The Sandbelt is a destination so many threaten to make, yet due to the isolation and the time away it would require to make a proper visit is undoubtedly why so many of us AMERICAN'S will never set foot there.

What is it going to take to make some of us make this trip, or "Giant Step" in our education of Golf Architecture?

What is preventing us from making it?

Ozzie's please do not hesitate to add your thoughts!

As Robert Allenby said at a Presidents Cup a few years ago 'Americans are like a bag of old prawns - they just don't travel well !'

Melbourne really isn't that far away. Just get on a plane in LA and go to sleep. When you wake up you will be there.
I have been to Sand Hills each of the last two years - it isn't really that far away from here and like Royal Melbourne it is obviously well worth the trip.The world is a small place these days.
Also despite your lousy sliding $ it is still pretty cheap down here

  Three weeks should be the minimal vacation time. I've been over there twice, both time to play in amateur tournaments, and will return. Spent a month the first time, three weeks the second and still haven;t gotten to Perth, Brisbane or Queensland.
  Most of the US population is in the midwest and east, and you don't find many travel agents there with expertise in Australia, or their golf. The golf travel companies as a rule don't have Australia itineraries.
  AU is a great winter escape from the snow, but the ones who have the free time Nov-Mar already have moved to the warmer parts of the US.
  Bottom line, get US travel agents who can set up golf trips
thru AU contacts. Make a half hour video and put it on The Golf Channel.
   

Peter,
You also bring up a good point!

What would it take to get the Dueling Doyens to go down unda?

My problem has always been that about every three months I get this deep longing to be in Ireland and act on that longing frequently enough that it doesn't leave much time for adventures "Down Under".

Moreover, after twice walking Inch this year, my condition probably got worse. The place is just so amazing to walk and fantasize about golf holes being built, that along with Ballybunion it is now in my mind almost everyday.

Rupert O'Neal summed up Inch by saying "the place is unfair to other golf courses". Well, I'll just have to put that aside and finally make it to Aussie land!

What keeps me from going to Australia?  Realities of life.  The flights are way too expensive and take way too long, and I just don't have three weeks at a time to devote to golf.

I'd guess a lot of Americans are this way... we SEE how great the golf is, we just can't make it happen.

Some day... dare to dream...

TH

Slapper/Tom Huckaby:

It may seem off topic, but a couple years ago during a quick, unexpected visit to Chicago Golf Club I wound up having dinner with someone who worked in strategic planning for United Airlines.

My interest in speaking to him was to get his perspective on Boeing vs Airbus, specifically Boeing's study of a commerical aircraft that wasn't quite as fast as the Concorde, but was designed with long range Asian travel in mind. (I think the speed was in the 800-900 MPH vs the 747 and Airbus' coming monster flying in the 550 MPH range.)

Honestly, my curiousity about this airplane all related to golf in Melbourne and the potential to significantly reduce travel time. This gets into what I'll call the "emotional" aspect of golf related travel.

Years ago I was content to just go and check out as many courses as I could. But, as I got older, that desire began to fade. It was probably due to making friends in Ireland. I just began to think of the game in more "social" terms than purely architecture.

Part of what has kept me away from Australia is the sense that, practically speaking, it is not a place one can easily go to several times a year (like one can Scotland/Ireland - especially from the US East Coast). So, this makes it hard to think of it in "social" terms; when I go to Ballybunion there are just numerous people I want to sit down and have a good talk with, not just play golf. In fact, on my last trip I did some caddying - for the 1968 Lady Captain - but didn't actually play, despite being there for about five days.

I know Slapper is right. So is Mike Clayton, I'm sure.  How could one look at the effort by Paul Daley and Dave Scaletti and think otherwise?

So, maybe it is Tom Doak that can finally get some of us Americans - those who should have made the journey long ago - to finally come down under.

P.S. A couple years ago I ran into a fellow from the grounds crew at Royal Melbourne. Naturally, I did so at Ballybunion where I proceeded to give him a tour of the Old Course. So far, that is the closest I've come to the course I'd most like to visit. Shame on me!

I'm probably the only one here who has been married to an Aussie (formerly!) except Ran but I think his wife may be a kiwi raised in Oz..Believe me it matters, the kiwis are very proud of who they are.. Anyway, I've been to Oz I think 4 or 5 times and spent a few months in total there and to Enzed (New Zealand) once.  For a now single guy, I can think of no BETTER place on earth so why the heck do I live in New York?

Anyway, I digress..I can't believe people like Tom Huckaby would go to Scotland/Ireland before Australia. The fares have to be similar and flight times basically the same!  Australia may be 2 hours further tops.. And coming home is quicker too.!  I made my Aussie pilgrimage last year and will be doing it again and hitting what I guess will be known as "The Doak Trail" at the end of 2004.  If any of you are interested in joining me let me know.  I also want to meet up with Chris Kane and ShaneG who I didnt on my last trip..

Australia has great food, people, nightlife, scuba diving, national parks, golf and is cheaper than the U.S. by about 15% I reckon.  The UK is still one of my favorite places (if not my favorite) on earth and while Oz doesnt have Deal or St. Enodoc I am waiting to see if Tazzie and Cape Kidnappers made a great rival!

Careful Dr. Kildare.  You must first consider WWDRD

What Would Donald Ross Do, the epitomy of golf architecture humility before casting dispersions on one of "The Anointed".  

By the way to keep within the Brad Klein decree, I hope to visit Australia sooner, than later!

Kelly,

   You too are one of the "Annointed Ones" in my book! I didn't take you to task for recommending Hawk Pointe in the recent NJ thread (because I thought you were earnest in your advice). In fact, I sang its praises but cautioned against un-realistic driving times. I sense Tom was just excited about the addition of those tracks to the great golf already down there.

You do have to get down to Oz...it is worth it!

Tim,

   Like you, I wish there was a SST direct to Melbourne, but alas there is not. I will repeat it, like NAFFER did; it is much easier to travel to Oz than it appears. It is an overnight flight from LA (one can easily leave the East Coast at 11am and arrive, well-rested in Sydney the next morning. The trip home isn't that bad either. No matter, it is really well worth it.

Slapper,

My recommendation on that thread was in humble service to my client!

Slapper:

I just looked all this up on expedia, and well... flights from SF to Melbourne tend to take 2 days real time.  That is, you leave on the 6th in the am, arrive on the 8th in the am.  You do gain the day coming back, such that you tend to arrive pretty much right when you left, but that two day lag time at the beginning is a logistical killer.

The cheapest flight I could find in January was around $2000, also. (sorry Tim, I have no access to seasonal variations).

You don't want to know the contrast to UK and Ireland right now - Tim's fare listing is right on.  Of course that is due to high season in Oz, low season in UK, but still....

It's just not so simple to say "just do it, the flights are easy."  They're not and they are expensive.

I don't want to be Mr. Downer here, as I say I want to get to Oz and bad, but someone has to give the reality check!

TH

LA to Sydney or Melbourne is about 13.5ish hours, 14 tops...It isnt 2 day jet lag, you lose a day over the international date line!  it is NOT 17 hours, I've done the trip 5 times!

I would have to think LA to Scotland is at least 11-12 hours..  From NY going to Oz, this is trek but not from the west coast..

Qantas often runs $999 specials from California to Oz..also, I've never paid more than $1400 for a coach ticket from NY when I flew down there.. I admit, the fares are cheaper to Europe as there is more competition but here is one thing, you'll get SUNNY weather in Oz!

Slapper,

My recommendation on that thread was in humble service to my client!

Touche. One could make the same argument for any archie recommendation...right? Regardless, HP is a very good place and I'm quite a fan...but that could also be said about many places...just will have to keep winnowing the field