As I turned 13 in 1971, I was introduced to the game at a farmland nine-holer called Scott-View Golf Course (nka Nine Flags Golf Course, and blasphemy of blasphemies, three holes have been permanently altered from their original design!!
) Out of pure principle, I haven't been back since they "butchered" it!
During that summer, I was playing Faultless balls and eating
Stewart Sandwiches, which were by far the best nutritional enjoyment of the day...
I was also playing Club Specials, Wilson K-28's, Kasnar's, Tom Cat's, Mustang's, and various other balls we'd find in the woods that were on the perimeter of the property.
Oh...first favorite course...that's right...
Well, if Scott-View was actually my first, I have to mention what would actually become my favorite course during that summer. You see, one afternoon between nines, and sitting in the little shack that served as a clubhouse, munching a Stewart "Beefburger" and sipping a Nehi Grape soda, I came across a Sports Illustrated that featured a preview of the upcoming US Open titled "The Ghosts of Merion". The pictures of the holes and the accompanying descriptions just astounded me, and from that day forward, Merion became my sentimental favorite "dream" course in the world.
Years later, I moved to the Philly area and used to just drive by the place to look at it from the road, feeling a rush of adrenaline, and later had the religious experience of walking it during the 1989 US Amateur.
In recent years, I had the privilege of playing there a few times, thanks to the kindness of a few of the folks I've met through this board. And yes, it did live up to those unrealistic expectations of a 13 year old kid sitting back in a shack on a $35 a year membership 9-hole course, flipping through a magazine as he gathered nourishment to head out to play more golf.
Sometimes, dreams do come true...
Quick humorous story...
When I actually got to play Merion for the first time, I was
sooooo nervous that I could barely get the club back past my hip. After driving from the first tee, I found myself breathing a sigh of relief that I'm a lefthander. You see, if I had been a righty, my screaming, low, straight heel-pull would have likely taken out a number of members and their wives enjoying tea on the veranda.