I called GlobeXplorer (since nobody at MapQuest answered
any phone nor returned my e-mail from Monday), and they
said that their aerials are no longer offered on
MapQuest.
Major bummer!
As for this:
#1 is Shinnecock Hills, in Southampton, NY, designed by
William Flynn (and Toomey, I guess). Home of the 2004 U.S.
Open, in addition to the recent Opens in 1995 and 1986.
Consensus Top 5 in seemingly most people's lists, #1 to some
(including Matt Ward
).
One of original 5 courses that founded the USGA and the first
club to admit women. First and oldest clubhouse in U.S.
Flynn designed a new course when the highway at the
bottom was built, keeping only what now is the par 3 Redan
7th of Raynor's original design. Apparently the Biarritz
impressions can still be seen in person near the highway in
the practice area at bottom left.
other clues include:
"Looks pretty hard to find those practice holes on #1."
and "Hard to make out that long lost chasm hole" = (Biarritz)
"Best design by this otherwise underrated architect, although
only 17 of the holes are his." = Flynn "One from the original
design/architect here was good enough to keep as is." = Raynor's original
We should get great glimpses of this course in the late spring.
= U.S. Open site, in mid-June.
"A previous AOTD (shown all the way back in the very first
week) is very close at upper left (you can even make out the
edge of one of the almost 400 bunkers on that course).
Another previous AOTD is also very close to this course, but
off the lower right." = NGLA is at upper left, and Southampton
is at lower right.
Matt Ward's favorite course.
Sometimes nicknamed as if you were kicked in the front of
your leg above your footie. = "shinny"
My favorite Tour pro from my hometown area once held the
course record here....for one day. = Horseheads, NY native
Joey Sindelar shot a then course record 66 in (I believe) the
2nd round of the 1986 U.S. Open, only to be bettered by 1 in
the 3rd and/or 4th round by 2 others.
Famous clubhouse above the course
"Perhaps the best U.S. Open venue around. For a (then)
long course, a short-knocker won the last Open here. = Corey
Pavin, winner of 1995 Open.
The last AOTD of many from America's Linksland, Long Island
= I'm not listing them all.
#2 is Deerfield G&TC, formerly known as the Louviers course
at DuPont CC, in Newark, DE, designed by Alfred Tull and
William Gordon.
I have said on several occasions, this is my top hidden gem,
as few people outside (and inside, really) of the
Wilmington/Philadelphia area have ever heard of it. I was a
member of Dupont CC in '92-'93, and spent most of my time
at Louviers. In 1994, Dupont sold the Louviers course to
credit card giant MBNA, but Dupont members still have playing
privileges (I didn't know that until I visited in October).
other clues include:
this also has been labeled "best" of some kind by at least one
person on GCA.com. = me
"Tick central?" = "deer" field
While hunting here (and avoiding the ticks, hopefully) one
might need some Kevlar to avoid getting shot by our hunter
friends, some Teflon for cooking breakfast, and, well, you
don't need nylons. = hunting for "deer", avoiding the ticks.
Kevlar, Teflon, and nylon are all "Dupont" products.
Club has French name heritage. = "Louviers" and "Du Pont"
20 "bucks" says you see one here = and I saw deer there
(usually on #10) a number of times.
Whitetail Meadow CC? = "deer" "field"
Former name here is reminiscent of Mona Lisa's home
= "Louvre"/Louviers
"has been mentioned by me ad nauseam (well, maybe a half-
dozen times) as being my top hidden gem. I checked in here
after 10 years on my recent trip to the Philadelphia area."
"Stainmaster carpets" = another Du Pont product
As the new name implies, I saw plenty of does and bucks on
this course.
Several holes here were once voted as the toughest in this
small, first state. = definitely #4, #8, and #9, probably #10,
#5, and/or #14.
As I said earlier, I hope to do a massive summary of the
AOTDs on Monday, even better than previous summaries,
including links to all 455 aerials.