ball spun left and caught the hole). The second time around, I hit my second shot to 3 feet from 229 yards (and, surprisingly, made the putt)


Playing WBYC was also fun...but the consecutive eagles meant more to me.

No offence but this site is about golf architecture - not what number your pencil put on your scorecard.


My highlight was a spirited discussion with Sean Leary where we noted the lack of width at Sand Hills #10 and how out of place it is with the rest of the course.

[hhuffines]

Architectural highlights were many... toured parts of CCNC with Kris Spence during his fantastic renovation, saw great changes to Grandfather and Olde Farm, and closer to home, saw my Club successfully renovated with champion bermuda greens.  Big stuff for a redneck from Raleigh!  Hearing Hanse will re do Pinehurst #4 was the sublime to the ridiculous.  Moore County is peaking!


My playing highlights were making par on the Foxy and the Road Hole, playing Grandfather with my son and Bart, and playing Dornoch with two fellow lurkers form this site.


Special shoutout to Dr. Wellmon for keeping me walking.


Hart

[John Kirk]

My architectural highlight was playing Tara Iti.  I believe I played three new courses (The Loop, Cape Kidnappers) this year.  The Tara Iti Golf Club is so well conceived.  It might be the nicest place I've ever traveled to play golf.  Dolphins frolicking in the surf at dusk!

With all due respect to my friend Will MacEwen, seeing Ash Towe, Jeff Warne and all the talented folks during the February outing was the best part of the long journey.   

[John Ezekowitz]

Having the ability (physically, financially, temporally) to play a lot this year.

Finally getting over my two way miss off the tee.


Playing five rounds at Cabot Cliffs and Cabot Links over 3 days with my father and two guys from Winston Salem we met on the first tee.


Being the first person off at 7 am on a brilliant morning on Cabot Cliffs on the 4th day, and making birdie on 16.


Shooting 69 (with a water ball on 6) at Gulph Mills.

[Rich Goodale]

Lou Duran gave me a 4 ft putt for a par at the 18th of his fkine club in Dallas (Gentle Creek) on a day when pars (at least for me) were few and far between.  Probably the last game I'll play before New Year's.


Merry Christmas, everybody


Rich


PS--Lou's course is fun but anything but gentle......

[Sam Krume]

Definite highlight was Renaissance followed by NB followed by Dunbar. say no more....

[Richard Fisher]

Taking part in two foursomes campaigns around Wales in the Spring, one of which was with the (North American) Dinner Match Society, helping to bring together a number of very amiable people who seem now to have become good buddies, and ending said spring foursomes campaigns with 4 1/2 points out of five. Results when playing on my own have been notably less distinguished, with the exception of one decent handicap-buffering round in the Staff College Owl at Harlech.
 
Most pleasing single moment was probably standing on the first tee of the Sacred Nine at about 6pm on the most perfect August evening, with an old friend and just a handful of other members and their dogs for company. All seemed very right with the world indeed.

Most therapeutic day was probably the 27 holes I played on my own at Delamere in April, having spent the days before making funeral plans for my golfing brother.

At lots of levels, I am very much looking forward to ending this year and cracking on with 2017!

[Scott Little]

Moving to Wisconsin from a home 2 minutes from Rustic Canyon GC in January was depressing.  However, having the opportunity to play Lawsonia (which I would never have known about if it were not for GCA.com) and Sand Valley were definitely highlights.  As good as Sand Valley is, and will be once it matures, Lawsonia provides the best value for quality golf and golden age design I have found.  The 50% military discount does not hurt either.  While my time here is short and Kansas is on the horizon for summer of 2017, I look forward to exploring more of what is offered in the midwest...after we crawl out from the snow in 4 months.

[David Davis]

2016 architecturally was as good a year as I will ever have I’m guessing. I’ve been kind of pinching myself to make sure I’m really awake and didn’t just imagine it.

• Playing my home club with Mike Devries and receiving his thoughts and input into what could be…
• Trip with Martin Ebert (architect) to see Troon post Open and the aftermath of what an Open Championships brings a club, same trip playing Turnberry together so he could explain all the changes in detail and then taking the ferry over to Northern Ireland early the next morning and playing the newly renovated Royal Portrush with similar explanations and discussion.
• In depth walk/ride around Valderrama with GM to discuss course and changes over time.
• Visit to Stoneforest GC Leader’s Peak to see the most amazing site where a golf course (maybe) should never of been allowed to be built (UNESCO World Heritage site). Walked it literally in awe while taking about 150 photos and 79 shots on the first leg of a 54 hole day. However, I’ll never forget the experience.
• Winning my personal architectural lottery with first time visits to Shanqin Bay, South Cape Owners Club, Naruo, Kawana, Tokyo, HIrono, Chicago Golf Club, Cal Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Meadow Club,Valley Club, LACC, Riviera, Kiawah Island, Seminole and Streamsong to name a few major highlights.
• Repeat visit to Cypress Point and yes it’s still my overwhelming favorite place on the planet and my number one place to move to, be a member of and ride off into the sunset.

[Bob Montle]

My golfing highlight of 2016 was my long weekend at the 5th major at Dismal River.
Anyone who has been there will know what I mean!

[Tommy Williamsen]

I had two, among many, highlights. The first came in April where I played with the chair of the Green Committee and the superintendent at Sherwood. They showed me all the changes that took place at the course. It was a pretty amazing project. They deserve a lot of credit for what they did.


The second was holing a five foot left to right putt for 69 in a tournament. I wanted to shoot my age before I turned 70 and did. The second lowest round of the year was 72 so this was really my only chance to do the deed.

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