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Bryan Lewis

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New Member Introduction
« on: November 09, 2012, 12:04:08 PM »
Name: Bryan Lewis
Age: 50
Home:  South Haven, Michigan

I've been following this site for some years and I finally have a real account!  I found this site while looking for pictures of courses I would be going to or playing.  I've enjoyed reading the threads and feel like I know many of you even though I'm just a bystander.

In my teens I was a decent junior golfer.  I played college golf at Western Michigan back in the 80's when we still had a team.  In the 90's I got involved in the Rules because I loved being around golf tournaments but wasn't good enough to compete anymore.  I served on the Golf Association of Michigan board of governors and have been a member of the USGA Junior Championship Committee since 1998.  Along with the US Junior Championship, I've served on the Rules Committee for a bunch of US Opens, Senior Opens, US Amateurs and even a few Women's Opens.  I know Ran's brother John quite well as he is almost everyone's go-to-guy when it comes to debates on the Rules.

In my travels I've been able to see many great courses and have been fortunate to play a few of them, too.  Like most here I prefer the classic courses as well as the new courses that utilize the classic design philosophies.  "The Spirit of St. Andrews" is one of my favorite books.  I’m looking forward to jumping in on some of the discussions.  Thanks for having me!   ;D
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Terry Lavin

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2012, 12:16:08 PM »
Welcome to the nut...er...treehouse!  What are your top ten Michigan courses?  Top ten Midwest?
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JR Potts

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2012, 12:31:00 PM »
Welcome.

To follow-up on Terry's email - when he says Top Michigan Courses....on this site, it apparently includes all of the Chicago courses as well.   
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Sven Nilsen

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2012, 12:42:47 PM »
JR:

You've got it wrong.  The Michigan Course list includes Toledo.  The Chicagoland Course list includes Michigan and Southern Wisconsin and anything within a two hour flight. 

Bryan:

Welcome.  I'll add another question to the list, what are the Top Ten between Michigan City and Muskegon?

Sven






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"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

Bryan Lewis

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2012, 01:02:28 PM »
Quote from: Terry Lavin on November 09, 2012, 12:16:08 PM
Welcome to the nut...er...treehouse!  What are your top ten Michigan courses?  Top ten Midwest?

Oh my.  A quiz right out of the blocks!

My Michigan Top Ten:
Crystal Downs
Oakland Hills South
U of M
Lost Dunes
Indianwood
Kingsley Club
CC of Detroit
Dunes Club
Franklin Hills
Diamond Springs

I'm sure I'm missing a couple that don't come to mind right now.  A midwest Top Ten would take more thought.  I'll work on that.
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Bryan Lewis

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2012, 01:11:28 PM »
Quote from: Sven Nilsen on November 09, 2012, 12:42:47 PM
JR:

You've got it wrong.  The Michigan Course list includes Toledo.  The Chicagoland Course list includes Michigan and Southern Wisconsin and anything within a two hour flight. 

Bryan:

Welcome.  I'll add another question to the list, what are the Top Ten between Michigan City and Muskegon?

Sven

If it includes Toledo then Inverness is definitely "in" and maybe Sylvania.

Top Ten from Michigan City to Muskegon.  Hum... Are there 10?  Ha!
OK... North to South...
Muskegon CC
Grand Haven
Wuskowhan
Diamond Springs
Hawkshead
Beeches
Point O'Woods
Harbor Shores
Lost Dunes
Dunes Club

I reluctantly included Harbor Shores just to make it ten.  Not a big fan yet.   ;)
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Mike Schott

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2012, 01:16:26 PM »
Quote from: Bryan Lewis on November 09, 2012, 01:11:28 PM
Quote from: Sven Nilsen on November 09, 2012, 12:42:47 PM
JR:

You've got it wrong.  The Michigan Course list includes Toledo.  The Chicagoland Course list includes Michigan and Southern Wisconsin and anything within a two hour flight. 

Bryan:

Welcome.  I'll add another question to the list, what are the Top Ten between Michigan City and Muskegon?

Sven

If it includes Toledo then Inverness is definitely "in" and maybe Sylvania.

Top Ten from Michigan City to Muskegon.  Hum... Are there 10?  Ha!
OK... North to South...
Muskegon CC
Grand Haven
Wuskowhan
Diamond Springs
Hawkshead
Beeches
Point O'Woods
Harbor Shores
Lost Dunes
Dunes Club

I reluctantly included Harbor Shores just to make it ten.  Not a big fan yet.   ;)

Hi Bryan,

Welcome from another new member. I notice you left off most of the Grand Rapids area public courses. Have you played Thousand Oaks or others in that area? It's been years since I've played Hawkshead but it's a terrific course. Good choice. Grand Haven is also a fine track.
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Bryan Lewis

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2012, 01:30:44 PM »
Quote from: JR Potts on November 09, 2012, 12:31:00 PM
Welcome.

To follow-up on Terry's email - when he says Top Michigan Courses....on this site, it apparently includes all of the Chicago courses as well.   

JR,

Probably the only Chicago courses I would include are Chicago Golf Club and Shore Acres.  If we go as far north as Milwaukee I would include Blue Mound and Milwaukee CC, maybe even Erin Hills which I think will be a great US Open site.
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Bryan Lewis

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2012, 01:46:58 PM »
Quote from: Mike Schott on November 09, 2012, 01:16:26 PM
Hi Bryan,

Welcome from another new member. I notice you left off most of the Grand Rapids area public courses. Have you played Thousand Oaks or others in that area? It's been years since I've played Hawkshead but it's a terrific course. Good choice. Grand Haven is also a fine track.

I've played Thousand Oaks and they were all very nice to us, but personally was a little disappointed in the course.  Not a really a walkable course.  I thought Egypt Valley did a very nice job hosting the US Junior a couple years ago and I liked the course more and more as the week went on.  Cascade Hills I like.  Thornapple Pointe (Planes, Trains and Automobiles) has some nice holes.  I've not seen or played the Mines Golf Course although I think a lot of Mike DeVries' courses.  Kent Country Club is a Donald Ross course I'd like to see sometime.  I guess I was mostly thinking of courses along the lakeshore.
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Greg Gilson

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2012, 05:39:17 PM »
Hi Bryan. Welcome to the site!
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PCCraig

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2012, 06:26:07 PM »
Welcome, Bryan!
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H.P.S.

Bryan Lewis

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #11 on: November 09, 2012, 09:23:39 PM »
Thanks guys!

Bryan
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Sean_A

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #12 on: November 10, 2012, 06:38:41 AM »
Quote from: Sven Nilsen on November 09, 2012, 12:42:47 PM
JR:

You've got it wrong.  The Michigan Course list includes Toledo.  The Chicagoland Course list includes Michigan and Southern Wisconsin and anything within a two hour flight. 

Bryan:

Welcome.  I'll add another question to the list, what are the Top Ten between Michigan City and Muskegon?

Sven

Sven

No, no, no.  Michigan could claim Toledo courses only if it can be proven that the Michigan Militia fired a few shots during the Michigan-Ohio War. 

Welcome Bryan.

Ciao
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Lynn_Shackelford

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #13 on: November 10, 2012, 08:35:27 AM »
Bryan

I like your Michigan list, I think you will find like minded golfers here.
Questions
Your feelings about the Boys' Junior on a hilly course Martis Camp this year?
Pilgrim's Run in Michigan?
Is John vastly superior to Ran as a golfer?
Thoughts about high rough at Merion?
Courses you haven't played, but hope to?
Most interesting foursome to date that you have been a part of?
Thanks.
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It must be kept in mind that the elusive charm of the game suffers as soon as any successful method of standardization is allowed to creep in.  A golf course should never pretend to be, nor is intended to be, an infallible tribunal.
               Tom Simpson

Bryan Lewis

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #14 on: November 10, 2012, 01:34:15 PM »
Quote from: Lynn_Shackelford on November 10, 2012, 08:35:27 AM
Bryan

I like your Michigan list, I think you will find like minded golfers here.
Questions
Your feelings about the Boys' Junior on a hilly course Martis Camp this year?
Pilgrim's Run in Michigan?
Is John vastly superior to Ran as a golfer?
Thoughts about high rough at Merion?
Courses you haven't played, but hope to?
Most interesting foursome to date that you have been a part of?
Thanks.

Lynn,

1) I've only heard good things about Martis Camp but I haven't been there.  Definitely not a classic course, though.  If its hilly refereeing two-a-days might be tough.  Better start training!
2) I haven't been to Pilgrim's Run.  Not exactly sure why.  Would I like it?
3) My money would be on John.
4) I'm fine with thick rough for the US Open at Marion.  It fits that course.  Won't fit for several of the following US Opens.
5) Courses I haven't played but hope to... Crystal Downs, National Golf Links of America, Pine Valley, Augusta National, Royal Melbourne, Chicago GC, Shinnecock Hills, Marion East, North Berwick.  That is quite a list!
6) Most interesting foursome I've been part of:  Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen.  Oh, the Rules official doesn't count?  Ha!  I played with Reid Mackenzie and his wife Jane when he was president of the USGA at East Hampton Golf Club.  For such a mild mannered guy he sure is intense on the golf course!  I've played with Mary Bea Porter-King quite a few times.  She is one classy lady!

Thanks for the questions!

Bryan
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Lynn_Shackelford

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Re: New Member Introduction
« Reply #15 on: November 10, 2012, 04:37:15 PM »
Thanks for the reply.

Pilgrim's Run is pretty good.  Mike DeVries came to the scene a bit late but still made it a pretty good course, one of Michigan's better courses.
Man, you have got a lot of catching up to do on the "courses you would still like to play."

I figured John for a pretty stick.


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It must be kept in mind that the elusive charm of the game suffers as soon as any successful method of standardization is allowed to creep in.  A golf course should never pretend to be, nor is intended to be, an infallible tribunal.
               Tom Simpson
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