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Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
They say that breaking up is hard to do
« on: January 07, 2019, 11:30:30 AM »
Now I know I know that it's true.

Yesterday I played my last round at Musgrove Mill Golf Club. It was my away club since 1995. Twice a year I'd bring a bunch of guys, stay in the cabin or clubhouse for a week. I'd park my car and never leave the property. Once in a while I would go down alone. I never had trouble finding a game. Periodically, I would stay with a buddy at his house. He had a "guest wing" on his house of four bedrooms. I' d go to bed and the next morning i'd find another guy in the bedroom nest door. 


My first round there I was part of a fivesome. On the first hole I hit three wood seven iron into the hole for an eagle two. That was when I fell in love. At the turn we had lunch. When we got to ten the group that made the turn caught us. No big deal. We chatted for about five minutes then we tee'd off. I knew that I had found my club. Before joining I  had to meet with the club chairman, Walter Ramadge. He told me they like to "keep the ass-hole facdtor low at the club." They did. The head pro, Jeff Tallman, came the same year. He is the best pro I ever have had. He treats everyone as if you are the only person in the world that matters.

The course is a special Palmer design. Fazio did the original routing and Ken Tomlinson did the actual construction work. Ran thinks it is Arnie's best work.The course is difficult even though it tops out at about 6950 yards. It slopes out at 147 form the back and 135 from the regular tees. I made a hole-in-one on 17 and eagles on three of the four par fives and two of the par fours.
In all that time I cannot remember one bad moment. Our course there was the time we lost our flight in the member/guest to two octogenarians.

The routing take you through wetlands, and along the Enoree River.


The par three seventh is the one of four outstanding par threes.

The tee ball does not require length but it does demand
accuracy on the many doglegs.

Sitting on the porch after a round with a drink and friends doesn't get any better.

I did an In My Opinion of the course many many years ago before I really knew how to do it. Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures.

http://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/musgrove-mill/

I am sure we all have similar stories. A psychologist friend of mine told me once that two of the most difficult things to do is say hello and goodbye. Saying goodbye to my congregation after 34 years was the most difficult thing I have ever done. This goodbye is tough as well.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2019, 11:36:56 AM by Tommy Williamsen »
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

John Kavanaugh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2019, 11:33:05 AM »
You didn't say why your are quitting.

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2019, 11:38:18 AM »
I just have not gotten down there as much recently. In fact I didn't get there at all in 2018. Ballyhack is two hours away, Musgrove is seven hours of driving.


Additionally, the guy at whose house I would stay died, many of the friends I had there either moved or resigned.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2019, 11:51:32 AM by Tommy Williamsen »
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

John Kavanaugh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2019, 11:43:57 AM »
I'm struggling with the same issues. Would you go back to Musgrove as a guest? I prefer a clean cut myself.

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2019, 11:50:19 AM »
Yes. The pro let me know that I can come down anytime.


The owner of Ballyhack has purchased clubs that are compelling to play. Dormie and Hidden Creek are both only 4 1/2 hours away. that is an easier drive than seven hours.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2019, 11:53:52 AM by Tommy Williamsen »
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

John Kavanaugh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2019, 12:01:08 PM »
Yes. The pro let me know that I can come down anytime.


They all say that. It's the ole let's be friends line. I think all of us that pay dues at national clubs where we show up a couple of times a year know we could get by on the cheap as a nonmember. It just doesn't feel right.


A couple of years ago I had a flight delayed for 12 hours in a town where I used to have a national membership. I called and they of course let me and my buddy come out and spend the day. It was weird seeing my old friends. I'd never do it again.


Truth be told my flight wasn't delayed 12 hours, I thought the pm was an am. You're damn right I hope to never do it again.

Erik J. Barzeski

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2019, 01:24:46 PM »
Sounds to me like breaking up was very easy to do.
Erik J. Barzeski @iacas
Author, Lowest Score Wins, Instructor/Coach, and Lifetime Student of the Game.

I generally ignore Rob, Tim, Garland, and Chris.

Edward Glidewell

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2019, 03:32:32 PM »
Musgrove Mill is a wonderful place for golf.


I played a couple of rounds there (and stayed in one of the rooms in the clubhouse) when attending the Masters a few years ago and loved every minute of it. It and Old Tabby Links are easily the two best Palmer courses I've played.

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2019, 10:58:00 AM »
Edward, the golf is indeed exceptional, but for me it was the whole experience of being there and the camaraderie that made the experience special.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2019, 12:25:26 PM »
That begs the question for me Tommy.

Which would you rather to be a member of?

 A DS 4 or 5 with great camaraderie among most members and after golf activities.
....or.
A DS 8-9 where maybe you have a regular 4 some but it ends there.

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2019, 03:30:47 PM »
That begs the question for me Tommy.

Which would you rather to be a member of?

 A DS 4 or 5 with great camaraderie among most members and after golf activities.
....or.
A DS 8-9 where maybe you have a regular 4 some but it ends there.


It is the course that first attracts me. I don't see myself joining any club that had mediocre course. I live in a little resort that has a DS 4. I have lots of friends but only play when I have some kind of match or event. I played it about 20 times last year. Ballyhack is 135 miles away and I played it 60 times. Most of my play was alone. I do have about six or seven guys I can call to play and do periodically.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Daryl "Turboe" Boe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #11 on: January 08, 2019, 06:21:10 PM »
As much as you will miss Musgrove, we at Musgrove will miss you...


By the way my guest room isn't as stylish and definitely not as well attended as Doug's guest wing was but you are always welcome here as well if that would have changed your mind...


Glad I got to play with you Sunday!
Instagram: @thequestfor3000

"Time spent playing golf is not deducted from ones lifespan."

"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #12 on: January 08, 2019, 07:27:09 PM »
Daryl, I just wish I had played as well as you did.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #13 on: January 08, 2019, 07:38:47 PM »
Daryl Boe sent me these aerial photos and hole numbers of the course. The routing is outstanding and keeps you off balance.





Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Wade Whitehead

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2019, 08:01:18 PM »
Tommy:

Can you tell us about the ninth hole at Musgrove?

Let's play soon.

WW

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: They say that breaking up is hard to do
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2019, 09:07:47 PM »
Nine is a true three shot par five. Only a few guys have ever hit it in two. The tee shot looks scary but the fairway is miles wide. If you hit it to the right you, Wade, could hit driver. If you hit it to the left part of the fairway, three wood is the better option from the back tee. The tee ball is not the crucial shot. The drive really does not have to be very long to play the hole well. The second shot is far more important. It sets up the shot into the green. The direction and distance the second shot travels, depends on the pin placement. The green sits some twenty feet above the fairway. It is divided into three sections. When the pin is front left everyone thinks birdie. When the pin is back right we'd all like birdie but par is a good score. The green is always slick and the super like to keep the bent grass greens running about 11 or 12 except in the heat of the summer. The green is side but not very deep. Over the green brings bogey into play because the green is sloped back to front.
The green stuff short and right of the green is marsh. It looks like woods but it is marsh with some trees in it.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi