2019 Is A Wrap

[Ira Fishman]

It was a good year, although far less courses than many of you. Here is the review:


North Berwick
Pinehurst #2
Both in a class by themselves.


Elie
Streamsong Blue
Streamsong Red
Streamsong Black
Elie because of the landforms and quirk; Blue over Red by a nose because had best hole (Number8) and a wonderful finish; Black back nine terrific but 6-9 a weird letdown.


Kilspindie
Pure and fun.


Crail Balcomie
Some really great holes plus awesome views.
Kingsbarns
Eye candy with some really good holes, particularly Number 7.


Pinehurst #4
Fine.


Pinehurst #8


Ira

[Tom_Doak]

It's a wrap for me, too.  Amazingly, I will not travel anywhere until 2020.


Was just working on my Xmas letter.  I think I saw 36 new courses this year.  My top ten, noting that most of them would be 7's on the Doak Scale, so not very far apart:


  10.  Nchanga GC, Zambia - designed by someone at the mining company!
9.  Brautarholt GK, Iceland - Edwin Roald
8.  Mammoth Dunes, Wisconsin - David Kidd
7.  Kidjaberg GK, Iceland - members!
6.  Granville GC, France - Harry Colt
5.  Trinity Forest GC, Texas - Coore & Crenshaw
4.  Scottsdale National (The Other Course), Arizona - Tim Jackson and David Kahn
3.  La Moye, Jersey - James Braid
2.  The National ( Gunnamatta), Australia - Tom Doak and Brian Schneider
1.  Lofoten Links, Norway - Graeme Webster

[Daryl David]

Wrap for me too. Played 45 courses with these 15 new stops. No real dogs, some cool finds and some wonders.


Fun, but not worth a side trip
Trevose, Cornwall
Millbrook, New Zealand
Windross Farm, New Zealand


Pleasant Surprises
Tia Tapu  (9 holes), New Zealand
Bath Golf Club, England
Hastings Golf Club, New Zealand


Want to definitely go back
The Farm at the Hills, New Zealand
Tenby, Wales
Davenport CC, Iowa
Blue Mound, Wisconsin
Rancho Santa Fe CC, California
San Diego CC, California
Shaughnessy GC, Canada


Blown Away
Capilano, Canada
Pennard, Wales
Royal Porthcrawl, Wales

[Pete_Pittock]

One trip
Algonquin - improved, nice stopover if you are driving from New England to Nova Scotia along a frost heaved US1 and 1A.
Green Gables (PEI)  proof that many bunkers do not make a course and no trace of Thompson remains.
Cabot Cliffs outstanding, but why is the entrance road Whitman Way?
Cabot Links very solid
Cape Breton Highland Links  great property that plays longer.


But 2020 beckons brighter for me

[Tom_Doak]

Cabot Cliffs outstanding, but why is the entrance road Whitman Way?

I'd bet a dollar that Rod built the road - or at least routed it.

[Greg Gilson]

Isn't Mr Whitman credited with (at least co-) design of the new short course based beside CC?

[MCirba]

It's only November 20th on my calendar.


Hoping to see a few more new ones before the ball drops.