Tillinghast Illustrated

[Dan Kelly]

I don't know what "bliling me in oil" means, but it sounds pretty kinky. Is that something only Tilly biographers get to do?

Bob

Burbeck biographers are always welcome, too.

[Mike Golden]

I think the answer to the second question relating to the course that generated Ben's interest in golf architecture, might be Brackenridge in San Antonio.  I have no clue on the toughest course, though.

[TEPaul]

"Tell you what, I'll reveal the answer at 8pm tonight so that you can all have a pleasant weekend filled with thoughts of boiling me in oil...    "

Phil:

If you're going to reveal the answer at 8pm tonight I would assume you've already made plans to be off-shore and out of the country on a slow freighter to China by no latter than 9:17pm. You better not try to drive from Atlanta to the coast either because there won't be enough time. Even if you think you can get there by something like an autogyro I have a feeling one of these madder than hell hornets on here will catch your ass and do you in.

[Dan Kelly]

I think it's time for Tom I to start giving some clues, to give Mr. Young's hide a chance.

[wsmorrison]

I fail to see why I would get my dander up (do I really have dander?) just because Ben Crenshaw thinks a certain course is the hardest.  I don't think I'll have any reaction at all...how's that, Tommy boy?  

Anyway, I simply must be right that it is Oakmont.  Unless somebody else already suggested this and it was denied.  In that case, I want a mulligan.  I don't see how anyone can deny that Oakmont is a lot tougher than Winged Foot.

[Phil_the_Author]

Wayne and all,

Everyone is still batting zero!

Now I'll really up the stakes...

If someone can come up with the right answer before 8pm, in addition to the Tilly bio, I'll also include a set of the USGA edition's of Tilly's two books, The Mutt and Cobble Valley Yarns!

No calling Ben either...  

Mike, the course that inspired his interest in golf course architecture was The Country Club at Brookline when he played it as a teenager. Wait till you read what he says about this in the interview.

[Phil_the_Author]

Final clue taken directly from the article and question about the round and Ben's answer:

BEN CRENSHAW: “Oh yeah, that was an exhausting day! That was the hardest 18 holes I ever played by far! It was so much fun to see…… that was a heck of a day.”

[Bill Shamleffer]

I got it!

I bet this was some golf magazine article in which they played a composite 18 from a variety of courses.  Based on the prior clues it may have been from courses in the Met Region that have hosted majors, or something of that sort.

I do think I recall some article that covered course in both NY and NJ played in a single day, with use of a helicopter.  Possibly this could have been for Golf Magazine, and George Peper may have been involved.

[JC Jones]

Sebonack

[Bill Shamleffer]

I got it!

I bet this was some golf magazine article in which they played a composite 18 from a variety of courses.  Based on the prior clues it may have been from courses in the Met Region that have hosted majors, or something of that sort.

I do think I recall some article that covered course in both NY and NJ played in a single day, with use of a helicopter.  Possibly this could have been for Golf Magazine, and George Peper may have been involved.

I just spent a few minutes using Google and found the following Links Magazine article:
http://www.linksmagazine.com/best_of_golf/columns/george_peper/a_day_in_the_life.aspx

Here is an exert from George Peper's column discussing the time the played St. Andrews, Winged Foot and Pebble Beach in one day for Golf Magazine.  In this article he references when he played 18 holes on 18 courses in NY, NJ, and CT and that Ben Crenshaw was part of this stunt:

Columns:
A Day in the Life

By George Peper


I was editor of GOLF Magazine back then and one of my core duties was to make noise for the magazine—occasionally do nutty things that attracted attention and, by extension, readers and advertisers. In a moment of questionable inspiration I came up with the notion of playing St. Andrews, Winged Foot and Pebble Beach in 24 hours. (I had pulled a similar stunt a couple of years earlier, when Ben Crenshaw had joined me for a tour of 18 holes on 18 different courses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, starting at dawn on the 14th hole of Shinnecock Hills and finishing at dusk on the fourth at Baltusrol.)
 

[Dan Kelly]

Great sleuthing, Bill.

[TEPaul]

Phil;

Oh Phil:

Where are you pal?

If you're just stepping onto a slow boat to China I hope you have your laptop computer with you so you can see what's going on here.

There's a smart one on here, Phil-up.

[BCrosby]

Phil - Let me know the next time you plan to be at The Palm. I have some friends that want to meet you. And they aren't very talkative.

Bob

[Mike Nuzzo]

Oso Beach in the wind!

[Chuck Brown]

Do 18 holes at 18 different clubs in 3 different states count as "the hardest course"?

Is the theme here "composites"?  Because isn't the Brookline tournament course also a composite?  Are we to presume that Ben's favorite course in Australia is the composite Royal Melbourne?  And that his favorite 'course' in Scotland is to play up the shore from Troon to Prestwick?

 

[Dan Kelly]

Never been to Bandon (yet).

Is a composite course possible there?

[Phil_the_Author]

Congratulations Bill Shamleffer... send me your address, I owe you some books!

Anyone care to guess at when this took place and which 18 holes they were? Ben shot a 2-over par score of 74...

Here is the excerpt from the interview:
 
PHIL YOUNG: I recall your helicopter journey around the metropolitan [New York] area playing the 18 greatest holes of the MGA.

BEN CRENSHAW: Oh yeah, that was an exhausting day! That was the hardest 18 holes I ever played by far! It was so much fun to see the metropolitan area by air, a lot of it; that was a heck of a day. I just ran into George Peper over in Scotland. He orchestrated that day with Jay Motola with the Metropolitan Golf Association.

He would refer to it also as the "hardest course" he ever played...

So any and all who think it isn't a "golf course" can take it up with Ben!  

p.s. - Credit to Tom Paul as he also remembered this round when I told him the answer... He really does have a few grey cells at work up there.

[Dan Kelly]

Is the theme here "composites"?

Actually, it is.

It's a little-known fact that Ben Crenshaw is himself a composite of Andy Williams and TEPaul.

[TEPaul]

Phil, Phil, PHIL, PHILLIP--what the hell's going on here?

You told me Ben said the hardest course he ever played was Wyoming Valley in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania because he had the wickedest hangover he ever had in his life.

What the hell is this 18 different holes in some metropolitan area via an autogyro???

I don't know what that is PHIL, but it's not a golf COURSE.

I don't care if you are on a slow boat to China, I'm coming after you PHILLUP.

THIS is foul play and I want a double refund and a book too.

I've been duped and cheated and all on the same damn day!

[Patrick_Mucci]

Philadelphia Cricket Club

[Phil_the_Author]

Hi Pat...

I guess you read my first post and after Tom Paul's response, just skipped to your reply!  

[Dan Kelly]

Hi Pat...

I guess you read my first post and after Tom Paul's response, just skipped to your reply!  

Let's all hope so!

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