A Ten Year Plan

[Joshua Pettit]

I’m reminded of a great golf trip I went on last fall with some golf buddies.  Coming from California we flew into Chicago Midway.  Those guys started out by playing Chicago Golf but I was less fortunate as I couldn’t fly in until the next day.  Then we drove north of the city to Lake Bluff and played Shoreacres (Seth Raynor 1918).  We then continued north into Wisconsin and stopped by Kohler to look at Whistling Straits (Pete Dye 1998) but did not play it.  The following day we played Lawsonia Links Course (William Langford 1930).  Then we crossed into Michigan and played Greywalls twice (Mike DeVries 2005).  We then proceed to head south toward Traverse City but stopped on the way to look at Belvedere Golf Club (William Watson 1927) but did not play it.  Just outside of Traverse City we played The Kingsley Club (Mike DeVries 2001) and Crystal Downs (MacKenzie/Maxwell 1932) both in the same day.  And finally we played Lost Dunes (Tom Doak 1999) before heading back to Chicago to catch a flight back to California.  What a fantastic golf experience, a truly diverse selection of courses from different eras built by a variety of architects.  As a student of golf architecture it was more an educational experience rather then a leisurely golf trip but one that I would recommend to anyone with a passion for golf architecture.  I would have to say the highlight of the trip was playing Kingsley and Crystal but I enjoyed every course and learned something different from each.  Anyone looking for a great golf getaway I would suggest driving around lake Michigan.  There are plenty of great courses to choose from.  

[Jordan Wall]

New Mexico.

To Black Mesa, then to Paa Ko, then back to Black Mesa.  With the cheap rates try one more course called Pinon Hills.

[JR Potts]

I’m reminded of a great golf trip I went on last fall with some golf buddies.  Coming from California we flew into Chicago Midway.  Those guys started out by playing Chicago Golf but I was less fortunate as I couldn’t fly in until the next day.  Then we drove north of the city to Lake Bluff and played Shoreacres (Seth Raynor 1918).  We then continued north into Wisconsin and stopped by Kohler to look at Whistling Straits (Pete Dye 1998) but did not play it.  The following day we played Lawsonia Links Course (William Langford 1930).  Then we crossed into Michigan and played Greywalls twice (Mike DeVries 2005).  We then proceed to head south toward Traverse City but stopped on the way to look at Belvedere Golf Club (William Watson 1927) but did not play it.  Just outside of Traverse City we played The Kingsley Club (Mike DeVries 2001) and Crystal Downs (MacKenzie/Maxwell 1932) both in the same day.  And finally we played Lost Dunes (Tom Doak 1999) before heading back to Chicago to catch a flight back to California.  What a fantastic golf experience, a truly diverse selection of courses from different eras built by a variety of architects.  As a student of golf architecture it was more an educational experience rather then a leisurely golf trip but one that I would recommend to anyone with a passion for golf architecture.  I would have to say the highlight of the trip was playing Kingsley and Crystal but I enjoyed every course and learned something different from each.  Anyone looking for a great golf getaway I would suggest driving around lake Michigan.  There are plenty of great courses to choose from.  

Oh, I could I have forgotten Shoreacres....my favorite golf course in the world.

[Jason Topp]

Here are 10 categories with some specific ideas - generally, but not always lower priced.  It would be interesting to see if others would categorize differently.

1.  Florida:

Both courses at World Woods and the Dunes at Seville (I want to do this trip but have not)

Orlando - Southern Dunes and TPC Sawgrass

2.  Texas:

San Antonio - Bandit, Pecan Valley, one other (depends on taste and budget)

The Rawls course - have not seen it

3.  Carolina

Tobacco Road and others (want to see them)

Good courses at Myrtle Beach or near Hilton Head

Savannah - beautiful place in April.  I've only played one course there.

4.  Midwest:

Des Moines, Iowa - Wakonda, Harvester, Waveland, Des Moines G&CC

Chicago - Cog Hill and whatever others suggest

Wisconsin - a large number of good courses in relatively rural areas at lower prices

Duluth MN - Northland, Giant's Ridge (2 courses), Wilderness at Fortune Bay

Brainerd, MN - Classic, Pines, Preserve, Deacon's lodge

5.  Northeast

Donald Ross tour (others would be in a better position to suggest courses)

6.  "Cheap" Monterey area

Pasatiempo, Pacific Grove, San Juan Oaks

7.  Los Angeles/San Diego GCA Favorites

Rustic Canyon/Barona Creek

8.  Desert -

Go to Tucson between September and New Years eve.  Fall prices are still in effect and courses are not yet crowded  - Ventana Canyon Mountain, Arizona National (formerly Raven at Sabino Springs); Gallery,

9.  Mountain

I assume Denver would be the place to go.  I do not know the courses there.

10.  Oceanside

Bandon Dunes - off season when gorse is in bloom (I want to do this one).

 

[Andy Troeger]

I hadn't seen this previously, and a lot of my picks are already listed, but here goes anyway...

1. World Woods--Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks (Brooksville, FL), also Dunes at Seville as a third course. We did the WW double last February which is a good deal for the quality of the golf, although its more expensive if you play on consecutive days. We didn't play the Dunes and opted for Palisades in Clermont because we were coming from Orlando...wasn't bad but wouldn't be my first recommendation as the "warm-up" course.

2. Sea Pines Resort--Harbour Town and Sea Pines--Ocean. Believe it or not you can get a good deal here in the offseason. We stayed at Harbour Town overlooking the first tee for $140 a night including the golf...two night minimum. Play any other one or two courses and it works out pretty well, there's lots of choices.

3. Indianapolis--as Glenn mentioned there are many good public options that run in the $50-65 range depending on when you play...The Fort, Trophy Club, Prairie View, Heartland Crossing, Brickyard, Purgatory, etc. Lots of good clubs too if you can get on. I'd skip the Legends personally.

4. Northern Michigan (lower peninsula)--you could take at least 3-4 trips up there and play different very good (and generally reasonably priced) courses every time. I've gone twice and played Arcadia Bluffs, St. Ives, Tullymore, Crystal Downs, Kingsley Club, Pilgrim's Run, and Wuskowhan so far. All of them are worthwhile; I'll probably go back next year and mix in some new ones too...Bay Harbor, Forest Dunes, True North, Black Forest, High Pointe, Belvedere, The Mines, not to even mention Boyne or Treetops both of which have multiple courses...so you get the idea  

5. Bandon--haven't been there, but it would certainly be on a ten year plan for a serious golfer if its within budget.

6. Williamsburg, VA--one on my list to get to...looks like a lot of pretty good options.

7. RTJ Trail, AL--maybe not the GCA flavor, but a lot of good golf at very good prices from general impressions I've gotten from others.

8. New Mexico--played Paa-Ko last year and hope to hit Black Mesa in October if I make it back out there. Also Sandia GC is a new one in ABQ that looks worthwhile, and UNM--South looks like a good university course. Pinon Hills if you're willing to drive a little more from ABQ.

9. Fairfield Glade, TN--quite a few decent mountain courses in a close area. Stonehenge and the Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain are both nice courses, and there's other beautiful courses in the area as well. Lots of great scenic parks and other outdoor things to see.

10. Pebble--because I'm out of other ideas and I only had one more to go to get to 10!  Hopefully you saved up in some of the other years

[TEPaul]

Bogey;

What I suspect I would do is just call up Doak, and ask him.  

[Mike Nuzzo]

New Mexico.

To Black Mesa, then to Paa Ko, then back to Black Mesa.  With the cheap rates try one more course called Pinon Hills.

I concur..  
Jordan have you been?

I also agree with Huckaby - you can't go wrong tagging on to any GCA events - don't forget - Cape Breton Highlands, New Mexico, Banff & Jasper, Casa de Campo...

Cheers

[Tim Bert]

You'd have to consider spending one of those three day trips in your car at the parking lot of Bethpage State park.  The lodging doesn't get any cheaper, and I hear the golf is pretty good.  Much to my chagrin, we never got the trip done while I was in New England.  At least it's one more excuse for me to get back up to that part of the country.