The best home course in the world

« **on:** January 16, 2006, 08:52:07 PM »

No, I dont mean your personal home course. The obvious answer then would be PVGC, Merion, CPC, any of those types of clubs.

Lets not even get into that one...

What I really mean is High School home courses. My high school home course is Ballinger GC, a nice, fair course resting on a lake...spectacular setting!! Yesterday I was talking to the pro there, and we got in a discussion about high school golf. He had grown up in the Pebble area and said that Del Monte, Carmel Ranch, and SPYGLASS HILL

were all home courses for high schools. I was thinking, wow that is really cool, but imagine how lucky those kids are!! (playing spyglass for free everyday!!...most people would love to pay 350$ and play there once!!)

The big 'home courses' in the Seattle are are high end private ones, like Sahalee, Mill Creek, and Ingelwood (you might have only heard of Sahalee). I was just wondering if anybody knows about very, very nice courses such as Spyglass used for High Scools?? I was also wondering if anyone knows how some of these high scool students score on some of these great courses, and how well they treat the courses?? It would be horrible to have an ultra nice course for your high school and just trash it!!

Thanks guys!!

« **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2006, 09:20:31 PM »

Robert Louis Stevenson HS in Pebble Beach has used most of the courses, Spyglass, Pebble, etc., as their home course at one time or another.

I'll let Kevin Reilly chime in for his home course in high school, I know I can't top it ...

« **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2006, 09:21:35 PM »

I don't know if it still is, but Camargo used to be the home course for the local high school.

« **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2006, 09:25:01 PM »

My home course for Mission Bay High School, class of '66 (!!!), was Torrey Pines. We paid $1.50/month for afternoon golf 4 days a week!! That price courtesy of the San Diego School System and San Diego Recreation District.

And here, now, the Bandon High teams play at....yes, Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails. Courtesy of Mr. Keiser.

Tom

« **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2006, 09:28:32 PM »

My high school home course was the North course at Oakland Hills. Although not as good or famous as the South, it was always a treat to play it, and was deifnitely the best home course in the area.

« **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2006, 09:30:13 PM »

Quote from: Tom Jefferson on January 16, 2006, 09:25:01 PM

My home course for Mission Bay High School, class of '66 (!!!), was Torrey Pines. We paid $1.50/month for afternoon golf 4 days a week!! That price courtesy of the San Diego School System and San Diego Recreation District.

And here, now, the Bandon High teams play at....yes, Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails. Courtesy of Mr. Keiser.

Tom

First off I will say I might not be on this site for a couple days because I am running away from my house and moving in somewhere in Bandon

And Mike, Robert Louis Stevenson HS is the one me and Dan (the pro) talked about. Actaully I cant remember if his name is Dan, but its a lot easier to call him that then 'the pro'. He said he had Del Monte and Spanish Bay might be a home course now...he moved when they were building it.

« **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2006, 09:58:03 PM »

Haverford School uses Merion(west) and Gulph Mills, and every once in a while Philly country, not too bad.

Jason

« **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:03:54 PM »

My high school (Belmont Hill School) used Belmont Country Club (MA), A Donald Ross course discussed here occasionally..

« **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:04:47 PM »

Bethpage Black was our "home" course.

All the others were the "away" courses.

« **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:09:01 PM »

My High School's home course for matches was Newport CC. We practiced at Raynor's Wanumetonomy. All that is old news now, since Carnegie Abbey opened on School-owned land that is leased to the club.

« **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:15:53 PM »

Frankfort HS, Frankfort, MI, gets to play matches at Crystal Downs. It helps that the members are mostly absent during the school year.

« **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:18:49 PM »

Are any of the courses on Long Island used for High Schools occasionally??

« **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:20:24 PM »

Quote from: Jordan Wall on January 16, 2006, 10:18:49 PM

Are any of the courses on Long Island used for High Schools occasionally??

See above, Jordan.

« **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:23:15 PM »

What did I miss...Bethpage?? What I meant was like Friars Head, Balting Hallow, you know, those courses...

...oh, I think theres Fishers Island, NGLA, Shinnecock Hills, and now Sebonack too.

Sorry for not making that clear

« **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:24:43 PM »

Virtually all the courses, public or private, are used by different high schools to varying degrees with the exception of:

1. NGLA
2. Deepdale
3. Garden City Golf Club

« **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:27:18 PM »

My High School course was Sleepy Hollow CC.....a venerable classic in those days when GCA meant....Gotta C..e ......

Ahhh...the good old days

« **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:32:58 PM »

I'm finding out I'm getting ripped off here in my little town of Mountlake Terrace (10 min. north of seattle, but saying seattle is easier for all wondering)

heres some of my home course:

a view from the road to the clubhouse...believe it or not, the course is actually excellent for nines holes...this is the seventh green closest, ninth green by clubhouse, and 20 yards past the 9th green is the tee to the 1st

here is the first hole...390 yards, water right and ob lest, lake long on the tee shot, the the lake left and water and bunker right for an approach...not to mention the tree in the fairway on the left...very hard for less then 400 yards...very hard

« **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:34:48 PM »

Jordan,

If you compare property taxes you may find you or your dad for that matter are not getting ripped off.

« **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:34:58 PM »

Not quite Merion, or some of the others, but still nice...any more great home courses??

And in the 2nd pic that is NOT ME!!!!!

« **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:43:22 PM »

Tom Jefferson,
Speaking of Mission Bay.....

Have you ever had the opportunity to play Ted Robsinson's Mission Bay executive course? As much as I loathe Ted Robinson, these grees are the best he has ever built. In fact the course is the best he has ever built! (When considering fun factor)

« **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2006, 11:00:01 PM »

While our official home course was also my home course growing up (Wilmette Golf Course, Wilmette, IL) We did get to play many of the North Shore of Chicago's best country clubs, many of which are usually hard to get on, and have been hard to get on since. Our Conference Tourney was at Cog Hill...

Its no Bethpage or Pebble, but certainly not bad.

« **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2006, 11:01:25 PM »

Tom Nac;

Let's see....in about 1963, give or take, the old 9 hole regulation course on that site, near the bay mud and near the high school, gave way to a lighted 18 hole par 58 executive course, with 2 putting greens, short game practice area, and a fully lit and fully fenced practice range.

Maybe that is the course you refer to in your question. If not, then Ted Robinson has done the work in the last 15 years or so. And in that case, no, I have not played those greens.

But the par 58 I refer to, yes. The opening day featured Gene Littler, Billy Casper, and two other prominent local professionals....a day seared into my memory, for I met both those god-like players that day.

Of course, as it went this way more often than not, Casper returned the low score for the day, my hero Gene lagging behind.

So........is there a Robinson reincarnation to the course I refer to? Tell me more.

Thanx,
Tom

« **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2006, 11:02:00 PM »

Tabor Academy uses Kittansett.

Hopkins School plays at Yale.

Noble and Greenough School plays at Dedham Golf and Polo Club (one of my personal favorites).

Pretty good home courses.

« **Reply #23 on:** January 16, 2006, 11:05:12 PM »

Gotta love that photo of you, Jordan! A great resemblance to free-swinging Bubba Watson!

Where'd the ball end up? Looks like you hooked it around that barren tree on the left.

Tom

« **Reply #24 on:** January 16, 2006, 11:05:19 PM »

Quote from: Jordan Wall on January 16, 2006, 10:18:49 PM

Are any of the courses on Long Island used for High Schools occasionally??

Jordan-

There are alot fo good courses in the Long Island High School rotation. More so in Nassau County. Garden City Golf Club is not aloud to hold G.C. High matches due to the recent exposure of the all male membership. However, Rockaway Hunt Club, Hempsted Country Club, Cherry Valley Club (in GC), Rockville Links. Bethpage Black does not hold matches during the year, all the other courses do. At the end of the year the high school matches are determined in the Red. The Long Island Championship is held on the Black.

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