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Anthony Gray

Hard to get to courses.
« on: January 12, 2022, 07:06:41 PM »





 Been to Royal County Down and Royal Dornoch and I’ve wondered if they were easier to get to would they be rated as high.


 Does ease/difficulty of access effect a courses mystique?


 Does private/public make a difference?




 Looks like Australia and New Zealand is popular with new courses.
 
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Daryl "Turboe" Boe

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2022, 09:21:44 PM »
I dont ever recall any course I found harder to get to than Twisted Gun GC in West Virginia when it first opened...


And it is no Royal County Down I can tell you that!
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Greg Hohman

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2022, 10:29:22 PM »
Desert Winds GC in Twenty Nine Palms CA, unless you get sidetracked along the way by Hawk’s Landing GC in Yucca Valley.


I have not played either, though I saw HL from the road and vowed to return for the hell (!) of it.

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Richard Fisher

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2022, 04:43:51 AM »
To make an obvious point, 'hard to get to' does rather depend where you start from, and RCD is about one hour from Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, and Dornoch is nowadays an hour from Inverness, the unofficial capital of the Scottish highlands. If you mean 'hard to get to' from the USA, understood! Turning this round, how many storied US clubs and courses are more than an hour from a city of (say) more than 50 000 population? In the UK, Harlech and Aberdovey would both fit the bill, but I can think of very few other courses of similar stature of equivalent remoteness on this side of the Atlantic: of Ran's 148, only perhaps Askernish (which is sui generis in lots of ways anyway).
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Kevin Stark

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2022, 05:52:24 AM »
Quite a few of the well known clubs in the middle of the country would fit this description (Sand Hills, Dismal River, Sutton Bay, Ballyneal, etc.) Places like Bandon Dunes and Silvies Ranch also meet that criteria, I think. RCCC and several other spots in Montana are also this way. If you're west of the Mississippi River, east of the Cascades/Sierra Nevada, and not near a major city you are a long way from anything. I'm always struck by how empty some parts of the country are.


The north woods of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota might also be considered remote by this definition.
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Anthony Gray

Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2022, 06:02:27 AM »
Quote from: Kevin Stark on January 13, 2022, 05:52:24 AM
Quite a few of the well known clubs in the middle of the country would fit this description (Sand Hills, Dismal River, Sutton Bay, Ballyneal, etc.) Places like Bandon Dunes and Silvies Ranch also meet that criteria, I think. RCCC and several other spots in Montana are also this way. If you're west of the Mississippi River, east of the Cascades/Sierra Nevada, and not near a major city you are a long way from anything. I'm always struck by how empty some parts of the country are.


The north woods of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota might also be considered remote by this definition.


 Sand Hills was the one in the US I was thinking of.
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Richard Hetzel

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2022, 07:04:04 AM »
Quote from: Daryl "Turboe" Boe on January 12, 2022, 09:21:44 PM
I dont ever recall any course I found harder to get to than Twisted Gun GC in West Virginia when it first opened...


And it is no Royal County Down I can tell you that!


Twisted Gun was near impossible to find! 125% agree!
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Steve Wilson

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2022, 11:10:04 AM »
So, Daryl, Richard, how was Twisted Gun?  I used to visit down that way and thought about making a side trip but never got around to it.
I played a NLE reclamation course in the Columbus area sometime around 2000 called the Phoenix but I think that was over a garbage landfill.  It wasn't bad but it didn't make it for very long. 


Even more curious about what you were doing in that corner of West Virginia anyhow.  Were you lost to begin with and only became more so while seeking out the course? 
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MCirba

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2022, 11:14:17 AM »
I need to get to Twisted Gun on name alone.
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Matt_Cohn

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2022, 11:33:58 AM »
Getting to the original question, it seems like the answer is no. For every Sand Hills, there are probably more Augusta and LACC and SFGC that are just right there off the main road.


I think it's about whether a place FEELS a world away, not whether it actually IS!
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Garland Bayley

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2022, 12:33:50 PM »
Bar Run
Wine Valley
Silvies Valley
Bandon Crossings 
« Last Edit: January 13, 2022, 12:36:58 PM by Garland Bayley »
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David Kelly

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2022, 12:51:45 PM »
Quote from: Matt_Cohn on January 13, 2022, 11:33:58 AM
Getting to the original question, it seems like the answer is no. For every Sand Hills, there are probably more Augusta and LACC and SFGC that are just right there off the main road.
Although pre-GPS I think I drove past the entrance to SFGC five times before finally figuring out that it was past the school.
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Steve Wilson

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2022, 01:21:59 PM »
So despite being a resident of West Virginia, albeit the much more northern part, this response from Google Maps may make Twisted Gun the hardest to get to course in the world.

[/size]Sorry, we could not calculate transit directions from [/color][/size]"Work (116 Boot Hill Rd)[/color]" [/size]to [/color][/size]"Twisted Gun Golf Club, 9711, 2002 Twisted Gun Road, Wharncliffe, WV 25651[/color]"
[/size][/color]
[/size]Could this be the ultimate "you can't get there from here" story.[/color]
[/size] [/color]
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Some days you play golf, some days you find things.

I'm not really registered, but I couldn't find a symbol for certifiable.

"Every good drive by a high handicapper will be punished..."  Garland Bailey at the BUDA in sharing with me what the better player should always remember.

Garland Bayley

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2022, 01:47:21 PM »
Quote from: Steve Wilson on January 13, 2022, 01:21:59 PM
So despite being a resident of West Virginia, albeit the much more northern part, this response from Google Maps may make Twisted Gun the hardest to get to course in the world.

[/size]Sorry, we could not calculate transit directions from [/color][/size]"Work (116 Boot Hill Rd)[/color]" [/size]to [/color][/size]"Twisted Gun Golf Club, 9711, 2002 Twisted Gun Road, Wharncliffe, WV 25651[/color]"
[/size][/color]
[/size]Could this be the ultimate "you can't get there from here" story.[/color]
[/size] [/color]

Perhaps your work address is inaccessible. Google Maps routed me to Twisted Gum from my home in Washington state.
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"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Ian Mackenzie

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2022, 02:35:42 PM »
Cape Wickham?


Fishers Island?


Cabot?


For that matter, how many of endeavored to play San Francisco GC, made it all the way there only to have no idea how to find the club entrance...? To me, SFGC was "hard to get to"... ;D



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Steve Wilson

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #15 on: January 13, 2022, 02:38:11 PM »
You know, Garland, considering I'm retired I think my work address is pretty damned inaccessible. ;)
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Some days you play golf, some days you find things.

I'm not really registered, but I couldn't find a symbol for certifiable.

"Every good drive by a high handicapper will be punished..."  Garland Bailey at the BUDA in sharing with me what the better player should always remember.

Bernie Bell

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #16 on: January 13, 2022, 05:13:48 PM »
I wonder whether some hard to get on courses would be esteemed as highly if they were easier to play.
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Anthony Gray

Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #17 on: January 13, 2022, 07:24:56 PM »
Quote from: Bernie Bell on January 13, 2022, 05:13:48 PM
I wonder whether some hard to get on courses would be esteemed as highly if they were easier to play.


 Bingo



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Richard Hetzel

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #18 on: January 13, 2022, 07:26:31 PM »
Quote from: Steve Wilson on January 13, 2022, 11:10:04 AM
So, Daryl, Richard, how was Twisted Gun?  I used to visit down that way and thought about making a side trip but never got around to it.
I played a NLE reclamation course in the Columbus area sometime around 2000 called the Phoenix but I think that was over a garbage landfill.  It wasn't bad but it didn't make it for very long. 


Even more curious about what you were doing in that corner of West Virginia anyhow.  Were you lost to begin with and only became more so while seeking out the course?
Phoenix was actually a fun golf course for what it was, a bit strange, but it was fun (especially when windy) and inexpensive. I only played it once, after driving past it hundreds of times on I-71.
A random person from WV told me about Twisted Gun at a golf course here in Cincy once and I added it to my "to play" list.
The venue sounded interesting, eventually I made the drive 4-5 hours over that way (and at least an hour trying to find it once within a few miles) to play it. It was maybe $40 with a cart and a very fun golf course.

Here are a few Twisted Gun pics...Twisted Gun was built on the top of a mountain that was previously strip mined and had to be returned to the same (not possible) or usable green space like a golf course or a park IIRC. Something along those lines. You can see strip mining operations all around in the distance. I have pics of all 18 holes somewhere....I had to stop at the Wharnecliff (SP?) post office and they could NOT even provide good directions on how to get up the mountain to the course. We were late for our tee time, but hardly anyone was there at all so it worked out.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2022, 08:33:29 PM by Richard Hetzel »
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Anthony Gray

Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #19 on: January 13, 2022, 07:45:00 PM »
Quote from: Richard Hetzel on January 13, 2022, 07:26:31 PM
Quote from: Steve Wilson on January 13, 2022, 11:10:04 AM
So, Daryl, Richard, how was Twisted Gun?  I used to visit down that way and thought about making a side trip but never got around to it.
I played a NLE reclamation course in the Columbus area sometime around 2000 called the Phoenix but I think that was over a garbage landfill.  It wasn't bad but it didn't make it for very long. 


Even more curious about what you were doing in that corner of West Virginia anyhow.  Were you lost to begin with and only became more so while seeking out the course?
Phoenix was actually a fun golf course for what it was, a bit strange but it was fun (especially when windy) and inexpensive. I only played it once, after driving past it hundreds of time on I-71.
A prson from WV told me about Twisted Gun at a golf course once and I added it to my list. Sounded interesting, Eventually I made it the 4-5 hours over that way (at least an hour trying to find it once within a few miles) to play it. It was maybe $40 with a cart and a very fun golf course. Here are a few pics...

Twisted Gun was built on the top of a mountain that was previously strip mined and had to be returned to the same (not possible) or usuable green space like a golf course or a park IIRC. Something along those lines. YOu can see strip mining operations all around in the distance. I have pics of all 18 holes somewhere....I had to stop at the Wharnecliff post office and they could NOT even provide good directions on how to get up the mountain to the course. We were late for our tee time, but hardly anyone was there at all so it worked out.




 I’m from West Virginia and this is so accurate. Spent a summer working reclamation at strip mines in Kentucky. Coal paid for my education and everything else in my life. I would love to golf here. I’ve golfed a couple courses that reminded me of reclaimed strip mines but were not.
 My job in the summer was to plant seed and fertilizer where the hydroseeder would not reach. I made sure I studied really hard the next year.



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Tim Leahy

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #20 on: January 13, 2022, 10:08:22 PM »
Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course near Sonora, CA is in the middle of nowhere near the entrance to Yosemite. Worth the driving time though a beautiful course lined with pines with changes in elevation. Not a day trip from any major city if you can help it.
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Mark Kiely

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #21 on: January 14, 2022, 12:30:39 AM »
Rams Hill (Borrego Springs, CA) and Coyote Springs (middle of nowhere between Vegas and Mesquite, NV) come to mind. Also, despite being just a few miles off the freeway in Temecula, I got totally lost and found myself nearly stranded on a hillside dirt road the first time I tried to find CrossCreek.
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John Crowley

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #22 on: January 14, 2022, 12:52:20 AM »
PV and Ballyneal require very specific instructions to find.

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Jeff Schley

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #23 on: January 14, 2022, 02:36:04 AM »
Dismal River!  Don't go on Soddy Road in Nebraska to get there from Denver!  We used our GPS and took us via some ranchers private land no doubt. Late at night and only faith to pull us through. Eventually popping out and getting back to gravel road civilization.  ;D
The other was the European Club in Ireland as there was road construction and we were totally lost. Luckily one of the construction workers we asked where the club was offered to drive there and allow us to follow him. Great guy and much appreciated. Would have been a shame to miss Pat Ruddy's course.
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Thomas Dai

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Re: Hard to get to courses.
« Reply #24 on: January 14, 2022, 03:57:47 AM »
A few more have been built in the period since the last post to this thread but there are some noteworthy examples in it - see - https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,8491.0.html
Atb
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