New courses for me in 2022 were awesome. How about you?

[Joe_Tucholski]

I enjoy these threads as they provide an opportunity to look back and realize just how lucky I was.


Most of my new plays were on a trip to Ireland:
Portstewart - Strand and Riverside (wish I had played the old instead of the riverside course)
Portrush - Valley (glad this course gets overlooked by Dunluce as it's an amazing value - hope they don't start to jack up the price)
Rosapenna - St. Patricks and Sandy Hills (a lot has been said on both of these)
Ballyliffin - Old and Glashedy (prefer the old)
Greencastle (had a couple nice holes on the coast)
Castlerock (fun and affordable)
Donegal (not a bad place but a let down)
Carne - Wild Atlantic 9 (previously played the original Hackett)


Close to home only played one new course this year:
Four Mile Ranch - CO (great value and where I go when the home course is closed)


Stopped in on a not so great course while on vacation:
Seychelles Golf Club

[MCirba]

For a variety of reasons I played fewer new courses (24) this year than any time I can recall since age 30, and most I played in bunches over a few days on a trip.   Hoping to add a few more the last week of December while visiting family in Phoenix/Scottsdale.  Don't cry for me, though...I also made return visits to 34 previously played courses, many of them stellar.


Rackham (MI)
Stonycroft Hills (MI)
Oakland Hills (South) (MI)
Franklin Hills (MI)
Washtenaw (MI)
Hammock Beach (Conservatory) (FL)
Mount Dora (FL)
Ocala (FL)
Hammock Beach (Ocean) (FL)
Ocean Palms (FL)
World Golf Village (King & Bear) (FL)
Hopewell Valley (NJ)
Sandy Run (PA)
Huntingdon Valley (Centennial Nine) (PA)
Rochester (NY)
Gearhart (OR)
Bandon Crossings (OR)
Bandon Trails (OR)
Bandon Preserve (OR)
Old Macdonald (OR)
Eastmoreland (OR)
North Jersey (NJ)
Eagle Rock (Executive) (PA)
Sherwood Forest (MD)

Added five more in Arizona this week.   If I think it will add anything I'll add my Doak Scale scores once I get back this weekend.


Bellair
500 Club
Encanto
Falcon Dunes
Verrado (Founders)

[Cory Lewis]

For the first time in a long time, my year in golf actually ended today on the last day of the year.  Here's my breakdown:


221 rounds, 128 new courses.  Played in 21 states. 


Highlights were playing my 2000th course in May, a trip to Bandon after a 21 year absence, and an amazing trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. 


Favorite course played was Nanea, followed by Old MacDonald.  Biggest surprises of the year were Omaha and Waverley.

[Brent Carlson]

For a variety of reasons I played fewer new courses (24) this year than any time I can recall since age 30, and most I played in bunches over a few days on a trip.   Hoping to add a few more the last week of December while visiting family in Phoenix/Scottsdale.  Don't cry for me, though...I also made return visits to 34 previously played courses, many of them stellar.


Rackham (MI)
Stonycroft Hills (MI)
Oakland Hills (South) (MI)
Franklin Hills (MI)
Washtenaw (MI)
Hammock Beach (Conservatory) (FL)
Mount Dora (FL)
Ocala (FL)
Hammock Beach (Ocean) (FL)
Ocean Palms (FL)
World Golf Village (King & Bear) (FL)
Hopewell Valley (NJ)
Sandy Run (PA)
Huntingdon Valley (Centennial Nine) (PA)
Rochester (NY)
Gearhart (OR)
Bandon Crossings (OR)
Bandon Trails (OR)
Bandon Preserve (OR)
Old Macdonald (OR)
Eastmoreland (OR)
North Jersey (NJ)
Eagle Rock (Executive) (PA)
Sherwood Forest (MD)

Added five more in Arizona this week.   If I think it will add anything I'll add my Doak Scale scores once I get back this weekend.


Bellair
500 Club
Encanto
Falcon Dunes
Verrado (Founders)

Please add your DS scores.  I'd like to see them.

[mike_malone]

For the first time in a long time, my year in golf actually ended today on the last day of the year.  Here's my breakdown:


221 rounds, 128 new courses.  Played in 21 states. 


Highlights were playing my 2000th course in May, a trip to Bandon after a 21 year absence, and an amazing trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. 


Favorite course played was Nanea, followed by Old MacDonald.  Biggest surprises of the year were Omaha and Waverley.

Cory is always amazing.

[MCirba]

Ok, let me try to add my Doak Scale scores off the top of my head.   Questions and/or comments welcomed.

Rackham (MI) - 3.5
Stonycroft Hills (MI) - 4.5
Oakland Hills (South) (MI) - 9
Franklin Hills (MI) - 8
Washtenaw (MI) - 4
Hammock Beach (Conservatory) (FL) - 4.5
Mount Dora (FL) - 4
Ocala (FL) - 5
Hammock Beach (Ocean) (FL) - 5.5
Ocean Palms (FL) - 1
World Golf Village (King & Bear) (FL) - 4
Hopewell Valley (NJ) - 4
Sandy Run (PA) - 4
Huntingdon Valley (Centennial Nine) (PA) - 5
Rochester (NY) - 6
Gearhart (OR) - 6.5
Bandon Crossings (OR) - 5.5
Bandon Trails (OR) - 9
Bandon Preserve (OR) - 7
Old Macdonald (OR) - 10
Eastmoreland (OR) - 3
North Jersey (NJ) - 6
Eagle Rock (Executive) (PA) - 4
Sherwood Forest (MD) Tough to score an executive course with sand greens playing through an eclectic, exclusive neighborhood but it was great fun so - 4
Bellair (AZ) - 3.5
500 Club (AZ) - 5
Encanto (AZ) - 4
Falcon Dunes (AZ) - 5
Verrado (Founders) (AZ) - 6

[Rob Marshall]

Ok, let me try to add my Doak Scale scores off the top of my head.   Questions and/or comments welcomed.

Rackham (MI) - 3.5
Stonycroft Hills (MI) - 4.5
Oakland Hills (South) (MI) - 9
Franklin Hills (MI) - 8
Washtenaw (MI) - 4
Hammock Beach (Conservatory) (FL) - 4.5
Mount Dora (FL) - 4
Ocala (FL) - 5
Hammock Beach (Ocean) (FL) - 5.5
Ocean Palms (FL) - 1
World Golf Village (King & Bear) (FL) - 4
Hopewell Valley (NJ) - 4
Sandy Run (PA) - 4
Huntingdon Valley (Centennial Nine) (PA) - 5
Rochester (NY) - 6
Gearhart (OR) - 6.5
Bandon Crossings (OR) - 5.5
Bandon Trails (OR) - 9
Bandon Preserve (OR) - 7
Old Macdonald (OR) - 10
Eastmoreland (OR) - 3
North Jersey (NJ) - 6
Eagle Rock (Executive) (PA) - 4
Sherwood Forest (MD) Tough to score an executive course with sand greens playing through an eclectic, exclusive neighborhood but it was great fun so - 4
Bellair (AZ) - 3.5
500 Club (AZ) - 5
Encanto (AZ) - 4
Falcon Dunes (AZ) - 5
Verrado (Founders) (AZ) - 6

What is the Rochester 6? Country Club of Rochester?

[MCirba]

Rob Marshall,


Yes, correct...CC of Rochester (NY). 

[John Kavanaugh]

Rob Marshall,


Yes, correct...CC of Rochester (NY).

My favorite thing about the CC of Rochester were the signed Larry Lambrecht photos above the on course urinals.

[Mike Hendren]

These threads should require the braggarts to state marital status and vocation.  Just saying.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Not a lot of new courses played last year but I made up for it in terms of quality!


Royal Aberdeen
Trump Aberdeen
Cruden Bay
Murcar
Royal Birkdale

[Sean_A]

These threads should require the braggarts to state marital status and vocation.  Just saying.

Settle down Bogey.  This list is for you.

Lawsonia
Eagle Springs (you would this place)
Dunes Club
Arcadia South
Crystal Downs
The Loop
Shoreacres
Chicago
Culver Acadamies (another you would love)
Meadowbrook (Detroit)
An Oglebay Resort course
Erewash
St Pat's
Otway
Malone
Bamburgh Castle
Beverley
Charnwood Forest

Ciao

[Kyle Casella]

Note: edited to include some images from TGC
Low on quantity, high on quality.

Quail Hollow (April)
Toronto Golf Club (June)
Fishers Island (July)
Oakmont (July)
Kilspindie (August)
Gullane 2 (August)


There isn't much I can say about Oakmont or Fisher's Island that hasn't already been said. The turf conditions at Fishers were incredibly fun.


I loved Toronto Golf Club. The course was really outstanding and I can't believe it is not more talked about. The routing is excellent and a lovely walk. I was fortunate to stay two nights in the clubhouse and on the first night the members were celebrating a victory in their 36 v. 36 (wow!) match against Beaconsfield. The course is full of visually appealing (and challenging!) cross bunkering and excellent green sites. The super and his staff had it playing very firm and fast which enhanced the experience greatly.


Kilspindie was pure joy. My first experience with hickory golf and had much fun I bought a set in Gullane. I can't wait for a return.

The outstanding par 3 4th. ~195 yards to a bunkerless green perched on a knoll.



The ~180 par 3 7th. A very cool green site perched with a steep drop on the right.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ocaga2]

The 9th. Playing fast and firm, this tee shot required finesse to leave short of the creek, then a mid iron to a heavily sloped green. A strong test.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2oce8Ts]

From near the clubhouse you can see the top of the flagstick from the sharp uphill 11th in the lower right and the split fairway 12th on the left.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2oce8TH]

The 11th from low right on the fairway. A severely sloped green sits in the hill and makes for a very challenging approach!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2oce8RP]


The 15th green site shows the beautiful greenside bunkering encountered throughout the course.




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[Rich Thomas]

This post makes me realize that I need to make friends with some of y 'all. I don't get access to private courses that often and I don't expect to ever get to play places like Shinnecock, NLGA, Fisher's Island, etc. With that said, I did get to play some pretty good courses in 2022. I took a quick trip to Southern California with my dad, a vacation to the Canadian Rockies, and tagged along on a conference trip to Maine with my wife.


Oak Quarry - Riverside CA
Goat Hill - Oceanside CA
San Clemente Muni - San Clemente CA
Balboa Park - San Diego


Los Prados - Las Vegas NV
Spanish Trails - Las Vegas NV


Banff Springs - Banff, Alberta
Jasper Park Lodge - Jasper, Alberta


Cape Arundel - Kennebunkport ME
Sugarloaf - Carrabasset Valley ME


This year so far, I have a trip this week to the Bahamas. Somehow I got the wife to choose a Sandals resort with the best golf course attached to it for her birthday vacation. Ill be playing a few rounds there at Emerald Bay while she sits on the beach. Also have a buddies trip planned to play Torrey Pines North and South.

[Jim Tang]

Hey Rich -


I'm curious about your thoughts on Banff Springs and Jasper Park.  I'll be out that way in July and plan to play both.  It will be my first time in the area and I can't wait.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I wasn't going to respond, but 2022 was one of my better years.
Caesarea GC Israel
Lofoten Links
Dye Course at White Oak
Landman
Fishers Island
Friars Head
The Bridge
All five at Bandon
Scranton
Midlothian
Camargo
Coldstream
Dakota Dunes
Lost Rail

[Rich Thomas]

Hey Rich -


I'm curious about your thoughts on Banff Springs and Jasper Park.  I'll be out that way in July and plan to play both.  It will be my first time in the area and I can't wait.

Jim...They were both absolutely fantastic. If I had to pick one over the other, I liked Jasper just slightly better. I haven't really put my thoughts about why down on paper yet. I think the variety of par 3's at Jasper are a little better. Just make sure you hit the green on 15 at Jasper or you will have a very difficult time making par. Number 4 at Banff is probably one of the most photogenic holes I have played in a long time. As was told to me by someone on a thread here, make sure you follow the little path down to the old original tee box the right of the regular men's tees. It is a much better hole from over there. 10-14 at Banff was absolutely brutal because it was into the wind, and with the original routing, that would be a very tough finishing stretch. If you have any other questions, please feel free to send me a message. I can send you some pictures and some ideas on places to eat. That is one thing I really like besides golf is my food

[Jim Tang]

Rich -


Thank you.  I sent you a PM.

[Nate Oxman]

I wasn't going to respond, but 2022 was one of my better years.
Caesarea GC Israel
Lofoten Links
Dye Course at White Oak
Landman
Fishers Island
Friars Head
The Bridge
All five at Bandon
Scranton
Midlothian
Camargo
Coldstream
Dakota Dunes
Lost tree

How was Midlothian?

[Tommy Williamsen]

I wasn't going to respond, but 2022 was one of my better years.
Caesarea GC Israel
Lofoten Links
Dye Course at White Oak
Landman
Fishers Island
Friars Head
The Bridge
All five at Bandon
Scranton
Midlothian
Camargo
Coldstream
Dakota Dunes
Lost tree

How was Midlothian?

Nate, I was a bit disappointed at Midlothian. I guess I was expecting too much, but the members love it. It is on a small piece of ground and the routing is excellent. It has one of the toughest greens to hit I've ever played. Nine is a mid-length par four, but I had to hit a hybrid because I don't hit it anywhere anymore. The green is small and runs away from the player. I tried several kinds of shots, but every shot ran through the green. I asked the pro about what shot he hits. He said I hit and pray.