Golfing Highlight of 2017

[Steve Burrows]

Sadly, I had no playing highlights this year: I only played 27 holes of golf, none of it at very interesting places. 


However, my wife and I took a non-golfing (anniversary) trip to Ireland and I rigged the itinerary in my favor such that I was able to visit both Ballybunion and Lahinch.  This was my first interaction with real links land so even just standing there — looking around at the massive dunes and thinking about the origins of the game — was a real treat.


Also, I was fortunate to win the lottery to attend a practice round at next years’ Masters Tournament, so I suppose the receipt of that specific e-mail was a small highlight in itself.  More than likely, actually attending the Masters in a few months will be a part of next years’ highlights.

[Rick Lane]

You will LOVE the practice round experience at Augusta.   Way less people, you can have a camera (I think I took 700 pictures), you can talk to the players (I had a lengthy conversation with Furyk and Fluff Cowen about how many Dead shows Fluff went to), etc etc.  Its a magnificent experience. 
Hope you can get there early and go out with one of the first groups.   I was the only person following Furyk, Zach and Lehman..... 

[Jeff Shelman]

This one is easy for me.


I got a text on a Thursday afternoon saying that a group had room for one more on Monday afternoon at NGLA.


By 5 pm I got clearance from the tower and cashed miles for a flight (which is why we have miles, right?). On Sunday morning, I was wheels up to NY.


Monday was an absolute glorious day. Perfect weather around 70 degrees. NGLA was perfect. And I had one of my best ball-striking days of the year in which I missed maybe two fairways all day.


The caddies were great. The company was better. After a couple of post-round drinks I made my way back to the Newark Airport Doubletree. I was on the first flight out and was back at my desk by about 9 am on Tuesday.


Best Monday ever.

[Tom Birkert]

I didn't get to travel far this year due to starting a new business and my 3rd child arriving. I am heading to Australia in a couple of days for a family wedding and am lucky enough to be playing NSW and hopefully Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne.


However, i was fortunate enough to host a couple of people from here, who I already knew but it was great to see them.


In terms of experiences, it would have to be either 36 holes at RSG and Deal on a crisp January day, or Muirfield and The Old Course with lunch in the R&A clubhouse in July, with appropriate transportation to facilitate this.


The golf courses are important, but the company much more so.

[Dub_ONeill]

Without question my highlight was making a 2 on the first hole at North Berwick.  Didn't see it go in of course.  Thought it was good when I hit it.  Searched around the green, finally looked in the hole.  Bingo.

[J_ Crisham]

My highlight of 2017 was receiving a phone call from a close pal who is a pro at a club here in the Chicago area. One of their members had to bail out of their Winter trip and since the  spot was already paid for they didn't want it to go to waste.  2 weeks later I'm checking in at Pebble Beach. Golf at MPCC, Pebble, Spyglass, Spanish Bay, and then a couple of enjoyable rounds at CPC. Staying overnite in the 2nd floor rooms at CPC was very special. I will never forget the kindness of the group from this club welcoming me on their trip plus the invite from their professional staff. It was a trip I will never forget- the golf , camaraderie, food/wine was outstanding. I have caller ID and I always answer when these guys call:)

[Brock Peyer]

I had an incredible year of what could have been.  I have rounds cancelled at the last minute because the host had something to come up or because of rain, lots of rain outs and other various weird things, I was supposed to play East Lake, Peachtree (twice), Hawks Ridge, Atlanta Country Club, Shoal Creek, Farmlinks and Atlanta Athletic Club and I got to the parking lot at for the Masters with my Daughter her first time) before it being rained out. 


I still got to play a number of wonderful courses, played a couple of new ones, reconnected with some old friends, introduced 10 of my buddies to Sweetens Cove (played 27 there) and had it under par for a while in 5 rounds this year.  Overall, good stuff.

[Michael Goldstein]

It has been a couple of years since I have posted here, and only read the discussion board sporadically.


It is good to see the same old faces still exploring the world of golf - David Davis you are a machine!!


2017 was the first year for nearly a decade that I haven't had an international golfing trip as work well and truly got in the way. To date I have only played about half a dozen games of golf although that might double between now and the new year.  The golfing highlight was undoubtedly three days at the Tara Iti member guest.  What a phenomenal course!


The other golfing highlight was bringing the LPGA Tour to New Zealand for the first time.  I don't think there has been any discussion on GCA about our host venue - Windross Farm - but we chose this venue predominantly because of it's architectural merits with one of the architects (Phil Tataurangi) being part of our tournament board. The golf course is on a compact site which measured only 1.6KM from one side to the other which was fantastic for viewing golf.  The routing is very efficient with a number of loops back to the clubhouse.  The wide   fescue fairways and green surrounds promote strategic 3 dimensional golf which was in view during the championship in particular our windswept conclusion.  I know the course wasn't popular with all of the players but I hope we stood out and promoted good architecture to the LPGA audience. 


Have a great festive season and as always please reach out if anyone is traveling to New Zealand. 

[Ash Towe]

Michael,
To get the LPGA tour to NZ was an amazing feat. Your group are to be congratulated. I know at my club it generated an amazing amount of interest amongst members. Many of them made the trip out there to watch.


Best of luck with the next version. Following the Australian Open makes so much sense.


Have a great 2018.


Ash.

[Andrew Bertram]

Some really good memories from this year,


in february I went to California to play a pro am at Pebble with 3 Club members, played some great courses, however the highlights were staying at Cal Club for a few nights, hanging in the bar with the regulars after a few afternoon holes makes we want to join there! simply a great club. add to this seeing Stef Curry land 40 plus points including 25 in the 3rd quarter, playing SFGC, Olympic, MPCC, Pasatiempo, Pebble and Spyglass it was a great trip


RM has an annual pro am, this year they changed it up and invited professionals that had an association with the club in the past who then played with 4 members in a best ball event. I was an assistant there for 7 or 8 years 20 odd years ago and I was paired with 3 members my age who i knew pretty well back then. It was just about the best pro am I have been involved in. After golf we all caught up with people we have known pretty well over the years. simply a great day.




 

[David Amarnek]

I had several highlights for 2017.
The first was my trip to England to play golf at Sunningdale Old and New with some old (TB, etc.) and new friends.  Stayed at nearby Coworth Park and I cannot wait to visit again in 2018.
The second was my trip, via a Gulfstream, with my St. Louis friends to Bandon Dunes.   Played all four 18-hole courses and enjoyed absolutely everything about the resort.
Finally, I went to Philly to play matches against a great group of guys from Prestwick who came over to play at PVGC, MGC and GMGC.
I can’t imagine ever surpassing those golf experiences in one year, but I’m going to try!

[Terry Lavin]

Two friends and I played Bandon Dunes and Bandon Preserve with Mike Keiser.  Fellow GCAer Sven Nilsen caddied for us.  I think it took us a total of four hours to play both courses.  Great day, great courses, great company. 

[Dan Smoot]

Cabot Links and Cliffs.  Great part of the world followed up by a few days in PEI.  Plenty of cultural ties to Scotland and Ireland still evident in the people who were so hospitable.  Spectacular ocean views around the Cabot Trail.  A very relaxing trip.  Asked if I liked Bandon better, tough question.

[Tim Gallant]

I feel so lucky to have met and teed it up with a few GCAers in 2017. The round at Goswick in January was a delight, and I was so enamoured with the course that I went back in August to see it from the proper tees. It was good to see Ran give it a 6 in the Doak supplementary newsletter. I thought I was going crazy.


I also enjoyed my round at Notts GC with James B who was kind enough to host, and the wonderful Mr. Muldoon who was on very good form that day!


One memory I will cherish for a long time was being presented with a traditional Argentinian knife by Mr. Clutterbuck and Company. Golf brings together people from all around the world, and that was a day I won't soon forget. It was an honour to host Marcos.


I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the biggest highlight for me in 2017 was marrying the woman of my dreams. She puts up with so much of my golf chat, and corny golf jokes. I am a lucky guy.

[Jim Tang]

A day of 36 at Prairie Dunes in August with my brother and Jim Colton, followed by 4 days at Ballyneal, is my 2017 highlight.  I had been dreaming of playing Prairie Dunes for many years.  The entire experience did not disappoint.  I thoroughly enjoyed the course, the clubhouse and most importantly, the company.

Playing the short course at Ballyneal for the first time was a blast!  It's a perfect addition to the club.  Wild greens! 


My first visit to Sand Valley with several fellow GCAers, including Ash Towe, was a wonderful experience.  Here's to hoping Sand Valley only becomes bigger and better, with age.

Ending my golf season at Cedar Rapids and the Midwest Mashie was a perfect way to close the year.  The work done at Cedar Rapids is tremendous.

We are lucky to have found such a game, as golf.

[Matthew Petersen]

The highlight would probably be walking LACC during the Walker Cup. Just a wonderful place. I also had the chance to see Riviera during the PGA event earlier in the year and was blown away by both courses.


As for playing, our little GCA outing at Desert Forest in September was a highlight, meeting good people on a really good course.

[Chris_Blakely]

Had several highlights this year, that to me are too close to distinguish.


First playing Crystal Downs for the first time with an extremely kind and knowledgable host.


Second making a trip out to Maine to golf with my brother prior to him moving to the west coast (we played northeast harbor, Belgrade lakes, Sunday river, and several others).


Final one was a trip to Sand Valley at the end of their season.  I wax able to play 16 of 18 holes on Mammoth Dunes, walk the other two holes and play all 17 holes and make up a few of my own on The Sandbox.

[John McCarthy]

A glorious September weekend of Iowa golf.  It had not rained in a month and the wind was up.  I played like trash.  But Davenport CC plus the Mashie at Cedar Rapids CC will always be remembered. 


Plus Oak Meadows reopened with a nice redesign I played a lot because I refuse to watch the Chicago Bears. 

[David Wuthrich]

Highlights were playing with new and old golf friends around the country.


Wolf Point is always a highlight, especially with Mike and Don around.  Thanks again guys!  The airshow that day was the most special non-golf highlight!!!

[Ronald Montesano]

My highlight is Jeff Shelman-esque, with a few twists. When I realized that I and two buds would play NGLA in August, the first email I sent was to GCA's Chuck Glowacki, a looper at the National. Folks, if you get the opportunity to walk those hallowed fairways with clubs, you should request Chuckster G as your jock. Not only is he the most gracious fellow (well met), he is knowledgeable beyond words in the ways of the National.


Here's the highlight: I'm in good company with Alan Shipnuck (Golf Magazine) and Alex Myers (Golf Digest) only in that none of us has an ace. On the 4th at NGLA, I zipped an iron to about three feet from the hole, watching it roll across the face of the hole, before halting. It was fair that I missed the putt. On the 6th, I got closer; I banged my iron off the flagstick, with ball settling 18 inches from the crevice. That putt (phew) I made. Nothing magical happened on the final shawtie (number 13) but on Chuck's call, I zipped blindly an iron into the punchbowl 16th, to inside a yard, for another birdie.


I don't recall my score that day, as much like Ty Webb, I no longer keep score. What I do recall is the fickle finger of fate pointing in our direction, the great camaraderie of Chuck and all the caddy staff, our host's ridiculously warm welcome and treatment, and the best golf course a fellow could ever hope to play.

[Cory Lewis]

2017 Highlights:


January-Thaw out in Hilton Head.  Always great to see old friends and play great golf courses.  Thanks to Eric Smith for organizing.  He always does an amazing job.


March-Memorable 1st tee experience at Dunedin with a GCA'er.  We were walking and paired with 2 ladies in their 70's and the look of absolute horror we got from the groups in carts that were starting behind us was priceless.  Even the ladies said we could split up after we teed off.  We said absolutely not, and had a very nice round with them where we always kept up with the group in front of us.  If nobody was in front of us, we would have finished nine holes in under an hour and a half.  Looks can be deceiving people.


May-Great trip to Iowa. Davenport & Cedar Rapids both belong in the top 100 of every magazine. 
       Memorial Day Trip to play Sweetens Cove & Sewanee.  Sweetens is one of the most fun courses ever built


July-wonderful trip to Washington, Idaho, & Montana with the wife.  We stopped at this really cool little nine hole course in Montana called Trestle Creek on the way back from Glacier National park.  Courses like this are what golf is all about.


August-Great road trip around my 1st time at the Renaissance Cup.  Thanks Petey's dad!  Memorable match where I birdied the last 2 holes to win, also played Culver Academics on the trip.  Another world class 9 hole course.  I can't decide if Culver, Sweetens or Dunes is the best 9 hole course in America.

[Tim Martin]

2017 Highlights:

August-Great road trip around my 1st time at the Renaissance Cup.  Thanks Petey's dad!  Memorable match where I birdied the last 2 holes to win, also played Culver Academics on the trip.  Another world class 9 hole course.  I can't decide if Culver, Sweetens or Dunes is the best 9 hole course in America.

Cory-If you have played Whitinsville where does that fit in with the 9 holers you mentioned? Thanks.

[James Reader]

I’ve played some great courses this year (RSG, St Enodoc, Kingsbarns, Silloth, Hollinwell amongst them) but the highlight was a round at Deal in a 4-5 club cross wind.  Just great fun!

[Cal Seifert]

For me it would probably be playing Bethpage Black with my father and 2 of my brothers.  After birdieing the 4th hole I was 2 under.  Not bad for a hacker like myself. 


NGLA on a summer afternoon is a close second.  Standing on the 17th teebox and watching your ball take a left line over the bunkers is intoxicating.

[Zack Molnar]

My highlight has already been shared by Will Stockert, but it was the 36 at Kingsley playing hooky from business school at U of M. Was a perfect day spending 16 straight hours with some of the most enjoyable company out there.


School put a damper on trip this year, as funds and time are limited. But hoping to make some trips next year before starting a new job in Chicago. Hope to meet up with some wonderful GCA folks as always when I hit the road.