[Rick Emerson]

Best Trip: 7 days in Melbourne and Tasmania. 13 rounds in 7 days on Royal Melbourne West and East, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Barnbougle, and Lost Farms.


Best of The Summer: a 2 month stint in America meeting various GCAer's and new golf friends with trips to the muni I grew up on and Five Farms in MD, Warren Course in Indiana, Kingsley and the Loop in Michigan and Delaware Springs in TX. Family Golf with my father and son at the Beach in NC and Wilmington Municipal with my 7 year old son and watching him make his first real par.


We are very blessed to be a part of this great game. Thanks for giving an opportunity to reflect on these blessings.

[Dunlop_White]

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.

[Doug Wright]

--Playing George Wright and then Tedesco CC (with Brad Tufts) on consecutive days in Boston, including the following as noted by Brad in his highlights:  “Hosting Doug Wright at Tedesco, and watching his faux second-ball hole-in-one on #8!” Second ball, yes, but faux?

--Brunch at a Pinehurst dive with Golf’s Most Beloved, who was about to be married to his Most Beloved, followed by my first round at Pinehurst #2. #2 is much much better than I expected.

--Bandon, especially finishing 36 hole days then heading over to the Punch Bowl for some drinks in the fading light     

--An annual highlight is being able to complete “walking my age” of holes as part of the Hundred Hole Hike. Sort of an annual fitness test for someone of my vintage.

[Marty Bonnar]

Been a year of very mixed emotions golf-wise.
Played two rounds in Hawaii. Whodathunk? Happy, yet sad. He knows why.
Played with old and new chums in East Lothian. Great fun!

Gleneagles Queens again. Just love the place.
Walking TOC with Eric and the group. Loved it. Proper GCA brotherhood.
Hosting as many GCAers as possible at Leven.
Happy Festivus all!


F.

[Steve Lang]

   Definitely spending a beautiful stormy beautiful afternoon playing with Duncan at Reddish Vale



From the 1st



Under the umbrella, but carrying on



to surviving the climb up 18



ps exploring The Loop, Red,  2nd

[RJ_Daley]

A year like I still can't believe my good fortune, starting with sharing the 5th Major experience with old pal Bill McBride and all the usual other cast of characters that make their pilgrimage out there.  Not only enjoying 'Wild Bill's' enjoyment of seeing the Nicklaus and Doak courses at Dismal River, but then also joining a great at the invite of our other old friend Tom Huckaby who is now a proud member of Sand Hills.  Bill said it may be his last major golf excursion and I'm glad he got to experience some of the best GCA to be found in the unique sand hills.

As if that were not enough, my participation with some really die hard GCA stalwarts at the Buda Cup and reconnecting with a number of old GCA.com friends of past years but also meeting a good number of our fellow members from the Euro side.  What a great bunch of people to spend such an intrepid pursuit of a shared GCA interest.  Particularly this Buda was to support our architect friend Ally MacIntosh as he and Robin Hiseman hosted 3 days of the Buda at Ally''s project of adding 9 new holes at 27 hole Carne GC, along with having a personal guided tour of Ally's work and the perspective from one of the brother developer/founders,  Eammon Mangan.  Continuing the fun of NW Ireland into Donegal with Garland Bayley, and meeting up with Charles Lund, along with a chance bumping into Jeff Warne at a gail force windy Nairn and Portnoo club. A completely chance last minute dropping into a situation to play Ardglass at DownPatrick was serendipity and a beautiful golf course.  Counting some days playing 27 and 36 hole days, I figure 17 rounds in 21 days in the Republic and N.I. including a fairy tale finish at sunset at The Island north of Dublin/Malahide.  Not to mention some quality tourist time in between rounds.  Not bad for an old fart.

Finally, a Langford shield hosted by Dan Moore at Lawsonia followed by next day at the newly opened Sand Valley club, another Coore and Crenshaw GCA masterpiece. 

At my age, I don't know that I will ever top this past year, but I will embrace whatever good fortune yet may come, with full appreciation that I have already received more than a fair share of seeing world great course designs thanks to a little help from my friends.   Thanks all who shared good times in 2016.

[Jerry Kluger]

My highlight has to be my two plus weeks of golf in Ireland with Mike Whitaker including the Buda where I was fortunate to meet so many great people. 


I am now awaiting back surgery so I can hopefully have a great 2017 as well which is to include two weeks with Mike in Scotland, another Buda and a Dixie Cup.

[Tom_Doak]

One of my traditions is doing a recap of my ten favorite rounds of golf each year.  Since I didn't have time to do a Christmas letter this month, I'll post my list here:


10.  Buenavista GC on Tenerife in January, solo, channeling my inner Seve by cutting 4-woods into small greens guarded by water!
10-a.  Notts GC in October, with James Boon.
9.  Barnbougle Dunes in November, with a young married couple from Singapore.
8.  The Harvester GC in Iowa in April, with superintendent Joel Randall, on the coldest and windiest day I played this year.
7.  Westward Ho! in September, with Ric Kayne and Randy Wilcox.
6.  Mt. Bruno in June, with Ian Andrew, Hoccan Olson, Christian Pilon, and a handful of members.
5.  Cleeve Cloud in October, with Sean Arble.
4.  Minchinhampton Old in October, with David Thomas and his son.
3.  The Loop at Forest Dunes in June, for the Hundred Hole Hike, with Jim Colton, Matt Ginella, Ashley Mayo, and three graduates of the Midnight Golf Program.2.  Pacific Dunes in March, with Ken Nice, Jeff Sutherland and Marcus Lakey.
1.  Tara Iti for the Renaissance Cup in February, with my partner C.J. Kreuscher, and our esteemed opponents:  Han Ziding and Tian Zhuangzhuang, Peter and Heather Wood, Doug White and Clyde Johnson, Gordon Dalgleish and Barry Hyde, and Larry Lambrecht and Thomas Wall.
1-a.  Tara Iti just prior to the Renaissance Cup, with Ric Kayne, Terry Quinn, and Sir Bob Charles.


It's probably not politically correct that my top three were all at my own courses, but that's how it felt this year.  But it had to be a great year, if no single round at Crystal Downs made my top ten list.


Best other highlight:  everyone who attended the Renaissance Cup at Tara Iti, who has posted on this thread, had it down as their #1 golf experience of the year.  That's pretty cool.

[Sean_A]

My highlights are usually playing courses for the first time which slide straight into my Happy 100 top 10. 


1a. A weekend at Elie with the Detroit GS playing for the Torda Cup. 


1b. Palmetto in August with my brother in law - aka Remy.


1c. Welshpool in October with Speed. 


4. A lovely day at Royal Wimbledon in September with Paul Gray.


5. Dragging Doak to a muni in Gloucestershire this past October. 


6. The yearly WORCS Businesmen's GS VS Kington GC in October....we have successfully defended our defeat 11 years in a row. 


Ciao

[RJ_Daley]

Hey Tom D., did the newly married couple at Barneygoogles know who you were regarding the golf course?  If it was a surprise and they are real golfers, that must have made their best of 2016 list!   

[Jason Topp]

From a playing perspective - winning my flight in our Sr. Club Championship.  It was pouring rain and I thought I had no chance to win so I just played the best I could.  In the end, I had the lowest score.  While my score was nothing to brag about, after fighting a nasty flinch in my putting stroke for the last four years, it was very nice to be able to post the lowest score in any type of a stroke play contest.

From a pure enjoyment perspective - I had four wonderful trips that involved multiple rounds at one facility (Streamsong, Clear Creek Olympia Fields and Prairie Dunes).  Prairie Dunes was my favorite of the group based on a combination of great October weather, a fun group to play with and a terrific golf course.   

[mike_malone]

Shooting 41 in the aggregate last nine to help my buddy Yong Choe win our flight in the member/member.


Visiting England/Wales with Neil Hoffmann and two others and playing Royal North Devon.


Participating in the US Women's Am at my club.


Being able to return to my old golf grip because I learned to use more body through first.

[Joe Hancock]

Participating in the US Women's Am at my club.

Which tees did they make you play?

[Tom Fagerli]

GCA related was playing Northland Country Club for the first time after all the tree removal and improvements. Tremendous views and a much improved course. Damn greens still giving me nightmares.
Playing this year they were my personal best 65,  and finishing t5 at the Durham Senior Am while playing with Paul Simson. Did my fragile ego good! (Two different events- I did not shoot 65 in competition!)
I get to finish the year right too- tee time at MidPines set for Dec 31.
Merry Christmas everyone.

[Tom_Doak]

Hey Tom D., did the newly married couple at Barneygoogles know who you were regarding the golf course?  If it was a surprise and they are real golfers, that must have made their best of 2016 list!   

RJ:  I was in the pro shop getting ready to go out by myself when they checked in.  I didn't want to jump in front of them [discourteous] and didn't want to be stuck behind if they were slow, so I introduced myself and offered to play a few holes with them to get them started in the right direction ... it was cold and the first four holes are straight into the wind and I had no idea if they had ever seen a links course at all, so I was afraid they might give up on it before they got very far.


It turned out that both were reasonable players, even though the wife had never had a lesson from anyone but her husband.  Both of them could putt, and once I showed them the possibility of playing approach shots and putts into a backstop and having it come back to the hole, they relaxed and had a very good day, so I decided to keep playing with them.  It's always nice to see how your golf course treats a 25-handicap in difficult conditions, and Barnbougle passed the test with flying colors.


I got a note from them a week or two later via my web site ... we had only talked golf, but as it turns out the husband had gotten his engineering degree from Cornell, a few years behind me.  So now I have friends to visit whenever I get to Singapore.

[Ian Andrew]

6.  Mt. Bruno in June, with Ian Andrew, Hoccan Olson, Christian Pilon, and a handful of members.

Clearly the Kümmel got to you ...

[mike_malone]

Joe Hancock,


Good catch--  I should have volunteering. 

[RJ_Daley]

great story of golf serendipity, Tom.  It isn't in "Pizza Man" category, but an enjoyable one...

[Garland Bayley]

... Continuing the fun of NW Ireland into Donegal with Garland Bayley, and meeting up with Charles Lund, along with a chance bumping into Jeff Warne at a gail force windy Nairn and Portnoo club. ...

As Jeff will attest, it was only a wee breeze at Narin and Portnoo. Portsalon had the gale. 


Speaking of a gale. That was a real education at Portsalon. Never had such an experience before. I thought I got shots off fast in my younger years. I learned you had to get them off real fast just to manage to stand up in that gale.

[Ross Harmon]

So many great moments this year, but the best was closing weekend at Ballyneal with my 6 yr old son - his first time walking 18 and my first hole-in-one (#3)!

[Frank M]

I was fortunate enough to do a lot of things this year including attending The Masters.

That said, my highlight is getting the chance to go on a Nebraska swing that included Prairie Club, Dismal, Wild Horse and Ballyneal.

Still, I'll narrow it down even more because The Prairie Club is quite easily my favourite place ever. I love the Sand Hills, I love Valentine and the Dunes Course is as much fun as I can have and have had on a golf course.

Needless to say I feel it's very underrated on this site and in general.

[RJ_Daley]

As Jeff will attest, it was only a wee breeze at Narin and Portnoo. Portsalon had the gale. 


Speaking of a gale. That was a real education at Portsalon. Never had such an experience before. I thought I got shots off fast in my younger years. I learned you had to get them off real fast just to manage to stand up in that gale.

I am still pissed off I didn't find that ball you say came up short left in the creek or rough and I think sailed over the berm across the FW and onto the beach.   And if that wasn't a gale at N&P and I didn't hit my one decent shot all day, a driver smacked solid and straight onto that 150 yard par 3.... 

[Ronald Montesano]

2016 began with the conclusion of my teaching sabbatical. I was up and down the east coast of the USA in January-February, and had the opportunity to play some terrific courses (Southern Pines, Dormie, Caledonia, Copperhead) and some not-so-terrific ones, with new friends from GCA. It is these meet-ups, placing face alongside name and words, that make this site invaluable to me.


I was cautioned away from at least two of the courses by GCA stalwarts, but it is the playing of those courses that makes the special courses specialerer. If you like craft beer, have a Bud from time to time to remind yourself what else is out there. And once in a while, you stumble onto a course that offers shot values not on every hole, but on enough that you call it a funky gem. For me, this was Buffalo Creek in Palmetto, Florida.


I'm fortunate to have as traveling buddy the eternally-patient Kevin Lynch, a GCA denizen known to many. KPL has never met a shot he won't try, be it a downhill 3-metal from a bunker, over the River Styx and the Himalayas combined, or a two-feet putt in the Girl-Scout stance. My one wish for all is to have a guy like him as your gca wingman. We played a few, fine courses in Rhode Island and CT this summer, and did our customary analysis and photography while avoiding a delay of the group at our rear.


I look forward to a long-delayed trip to Philly to meet some of the Liberty brigade of GCA. I hope to have two travel buds along with, the aforementioned KPL and a fellow new to gca but old in golf. Whatever courses we can scratch our way onto/into/near, we shall. Armed with a new driver and putter for 2017, I cannot wait.

[Garland Bayley]

As Jeff will attest, it was only a wee breeze at Narin and Portnoo. Portsalon had the gale.    Speaking of a gale. That was a real education at Portsalon. Never had such an experience before. I thought I got shots off fast in my younger years. I learned you had to get them off real fast just to manage to stand up in that gale.

I am still pissed off I didn't find that ball you say came up short left in the creek or rough and I think sailed over the berm across the FW and onto the beach.   And if that wasn't a gale at N&P and I didn't hit my one decent shot all day, a driver smacked solid and straight onto that 150 yard par 3.... 

You hit a driver straight.    When could that possibly have happened. 


Must have been at Enniscrone when you were playing the scramble without me. 

[Guy Nicholson]

-- Playing my best and birdieing the 18th to win an informal work tournament at Osprey Valley, north of Toronto.
-- A smoking hot September afternoon with my father at Toronto's Islington GC, a classic Stanley Thompson club where he hadn't stepped foot since caddying as a boy in the 1950s.
-- Five rounds in three days in October at Cabot Links and Cliffs with a very good friend who's about to enter the long, golfless night of fatherhood. Crisp, sunny weather and a road trip to remember.

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