Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Ira Fishman on November 29, 2017, 08:41:25 PM
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In the relatively brief time that I have followed GCA, I have been struck by a couple of things:
1. The extent to which the membership is Global.
2. The extent to which members will travel for events to play with people who they have never met.
I have made it a practice not to comment on courses that I have not played or therefore to not ask hypothetical questions, but I pose the following:
What course would be the most enticing/attractive for a GCA Global event?
Of course there are some caveats: exclusive clubs are excluded and travel time is a major factor.
And this is a hypothetical: I don’t keep a handicap so whatever the suggestion, it is not an event in which I could participate as much as I might like to do so.
Ira
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Sand belt with the option to continue on to Kings Island and Tasmania
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Well, being selfish, but not completely crazy...The Loop.
Ciao
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Well, being selfish, but not completely crazy...The Loop.
Ciao
I like it.
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If you are taking about a global event, I would think the most appropriate would be to go to Scotland, the home of golf. Dare I suggest Prestwick, the home of OTM.
TOC is too obvious, and perhaps too overbooked.
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Take over the Marine Hotel and North Berwick.
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If you are taking about a global event, I would think the most appropriate would be to go to Scotland, the home of golf. Dare I suggest Prestwick, the home of OTM.
TOC is too obvious, and perhaps too overbooked.
+1
With Persimmons and blades!!
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Well, being selfish, but not completely crazy...The Loop.
Easily arranged, if this is the choice, but i suspect there will be as many answers to this question as there are posters!
My first thought was more along the lines of a place that's truly remote, not a home game for anyone, but worthwhile. Himalayan Golf Club? Lofoten?
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If you are taking about a global event, I would think the most appropriate would be to go to Scotland, the home of golf. Dare I suggest Prestwick, the home of OTM.
TOC is too obvious, and perhaps too overbooked.
+1
With Persimmons and blades!!
awesome
though North Berwick with same followed by Musselburgh with hickories isn't all bad...
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Tara Iti, Cape Wickham, Lofoten all sound enticing to me.
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I can't help thinking that those listing great, bucket list causes are missing the point. Foe me, the ultimate GCA get together would be at a real hidden gem with real architectural interest. I might be describing the very first BUDA, which I wasn't at. So, for me, Kington.
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I can't help thinking that those listing great, bucket list causes are missing the point. Foe me, the ultimate GCA get together would be at a real hidden gem with real architectural interest. I might be describing the very first BUDA, which I wasn't at. So, for me, Kington.
I was thinking Askernish
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Kington is a good idea. The Loop would also be fun.
I've only played The Loop, but I am reasonably confident either would stimulate a number of interesting post-round conversations.
Bob
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I can't help thinking that those listing great, bucket list causes are missing the point. Foe me, the ultimate GCA get together would be at a real hidden gem with real architectural interest. I might be describing the very first BUDA, which I wasn't at. So, for me, Kington.
An event shared between Painswick and Cleeve Cloud would be ideal and hits the goal dead on. If I missed this I'd feel my golfing life was a failure.
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I'm with Mark. For me, GCA isn't about the bucket list courses. Everyone knows about those. I've loved the GCA events that draw people to places they might not ordinarily go, but are very much worth seeing.
Kington/Cleeve/Painswick would be awesome. Kington is the best course of the three, but a little further away. All could be played on the same trip. I haven't played Minchinhampton, but think it could easily be added.
For me personally, Garland's Prestwick suggestion is even better. I really do want to see that course.
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I can't help thinking that those listing great, bucket list causes are missing the point. Foe me, the ultimate GCA get together would be at a real hidden gem with real architectural interest. I might be describing the very first BUDA, which I wasn't at. So, for me, Kington.
Mark
Forget a new event! Perhaps we should make a proper push to have Buda at Kington? I have my doubts and am therefore reticent, but one never knows how things will turn out.
Ciao
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If it is outside the range of an traditional outing (KP, Buda, Mashie, Dixie) and one timers (Boomerang, Cabo) I'd say the North Island of New Zealand, Vietnam or China. Don't want to be anywhere close to Korean Peninsula.
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If you want people to travel, you need a course of stature and it should be in Scotland with the right kind of history and quirk.
A day at Prestwick with lunch would be the right answer.
All very well going to a Kington / Cleeve Cloud type of place but it's the BUDA regulars stating that... You want to pull in the new to GCA types that have maybe yet to make their first trip to Scotland.
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I'm turning 60 next year if all goes well so I'd be keenly interested.
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Gulph Mills with The Lurker as host.
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Gulph Mills with The Lurker as host.
+1
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A shoulder season week in St Andrews, all staying in the same hotel and drinking in the same bars, everyone balloting each day with no guarantees.
The joy of getting on the Old, pulling for other guys to get on, being terrified of being that guy that has to sleep outside the starters hut on the final day because your name hasn't appeared all week. One big group outing at Crail on the final Sunday when the Old is closed.
A plethora of affordable/high-end, quirky/old/modern designs. New, Eden, Jube, KB, Carnoustie, Panmure, Scotscraig, Lundin, Crail, Elie.....and many more. All within 30-40 minutes drive, many within 15.
The week of the Masters is arguably the best time for this. Most of the courses are still on lower rates, Old has just come off mats, prime time golf on the tube in all the bars. Plus the weather in April is often much better than anyone realises.
1h15mins from a well serviced airport. The stories, the new friends. You said the ultimate, so don't fight it to be contrary. Just accept it and book your flights :-)
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A shoulder season week in St Andrews, all staying in the same hotel and drinking in the same bars, everyone balloting each day with no guarantees.
The joy of getting on the Old, pulling for other guys to get on, being terrified of being that guy that has to sleep outside the starters hut on the final day because your name hasn't appeared all week. One big group outing at Crail on the final Sunday when the Old is closed.
A plethora of affordable/high-end, quirky/old/modern designs. New, Eden, Jube, KB, Carnoustie, Panmure, Scotscraig, Lundin, Crail, Elie.....and many more. All within 30-40 minutes drive, many within 15.
The week of the Masters is arguably the best time for this. Most of the courses are still on lower rates, Old has just come off mats, prime time golf on the tube in all the bars. Plus the weather in April is often much better than anyone realises.
1h15mins from a well serviced airport. The stories, the new friends. You said the ultimate, so don't fight it to be contrary. Just accept it and book your flights :-)
Notwithstanding the outrageously egregious omission of Leven, I’m 100% in agreement with my learned friend...
Best,
F.
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Of course we could save everybody the travel and agree on playing the same course at the same time on your nearest golf simulator with a video (conference) meal afterwards. Slightly odd ball I know but maybe more realistic than expecting lots of people to travel half way round the globe.
Jon
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A shoulder season week in St Andrews, all staying in the same hotel and drinking in the same bars.......
Despite conveniently for me residing not far from some of those GCA favourites mentioned above and being somewhat fond of them, and despite having a longing to play in no particular order others mentioned including The Loop, Askernish and Lofoten Links, I would go along with a shoulder season week at St Andrews.
Atb
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I just looked at return flights from NYC to EDI that week.
Flying night of Sun Apr 1 to arrive Mon 2 Apr, leave Mon 9 Apr £345 ($460) with a cheap airline before add-ons, low £500s ($700) for "proper" airlines.
Pretty good since the cheapest flight from NYC to North Bend is £421($570).
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That sounds great, Simon! I would think that the hardest part of this concept would be finding a hotel which would meet our high standards. Maybe we can take over the Strathtyrum Hotel in respect and honour to Bob Huntley?
If we cannot, I've always got my senior bus pass from Aberdour....
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First rule of this hypothetical St Andrews event is everyone has to stay in the hotel, no matter how close you live.
Staying in that parallel universe, how many would come? 40 people? 20? 80?
A one off, meet of all meets.
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What a great idea! The first global summit. I would think Scotland is a must. We could invite all the great architects to sit in the audience and listen to our world headquarters CEO and list of other luminaries. I can't think of a more fun couple of days.
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First rule of this hypothetical St Andrews event is everyone has to stay in the hotel, no matter how close you live.
Very true, Simon. Ask for full nonrefundable deposits from all who wish to play. As for the ones who don't show up, even if their beloved cat swallowed a dodgy fishbone over the weekend and is no more, their money goes in the kitty, as an honour to the ex-kitty)!
Keep up the good work
Rich
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I have been thinking about such an event for quite a while as well and my idea is that it should be about the "together" part more than about the golf. Sure, there will be great golf, there always is with GCA people involved. The quality of the golf is the least worry I have in this matter.
My idea is a GCA cruise. How about renting a sailboat or even a yacht and do some island/coastal hopping. We could play links golf during the day and then cruise to the next destination. Everyone would be together on the boat. Obviously, Scotland comes to mind with Arran, Kintyre, Islay, Jura, the Hebrides etc. But there are many locations where this would work golf-wise.
Yes, this is probably expensive and a dream. But the thread says "Ultimate GCA Event", so going to St Andrews seems a bit ordinary :)
Ulrich
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The golf wouldn't even get played.. everyone would just start wandering around, mumbling to himself about width, playing corridors and indigenous plantings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6nI1v7mwwA
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Make sure you are there on Sunday.
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Shoulder season at St Andrews wins the day.
36 hole singles event over The New and The Eden with rest of the week open for Old Course ballots, socialising in town, day trips, friendly (or organised) match plays etc...
All staying in the various hotels along The Scores.
Even The World Forum of Golf Course Architects was a rip-roaring success in 2010. Twenty industry types sitting in the valley of sin in their hired kilts, skulling whisky from the same bottle at 3 in the morning...
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No question that there is a certain ineluctability about St. Andrews--in fact it sounds so good that I might recant and establish a handicap.
But I am a bit surprised that there has not yet been an homage to our leader: Southern Pines for the main event. Plus PH2, Mid Pines, Pine Needles, Dormie, Tobacco Road. Perhaps a quick side trip to Old Town Club.
Bourbon instead of Scotch?
Ira
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Some great ideas posted already, especially the cruise idea, but I think I’d pick a weekend at Cedar Point or Six Flags.
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I have been thinking about such an event for quite a while as well and my idea is that it should be about the "together" part more than about the golf. Sure, there will be great golf, there always is with GCA people involved. The quality of the golf is the least worry I have in this matter.
My idea is a GCA cruise. How about renting a sailboat or even a yacht and do some island/coastal hopping. We could play links golf during the day and then cruise to the next destination. Everyone would be together on the boat. Obviously, Scotland comes to mind with Arran, Kintyre, Islay, Jura, the Hebrides etc. But there are many locations where this would work golf-wise.
Yes, this is probably expensive and a dream. But the thread says "Ultimate GCA Event", so going to St Andrews seems a bit ordinary :)
Ulrich
Ulrich,
could be done quite affordably via the ferry system-and a very good idea.
The ferries have bars....
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I agree that Askernish would be the spot. Hickories, arguments about origin, kicking it old school. The youngsters can get in 36 a day while the old guys can grab a nap after a morning round, fire up the grill and cocktails for when the kids get home. Bonus side trip to the Machrie and Machrihanish for those so inclined. Beard pulling, Scotch. Book it...
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I have participated in the Buda Cup, the Dixie Cup, the Midwest Mashie, the Kings Putter as well as countless smaller events including our Monthly Minnesota GCA outing and other special events all over the US and even Cabo. Each group has a slightly different vibe but you consistently play terrific courses, with terrific people of all playing abilities and are hosted by someone who really knows the destination, knows how to organize a trip and obtains a reasonable price. A large percentage of participants are seasoned golf travelers who know that things will not turn out precisely as the envisioned it but roll with the punches and find that surprises often yield the best memories.
For me, those are the ultimate GCA events.
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If it is outside the range of an traditional outing (KP, Buda, Mashie, Dixie) and one timers (Boomerang, Cabo) I'd say the North Island of New Zealand, Vietnam or China. Don't want to be anywhere close to Korean Peninsula.
At the least out of missile range. Apologies for stating the obvious, but we can only assume that a global GCA gathering would certainly top Pongyang's hot-target list.
Perhaps a Courses by Country?
See: https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Pyongyang_Golf_Course¶ms=38.898268_N_125.435830_E_type:landmark
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Wherever/ whenever/ great idea. Someone needs to set it up!
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Ira,
Lack of an official handicap is hardly an impediment... some clubs and balls and you're in..
How about Cabot... everyone has to travel!
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Have the front porch of the Pinecrest as the drinking hub and this is a great choice. Mid Pines, Southern Pines, Pine Needles, Tobacco Road and splurge finale on number 2.
No question that there is a certain ineluctability about St. Andrews--in fact it sounds so good that I might recant and establish a handicap.
But I am a bit surprised that there has not yet been an homage to our leader: Southern Pines for the main event. Plus PH2, Mid Pines, Pine Needles, Dormie, Tobacco Road. Perhaps a quick side trip to Old Town Club.
Bourbon instead of Scotch?
Ira