My year in review...I may be able to compete with Leary!
*First round of the year with rented sticks at Mahogany Run in St. Thomas...went par-par-par around the "Devil's Triangle" earning the free poster. Saw a few 7-foot iguanas.
*Spring Training with teammate Simper in LA/PD in April, 9 rds. in 5 days... Trump, LACC, Rustic (with David Kelly and Dave Moriarty!), 36 at Terra Lago, Stone Eagle (met John Kirk in the locker room!), Shadow Ridge, Barona (with David Stamm and Jon Spaulding!), and PVCC...the last day was a 36-holer with 2 hours of driving in between, a red-eye home to Boston, and straight to work upon arrival!
*73 from the tips at Cog Hill Dubsdread during the GD meeting in early May.
*First trip to Monterey with Simper, Noser, and Pieracci, (with gracious hosting by Bob Huntley!)...played Cypress, MPCC Shore, Pac Grove, Poppy Hills, and Olympic with teammate (and GCA-er) Mitch St. Peter!
*Great 36-hole day with Michael Moore at Tedesco and Dedham Polo Club!
*Team Victory in the Pickman Invitational at Essex/Myopia
*Awesome trip to Northern/Eastern Ireland with my bro and Dad, as described above by my brother...included Portmarnock, RCD, and R. Portrush, among 7 others.
*A round at Tedesco with Sean Leary!
*Experienced two new Boston tracks, Renaissance GC, and the redone TPC Boston.
*Second Trip to Monterey with my Dad and two others in Sept., staying at the Lodge, playing PB, Spyglass, Spanish Bay, Old Del Monte, and The Preserve. Played my best round of the year, a 72 at PB from the backs!
*CC of Buffalo and Leatherstocking during a business trip in October. Both great layouts.
*The Dixie Cup over Columbus Day weekend, which deserves its own sub-category:
* Longshadow with Mike Young, Jeff Siskind, Pete Lavallee, Lou Duran
* Cuscowilla with Jeff, with "heaven and hell" tourney pins
* Dinner with Mike Nuzzo, Tim Bert, among others
* Palmetto GC with Jeff and hosting by Zach Kelly
* Chechessee Creek with gracious hosting by Jeff (with my first hole-in-one on #7!)
* Meeting many other GCA-ers...Bill McBride, Mike Sweeney, Mike Whitaker, John Mayhugh...etc...
*Two days of silly season with Simper this past weekend at Tobacco Rd., SPCC, and Longleaf. Our cover was blown by our names being recognized by a GCA lurker!
A couple other favorites played this year:
Winchester, Oakley, St. Johnsbury, CC of Barre, Hanover CC, Waverly Oaks, Seaview-Bay.