My 2023 Golf year

[Mike Worth]

I haven’t seen a post where folks post their 2023 golf highlights so I volunteer as tribute and will go first


I don’t feel I am a member of the “treehouse, so I tepidly post my 2023 yr.
 
2023 courses played with my Doak rating (** = new play)


Linwood NJ (Herbert Strong) (5) **
McCulloughs Emerald Links EHT NJ (Kay) (4-5)
Moorestown FC (NJ - home) (4)
Kensington Naples FL(RTJ Sr/Jr (5+)
North Palm Municipal (Raynor/ Nicklaus/Nicklaus) (5+)

The Park (West Palm) (Hanse) (7)
Wiltwyck (Kingston NY) (RTJ Sr) (4-5) **
Twaalfskill (Kingston NY) (disputed) (5) **
Inness (NY) (King Collins) (6) **
Sullivan County (NY) (Len Rayner) (4) **

Colonial CC (Tannersville NY) (3)
Southport and Ainsdale (Braid) (5+) **
Wallasey (Old Tom/Braid) (7) **
Reddish Vale (McKenzie) (5+) **
Silloth (Park Jr) (6+) **
Seascale (Willie Campbell) (5+) **
Powfoot (Braid) (a weak 5) **
Gleneagles Queens (Braid) (5+) **
Gleneagles Kings (Braid) (7) **
Tobermory (5) **
Iona (the sheep) (5) **
Royal Lytham (Colt) (7-8) **
Formby (Park/Braid/Colt/Steel) (5+) **
Lofoten (Turner) (6+) **
Ballyneal (Doak) (9) **
Wild Horse (Axland & Proctor) (6+) **
Prairie Dunes (Maxwell/Maxwell Jr (9+) **
Dismal River (White) (Nicklaus) (6) **
Dismal River (Red) (Doak) (7) **
Caprock Ranch (Hanse) (9) **
Sand Hills (C & C) (10) **
Rock Creek Cattle Company (Doak) (8-9) **
Medal of Honor (USMC Base Quantico) (6) **

Random comments (some irreverant): 


1 .  “The green fee is how much?”  aka the value discussion:  Gleneagles (Queens) £300; Formby £240; Southport & Ainsdale £180 ?!?!

2. Most entertaining golf moment:  Wallasey # 10, severe uphill approach into a stiff wind, the caddie says “116 playing 150.”

3. Happy surprises. I have (2) — both are nine hole courses:  Tobermory and Twaalfskill. Must sees!

4. I was treated most like a King at:  Silloth — honestly all the clubs were accommodating. But Silloth was the best. I think they are lurkers so — hey guys well done :-).  Honorable mention to Ballyneal.

5. Worst hole:  Reddish Vale 15 (par 5-439
yards). This was the only bad hole I played all year. Having been critical here, I want to say I mostly agree with Ran’s review even as it glosses over the course’s weak points (mostly stemming from the fact it was built in 1912 with no expansion potential) and tends to over romanticize the place.

6.   Unhappy Surprise.  Wiltwyck. A minor unhappy surprise. This course is 30 minutes from my hometown in upstate NY. Built in 1955 because the original course lost half its holes when the NYS Thruway was constructed, I was expecting an older type RTJ course, or perhaps one that was transitional between his older courses and the longer courses built in the 50s-70s.  What I got was a long slog.  I will say I found the greens and green complexes above average and excellent use was made of terrain.  It nearly meets my key criteria of being a course I can play every day.  But I was hoping for something different.

[MCirba]

Mike,


I have Twaalfskill as a 6.


Maybe higher. 


Nice year!!

[Mark Chaplin]

I joined the Senior Golfers Society this year so the majority of my golf was society foursomes play. I think I’ve played, low on numbers, high on quality;


Royal Cinque Ports
Royal St George’s
New Zealand
Woking
Worplesdon
The Berkshire Red
Sunningdale New
Royal Lytham
Royal Birkdale
Muirfield
Wildernese
Royal Worlington


Green fee bargain - Muirfield
Best Lunch - Muirfield
Biggest surprise - Mildenhall, very subtle, loved it. Only new play of 2023.
Most entertaining moment - after 47 years of trying first ace on 4th at RCP.
Best dormy room - Royal Lytham

[Mike Worth]

Mike,


I have Twaalfskill as a 6.


Maybe higher. 


Nice year!!

There’s a couple holes I’m not quite sure about the more I think about them. Not that they’re bad holes. 


But the overall golf experience is definitely a six. It exceeds the criteria of a 6 in that one would make a special trip to go there.

[Ian Andrew]

2 rounds ... tough year to do anything beyond work

1. Oakdale (Canadian Open media day - I was required to play )
2. Osprey Valley (North) played before we started renovation (possible Canadian Open in 2025)

(six more to come very soon)

[Richard Hetzel]

Here are my courses for the year so far; I still have a few to squeeze in when we go to Florida in December. I did not touch a golf club until June 1st this season.


Ottawa Park GC (OH)
Troia (Portugal)
Eagle Eye GC (OH)
American Dunes (MI)
The Mines (MI)
Pilgrim's Run GC (MI)
Arcadia South GC (MI)
GVSU Meadows GC (MI)
Angel's Crossing GC (MI)
Lakeside GC (KY)
UK Wildcat GC (KY)
Pinnacle CC (OH)
Prairie Trace East GC (OH)
Sultan's Run GC (IN)
Huntingburg CC (IN)
Sanctuary GC (OH) NLE 10/15/23
Leatherstocking GC (NY)
Lost Nation GC (OH)
Egwani Farms GC (TN)
Old Union GC (GA)
Butternut Creek GC (GA)
Sequoyah National (NC)
Noble Hawk Links (IN)
Sharon Woods GC (OH) replay
Foresthills GC (GA)
Augusta Municipal "The Patch" (GA)
Eisenhower Lakes GC (GA)
Arcadia Municipal (FL)
Bobby Jones Golf Club (FL)

[David Amarnek]

2023:
Very low quantity this year which I hope to correct for 2024.
St. Louis:
St. Louis CC
Westwood CC (multiple)
Bellerive CC
Old Warson CC
Greenbriar Hills CC
Philly:
Gulph Mills GC (multiple)
Merion East (multiple)
Merion West
Pine Valley GC
Utah:
Promontory (Nicklaus, multiple)
Promontory (Dye, multiple)
Florida:
Seminole GC
Gulf Stream GC

[Ally Mcintosh]

I’ve played more golf this year than any year since I was a teenager. Included in there was probably about 18 new courses.


Of those, the ones that far exceeded expectations were Old Town and Delamere Forest.


Those that exceeded expectations were Formby and Goswick


Those that met my very high expectations were Tobacco Road, JCB, Birkdale, Lytham, Hillside, Notts Hollinwell.


One that didn’t turn me on quite as much as I thought it might was Beau Desert. (I had perhaps too high expectations).


I saw three major renovations in Ireland: Royal Dublin, Portmarnock Links and Druid’s Glen. All were very good but none blew my socks off.

[MClutterbuck]

Very low number of courses, excellent quality.


Having played all of the California public courses I was interested in, I managed to get in many of the privates I wanted to play. Thank you so much to all the members that made this possible. Always special playing with a member. All courses and clubs, each with their own vibe, were fantastic!


Nordelta
LACC North
Riviera
The Valley Club
San Francisco Golf Club
Olympic (Cliffs)
California Golf Club of San Francisco
Monterrey Peninsula CC (Shore)
The Preserve
El Desafio

[Rob Marshall]

6. [/size]  Unhappy Surprise.  [/color][/size]Wiltwyck. A minor unhappy surprise. This course is 30 minutes from my hometown in upstate NY. Built in 1955 because the original course lost half its holes when the NYS Thruway was constructed, I was expecting an older type RTJ course, or perhaps one that was transitional between his older courses and the longer courses built in the 50s-70s.  What I got was a long slog.  I will say I found the greens and green complexes above average and excellent use was made of terrain.  It nearly meets my key criteria of being a course I can play every day.  But I was hoping for something different.[/color]
[/size][/color]
[/size][/color]
[/size]Mike, We have a different definition of "upstate" LOL.[/color]
[/size][/color]

[Doug Bolls]

deleted

[Doug Bolls]

This year my hope was to play some interesting courses in the northeast states where I haven’t played, and complete playing in every state (except AK).  Mission accomplished with a 5000 mile driving trip and then another trip to IN and MI.
French Lick Ross – IN (Ross)
Oglebay – WV (Palmer)
Dorset Field Club – VT
The Shattuck – NH (Silva)
Cape Arundel – ME (Travis)
Triggs Muni – RI (Ross)
Keney Park Muni – CT (Emmet & R. Ross)
Alling – CT
Yale Univ. – CT (CBM & Raynor)
Deerfield – DE
Frog Hollow – DE
East Potomac – WDC (Travis)
Birdwood UVA – VA (Love & Sherman)
Swannanoa – VA
London Downs – VA
Plantation – AL
RTJ Shoals Schoolmaster – AL (RTJ)
Pete Brown Muni – MS
Tamahka Trails – LA
Ridges @ Village Creek – AR
Oak Grove – TX
PFAU Univ IN – IN (Smyers & Zoeller)
Culver Academies – IN
Arcadia Bluffs South – MI (Fry & Straka)
Donald Ross Memorial – MI
Elk Rapids – MI (Ross)
Cheboygan – MI
Wildbluff – UPMI
Gladstone – UPMI
Marquette Heritage – UPMI (Langford)
Annbriar – IL

Thanks to a PGA acquaintance we got to play Dorset Fields – oldest, continuously-operating golf course in the United States.  Got a wonderfully warm reception there and thoroughly the playing experience.

Seeing and putting the Walter Travis greens at Cape Arundel was another highlight.
Driving north on hwy 31 in Indiana we stopped for a McDonalds and I saw a sign that said “Culver”.  We decided to take a trip out there just to look around at the course.  Happened to end up talking with the asst golf coach while the team members were heading for the range.  She got my enthusiasm and asked if I had played the course – I replied I had not and didn’t know anyone to give me access.  She said “Well, you know ME!”  She proceeded to round up the academy’s only golf cart and sent us out.  Another wonderful golfing experience – you just never know.

The most difficult course for me was The Shattuck.  Very narrow landing areas, blind shots and difficult (for me) recovery shots.  I very seldom lose golf balls – not the case here.

Planned to play Graywalls in Marquette – just couldn’t work it in – next Spring for sure.

[Doug Bolls]

I tried pasting from Word - can someone help?
doug

[Daryl David]

Don’t post from Word. 

[Doug Bolls]

Is it fixable?

[Tony_Muldoon]

I tried pasting from Word - can someone help?
doug

Go find Ran. Hit him with a baseball bat until he sees sense and does something about this site.😋

[Tony_Muldoon]

Either

Go to original post, select the "button" which is last in the list above (has a red arrow in between square brackets) before reposting.
Or

 To "fix" what's there: select that "button" then delete every "(size)" that's mysteriously appeared in your text. Easier to find Ran and. ...




Guys
A its still November; bit early for end of year stuff?
B list are boring and just showy offy. Please add some intelligent comment?
 "

[Mike Worth]

6.   Unhappy Surprise.  Wiltwyck. A minor unhappy surprise. This course is 30 minutes from my hometown in upstate NY. Built in 1955 because the original course lost half its holes when the NYS Thruway was constructed, I was expecting an older type RTJ course, or perhaps one that was transitional between his older courses and the longer courses built in the 50s-70s.  What I got was a long slog.  I will say I found the greens and green complexes above average and excellent use was made of terrain.  It nearly meets my key criteria of being a course I can play every day.  But I was hoping for something different.


Mike, We have a different definition of "upstate" LOL.

The commonly accepted definition of upstate is anything north of Yonkers.

[Kalen Braley]

Doug, larger font size.

This year my hope was to play some interesting courses in the northeast states where I haven’t played, and complete playing in every state (except AK).  Mission accomplished with a 5000 mile driving trip and then another trip to IN and MI.
French Lick Ross – IN (Ross)
Oglebay – WV (Palmer)
Dorset Field Club – VT
The Shattuck – NH (Silva)
Cape Arundel – ME (Travis)
Triggs Muni – RI (Ross)
Keney Park Muni – CT (Emmet & R. Ross)
Alling – CT
Yale Univ. – CT (CBM & Raynor)
Deerfield – DE
Frog Hollow – DE
East Potomac – WDC (Travis)
Birdwood UVA – VA (Love & Sherman)
Swannanoa – VA
London Downs – VA
Plantation – AL
RTJ Shoals Schoolmaster – AL (RTJ)
Pete Brown Muni – MS
Tamahka Trails – LA
Ridges @ Village Creek – AR
Oak Grove – TX
PFAU Univ IN – IN (Smyers & Zoeller)
Culver Academies – IN
Arcadia Bluffs South – MI (Fry & Straka)
Donald Ross Memorial – MI
Elk Rapids – MI (Ross)
Cheboygan – MI
Wildbluff – UPMI
Gladstone – UPMI
Marquette Heritage – UPMI (Langford)
Annbriar – IL

Thanks to a PGA acquaintance we got to play Dorset Fields – oldest, continuously-operating golf course in the United States.  Got a wonderfully warm reception there and thoroughly the playing experience.

Seeing and putting the Walter Travis greens at Cape Arundel was another highlight.
Driving north on hwy 31 in Indiana we stopped for a McDonalds and I saw a sign that said “Culver”.  We decided to take a trip out there just to look around at the course.  Happened to end up talking with the asst golf coach while the team members were heading for the range.  She got my enthusiasm and asked if I had played the course – I replied I had not and didn’t know anyone to give me access.  She said “Well, you know ME!”  She proceeded to round up the academy’s only golf cart and sent us out.  Another wonderful golfing experience – you just never know.

The most difficult course for me was The Shattuck.  Very narrow landing areas, blind shots and difficult (for me) recovery shots.  I very seldom lose golf balls – not the case here.

Planned to play Graywalls in Marquette – just couldn’t work it in – next Spring for sure.

[Doug Bolls]

Thank You, Kalen


I used Sans Serf @ 11.5. 


I prefer to compose in Word because sometimes the GCA site loads very slowly and can't be reached in time to post --and I just lose the content of the post and have to start over again.


What size font did you repost it with?

[Rob Marshall]

6.   Unhappy Surprise.  Wiltwyck. A minor unhappy surprise. This course is 30 minutes from my hometown in upstate NY. Built in 1955 because the original course lost half its holes when the NYS Thruway was constructed, I was expecting an older type RTJ course, or perhaps one that was transitional between his older courses and the longer courses built in the 50s-70s.  What I got was a long slog.  I will say I found the greens and green complexes above average and excellent use was made of terrain.  It nearly meets my key criteria of being a course I can play every day.  But I was hoping for something different.


Mike, We have a different definition of "upstate" LOL.

The commonly accepted definition of upstate is anything north of Yonkers.

Haha, spent a year in Potsdam. That’s upstate! I now say “western NY” otherwise NYC and LI’ers think I’m from Westchester….

[Richard Fisher]

This year saw quite restricted activity, for all sorts of reasons, and 'away' plays were limited to
Luffenham
Woodhall Spa (both courses)
Abersoch
Porthmadog
Aberdovey
Newmarket Links


Of these the biggest disappointment was Abersoch, and the best surprise was probably the Bracken at Woodhall - much more fun than I remembered.


Probably my most memorable member round was in a 4-club wind in the Autumn Medal at St Andrews, where I did a 'Bobby Jones', albeit with 52 putts and 52 shots, rather than RTJ's celebrated 33 apiece at Sunningdale in 1926.


V glad that Mark C is enjoying the SGS so much, and he clearly selected fixtures very wisely in his first year of membership!

[Jeff Schley]

I joined the Senior Golfers Society this year so the majority of my golf was society foursomes play. I think I’ve played, low on numbers, high on quality;


Royal Cinque Ports
Royal St George’s
New Zealand
Woking
Worplesdon
The Berkshire Red
Sunningdale New
Royal Lytham
Royal Birkdale
Muirfield
Wildernese
Royal Worlington


Green fee bargain - Muirfield
Best Lunch - Muirfield
Biggest surprise - Mildenhall, very subtle, loved it. Only new play of 2023.
Most entertaining moment - after 47 years of trying first ace on 4th at RCP.
Best dormy room - Royal Lytham

Chappers
Great year and foursomes is so very fun.


Was the green fee bargain at Muirfield as a guest I'm sure, not visitor fee?  Unless u hit the lottery it is quite high.  Not that it wouldn't be worth it.

[Mark Pearce]

5. Worst hole:  Reddish Vale 15 (par 5-439
yards). This was the only bad hole I played all year. Having been critical here, I want to say I mostly agree with Ran’s review even as it glosses over the course’s weak points (mostly stemming from the fact it was built in 1912 with no expansion potential) and tends to over romanticize the place.

I really liked RV.  But 15 can't be the worst hole you played all year, unless you walked in before the 18th.

[Mark Pearce]

Those that exceeded expectations were Formby and Goswick

You came to the North East and didn't say hello?


Goswick gets better every time I play it.  By a long distance the best course in North East England.