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.