An Idea I have: The Stiles and Van Kleek Tour

[Peter Bowman]

Here's an idea I've had in my head for a while now.  Kevin Mendik liked the idea when he and I golfed at Hooper last month.
The Stiles and Van Kleek diamonds in the rough are becoming unearthed and more people are beginning to appreciate their courses in recent years, thanks to Mendik's book and other publications out there, and chatter here on GCA. 
I think it would be neat to create a "rota" of their finer courses that the traveling golfers could play and seek to complete. My thoughts are as follows:1) include public and private courses that agree to offer a discount for a carrying S&VK "tour card"2) keep the courses localized to the New England/Northeast region all within a 4-hour drive from a central point3) award a name on a plaque at all courses as well as a photo wall of those golfers who complete the rota4) market this on social media, especially instagram and twitter (both platforms I barely know how to use)
I'd like to know if such a "tour" would appeal to members of GCA here but also to the avid traveling golfers.Also I'd like to know which courses, and how many, would be most appealing.  Perhaps between 8 and 11 courses would be reasonable and achievable to motivate S&VC fans to complete.IF this sounds good to readers here, which courses and how many would you nominate as part of the Stiles and Van Kleek rota?Certainly, I'm nominating Hooper because I have a strong affiliation with the course (and I'm in charge of marketing the course).I look forward to everyone's suggestions in favor or against the idea

[Tommy Williamsen]

Can you list the courses?

[Peter Bowman]

Can you list the courses?

There's a lot of S&VK courses.  I can make time to list a whole bunch after I'm done making tooth dust all day fixing teeth.  I know there's a number of GCA users who know FAR more about their courses than I do and I hope they can chime in.

[Tom_Doak]

There are several such "golf trails" and they can and do provide a bit of extra traffic for some courses, especially in rural markets.  [I played the North Dakota Golf Trail years ago when doing my research for The Confidential Guide.]


The ideal way to do it is to offer some sort of punch-card discount to those who play a certain number of courses.


The hard part is always to decide what courses should be "in", and which to exclude.  The easiest solution is to be as inclusive as possible, but that also means you'll likely be including some courses that aren't well maintained [design wise or turf wise or both], and that will turn off participating golfers.

[Peter Bowman]

There are several such "golf trails" and they can and do provide a bit of extra traffic for some courses, especially in rural markets.  [I played the North Dakota Golf Trail years ago when doing my research for The Confidential Guide.]


The ideal way to do it is to offer some sort of punch-card discount to those who play a certain number of courses.


The hard part is always to decide what courses should be "in", and which to exclude.  The easiest solution is to be as inclusive as possible, but that also means you'll likely be including some courses that aren't well maintained [design wise or turf wise or both], and that will turn off participating golfers.

It sounds like we're on the same wavelength here.  It could be tough to determine who gets (or even WANTS) inclusion in such a "trail", especially if the one creating and determining the system is done by a person like me.  But I think just getting the ball rolling and reaching out to the courses in consideration is a good start and maybe the course Pros and managers can take it from there. 
Taconic GC in Williamstown MA is certainly worthy of nomination (and liekly goes without saying).  Both Brattleboro CC and Keene CC are good S&VK tracks, but BCC has only 9 Stiles holes, so that could be a criterion for exclusion if needing to narrow down the field. 
I'll look forward to researching this unless I can be talked out of it.  There's too many ideas in ym head I want to pursue.  There is Zen to be had in practicing restraint

[Tom_Doak]

I will be interested to hear how many of the private [semi-private] courses wish to be included in the program for a little bit of outside income.  Might be very different this year than last year -- some courses are busier than ever, and others need the boost!

[Peter Bowman]

I can't imagine private clubs like Taconic are interested in the revenues, but maybe they will find courtesy in inclusion of a program, and perhaps with the distant possibility of boosting their own status as S&VK designs become more sought after courses

[Tim Martin]

I can't imagine private clubs like Taconic are interested in the revenues, but maybe they will find courtesy in inclusion of a program, and perhaps with the distant possibility of boosting their own status as S&VK designs become more sought after courses

Taconic sets aside times for the public. At least that has historically been the case pre Covid-19.

[mike_malone]

The Shore Club which was Wildwood is worth a visit.

[Peter Bowman]

I'll note that

[Dan_Callahan]

South Shore Country Club is really good. Can’t compete with Taconic, but it’s damn fun and open to the public.

[Ben Malach]

I played Olde Salem Green the day before I played Hooper. I found it was a wonderful contrast to Hooper and would be well worth a stop if you were looking to do a Stiles And Van Kleek tour. I would also think a lot of clubs would have an incentive to sign on to a tour if they did not have to do much.

[Peter Bowman]

I played Olde Salem Green the day before I played Hooper. I found it was a wonderful contrast to Hooper and would be well worth a stop if you were looking to do a Stiles And Van Kleek tour. I would also think a lot of clubs would have an incentive to sign on to a tour if they did not have to do much.

I remember you telling me that the day we met at Hooper and you showing me some pictures of it.  In fact, this AM before you chimed in I double checked my texts to eb sure it was you who went there.

[archie_struthers]

 


Played the Shore Club (Wildwood) yesterday!  It's in incredibly good condition and the greens have always been among the best at the Southern NJ shore. Superintendent Doug Larsen is really excellent.