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Jim Sherma

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New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« on: March 05, 2012, 09:56:19 AM »
Greetings All - this is my first posting and I wanted to introduce myself to the forum.

Name: Jim Sherma
Age: 45
Location: Hershey, PA
Profession: Forecaster/Statistician working for The Hershey Co
Handicap: 6
Education: Lehigh University, BA, BS, MS
Married with two kids 8 and 4 - trying to talk the wife into joining Hershey CC but currently playing public options

I've been reading GCA for many years and have been actively lurking in the discussion group area for 6 years now.

Golf history: I've been playing seriously for 30+ years. I was introduced to the game by my dad, Joseph Sherma, who was an old public course rat who grew up on Galloping Hill in Union, New Jersey. I played most of my early golf at Bethlehem Municipal in Bethlehem, PA (William and David Gordon - long course when learning with persimmon - 7000+ and little roll - not real interesting but needed to hit the ball well to get it around) and Green Pond Country Club in Bethlehem Tonship, PA (An old school Alex Findlay course from the early '30's - nice small green complexes and a few decisions to make through the round). I also came to appreciate better courses by playing a decent amount of times on a couple of Robert White courses, Harker's Hollow and Northampton CC, along with Saucon Valley's Old and Grace courses.

My first architecture book of many was the original Golf Digest "100 Greatest Golf Courses and Then Some" when it came out in 1982. Since I got into golf I've always had an obsession with the history, architecture and equipment associated with the game. I've played over in Ireland on two different trips and last year made it over to St Andrews for the first time and played 10 rounds in 8 days with a group from Green Pond.

Some meaningful courses... at least to me:

St Andrews Old: Nothing could have prepared me to crest the hill after my drive on 7 and see the 7-11 green complex for the first time
Pine Valley: Played it once and was in awe - while it did not diminish the experience I wish that I had been playing more regularly when the opportunity presented itself
Saucon Valley Old: I have not played it since the recent renovations but I always thought the course rewarded good shots and penalized poor shots in a very balanced and elegant way
Lehigh CC: My first Flynn and also my first trophy winning my age group with a 78 when I was 16
Ballybunion Old: The second and third shots on number 6 showed me what can be done with contour and short grass
Baltusrol Upper and Lower: Fortunately played them a handful of times over a pretty short stretch, they both kicked my ass but it was interesting because with the Lower I always knew why but with the Upper I always felt that I should be able to handle the course but never could for a full round
Crail Balcomie: Heaven on Earth

Golf is something that I hold dear to my heart and GCA has become required reading during my days. I feel lucky to have had much good golf in my life and I am honored to be part of the forum.

Mac Plumart

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2012, 10:00:33 AM »
Crail Balcomie: Heaven on Earth

Jim...I love you already.  Welcome!
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

Dónal Ó Ceallaigh

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2012, 10:01:28 AM »
Welcome Jim!

What other courses did you play in Ireland?

PCCraig

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2012, 10:12:30 AM »
Welcome Jim!
H.P.S.

Rory Connaughton

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2012, 10:32:11 AM »
Welcome Jim. Its good to have someone from Cental PA. Let's plan on a game when the weather warms. Perhaps we can get professor Bausch to join us.

Bill Brightly

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2012, 10:52:29 AM »
Welcome Jim! I can show you SVCC Old after the restoration, and also Weyhill after its restoration. That is if you can manage 36 in one day ;)

Jim Sherma

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2012, 11:02:18 AM »
Donal - My first time over I played Fotah and Rosslare. I really liked Fotah and thought that it was a good course, I joined up with a high school kid who worked there and we had a great round together. Rosslare was my first real links course and the weather was horrible, 20+ winds and bands of rain moving through, I hit the ball great that day and knew that I had found something that was worth looking for. My second time over I played Ballybunion Old, Dooks, Dingle (twice) and Castlegregory. I also played some local course in Middleton outside of Cork, can't remember much of anything about it other than the pints in the bar afterwards.

Rory - it would be my pleasure.

Anthony Gray

Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2012, 11:10:19 AM »

 Jim,

 Why haven't you signed up for the 5th major yet?


  Anthony


Jim Sherma

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2012, 11:10:49 AM »
Bill - I would love that. My bones can still get around 36 given some lubrication. I still visit Bethlehem fairly often to see my parents and in-laws. I played Weyhill with Brian MacCall last year after it reopened. Brian was part of the Scotland trip I went on last May that was put together by John Kulhammer from Green Pond. I had played Weyhill once before when I was in grad school in the mid-90's. I always liked the land it was on and the new work is wonderful. When we played last year the greens had not been cut down nor firmed up. I am sure there are some teeth in those greens that I did not see. I also loved seeing Morry Holland's old house again. I took lessons from him across three summers back in the early '80's. He was a great man and I was lucky to have him to work with back then.

Evan Fleisher

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2012, 09:17:57 AM »
Welcome Jim, glad to have you aboard!
Born Rochester, MN. Grew up Miami, FL. Live Cleveland, OH. Handicap 13.2. Have 26 & 23 year old girls and wife of 29 years. I'm a Senior Supply Chain Business Analyst for Vitamix. Diehard walker, but tolerate cart riders! Love to travel, always have my sticks with me. Mollydooker for life!

Cliff Hamm

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2012, 09:28:21 AM »
Couldn't help but welcome you having some things at least semi in common.  Like your dad I grew up in Union playing Galloping Hill (caddying at Baltusrol).  Then attended a superior school called Lafayette College ;)  While at Lafayette played Green Pond from time to time, altho can't remember much.  Welcome!

Jim Sherma

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2012, 09:49:34 AM »
Cliff - interestingly enough my dad has been a Chemistry Professor at Lafayette since the 1950's. He's emeritus now but still goes into the office everyday. He caddied and learned the game at Suburban.

Cliff Hamm

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2012, 09:57:38 AM »
I was a psychology major, graduating in 1972.  I clearly recall your father's name though.  Maybe it was from the science/engineering majors cursing out organic chem while I was having a good time!  My best friend caddied at Suburban while another friends brother was the "greens keeper".  Played it many times.  If you're familiar with it we would play the 3 holes across the street often in the evening.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 10:02:25 AM by Cliff Hamm »

Jud_T

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma New
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2012, 10:57:53 AM »
Jim,

The fact that as a good player you chose #6 at Ballybunion as one of your key golfing moments means that you get it IMO.  Welcome to Thunderdome...
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 02:57:49 PM by Jud Tigerman »
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Bill Brightly

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2012, 11:37:33 AM »
Cliff - interestingly enough my dad has been a Chemistry Professor at Lafayette since the 1950's. He's emeritus now but still goes into the office everyday. He caddied and learned the game at Suburban.

Lafayette class of '79! As an Economics major, can't say I ever made it into your Dad's building... but nice to have a Pard relation at SVCC! Way too many Lehigh grads at the place...

Jim Sherma

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Re: New Member Intro - Jim Sherma
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2012, 02:54:43 PM »
Jud - it's been 6 years since I was at Ballybunion but that is the one shot that I think about most. I remember hitting a good drive with a little draw around the corner and when I saw the shot to the green just standing there in shock wondering how I was supposed to play it. I ended up hitting a pretty good shot that dribbled down to the flat on the right. Putted up onto the green and made bogey. I feel like I could entertain myself very nicely for a few hours around that green. I really liked the 8th green as well, played a neat little bank shot after missing just left, really a neat course in a lot of ways.