Well, mine will be a little different, and if you allow me to review about the last 54 weeks, had far more ups than downs
December 04 -
Pleased to learn that my Quarry won Best New in GD and Project of the year from Crittenden. I had hopes for that, and was more pleasantly surprised that my Indian Creek redo placed 7th in the affordable category.
Jan 05
Started work on Newton, KS, Sand Creek Station in January. Side bonus - major rail lines border many holes, so I can pretend I am at Troon, and lay holes out along the cinders......Also, I love to watch trains , so I get paid for while pursuing my hobby.....
Attend a native american conference in CA. Didn't get any new business directly, but did learn from one native that "vegetarian" is an old Indian word for "Lousy hunter."
Feb 05-
A nearly dead in the water project revives under new owners in Lone Oak, TX. Originally to be a Seth Raynor inspiration course, the new owner was a little leary. Now, just a more generic "early American style" but it does have a biaritz green. Owner is new to golf, so we start with four holes, but are now finishing up. In a neat twist, after proposing several layouts to this developer, he insists on one with only one road crossing from CH to back nine.
March 05 -
Sign a Master Plan Agreement for historic Stevens Park Golf Course in Dallas. Initial phase is unique in that we consider expanding the 107 acre golf course as part of an urban renewal project. Key element was lowest land prices surrounding the golf course and highest crime rates. Not surprisingly, these were the same areas. We had to debate the "risk-reward" of scouting out nearby areas for golf, ultimately playing safe by avoiding survey of stream where drug addicts live.
However, by June, the community votes to keep course in its original corridors and we push forward with a total redesign for all at once construction, probably next year.
April 05 -
Not much in the way of seeing or playing new courses, but get a thrill watching my son play high school golf. At one point, he wins four and ties for first (then loses in playoff) in two in a string of six straight local events.
On the national scene, he gets three top ten finishes in AJGA tourneys, and finishes 5th in the Bryon Nelson Jr. open to the top 50 jr. players in Texas.
May 05
I toured the Faldo Cottonwood Hills and reaquainted with Prairie Dunes while working in Newton. While visiting mother in Toledo, Ohio, get to view or play a few courses, mainly Art Hills, since my cousin whoi I play with there is a fan of his.
Go by and photograph house where Tillie died. Risk-Reward similar to that of Stevens Park described above.
June 05
Press Day at Giants Ridge and Quarry give me a few nice days off to play golf and schmooze. Sign a contract for preliminary land planning and golf design on yet another MN project, and get asked to look at another in a yet a different part of the state.
Sign contract for a nine hole course in Las Vegas, New Mexico
July 05 -
Sign a new contract for a course within a housing development in far north Dallas. Actually, I had signed this agreement the year before, but the original land deal in another part of town fell through and we updated the contract for the new, bigger site.
August 05 -
Again, not many new courses, but I do attend PGA for my first chance to view Baltusrol. Like many, I think its not as good a venue as other NY area courses.
The day before the trip, wife files long expected divorce papers. The travel in this biz gets a lot of us.
Grass first few holes at Lone Oak.
September 05
Learn that my Lake Jackson course finishes second in Crittendens Project of the year category. Later, I play in a press day celebrating one year anniversary, and have a good time, despite never sniffing a prize.
October 05
Good News: Company turns first profit in several quarters.
Bad News: Profit amounts to several quarters.....
Accept bids on New Mexico Project and complete grassing in Newton.
November 05
Cowboys wins Avid Golfer Best Course in DFW for 5th straight year. Westridge and others also place well in affordable category.
Sign Master Plan Contract for course in Wichita Falls, TX.
Work Begins on second phase of Lone Oak, after unbelievable real estate sales allows them to shake loose more money. I like to think I convinced the novice owners that a 4 hole course wouldn't draw flies.......nah!
December 05 -
Learn that Fortune Bay course gives me back to back Golf Digest winners., which ends year on a high note.
Helping Andrew sort through a few college scholarship offers is fun!
Wish Merry Generic Holiday to all, with wishes for a prosperous and golf filled 2006!