2022 YANK AWARDS

[Sean_A]

2022 has been a good year for golf.  I think I played about 20 new courses including five bucket listers. Four of these made my ever changing Nifty 50. I also had some enjoyable revisits.

Most Surprising New Play Course: This has to go Beverley. I have wanted to see this course for some years based on one report. Nobody else mentioned to me that Beverley is a cool course and it proved to be the case. A day combined with the Minster won't soon be forgotten. Makes my Nifty 50.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,71127.0.html

The runner-up is Meadowbrook near Detroit. A completely redesigned course ostensibly using the influence of Park Jr, but in reality early 20th century architecture is more accurate. Makes my Happy 100.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,71322.msg1715515.html#msg1715515

Most Disappointing New Play Course: Malone....with some thoughtful tree work and continued work on the greens this course would be massively improved.

Best New Play Inland Course: Chicago GC. Its a tough course, the sort which is too difficult for me, but the use of templates over the low rolling hills is very well done. The greens are outstanding!

The runner-up is The Loop. I have praised this course enough. Go see it. Makes my Happy 100.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,71448.msg1718255.html#msg1718255

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,71451.0.html

Best New Play Links: St Pat's....Not even close. Makes my Nifty 50.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,71512.0.html

Most Surprising Repeat Play Course: This one will sound strange...Welcombe Hotel. This course is close to where I live and I hadn't played it in years. I played a few twilight games there this year and was pleasantly surprised despite some stupid shit going on. Some wild ride holes that make for thrilling golf and poor walks.

Favourite New Play Links: I don't buy Otway as a links so its out. I also am not sure I can include Seaton Carew Micklem? The default is St Pat's.

Favourite New Play Inland Course: This was a close call between Eagle Springs and Culver Academies, but given its cool vibe I will go with Eagle Springs. A down to earth resort 9 holer that made me smile. Makes my Nifty 50.

Best Affordable (no deals, under £40/$55) Course Played This Year: This is the second year since 1998 that I haven't played Kington. Cavendish went over £40 this year. Step up Cleeve Hill. Although, I suspect the green fee will go over £40 next year. The increased media attention and improved greens comes at a price.  Makes my Nifty 50.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49796.0.html

Best Moderately Priced (no deals, under £60/$80) Played This Year: Culver Academies. Extremely well put together course with lovely greens. Makes my Nifty 50.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,71502.0.html

Best Course Played This Year: This will be a surprise for many...Porthcawl. These last few visits have really turned my head. I am all in.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45933.0.html

Favourite Course Played This Year: The improved greens make me point at Cleeve Hill. Cavendish & Eagle Springs are right behind.

Its been a good year when places like Muirfield, North Berwick, Crystal Downs and Shoreacres don't get mentioned. Although, Shoreacres is the type of course I could play on a weekly basis.

Forget the Doak score stuff. Lets see a varied list from you lot.

2021
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,70487.msg1694555.html#msg1694555

2019
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,67817.msg1622270.html#msg1622270

2017
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,65278.msg1556508.html#msg1556508

2016
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,63868.msg1520525.html#msg1520525

2015
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62208.msg1478295.html#msg1478295

2014
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60104.msg1420510.html#msg1420510

2013
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,57517.0.html

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

I only have one category:


“Course that most exceeded expectations”.

Not even close, it goes to The Loop.

[Sean_A]

I only have one category:

“Course that most exceeded expectations”.

Not even close, it goes to The Loop.

I had high expectations!

Ciao

[mike_malone]

COURSE I WAS REALLY GLAD THAT I PLAYED.


US. Quaker Ridge


  I played it twice and enjoyed the gently rolling ground and the routing.


England


West Lancashire


On a trip with two Open courses and other interesting courses this one stood out for me as the most enjoyable.

[Ben Stephens]

Course that delighted and surprised me in 2022 - Brautarholt Golf in Iceland a 12 hole course with some of the most stunning views https://gbr.is/ designed by Edwin Roald who I was able to meet a great guy who has developed a company called carbon par - https://www.carbonpar.org/. The course was full of surprises and large challenging greens - they are adding 6 new holes which was under construction. Runner up - Kellir Golf also in Iceland - A course of two halves with the front nine like a moonscape with large volcanic outcrops and back nine with lots of holes by the water edge - the Back nine is currently being redone by Tom Mackenzie and should be fully in play next year or 2024.


Best course that I haven't played before in UK - Stoneham a Wille Park Junior course in Southampton England which has been beautifully looked after by Matt Plested and the location of the most bizarre golf shot I played this year (Robin can tell that story)


Course that made me feel flat - Isle of Purbeck one of the most stunning views of any golf course i have played in the UK however the design of the course underwhelmed me and I look forward to the improvements by Tim Lobb over the next few years as the potential is there.



Best experience - playing midnight golf in Iceland at the end of June - what an experience!.


Biggest beef - top golf clubs hiking up their green fees a lot post Covid (not 3 par 3 holes on the same compass point!!) - really surprised that Cavendish is now £40 or plus! when we played a Am-AM a few years ago Sean it was £60 for a four ball plus a meal.


Course i have started enjoying playing more on - Rutland Water GC its still £25 a round in midweek and £30 weekends - One opponent i played against in Scratch league said he couldn't believe the green fee and he would pay more than £50 to play it. Plus my playing handicap has gone down this year. Sean get over here and I will take you around it.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Biggest beef - top golf clubs hiking up their green fees a lot post Covid (not 3 par 3 holes on the same compass point!!) - really surprised that Cavendish is now £40 or plus! when we played a Am-AM a few years ago Sean it was £60 for a four ball plus a meal.

Ben,


None of us likes paying more than we used to for anything, but the simple fact is that three years ago Cavendish were charging an average of £17 per round and losing money hand over fist.


The average visitor fee is now £35 and the club is making a modest profit for the first time in years. What business should be expected to operate at a loss?


Cavendish is ranked among the top 100 courses in England. Only Kington and Cleeve Hill have a lower green fee. All three offer some of the best value golf around.


I can think of far better examples of clubs hiking green fees to unrealistic levels post covid.


Ultimately though, prices are a function of supply and demand. A club decides how many visitors they want and then sets the price at the maximum level the market will bear.

[Ben Stephens]

Biggest beef - top golf clubs hiking up their green fees a lot post Covid (not 3 par 3 holes on the same compass point!!) - really surprised that Cavendish is now £40 or plus! when we played a Am-AM a few years ago Sean it was £60 for a four ball plus a meal.

Ben,


None of us likes paying more than we used to for anything, but the simple fact is that three years ago Cavendish were charging an average of £17 per round and losing money hand over fist.


The average visitor fee is now £35 and the club is making a modest profit for the first time in years. What business should be expected to operate at a loss?


Cavendish is ranked among the top 100 courses in England. Only Kington and Cleeve Hill have a lower green fee. All three offer some of the best value golf around.


I can think of far better examples of clubs hiking green fees to unrealistic levels post covid.


Ultimately though, prices are a function of supply and demand. A club decides how many visitors they want and then sets the price at the maximum level the market will bear.

Its good to know that Cavendish is doing better these days - they may be pricing the people out who helped them in the dark days we don't live in a perfect world. The worse thing they did was selling green fees on a golf green fees website for a lot cheaper. Hope the higher green fees and profits will reflect on the golf course over the next few years.


Running a club is not easy a mate of mine is a Director of Golf and the prices are going up everywhere some of them crazy and its getting the right balance all round which can be difficult and you can't please everyone the majority of golf clubs are raising their green fees higher than they normally would. Staff wages, maintenance, fuel costs, energy costs, material costs etc it will be interesting to see what happens over the next two years when inflation comes down and Labour probably in power then (music to your ears!!)

[Dan_Callahan]

Course that most exceeded my expectations: Rosses Point. I've read in a few places that it is overrated, and as a result I've skipped it on previous trips to Ireland. This year I decided to give it a shot and absolutely loved it.


Best affordable: Bretwood Golf Course in Keene, NH. Two courses, actually ... the North and South. Both are good and very fun, and less than $50.


Most Overshadowed: Ballyliffin Old. While I was there, Glasheedy was booked solid. Meanwhile, I had no problem getting in 36-hole days on the Old. I think Glasheedy is outstanding, but the Old is just as good, in my opinion.


Best 9-hole course: Cruit Island likely holds this title in perpetuity.


Favorite hole: the 13th at Newport Country Club


Best walk from clubhouse to first tee: Old Sandwich, where it feels like you are walking on water.


Best clubhouse: St. Patrick's. I hope they don't replace it with something bigger. Maybe just add a small bar and leave it at that.

[Ira Fishman]

It was not a good year for new plays:


So Sleepy Hollow in a romp over Sheep Ranch.


It was a good year for second or more plays:


Best course: Yale by a nose over Bandon Trails and Pac Dunes.


Favorite course: Yale by a length over Mid Pines.


Best Place for a Drink: the Mickle Patio at Mid Pines. Not even close.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Best courses I played: tie Pacific Dunes Friars Head, Lofoten Links
Most fun on a golf course: Fishers Island
Most surprising: Landman ( I fully expected not to like it because Sweetens is not a favorite). It is very good. The scale is enormous, but it fits in with the prairie.
Course, very few go to play: Caesarea GC in Israel.

[Tom_Doak]

Best clubhouse: St. Patrick's. I hope they don't replace it with something bigger. Maybe just add a small bar and leave it at that.

I've gotta ask . . . what was there when you were there?  I thought the tent they put up for the Renaissance Cup did the job pretty well, but you were not there for that.  The topic is a bone of contention for some of the investors so I am curious for feedback on what you'd like to see.

[Ronald Montesano]

Not certain that everyone has the financial means, nor the free time, to make up such a list. I'm glad that some are able to enjoy such liberties.

No matter how someone frames it, this type of thread is a flat-out brag. It ends up being who you know and how much you got.

Some of us ain't got much, and know even fewer.

Back to Munis and Monsters on Instagram for me.

[Sean_A]

Merry Christmas Ronald!

Course that delighted and surprised me in 2022 - Brautarholt Golf in Iceland a 12 hole course with some of the most stunning views https://gbr.is/ designed by Edwin Roald who I was able to meet a great guy who has developed a company called carbon par - https://www.carbonpar.org/. The course was full of surprises and large challenging greens - they are adding 6 new holes which was under construction. Runner up - Kellir Golf also in Iceland - A course of two halves with the front nine like a moonscape with large volcanic outcrops and back nine with lots of holes by the water edge - the Back nine is currently being redone by Tom Mackenzie and should be fully in play next year or 2024.

Best course that I haven't played before in UK - Stoneham a Wille Park Junior course in Southampton England which has been beautifully looked after by Matt Plested and the location of the most bizarre golf shot I played this year (Robin can tell that story)

Course that made me feel flat - Isle of Purbeck one of the most stunning views of any golf course i have played in the UK however the design of the course underwhelmed me and I look forward to the improvements by Tim Lobb over the next few years as the potential is there.

Best experience - playing midnight golf in Iceland at the end of June - what an experience!.

Biggest beef - top golf clubs hiking up their green fees a lot post Covid (not 3 par 3 holes on the same compass point!!) - really surprised that Cavendish is now £40 or plus! when we played a Am-AM a few years ago Sean it was £60 for a four ball plus a meal.

Course i have started enjoying playing more on - Rutland Water GC its still £25 a round in midweek and £30 weekends - One opponent i played against in Scratch league said he couldn't believe the green fee and he would pay more than £50 to play it. Plus my playing handicap has gone down this year. Sean get over here and I will take you around it.

I have always liked Stoneham and the new work makes it easier to do so. Did you play Hockley? I haven't been in years.

Is Rutland the course you designed?

Ciao

[Ben Stephens]

Merry Christmas Ronald!

Course that delighted and surprised me in 2022 - Brautarholt Golf in Iceland a 12 hole course with some of the most stunning views https://gbr.is/ designed by Edwin Roald who I was able to meet a great guy who has developed a company called carbon par - https://www.carbonpar.org/. The course was full of surprises and large challenging greens - they are adding 6 new holes which was under construction. Runner up - Kellir Golf also in Iceland - A course of two halves with the front nine like a moonscape with large volcanic outcrops and back nine with lots of holes by the water edge - the Back nine is currently being redone by Tom Mackenzie and should be fully in play next year or 2024.

Best course that I haven't played before in UK - Stoneham a Wille Park Junior course in Southampton England which has been beautifully looked after by Matt Plested and the location of the most bizarre golf shot I played this year (Robin can tell that story)

Course that made me feel flat - Isle of Purbeck one of the most stunning views of any golf course i have played in the UK however the design of the course underwhelmed me and I look forward to the improvements by Tim Lobb over the next few years as the potential is there.

Best experience - playing midnight golf in Iceland at the end of June - what an experience!.

Biggest beef - top golf clubs hiking up their green fees a lot post Covid (not 3 par 3 holes on the same compass point!!) - really surprised that Cavendish is now £40 or plus! when we played a Am-AM a few years ago Sean it was £60 for a four ball plus a meal.

Course i have started enjoying playing more on - Rutland Water GC its still £25 a round in midweek and £30 weekends - One opponent i played against in Scratch league said he couldn't believe the green fee and he would pay more than £50 to play it. Plus my playing handicap has gone down this year. Sean get over here and I will take you around it.

I have always liked Stoneham and the new work makes it easier to do so. Did you play Hockley? I haven't been in years.

Is Rutland the course you designed?

Ciao

No I haven't played Hockley its my understanding that James Edwards is doing some work there. He is also re-jigging Boundary Lakes as well.


Other than Stoneham I have played Romsey in Southampton which is more hilly than Stoneham and feels like a course to two halves. Have heard that Southampton Municipal by JH Taylor has good bones.


Yes Rutland is the course I designed was back in 2002-7 its mostly there even with lots of tree planting, filling in a number of bunkers plus flattening some part of two greens in house rather than extending them for more pin positions. It has matured over the years with a growing membership now one of the best bargains under £30 IMO.


The reason I am enjoying playing there more are the people I play with (more of a pub atmosphere absolute characters from different background - one is Andrew Slane who has joined GCA as well he would like to meet you as well), playing more golf had lessons earlier in the year which has sorted out a lot of swing issues and now I am hitting it much straighter which means I am keeping the ball in play and enjoying the course more than I have in the last 10 years (I sort of fell out of love with playing the game)

[Mike Worth]

I played 35 new courses this year. A couple were in the US; most were in England, Scotland, NI, Donegal Co Ireland.


These are the courses I would most like to play again. That is my only category.


Macrihanish (old), Cruit Island (9 holes), Cleeve Hill, Alwoodley.

[Adam Lawrence]

Best course that I haven't played before in UK - Stoneham a Wille Park Junior course in Southampton England which has been beautifully looked after by Matt Plested and the location of the most bizarre golf shot I played this year (Robin can tell that story)

Matt and the guys at Stoneham discovered earlier in the year that Colt had redesigned the course quite extensively in 1929. They found his original greens drawings.

[Sean_A]

Best course that I haven't played before in UK - Stoneham a Wille Park Junior course in Southampton England which has been beautifully looked after by Matt Plested and the location of the most bizarre golf shot I played this year (Robin can tell that story)

Matt and the guys at Stoneham discovered earlier in the year that Colt had redesigned the course quite extensively in 1929. They found his original greens drawings.

Did Colt create the circular 9s similar to Muirfield?

Ciao

[Adam Lawrence]

Best course that I haven't played before in UK - Stoneham a Wille Park Junior course in Southampton England which has been beautifully looked after by Matt Plested and the location of the most bizarre golf shot I played this year (Robin can tell that story)

Matt and the guys at Stoneham discovered earlier in the year that Colt had redesigned the course quite extensively in 1929. They found his original greens drawings.

Did Colt create the circular 9s similar to Muirfield?

Ciao

Not clear.

[Ben Stephens]

Best course that I haven't played before in UK - Stoneham a Wille Park Junior course in Southampton England which has been beautifully looked after by Matt Plested and the location of the most bizarre golf shot I played this year (Robin can tell that story)

Matt and the guys at Stoneham discovered earlier in the year that Colt had redesigned the course quite extensively in 1929. They found his original greens drawings.

Interesting as to me there are some similarities/feel at Stoneham to Sunningdale Old (by both Park and Colt). The new look 17th is similar to the 11th at Merion which Robin said first. 

[Mike Sweeney]

Forget the Doak score stuff. Lets see a varied list from you lot.

Sean,


As always, genuine appreciation for your thoughtful post. Wow, what a year. I did have an eclectic year and will try to post when I reach Florida.

[Tim Martin]

Not certain that everyone has the financial means, nor the free time, to make up such a list. I'm glad that some are able to enjoy such liberties.

No matter how someone frames it, this type of thread is a flat-out brag. It ends up being who you know and how much you got.

Some of us ain't got much, and know even fewer.

Back to Munis and Monsters on Instagram for me.

I find it odd that bitterness would be a reaction to this thread. Shouldn’t we be interested in and rooting for our GCA brethren to travel and see as many new courses as possible? #BuffaloGrinch

[Buck Wolter]

Not certain that everyone has the financial means, nor the free time, to make up such a list. I'm glad that some are able to enjoy such liberties.

No matter how someone frames it, this type of thread is a flat-out brag. It ends up being who you know and how much you got.

Some of us ain't got much, and know even fewer.

Back to Munis and Monsters on Instagram for me.

Sean's write-ups and travels are a highlight of this site. He's as much of a cost-conscious golfer as I've seen and amongst the least swayed by the off course or conditioning aspects of the game.


There's plenty of belt notching on this site -- this ain't it.

[Kalen Braley]

Couldn't agree more with the sentiment Tim and Buck expressed.

Sean and Mike C have set the gold standard with meaningful end of year course review and discussion, just terrific stuff.

P.S.  I've only got one course to mention here.  Gamble Sands...and it was certainly worth the effort to get there.

[John Kavanaugh]

The ___ Congeniality award goes to the LA golf scene.


I have reflected on every round I played over my two month visit. I did not meet a single person at any club who appeared to wish they were somewhere else. Or to wish I was.

[John Mayhugh]

No matter how someone frames it, this type of thread is a flat-out brag. It ends up being who you know and how much you got.

What a pathetic take.

Sean Arble has been sharing lists like this for years. 2022 is a bit of an outlier, as he was traveling in the US with a couple of architect friends and managed to see a few non-public courses. But he's more than paid his dues, regularly highlighting great AFFORDABLE golf that anyone could play. Is mentioning places like Kington, Cleeve Hill, & Alnmouth Village considered bragging? If so, hopefully he continues it.

Back in 2017, you did your own awards, crediting Sean with the inspiration to share your year.
Funny story two: The trip to NGLA, for obvious reasons, was the centerpiece of our August venture. The problem was, I could not make anything happen around it, in terms of club access. Our plan B was to find some other place, and NJ ended up being a brilliant lode. As soon as we had locked in our dates for NJ, clubs on Long Island returned emails and phone calls, telling me that they would love to have us out. Funny, huh? I thought so.
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,65281.msg1556544.html#msg1556544

Compare this to Sean's 2017. Who was bragging??
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,65278.0.html