Names

[Jeff_Mingay]

As we all know, there are many "peripheral" elements that combine to make a golf course really charming. The clubhouse architecture, tee markers, flagsticks and flags, and of course, the name.

What are some of the best names, that really add to the charm of modern (post World War II) golf courses throughout the world? And, what in your opinion makes that particular name so appealling.

Friar's Head immediately jumps into my head. The course was named for a large dune on the property that sports an exposed peak. The story is, mariners used to refer to that dune as "Friar's Head". The name "Friar's Head" suits the course geographically and historically. .

What's more is, it's Friar's Head. Period. Not Friar's Head Golf Club. Not Friar's Head Golf & Country Club. Not Friar's Head Golf Course. Just Friar's Head. I really like that.

What are some others?

[Neal_Meagher]

How about Oregon State University's Trysting Tree Golf Club.  One can let one's imagination go in figuring out how that name came about.

[Martin Del Vecchio]

"Old Sandwich" has a nice ring to it.

And of all of the "The XXX at YYY" names, I can't think of one that I like.

[Jim_Kennedy]

Jeff,
"Rat River GC" doesn't sound too appealing but I'd definitely stay away from "Kicking Camels Club" in Co.

I might set sail for "Peg Leg Bates" in NY but why would anyone want to go to  "Useless Bay G&CC in Wa.?

I wonder how long "Sinking Valley" in Altoona, Pa. will be around?

If the members at "Horse Thief CC" in Ca. teamed with the members of "Outlaw GC" in Mo. to play against the members of "The Cowby GC", in Tx. and the members of "The Posse GC" in Mo. would they choose "Hangman Valley GC" in Wa. for the venue?

[Tommy_Naccarato]

How about Oregon State University's Trysting Tree Golf Club.  One can let one's imagination go in figuring out how that name came about.

Neal,
I shudder to think or vision Ted Robinson doing his business under or around that tree or any other. I have no desire to EVER go there, ever!

[rgkeller]

"Old Sandwich" has a nice ring to it.

And just how old is "Old Sandwich?"

At least we can be grateful it was not named "Olde Sandwich."

[Jeff_Mingay]

Martin,

Old Sandwich makes sense too. If I'm not mistaken, the club is located on or near Old Sandwich Road in Plymouth, Mass.

Come to think of it, Coore and Crenshaw's developments tends to have really good, common sense names. Which leads to another question: how much influence can the golf architect have on naming the golf course?

Gil Hanse's courses have good names too, with a "classic ring": Applebrook, The Capstone Club, French Creek, Rustic Canyon, Inniscrone...

[Jim_Kennedy]

rgkeller,
It's not as old/e as:
 Old Brickyard Golf Course, Old Bridge Club, Old Head Golf Links, Old Memorial Golf Club, Olde Atlanta Club, Olde Barnstable Golf Course, Olde Homestead Golf Club, Olde Mill Golf Club, Olde Scotland Golf Course, Olde Town Golf Course, or Olde York Country Club.

[Jack_Marr]

Nairn and Portnoo

[David_Tepper]

Jack Marr-

Isn't it Narin and Portnoo?  Either way it is one very fun golf course, overlooking one of the most beautiful beaches/bays I have ever see.

DT

[David_Tepper]

Anyone who has been following my posts on the GB&I courses has seen some classic golf club names, as 'English' as can be:

Aspley Guise, Bloxwitch, Copt Heath,  Dunstable Downs, Effingham, Frilford Heath,  Gog Magog, Leatherhead (it that a golf club or a heavy metal band?), Muswell Hill (remember the Kinks' album "Muswell Hillbillies"?),  Robinhood, Whipsnade and Worplesdon.    

My guess is that if anyone started a golf club in the U.S. with any of those names, you would be bankrupt within 6 months!  

[rgkeller]

rgkeller,
It's not as old/e as:
 Old Brickyard Golf Course, Old Bridge Club, Old Head Golf Links, Old Memorial Golf Club, Olde Atlanta Club, Olde Barnstable Golf Course, Olde Homestead Golf Club, Olde Mill Golf Club, Olde Scotland Golf Course, Olde Town Golf Course, or Olde York Country Club.

Or Olde Farm or Old Marsh (at least the marsh IS old). There is a pretty old Old Town in Winston Salem, NC which is a nice course.

I wonder if there is an Olde Towne somewhere?

[tonyt]

We now have a new "Growling Frog Golf Course" near Melbourne.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I always thought that Myopia Hunt club is interesting.  Who wnats to go hunting with a bunch of nearsighted hunters.  Better D-u-uck!
If I remember correctly it was started by a number of Harvard baseball players.  Anyway it is a maagnificent place and course.  Just watch you back.

[Jeff_Mingay]

tommy,

There are a few notable courses out there that belong to "hunt clubs" - including Toronto Hunt, London Hunt, and Ottawa Hunt here in Canada.  

[Top100Guru]

Doesn't get much better than "Secession".....especially with the LOGO....

I also always have liked the name and Logo for "Winged Foot"....

[Jeff_Mingay]

McConkey III:

One of the coolest things for a golfer is noticing the logo outside the NYAC on Central Park South in NYC. It's the same logo as Winged Foot GC.

Go figure, the New York Athletic Club, which has long used the "winged foot" as a logo, founded Winged Foot Golf Club. Yet again, a great name with a historic root!

[Top100Guru]

Passed the  Logo hanging beneath the entrance off Park Avenue South on my way to eat at Gabriel's many times....its also nice to have played Winged Foot several times......

[TEPaul]

I'm just fascinated by all the cool names of clubs in the British Isles---they seem almost endless.

But here's one that never happened but I thought it might be sort of a neat name and also meaningful and the type of name I'm not sure I've really heard before for a golf club. It's sort of numerical. This friend of mine found a property of 770 acres for sale and it seemed great in almost everyway. It was sort of remote so my idea was to populate the membership by some local members but the rest necessarily from out of the area. It would've needed to be a bit of a destination club, so I thought an appropriate membership limit could be the same as the size of the property--eg 770. So I thought a neat name for the club would be a sort of appropriate numerical one.

I would've called the club or course "Seven Seventy"---I like the ring to it.

[Forrest Richardson]

Foulpoint Athletics & Mongoky CC, Madagascar

Always has been a favourite.

[Jack_Marr]

Jack Marr-

Isn't it Narin and Portnoo?  Either way it is one very fun golf course, overlooking one of the most beautiful beaches/bays I have ever see.

DT

David

Yeah, you're right. And Gog Magog, that has to be the best so far...

[Norbert P]

  I like Apache Stronghold, Bridge of the Gods GC, The Sheep Ranch (even if they were actually black-faced goats), and The "Other" Gleneagles (in Brora).

  Chuckanut is catchy.  

  And "Auchnafree" should not be forgotten, if anyone here can ever prove it exists.

 and ya gotta love "Barnbougle Dunes"

[Norbert P]

  BTW... What's the word on the "Dad" Miller Golf Course (The $25M(ish) Tiger Woods Golf Center) in Anaheim, California.  Wasn't it supposed to open this Summer?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

How about Elephant Rocks GC in Williams, AZ and Inn of the Mountain Gods GC in Mescalero, NM?

Steve

[Bill Gayne]

Burning Tree in Bethesda, Maryland. Not only great name, I love the logo of the Christmas Tree on fire.