Highlight so far this year.

« **on:** July 16, 2007, 08:35:34 PM »

We are just over half way through the year and I was wondering what has been your golfing highlight so far. Have you played a new course that stirred the spirits; played an old one that was better than you remembered; achieved your best score etc.
For me it was hosting Ed Getka when in Auckland, New Zealand. It was a real pleasure to meet a true gentleman who is so knowledble about a number of subjects not just golf architecture. We played at two courses, Titirangi and Auckland G.C. and it was very interesting to have an overseas persons view of our local clubs.

« **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2007, 08:40:42 PM »

For the first time, I had four birdies in a round. For a 13-handicapper, that's pretty good..

I've been spending a lot of time at my home course, but I've gotta get out and do some road trips during my August vacation. I'll end up headed to wherever the weather is good and depend on serendipity.

« **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2007, 08:42:42 PM »

Mine was covering the Hootie at Bulls Bay College tournament where Titleist the Bull got loose on the golf course. Here's the story the day it happened:

http://jayflemma.thegolfspace.com/?p=544

And here was my recap piece of this really wonderful, uplifting event at Mike's home course. I gave Titleist a curtain call:

http://jayflemma.thegolfspace.com/?p=571

Q. "What do we do if he makes eye contact?"

A. "If he looks like he means business, be up a tree when he arrives.

Q. "What about you?"

A. "I'll be on the branch above you."

« **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2007, 08:44:16 PM »

Jay - how about asking questions on national TV during the US Open press conference?

Thanks for the Titleist story, by the way

« **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2007, 08:46:00 PM »

For me it was playing Oakmont on Weds.Actually the most stirring part was walking around the corner and seeing the treeless course.An almost identical feeling to when I first saw Muirfield,with the whole course in front of you and the bright green against the brown-white long grass.

« **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2007, 08:50:41 PM »

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=29473

Need I say more?

« **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2007, 08:56:27 PM »

The highlight this year has been the two member-guests that I've payed. Both were great fun with good friends. I've always struggled with putting but I drained a couple of key putts that were critical in deciding the nine-hole matches.

« **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2007, 09:01:51 PM »

playing muirfield for the first time in march

chipping in for eagle on #9 saturday to shoot 37 on the front...won't talk about the back!

« **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2007, 09:28:22 PM »

Discovering, with a fair amount of help, what appears to be a heretofore unknown Langford/Moreau course that's closer to my home than Lawsonia.

« **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2007, 10:29:20 PM »

Watching, while hand watering greens, one of our customers make a hole in one, and another make an eagle (on a different hole)...it was cool...they were high fiving me and everything...got some free beer after work out of the whole deal.

« **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2007, 10:35:23 PM »

An easy one for me...sitting across the desk of Jack Burke, Jr. as he told me I would be accepted into his club and then listening to him talk about the game and life in general for almost an hour. It was an afternoon I will never forget.

« **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2007, 11:04:14 PM »

Watching a particularly vocal member of my club approach George Bahto asking him to "put a little extra starch in the bunkers" knowing he is now being recognized and accepted and appreciated for his talent in his "most new career".

Seeing the course take shape over this summer has been a hoot also.

« **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2007, 11:07:53 PM »

I've been very lucky to have had the greatest golfing year of my life so far - I've been playing for about 23 years - due to two factors: an improving swing and a lot of travel.

I had the opportunity to play the following courses for the first time this year:

- Pinehurst #3 & # 4
- True Blue and Caledonia (shot an 81 with three birdies, not bad for a 12-14 handicap)
- Old Silo (Kentucky)
- Torrey Pines (14 holes on North, 9 holes on South)
- plus several other, lesser known but good courses

But the best experience of my golfing year: I broke 80 for the first time in my life at Bonita Golf Club, a muni in San Diego - the day after I won a poker tournament with 84 entrants! Yeah, that was a pretty nice weekend.

« **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2007, 11:16:09 PM »

A seance with 6 ODG's TP and PC. None expected putting greens to ever be lower than .375 2 did not remember ever being on a site..... and one was laughing about himself having a fan club that knew he slept in pajamas with feet.....

« **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2007, 11:39:05 PM »

Best new venues: Old Course-Reverse, Kingsbarn, Chambers Bay

« **Reply #15 on:** July 16, 2007, 11:58:19 PM »

New courses:

Our first trip to Scotland for the "Old Course in reverse" week (including Muirfiield, Carnoustie, North Berwick and more as well). And of course meeting up with various GCA luminaries while we were there

Playing:

Breaking 70 for the first time with a 69 at Nansha in Guangzhou, Southern China (albeit off the Men's Tees rather than the plates)

Watching:

Angel's drive on the 72nd at Oakmont. Yeah baby!!

« **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2007, 12:24:57 AM »

two of my sand wedges have been lost/stolen. someone gave me a beautiful Wilson R-80 many years ago, which got heisted at Moshulu. last year I dropped another great Wilson at a private club in Nassau County which, mysteriously, never got found, so I bought a replacement black-headed Wilson on eBay, which for whatever reason turned out to be Shank City.

last week visiting Rhode Island, I made my friend and his dad and brother-in-law play Winnapaug, & the pro shop had a bunch of used clubs for sale. I found a Wilson sand wedge that looked in great shape, and asked the assistant if I could demo it.

I used it to hole out for a birdie on #4 from 33 yards. me and Greg (the brother-in-law) were see-sawing with Jay and his dad for most of the round, and going into 17 we were one down (format was best score gets a point, best total gets a point, no carryovers). I chipped over the green with the rental 8-iron, then holed out AGAIN with the sand wedge for the victory. best $25 I ever spent.

« **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2007, 01:34:05 AM »

For me it was a couple day trip to Sand Hills last week that really showed me what a golf course and golf club can and should be like.

A close second was my day at Royal Cinque Ports GC with fellow GCAer Mark Chaplin. This was my first true UK links experience and it was a spectacular one. I have never seen a course that outwardly looks so flat but has not a flat spot on any of its fairways or greens. I cant think of a better place to spend a whole day walking the links.

Other great new (to me) venues:
Erin Hills
Ballyneal
Chambers Bay
Wild Horse
The Addington
TPC Sawgrass

Coming soon:
Lahinch
Royal County Down
Royal Portrush

« **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2007, 01:52:29 AM »

This one's for JK.
I'm not the richest guy on here and as I've only been playing 7 years have few 'contacts' in golf.
So far this year the outstanding new Clubs I've played (in cronological order).

Royal West Norfolk
Turnberry
Muirfield
Lahinch
Rye
Littlestone

plus a newly dicovered Colt that can be played for $25

« **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2007, 03:12:54 AM »

New Zealand/Australia trip this spring was probably my best golf trip ever. Meeting all the guys down there and the unbelievably warm welcome David Kelly and I received has provided memories to last a lifetime.
Funniest moment was standing on the tee on #9 at Barnbougle Dunes and commenting on how it isn't so far out of the way to get to BD as compared to Pacific Dunes (which is a long drive from San Francisco, or a couple of flights and a moderate drive for most people). David Kelly looked at me like I was nuts and says, "You're in Tasmania!!!" I'm halfway around the world, but since it is just an hour flight from Melbourne and an hour drive from the airport it seemed much more accessible to my deluded mind. Somehow I forgot about the 14 hour flight down from Calif. that happened the week before.

On top of all that the highlight of highlights wasn't even golf-related. It was learning about Royal Tennis and having the chance to try a few shots with our unbelievably gracious host from Royal Melbourne.
I'm looking forward to this fall when Ash travels up from New Zealand to sample some of the golf offerings of NoCal.
It is the people you meet through this incredible forum that have so richly enhanced my life.

« **Reply #20 on:** July 17, 2007, 04:14:55 AM »

Personally it has to be my trip to California, and particularly Cypress Point Club. Making birdie on the first was also pretty nice, as was parring 15 and 16. Shooting under my handicap just made the day even more special.

« **Reply #21 on:** July 17, 2007, 04:54:22 AM »

i guess...

best new course: portmarnock
most enjoyable round: little aston

personal stuff, so far this year, i've shot the lowest and highest competition rounds that i've posted at my home club (fourth year as member)... a 69 and a 89... par 72, 6,800 yards...

« **Reply #22 on:** July 17, 2007, 05:07:43 AM »

Highlight of the year so far was my first experience of US private country club golf at Olympia Fields. This completely changed my understanding of US parkland golf. A wonderful golf course with a very kind and generous host - take a bow Terry Lavin.

Other highlights include Wolf Run, Muirfield and North Berwick (which will always be highlights, no matter how often I play either) and the Berkshire (ditto).

Very recently playing in a 4bbb open competition at Seaton Carew on Friday and being fortunate enough to win.

And last, but not least, how could I forget playing Aberdour with the great Rihc himself. Proof that Scotland has a great wealth of unheralded but fine golf courses (and some characters playing them).

« **Reply #23 on:** July 17, 2007, 06:30:36 AM »

- two trips to Muirfield, including the March GCA affair which included two other highlights - meeting up with Alfie and other GCA reprobates and playing with hickories at Old Musselburgh; and being shown round the Renaissance Club by Tom Doak and his team
- making my debut in Japan, on a C.H.Alison course, playing at Kawana
- playing for the first time some acclaimed English courses, notably West Sussex and Addington.

« **Reply #24 on:** July 17, 2007, 07:21:30 AM »

new courses - Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay and Spyglass Hill thanks to all expenses paid trip by the printer of our magazines!! The last round at Spyglass I shot 70 from the tips after the other caddy bet my caddy that I wouldn't break 80.

personal - My handicap is at its lowest ever. Currently my index is at +1.7 it should be +2.0 this Friday at the next revision. I need to drop two more tenths to get to +3. As soon as start making putts it will happen.

Looking forward, if I qualify for the USGA Mid-Am at Bandon Dunes - that will be the highlight of the year.

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