Two weeks in the south-east US with some of GCA's finest

[Scott Warren]

I got home Easter weekend from a two-week roadtrip through North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia that came together around a dream-come-true visit to The Masters, 25 years in the making.

Attending The Masters on Thursday and Sunday was genuine #1 on the bucket list stuff, but I also got to see some pretty amazing golf courses across three states and -- maybe the most fun of all -- reconnect with some old friends I hadn't seen in too long and get to know the host of new faces I met along the way.

I think I managed to get everyone from GCA or GCA-adjacent in at least one pic, so here's some memories for posterity.


Dunlop White showed me an amazing start to the trip at Old Town, but in the fun we had over lunch and touring Wake Forest post-round, this was the only pic I got of the great man -- as he arrived at the 14th green to say hi as I made a solo loop in sub-10°C conditions fresh off a 29-hour travel day. It was the perfect start to the trip.


Mark Stewart was kind enough to join Jay Mickle, Cody McBride and me for a lap of his treasure, Tobacco Road. Here he is from the new right-hand tee box at the 6th, which we all graciously missed the green on so Mark could chalk up its inaugural GIR!


Post-round at Tobacco Road, after Jay's attempt to level the clubhouse with a line-drive rocket from the 18th fairway.


A visit to GCA Global HQ was a highlight: Jay Mickle, Craig Disher, Chris Buie and his new book, GMBF, Vaughn Halyard, me and John Mayhugh.


I have no idea what I am saying here, but I feel, from the onlookers' faces, that it may have been offensive or controversial. Or maybe both.


John Mayhugh hoisting one into the new 5th green at Southern Pines GC.


Following our night at GCA World HQ, we were treated to an evening at MickleStix Global Manufacturing Plant. Here's Jay admiring his handiwork.


And Jay talking John Mayhugh through the construction process.


Craig Disher and Jay Mickle enjoying the walk at Mid Pines.


Me, Craig, John and Jay after finishing up at Mid Pines, which brought the NC leg of my trip to an end.


Mike Whitaker launching one on the 9th at Bulls Bay.


Joe Fairey on the "Short" 3rd at Yeamans Hall. If Joe tries to tell you he's anything more than a 5-6 handicap, close your wallet and run away!


Mike Whitaker on the "Biarritz" 16th at Yeamans Hall. I lamented as we arrived at the tee that it's my favourite MacRaynor template but I've never played one well, then proceeded to hit a hybrid to two feet.


Whitaker and I on the 17th at Caledonia, which immediately became one of my favourite golf courses. Mike and I have come a long way since meeting in a coffee shop at Croydon Station in south London in 2009 to go play The Addington together.


Jeff Warne ripping one down the 5th at Aiken GC. It's absurd to me that there isn't a queue out the door at AGC every day of the week for what that course offers and the ridiculously low green fee they ask.

[Tommy Williamsen]

What a nice trip and good memories for all.

[A.G._Crockett]

Wow!  That is a GREAT trip in every way; congrats!

[Peter Sayegh]

Scott, sounds like you had an incredible trip.

Thanks for sharing some pics. The ones of Mr. Mickle in his shop say a lot about those who love golf.

Did you play True Blue? Any details why Caledonia became a favorite of yours?

[John Kavanaugh]

Compliments on choosing the most complimentary action shots I have ever seen on this site. You captured the essence of scholar/athlete perfectly. As an aside, is the painting above your head while pontificating by one of our featured artists?

[Ira Fishman]

Scott,


Thanks for posting. It is great to be able to put faces with names.


Jeff Warne's swing just a bit better than mine.


Glad you enjoyed the trip. The NC Sandhills is a special place.


Ira

[jeffwarne]

Jeff Warne's swing just a bit better than mine.

That was hole five.
Doubtful he started there...

[MCirba]

Terrific stuff, Scott.


I always find myself jealous of Jay's hair though.

[Marty Bonnar]

Damn fine asspics, mate. It's no Elie though, is it? 
Positively verdant with envy!
Cheers,
M.

[Michael Chadwick]

A great example of getting off the DG and meeting in person! Well done, Scott. Enjoyed following along your trip. Terrific itinerary.

[PCCraig]

Looks like you had a wonderful trip.


Next time do the Midwest!

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Kinda bummed that myself and Musgrove Mill GC were not on that itinerary... :'(

[cary lichtenstein]

great trip and great choice of courses, my favorite, Tobacco Road

[Jim Hoak]

Terrific post!  I wish we had more like this--good pictures, good commentary.
Small suggestion--I wish there were more positive and/or negative comments on the courses.
And, as a general comment, pictures like this really enhance the post.  I wish there was a simpler way to post pictures on this site.  I've had posting pictures explained several times to me, but for us non-computer-savvy guys, it is is still way too complicated and difficult!  I'd love to post pictures from my cell phone to a post on here if it were much easier to do.  I think it would improve GCA.

[Scott Warren]

Did you play True Blue? Any details why Caledonia became a favorite of yours?

I did, but not with any GCAers, so no pics in this thread. Playing four of Strantz's courses in a week was a really interesting exercise and I'll start a thread specific to that pretty soon.


True Blue keeps growing on me the more I think about it, the finish is just such a disappointment. If I ever go back I think I'd just walk in after the 15th. We played in carts, but I'd be keen to walk it next time. After the walk to the first tee from the clubhouse there weren't too many silly green to tee transitions. Might also help to make the pace of play not seem so slow!


I loved Caledonia's restraint and I thought the routing was genius. A site that small can't usually accommodate angles like you see on 8, 13 or width like on 10 and 18, or the sense of spaciousness and lack of holes playing back along the previous one. The really short par threes, as well, I think are a smart way to give space to the holes that require it and the shots/greens ensure those holes catch your attention despite being only a wedge.


Add to those architectural qualities the incredible low country setting and vegetation and it's pretty damn hard to beat.

Jeff Warne's swing just a bit better than mine.

It was pretty remarkable watching Jeff searching for his swing the first few holes like a guy trying to find his glasses on his bedside table in the dark, but then when he found the feel -- and it actually may have been the shot I photographed -- he just clicked in and it was poetry the rest of the day.


On the 10th at Palmetto later that afternoon, he left himself a c. 40-yard bunker shot to a tough pin and our other playing partner, who has known him 20 years, just whispers "watch this". The commitment to speed, contact and result were all Tour-worthy and the playing partner just chuckles and says "that's a golfer".

Looks like you had a wonderful trip.


Next time do the Midwest!

I'm on about a once-per-decade timeframe for these two-week leave passes, so pencil me in for 2032!

Terrific post!  I wish we had more like this--good pictures, good commentary.
Small suggestion--I wish there were more positive and/or negative comments on the courses.

This thread was really just to celebrate the people I got to spend time with along the way. I've got heaps of pics of all the courses and some ideas, questions and opinions bubbling away on most of them -- will start some specific threads as soon as time allows.

[Peter Sayegh]

Did you play True Blue? Any details why Caledonia became a favorite of yours?

This thread was really just to celebrate the people I got to spend time with along the way. I've got heaps of pics of all the courses and some ideas, questions and opinions bubbling away on most of them -- will start some specific threads as soon as time allows.

Thanks again Scott. Amazing how good company increases one's playing enjoyment and course understanding. I look forward to more pics/opinions of your visit.
I'm very interested why you disliked TB's three closing holes.
I love 16 and 18.
What did you think of 14?
Peter

[Scott Warren]

14 at TB is superb. I loved across the board Strantz's concept of greens within greens coupled with really broad and often terraced teeing grounds to create par threes that could play in incredibly varied ways.


6 and 17 at Tobacco Road did this, 14 at True Blue, 12 at Bulls Bay (and 17 a little bit), 9 at Caledonia.


17 at TR and 14 at TB are probably the pick of them though.

[Ira Fishman]

Scott,


If you have the time and interest, please compare and contrast the US courses with the Australian courses. Not to say which you think better or worse, but just how they are similar or different from an architectural perspective. I know that it is not a fair question.


Ira

[Scott Warren]

Scott,

If you have the time and interest, please compare and contrast the US courses with the Australian courses. Not to say which you think better or worse, but just how they are similar or different from an architectural perspective. I know that it is not a fair question.

Ira

The comparison between the Melbourne sandbelt and the NC sandhills was something I was curious about heading into the trip and there were some similarities there for sure in terms of ideal soil and vegetation but limited interest in the terrain (at Pinehurst particularly) but that being overcome by engaging strategies driven by the greens and bunkering.

In recent years I've been coming around to ideal golf sites being more on the flatter side, for instance the land of Pinehurst #2, Kingston Heath or Royal Cinque Ports are each a quality canvas for golf and not, as is often argued, sites of insufficient interest that limit how good the golf can be. That said, there's truth in bolder land being more thrilling and memorable and it's a testament to the quality of the holes that PH#2 is as good as it is and the holes as varied.

One thing that continues to strike me about American private clubs is the strong sense of identity they possess and the quiet confidence they carry about who they are and what they represent. The feeling of community and belonging is incredibly strong.

It was interesting in Charleston to experience Yeamans Hall and Bulls Bay on consecutive days and see two completely different clubs who are pursuing polar opposite ideals of private club life but each with a membership who must drive through the front gate and feel incredibly fortunate that this is their home.

Conversely, in Australia a lot of the top clubs have adopted a cold corporate approach that IMO has bled away their individuality. Lots of characterless new clubhouses designed for hosting weddings and full-field shotgun start corporate events on Tuesdays, and boards/GMs looking at other clubs in the market and trying to be the same thing as the competition rather than really drilling down into what makes us who we are as a membership, what's our DNA and history and how can we bring to life our traditions and values.

[Ben Stephens]

looks like a great trip Scott maybe a future BUDA event as we have not embarked to the states yet.


Never listen to what Whitty says!!!!! I have been on the receiving end from GCA's John Wayne he was really smokin' on that day BUDA at Hollinwell. 

[Peter Sayegh]

Scott, excuse my ignorance, but was this trip your first (playing) experience with Mike Strantz? I get the sense you enjoyed his courses as much as I always have.
I have yet to play Bulls Bay. How would you compare it to TR/CAL/TB? Similarities or some dramatic/subtle differences?
The pic you shared of the sixth at Tobacco Road is a view I've never seen. How new is that tee? Looks like they cleared/sheared the "minefield" obstruction that sits between the left hand tees and the green. It was the only feature I disliked at TR.
Thanks. Peter.

[Ira Fishman]

Scott,

If you have the time and interest, please compare and contrast the US courses with the Australian courses. Not to say which you think better or worse, but just how they are similar or different from an architectural perspective. I know that it is not a fair question.

Ira

The comparison between the Melbourne sandbelt and the NC sandhills was something I was curious about heading into the trip and there were some similarities there for sure in terms of ideal soil and vegetation but limited interest in the terrain (at Pinehurst particularly) but that being overcome by engaging strategies driven by the greens and bunkering.

In recent years I've been coming around to ideal golf sites being more on the flatter side, for instance the land of Pinehurst #2, Kingston Heath or Royal Cinque Ports are each a quality canvas for golf and not, as is often argued, sites of insufficient interest that limit how good the golf can be. That said, there's truth in bolder land being more thrilling and memorable and it's a testament to the quality of the holes that PH#2 is as good as it is and the holes as varied.

Scott, thanks. PH2 has been a laboratory for me in terms of architecture. I played it in 2005 just after the US Open and was disappointed except for the green complexes. We stated making regular trips to PN/MP shortly thereafter, and my wife who was not on the 2005 trip started asking about PH. I told her that I really had no desire to go back given the cost. She finally persuaded me a few years ago, and wow am I glad that she did.


The restoration truly transformed the course. The width opened up the angles and brought out the brilliance of the routing. And I am not a big anesthetics guy but the replacement of the rough with the waste areas visually enabled being able to appreciate the routing and green surrounds.


Ira

[John Mayhugh]

Scott,
Any post with multiple photos of me is a disservice to the site.

Otherwise, this is a great testament to the kind of friendships facilitated by Golf Club Atlas. Scott & I met at my first Buda in 2009 at Deal. Since then, we've met up in Australia, the midwest, & Scotland. We all want to see great golf courses but it's so much better to see them with people that share our interests.

[Scott Warren]

Scott, excuse my ignorance, but was this trip your first (playing) experience with Mike Strantz? I get the sense you enjoyed his courses as much as I always have.

I have yet to play Bulls Bay. How would you compare it to TR/CAL/TB? Similarities or some dramatic/subtle
?
The pic you shared of the sixth at Tobacco Road is a view I've never seen. How new is that tee? Looks like they cleared/sheared the "minefield" obstruction that sits between the left hand tees and the green. It was the only feature I disliked at TR.
Thanks. Peter.

That was the first time that new tee had been used. It's a tremendous angle from there. I was given the honour of the first shot and I tugged it 20 yards left, then knifed one from the waste over the green and past the 7th tee and duffed one halfway back down the hill before picking up. I think "inauspicious" is a generous description!

This was my first experience with Strantz and I loved being able to binge 72 holes that decently covered his design career and the public/private/resort span.

I am still trying to get clear in my head how I see the progression from Caledonia to Bulls Bay via True Blue and Tobacco Road. I wish I could have seen the original True Blue because it sounds even more aggressive than Tobacco Road in some ways.

My immediate reaction to Bulls Bay was "Bulls Bay is the course Tobacco Road could become if it got off the drugs and managed to hold down a steady job", but that now feels like a dig at Tobacco Road. Tobacco Road might be the most exciting golf course I have ever played and even though it is so wild and unconventional I didn't feel like anything it asked of me was excessive or unfair.

But Bulls Bay felt to me like a form of graduation. I am projecting wildly, but I feel like I could see Mike having thrown a lot of things at the wall in his 1990s designs and then with this blank canvas and limitless budget at Bulls Bay he could crystalise it all into a considered thesis.

Bulls Bay was probably the course of his that I thought was the best, but it didn't capture my heart quite the same way Caledonia and Tobacco Road did.

I am still sort of processing it all, but I loved playing his courses and I'm a bit bummed that I'm now 15,000km from them.

[Peter Sayegh]

I wish I could have seen the original True Blue because it sounds even more aggressive than Tobacco Road in some ways.

You may get your wish on your next visit:
https://www.playgolfmyrtlebeach.com/news/five-myrtle-beach-golf-courses-welcome-players-winter-renovations-two-summer-renovations-planned/