Best Halfway Houses

[Gene Greco]

This is like the question about what is the most spectacular golf course in the world (Old Head is the far and away obvious choice).

The answer to this one is Ben's Porch at Sand Hills Golf Club - in a landslide.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Chipoat,

In order to speed up play, no water fountain remains near the
9th green or 10th tee, but if you hurry, water is available at the 12the tee, with the previous water having been available at the 9th tee.

On special occassions, a makeshift refreshment area is set up in the rain shelter to the left of the 9th green.

When applying for membership, prospective members are given a pamphlet to assist or guide them at GCGC.
A section specifically mentions that new or prospective members are NOT to suggest creating a half-way house, and that fast play, 3 1/2 hours is the norm, no matter how crowded the course.

My club in NJ has a snack house that is located between the
5th, 12th, and 14th green.  It opens at 8:00 am. and slows down the entire course.  I have tried to have its opening delayed until 11:00 am, but have been unsuccessful.
Yet the members keep complaining about how the course gets backed up at the 6th and 13th tee and they can't figure it out.

[TEPaul]

Roundus interruptus!? Chip Oat, you're a piece of work!

If you feel that way I have a rather unusual halfway house effect that will probably offend your sensibilites on the one hand and pleasantly excite your "roundus interruptus" sensibilities on the other hand.

It's the London Hunt Club in London Ontario. As you arrive on the 9th tee one of your group picks up a rather nondescript telephone on a box on a post and places your order to the clubhous a good par 4 away. When you march off the 9th and up the hill past the clubhouse on your way to the 10th tee  beside the clubhouse the drinks (or whatever) can be handed off to you in full stride if you so choose!

[Lynn Shackelford]

No one has mentioned the Lake course at Olympic in S.F.  What are those famous cheeseburger things called?  What a great eating town.

[Mike_Cirba]

Chip,

You're totally correct, and I will pledge in 2002 to limit my halfway house visits to visiting the facilities (if in need), and checking out any nubile women who may be employed therein.  No more of this silly nourishment stuff.

Of course, I'll now simply reply "N-N-N-N-No thank you", when asked "Would you like anything?"  Hopefully, my stammering reply will not slow play.

[BCrosby]

Lynn -

I second your vote for the Olympic halfway house at the 10th green.  They sell these long, rectangular burgers served in a hotdog bun.  Strange and delicious, and I need more strange and delicious things in my life.

Also, another vote for the halfway house at Mid-O.  Some spectacular ocean views coupled with the anticipation of playing the 10th and one of the trickiest green complexes anywhere.

Bob  

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Rich, There is one after nine near ten tee. It is modest but has wonderful views.

[ChipOat]

Lynn Shackelford and BCrosby

I mentioned Olympic as a particularly aggregious example of the genre!!

Mike Cirba

No need to be non-congenial about the whole thing.  If the rest of your otherwise enjoyable foursome is already committed to polluting a proper golfing experience - when in Rome...........

[THuckaby2]

No need to be non-congenial about the whole thing.  If the rest of your otherwise enjoyable foursome is already committed to polluting a proper golfing experience - when in Rome...........

Which is exactly why although I'm with chip here in principle most definitely, if the Union Jack is flying over the little house on Portrush Dunluce, damn right I'm popping in for a wee dram.... and heck yeah, I'll have one of those burgers in hot dog bun at Olympic... and yes, I will enjoy the view from the new building at MPCC (although darn the old building had more charm)... the list goes on.  When in Rome, indeed.  If everyone else is stopping, what the heck?

TH

[TEPaul]

The Irish are basically a bunch of inveterate liars! WEE dram--my ass--there's nothng Wee at all about their dramming!

[THuckaby2]

TEP:  er, uh, well... OUR* definitions of "wee" and "large" definitely are different from most, particularly depending on the context.  Ever here the term "Irish inch?"

TH


* though I am a mutt of ancestry, I am mostly Irish, so I will include myself in this.

[BillV]

Personally it goes against my tenet of fast play to have a half way stop and it has wrecked a match for me more often than not by breaking rhythm. Saucon's joint is anathema to me Joe, sorry.

I prefer a place where you can't sit down to get you the hell out of there FAST and on your way (Pine Valley, Maidstone, Lehigh), but Mid Ocean and  NGLA are OK, just 'cause you're there.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

There is no question Olympic has great halfway houses. The burgers on a dog bun are great. It was not mentioned before due the lack of ocean or great view.

[Jack (Guest)]

On this side of the pond Sunningdale has a fabulous half way stop off. The sausage sarnies legendary. It is halfway for both the Old and New. Royal Blackheath in London has a good hut which is not halfway but is passed on two occasions. A lot of drinking goes on here.

[Richard_Goodale]

The old Ballyliffin clubhouse had a good compromise.  There was a window in the kitchen which you passed going from 9 to 10, and if you knocked, Johnny the bartender would pop up and would pass you the bottled beer of your choice.  Sometimes, he had it down to such a science that you didn't even have to break your stride.

[TEPaul]

Talk about down to a science--this is not the halfway house now--there wasn't one but at the old Links club (MacD/Raynor NLE) clubhouse, before, during or after a round Old Burt who ran the clubhouse (an old farmhouse) with complete control prided himself on bringing the members exactly what they wanted without ever having to ask them  or to have them ask him.

Some of these fellows were from the old school of drinking where certain times required certain drinks and so forth (and to be honest these fellows were true connoisseurs of drink and the good life and had the whole thing down to a damn science themselves but they were finnicky and did not put up with being thrown a curve ball drink-wise--ever--it could really throw them off and half ruin their day!) and they claimed Burt was truly amazing--that somehow he really did know exactly what they wanted and when and would bring it to them without him ever asking them or them asking him!

[Bill McBride]

For the (tightly wrapped?) speed freaks in the crowd, one of the important criteria for a great halfway house is you're on your way fast!  No sit down lunches.  No sitting, period.  Mush!

[George_Williams]

Turnberry had one in '95 when I was there.....a nice one!

[Rob_Waldron]

I am sure all of the Philly boys have experienced the well done Dietz @ Watson dogs served at Manny's (Manufacturers Golf & Country Club - MGCC) A dog and some pretzels covered with spicy brown mustard made many a round worthwhile during my caddie days. The best thing about MGCC's halfway house is that it is accessible from #8, #11, and #16 greens.  

[TEPaul]

RobW:

It is? I didn't know that and I've played there a ton! The only time I went in there is coming off of #11 green!

[Doug Wright]

When I first read the topic for this thread, I thought was asking about places for recovering GCAaholics    It isn't exactly a "halfway house" because it's in the basement of one of the best clubhoueses anywhere, but the Castle Pines halfway stop is one of the best due to the world's best milkshakes. If you want roundus interruptus and to lapse into a sugar induced torpor, try one of them. As far as real halfway houses, I'd second or third the one at Mid Ocean.

All The Best,

[BillV]

Doug

If you want a CPGC milkshake at home, just put pint of soft Haagen-Daasz vanilla in the blender and add extra vanilla. No secret.  Not much milk in those shakes.  

Doctor's Advice:
Better check your LDL's.  

[Doug Wright]

Thanks for the recipe Bill. I'm not gonna try one at home or I'd end up looking like Flounder in Animal House or Eddie Murphy in that horrible movie where he morphed into that fat guy...

All The Best,

[mps]

Rich - George beat me to it but Turnberry's had a halfway house for some time.  It sounds like you've stayed away from the Ailsa far too long.

The strangest halfway house?  In my experience - the trailor park at the far end of Royal Troon.  One of our caddies took orders, jumped the fence & raided his refrigerator!  Probably made more selling stuff out of his caravan than he did carrying the bag!  I wish I'd written down the lad's name - I haven't had that kind of service at Troon since.

[Richard_Goodale]

mps

I realized while talking to my wife last night that it was nearly 10 years ago that last I saw Ailsa.  How time flies.  Of course, given my lack of observational powers, it's quite possible that the 1/2 way house was there then too!

Great story about Troon!