[DBE]

I got myself to Lost Dunes yesterday and have had time to think about the course.  Before writing about the it though, I want to tell everyone how nice the staff was.  They all had the attitude of please ask and we'll find a way to get it done.The drive into the property pretty well shows that everything is going to be good--the course and range are on both sides of the road so you can see early that the piece of land is wonderful and the people involved really did something special with it.As Ted Sturgis wrote some time ago after his four round visit, it's good.  I happen to believe that it's as good as anything that has been built in the last 40 years.  I won't get into the hole by hole (as Ted described the best) it is asthetically very pleasing because if you're a fan of what Prairie Dunes, Crystal Downs and Cypress Point look like (without the ocean) you'll love this.  Yes, the greens have a lot of movement in them, but so do the three courses I mention.  As long as the holes are cut in fair positions (this assures the Open or Amateur never being played here) everthing is fine. There are holes that move left and right, long and short par threes and par four and reachable par fives. Even Interstate 94 is not a distraction.  Tom Doak did a masterful job of masking it in the dunes and with tree cover. My only halfway negative criticism is walking on the paved paths was sort of a bummer--maybe they could provide either a narrow foot path adjacent to the pavement or cover a narrow strip of the pavement with carpet.  The staff shuttles players between a couple of long walks (#'s 7-8 and 9-10).  I'd love to play there all the time.  Tom will be duly recognized and more than fairly compensated after his work here.  Congratulations, Tom.  I'd put it up against all those Morrissett oceanside and lakeside courses (Bandon Dunes, Kapalua Plantation--you've got to be kidding me they must have liked the pina coladas and lost your minds, and Whistling Straits.

[John Morrissett]

David--Thanks for the report.  High praise.  It sounds like I'm moving to the mid-west at the right time (apparently Lost Dunes is no more than a three-hour drive from Crooked Stick).  I hope I can see it for myself before the snow.

[DBE]

Don't worry about playing golf before it snows, be concerned you can pick all the corn before it snows!  

[Ran Morrissett]

David, Ted Sturges is claimng it is better than The Golf Club, but that is because he is joining. After you play Sand Hills, you will say Lost Dunes is the second best course built in the past 40 years. It sounds like it is definitely Doak's best to date, which is great because it is a long flight from Sydney to Lost Dunes. David, John M . is saying the two of you will meet us there Oct. 2, so you best bring plenty of game.

[DBE]

Ran, are you going to be in the US October 1?  By the way, your GC comments are inaccurate.  Try playing there when the greens haven't been recently aerified.  Except for RTJ's abortion of the 12th green, it is exactly what you Morrissetts like.  By the way, the 12th green had a raised edge encircling it before Monclair's Man screwed it up. Perhaps Doak can persuade the club to restore or atleast improve what is there now.

[Ted_Sturges]

To John Morrissett,My car can make it from Carmel, Indiana to Lost Dunes in 2 1/2 hours.  I look forward to sharing the ride with you.To David Eger,Please share your comments on how you think Lost Dunes compares to The Golf Club?  Aren't the facilities at Lost Dunes fabulous?  The golf course speaks for itself, but I was so pleasantly surprised to see how nice the rest of the place is.

[Ran Morrissett]

To David:Yes, I arrive in Chicago for a couple of rounds October 1st and then over to Lost Dunes with several ace players for Friday night, Saturday. As it relates to Garden City, I know I am supposed to like it, just like I am supposed to like Rees Jones courses, San Fran GC, Muirfield and Tom Fazio courses. However, it didn't live up to the super-hype. I am sure the second visit to Garden City will be more enlightening than the first.

[DBE]

To:  TedLost Dunes compared to the Golf Club?  Well, I think that Pete's best US work is the GC.  I especially like the "wild look" around bunkers and off the fairways.  The clubhouse, really the locker room, is second only to Seminole.  I've never practiced there, Ed Sneed never needed to then, so I can't comment on that although I would imagine it's first class.  I really can't comment on anything but the course and locker room because that's all I've seen.Lost Dunes' clubhouse was nice, especially the top floor's grill room, lobby and dining room.  The locker room wasn't a sitting place like Seminole, the Golf Club, Castle Pines, etc. so go and drink in the grill room.  The pro shop was ok.  I saw two cottages from the 16th tee that can sleep several, so that's nice.  The practice area was very good and just beside the first tee.  I didn't notice but I assumed the normal amenities were there: bunkers, chipping, pitching and putting greens.  But that golf course was a stand alone thing--you don't need anything besides a place for  meals and shoe changing--like Somerset Hills.To:  RanGarden City is one of the ten best true golf experiences in the US.  It is all golf.  The club rule is that when a match starts, everyone on the practice tee stops to let the players tee off.  You can play butt naked after you get past the house off the fouth tee (Helmit Huber, a member married to Susan Lucci the soap opera diva) and until the 16th green (when the house is visible again).  So it's got that going for it!  What's wrong with the seventh hole?  A cool tee shot and if you must lay back on your second, then bunkers must be avoided.  Except for the 12th green, every hole is exceptional.  I don't even pay attention to par there.  If the wind is right every par five can be reached in two shots--so what?  Maybe you have to make a three at #17 to halve the hole.  It is a great match play course, because of the trouble everywhere and that you can try an aggressive approach to the holes.  The look and feel of the place isn't duplicated at too many clubs in the world.  Oh, bring your jacket if you want in the clubhouse to drink a beer and see my name on the Travis trophy.......twice. The club published a book to commemorate its 100th anniversay that is extremely well done.

[Ran Morrissett]

The fact that Garden City is "one of the ten best true golf experiences in the US" is exactly why we have spent so much time playing in the UK.

[DBE]

Then Ran, I recommend that you not enter Suffolk or Nassau counties again.

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