New York area

[Chris DeNigris]

Andy,

If you want to head west from NYC for 45 minutes you'll find The Knoll in Parsippany. Semi-Private and a Banks- highly regarded by many on the site. Probably don't even need a letter 

[Mike Sweeney]

• [size=78%]I promise not to start a thread on Brexit and golf..![/size]
• [/size][size=78%]We Brits like to travel...[/size]

Andy,


I can't help myself! These two statements in one post are really complex!


 


If you want to go "all the way", I have not played ANY of these Queens, Brooklyn or Staten Island courses:


http://www.dykerbeachgc.com/golf-tee-times

[jeffwarne]

Wow, handsome to boot. Just what you wrote above in a nice letter can get you on most any private in the US. Couple that with Oxford alumni and you should be eaton up courses in no time.

A polite email to the Club Professional with an offer of reciprocity (which will never come up)should get you all the access you want.

[John Kavanaugh]

I don't buy that. Emails are lazy. I know I'm just a midwestern rube but a handwritten letter from a guy that went to Oxford in a envelope with some cool looking stamps would impress me every time.


To take off an old Seinfeld episode, Cuban cigars can be purchased inexpensively in the duty free shop at the London airports. They can go along way towards continuing access.

[Bill Crane]

If you drive south on the NJ Turnpike to Exit 8A you'll find Forsgate.  Take a look:


http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/usa/forsgate-country-club/

Worth the drive.


And if you get down there (about a one hour drive), then play Springdale Golf Club in Princeton.
William Flynn design in a lovely university town that may also give access as students can also play it.

PM me if you have any interest in playing Springdale - my family joined the club in 1967, both my father and I served as VP on the Board in different eras. 


Unusual for the US, Springdale in Princeton,NJ can be easily accessed via public transportation especially the train from Penn Station in NY, with a spur line into town not far from the golf course.  A private club seperate from Princeton Univ - we are the home course for the PU teams.


Here is a link from Joe Bausch's tour of about four years ago:   


 http://www.myphillygolf.com/uploads/bausch/Springdale/index.html


Hugh Wilson who designed Merion played his college golf at our club, and joined our Greens committee when the course moved in around 1900 from it's original location.  The settting with Cleveland Tower, PU Graduate school, undergraduate and the Theological Seminary has a very British feel to it.  Wonderful Flynn greens.


I will have some other suggestions of private club access for you in my "network" of friends including Yale if you don't find another contact. 


Philadelphia also have some wonderful courses and is not far from NYC if you want to take a long weekend.


Bill Crane

[Andy Smith]

Thanks again John K, Bill C, Jeff, Mike, Chris and Ben, all input gratefully received.

John K - I like your comments, it appeals as I am a history grad and my old professor (who died recently sadly) used to use a feather quill and ink and get pissed on whiskey at 10am... those were the days..!! I got my wife some special embossed stationery last year with our address on and we never use it. This could be the perfect opportunity to send it out and seek to get maximum return!

Most importantly, I now need to stay a week as so many great suggestions, several invitations, and I am now really looking forwarf to my various US trips!

Keep the thread going, I am so enjoying this! Any suggestions for my Orlando trip in 2 weeks while my Canadian in laws look after the kids? Streamsong 36 is nailed on and I am staying at the Hilton/Waldforf Astoria course as a base, but further suggestions within 90 mins welcomed! Is Bay Hill worth it or no? Better alternatives?

Cheers!

Andy

[John Kavanaugh]

Andy,


You may want to try posting on at least one other thread besides this access grab before you extend your search to another state.

[Andy Smith]

Hi John, I am torn between the one-parent-family-public housing-chip-on-my
-shoulder-Yorkshireman in me who loves your directness, and the bloke who has lived in the south of England who finds it lacking in grace and subtlety... which Englishman am I?!


Forgive me if you think this was an 'access grab'. I am more than happy to find my way in the world but silly not to look for advice nonetheless. I enjoyed some fine discussion with other members on and offline on this thread and am heartened by the warmth of the welcome. I enjoyed the discussion on the Arrowtown thread (note), including your seeming arch nemesis (I have been on the site for 24 hrs and read a lot!) Mr Tom Doak and many others. It seems our brief interactions may be fleeting if you doubt my motivations for being on the site!


I couldn't care less about newbie, full member or senior member status, or people's intentions. I come in peace to learn about golf...


Andy

[John Kavanaugh]

Note: I love Doak. How could you not love a guy behind the genius to skewer me at 5 am knowing I was trying to sleep off a hard drunk. The guy, as you seem to be, is worth the trouble.

[Andy Smith]

So much history and subtlety on this site... I look forward to many exchanges in the future. If anyone wants to be my coach or caddy so I don't triple bogey every thread, all input gratefully received...

[Mike Sweeney]

Any suggestions for my Orlando trip in 2 weeks while my Canadian in laws look after the kids? Streamsong 36 is nailed on and I am staying at the Hilton/Waldforf Astoria course as a base, but further suggestions within 90 mins welcomed! Is Bay Hill worth it or no? Better alternatives?

World Woods (west and north) is a good 90 minutes from your hotel. I do love WW Pine Barrens, but it is similar distance to Streamsong.


Mountain Lake (south and west) is private and typically ask guest to stay overnight. Everyone loves ML.


On the Disney/West side of Orlando:


1) Southern Dunes
2) Highlands Reserve - very affordable, nothing spectacular, but very solid
3) Never played it, but Rees Jones has a course at The Waldorf. Jump into the American style of Florida golf!
4) Disney Palm & Magnolia - Was not a fan, but heard the "re-dos" were well done. Disney golf is kind of expensive but close.


On the East Side of Orlando:


Deltona + Winter Park (9 holer) on the way back. Conditioning at Deltona was good in December after a couple of rough years. Everyone loves Winter Park, do a search here. Really fun day with the two.


North of Orlando:


Mission Inn - El Campion (spelling??, but the old course is the one, avoid the new)
Ocala GC - very good municipal, but again a longer trip


For others see:


http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,54396.0.html

[Andy Smith]

Thanks Mike, this is so helpful. I figured I was not the first person to ask the question on golf in Orlando area..! After a 9 hr flight with 2 kids etc, any top quality course within a 3 hour drive is fair game if truly quality as Streamsong seems to be, and if more local so much the better.


I also saw that I arrive on Masters Thursday and was thinking if worth going to Augusta/Mecca to worship that weekend via StubHub!! Probably a bridge too far..! Disney instead...

[jeffwarne]

I also saw that I arrive on Masters Thursday and was thinking if worth going to Augusta/Mecca to worship that weekend via StubHub!! Probably a bridge too far..! Disney instead...

Try Greenjacketaccesswhore.com  you should be able to squeeze out for a quick nine before the event kicks off Sunday morning


to solve the Orlando issue, type "Orlando" in the search feature-There's some good stuff there.

[Andy Smith]

Thank you to those who gave their insights on this thread both on and offline. I am now wiser about some great lesser known but fantastic looking courses in the US and also on site etiquette - the case of the Sam Krume / NYC thread should be taught to all newbies as part of their onboarding! I have studied every line to better understand the protocols of the site and some history. All advice and insights have been gratefully received. We shall consider this thread duly closed!

My next post will involve some great pictures and insights from a hidden gem UK course so people know I am a man of class and integrity!! Over and out.