[Jason Way]

Reflecting and writing about the golf year that was and looking forward to the season to come has me noodling on an idea, and I would love to get your perspective.

I had the good fortune of spending another weekend at Prairie Dunes this year (thank you Charlie).  Both of my visits to PD have been golf binges.  Around and around we go.  Every time I come off the 18th hole of that course, I want to go right back out.  We use that "18th green to 1st tee" standard to evaluate courses here, and it is a good standard.  What we are referring to with that standard though is a replay after the first play, I suspect.

My experiences at Prairie Dunes have set a new standard in my mind - 108 in 48.  The question is, which courses would I want to go around 6 times in 2 days?  What that means to me is, which courses are interesting, challenging and fun enough to stand up to that kind of immersion experience?  Can't be too hard or I get worn out.  Can't have weak stretches of holes or I lose attention. 

Prairie Dunes passes the 108 in 48 test with flying colors for me for three reasons:  First, the sequence of holes is packed with variety from a length, straight vs dogleg, and directional perspective.  Second, the greens are, well, you know.  Third, the course is drop dead gorgeous - color contrast, texture, land movement, tree management - it is just the right kind of candy for my eyes.

Of the courses I re-played in 2017, Essex County Club and Maidstone also pass this test, but for different reasons than PD.  Both Essex and Maidstone play through multiple "zones".  Essex has its brook/wetland zone and its stone hill zone.  Maidstone with its wetland zone and linksland zone.  This gives them both a meandering adventure feel that I find compelling.  Both are outstanding at the level of fine details.

All three of these courses share a peaceful, refined beauty in common that creates a sense of transcendence during the course of a round.  The passage of time melts away.

There are a handful of other courses that meet this standard for me.  There are also quite a few courses that I love dearly and consider favorites that do not. 

So I ask you, which are your 108 in 48s, and why?

[Tom_Doak]

We did 108 holes in 15 hours for the opening of The Loop!  It probably would have been a bit more fun spread out over two days though.


Ballyneal, like Prairie Dunes, is definitely one.

[Jason Way]

Ballyneal is on my list as well. As is Sand Hills.

Not to put you on the spot, but to put you on the spot, why did you pick Ballyneal from among your designs to mention Tom?

[Ken Fry]

Many courses I enjoy a lot, but only these am I longing for the first tee after putting out on 18 (or 9):

Kingsley
Greywalls
Lawsonia
Culver
Mountain Lake

Ken

[Jake Marvin]

I played 54 at Sweetens the day I made it out there, and I imagine I'd have enjoyed 54 more if I had another day in Tennessee. It seems to me that great green complexes are almost necessary to make a course enjoyable for that many plays at a time. Besides that, I'd second Lawsonia as a course where the number of rounds one plays never feels like enough.

[Tom_Doak]

Not to put you on the spot, but to put you on the spot, why did you pick Ballyneal from among your designs to mention Tom?

I often identify Ballyneal as our "most fun" course.  But I was prompted to suggest it because Jim Colton and Brandon Urban play way more than 100 holes there in a day for charity every year.


I'd like to think a lot of my courses would qualify for this category, though.  Tara Iti and St. Andrews Beach would be up near the top of my list of places to do it; so would The Loop and Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald.  You don't want to be looking for lost balls when you're playing 54 a day.

[John Kavanaugh]

Let's face it. 54 holes is more likely when there is nothing else to do.

[Joe Bausch]

Let's face it. 54 holes is more likely when there is nothing else to do.

Does anyone play 54 holes in 1 or 2 days in Myrtle Beach?

(that's a rhetorical question, grin)

[Ryan Taylor]

Kingsley Club, Sand Hills and Mid Pines.

[David Wuthrich]

So many could fit the bill.


I'll just list a few of my favorites:


Shinnecock
NGLA
Fishers Island
Tara Iti
Sand Hills
Cypress Point
Crystal Downs
Shore Acres

[James Brown]

I’ve never played more than 36 in a day.  New goals!

[Jason Way]

For those of you who have shared specific courses (thanks for that), are there specific reasons that those courses meet the standard for you?

[archie_struthers]

 


When a skinny looper at Pine Valley in the late  70's  we had a group go round and round on Memorial Day. Back then it was a quiet weekend .


There were four or five runners and fitness "nuts" in the group. Played fast with super light bags. This at a time when the caddie master didn't have a scale . Anyone who carried remembers the horrors of those incredibly heavy Burton leather bags. My shoulders ache just thinking about them .


The one day we played 54 at breakneck speed and my two guys decided to try and get one more in before dinner. The last round was probably finished in less than 2. 1/2 hours . Man was I tired !

[Tim Gavrich]

"Don't play too much golf. Two rounds at day are plenty." 


Of the courses I played in '17, Mid Ocean Club and Wilshire stand out as 72-in-48 or even 108-in-48-type places.


I didn't play them in 2017, but both Mountain Lake and Secession fit that bill for me, too. As does Old Town.

[David Wuthrich]

Courses are fun to play.


Challenging, different every time around, use all clubs in your bag.

[JMEvensky]

When a skinny looper at Pine Valley in the late  70's  we had a group go round and round on Memorial Day. Back then it was a quiet weekend .


There were four or five runners and fitness "nuts" in the group. Played fast with super light bags. This at a time when the caddie master didn't have a scale . Anyone who carried remembers the horrors of those incredibly heavy Burton leather bags. My shoulders ache just thinking about them .


The one day we played 54 at breakneck speed and my two guys decided to try and get one more in before dinner. The last round was probably finished in less than 2. 1/2 hours . Man was I tired !

If we can get TEP to learn how to work his cell phone, maybe we can try for a 54 hole day at PVGC next time I get to Philly.


Happy New Year.

[Joe Bausch]

When a skinny looper at Pine Valley in the late  70's  we had a group go round and round on Memorial Day. Back then it was a quiet weekend .


There were four or five runners and fitness "nuts" in the group. Played fast with super light bags. This at a time when the caddie master didn't have a scale . Anyone who carried remembers the horrors of those incredibly heavy Burton leather bags. My shoulders ache just thinking about them .


The one day we played 54 at breakneck speed and my two guys decided to try and get one more in before dinner. The last round was probably finished in less than 2. 1/2 hours . Man was I tired !

If we can get TEP to learn how to work his cell phone, maybe we can try for a 54 hole day at PVGC next time I get to Philly.


Happy New Year.

Dear JME,


What's a cell phone?


Sincerely,
The Lurker

[JMEvensky]

When a skinny looper at Pine Valley in the late  70's  we had a group go round and round on Memorial Day. Back then it was a quiet weekend .


There were four or five runners and fitness "nuts" in the group. Played fast with super light bags. This at a time when the caddie master didn't have a scale . Anyone who carried remembers the horrors of those incredibly heavy Burton leather bags. My shoulders ache just thinking about them .


The one day we played 54 at breakneck speed and my two guys decided to try and get one more in before dinner. The last round was probably finished in less than 2. 1/2 hours . Man was I tired !

If we can get TEP to learn how to work his cell phone, maybe we can try for a 54 hole day at PVGC next time I get to Philly.


Happy New Year.

Dear JME,


What's a cell phone?


Sincerely,
The Lurker

 


Happy New Year Joe--hope you get the opportunity to put together many more photo tours in 2018.

[Peter Pallotta]

The Lurker doesn't like acronyms or abbreviations of any kind. You might have more luck if you said:
 
If he has a cellular telephone, we could likely play a round of golf at the Pine Valley Golf Club in Camden County, New Jersey.

Best

[Jim Tang]

My list includes.......


Ballyneal - The fun factor is just so high, the multitude of different tee boxes available makes the course very flexible and different from one round to the next.  The greens and slopes surrounding the greens allow one to be creative and try different types of shots.


Pacific Dunes - Links golf along the ocean?  Yes, please.  The turf there is just fantastic to play off of.  The variable wind patterns mean the morning round could be completely different from the afternoon round, from one day to the next.


Royal Dornoch - The beauty and serenity of the setting is difficult to match.  The locals are so welcoming and warm.  The course is fun to play, offering unique holes and shots to execute, such as Foxy.  The greens are a terror and a joy to figure out.  The walk from No. 2 to No. 3. is spellbinding.


Friar's Head - Ridiculously good golf in a pristine setting.  The holes require great strategy, the course is demanding but very fair.  I loved the greens and thought they offered great variety.  The movement and elevation changes of the land keep interest throughout the round.


Lahinch - A roller coaster of a ride!  Such unique features, like the Dell and Klondyke holes.  I loved the par 3's.  The multitude of ways to play different holes makes for a fun two days of golf.  The movement of the land and the beauty of the setting along the sea.


There are many, many others, but, these are my top 5.  In thinking about what courses to select, I discovered that how much fun I had playing the courses was the overall determining factor.  If I'm spending two days at one course, it's gotta be fun.

[CJames]

I’ve never played more than 36 in a day.  New goals!

James, I, too, had never played more than 54 in one day...until I golfed with Jason and our equally insane friend Michael.  Jason and I actually played 61 holes together in July 2016 before calling it a day and making haste for the PD Men’s Grill before it closed at 9:00pm.  Our friend Michael, however, grabbed his eight-iron and putter and played another 18 holes under a full moon before walking off the course at 11:05pm.  Head pro John Lanham told us that so far as he knows, 81 was (and remains) the all-time walking record at PD. 

[Bill Vogeney]

That might be more than I can handle walking, but Ballyneal and Prairie Dunes would be at the top of the list for me. Might be biased because I call both of them "home." You just want to get back out there. Just so much fun-even if Prairie Dunes is playing tough with the gunch.

[John Kavanaugh]

The Men's grill does not close at 9pm. Not even close. I have never met a more generous staff willing to toss you a shovel, just enough rope and a timely much needed drive home. There is only one clock in Kansas and it's on the first tee.

[Brandon Urban]

I may be a bit biased, but Ballyneal is my ideal fit for this criteria. I went around it a few times in one day this summer and not once was I ever not looking forward to standing back on the first tee. I think the fun factor is what does it for me there, along with the width, the wild greens and the fact that you pretty much never lose a ball unless you hit it off of the planet. Plus homemade milkshakes at the end of the day to cure all ills. And when I woke up the next morning, I would've gladly done it again.

[Wayne Freeman]

   Agree that Ballyneal certainly fits the bill..  but for me spending all that time out there I want to be on the water.


                   Cypress Point,   Pebble Beach,  Barnbougle Dunes,  Cabot Cliffs,  Royal County Down,  Royal Dornoch.


           ...................and the Cliffs course at Olympic with my buddies David Tepper and Ian Lagowitz

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