Courses you are most excited to play this year?

[Mike Hendren]

If the creek don't rise, in no particular order:

Memphis  CC
Lookout Mountain CC
The Tennessean
Pasatiempo
Talking Stick North (in ten days!)
THE OLD COURSE
The New Course
Crail
Holston Hills (again!)
Victoria National

Regards,

Mike

[John Nixon]

Difficult for me to get out of state to play much, but I will play Purgatory and Trophy Club.

Still working on finding members to invite me to Wolf Run and Crooked Stick....

[ddavid426]

Big year for me, hopefully!

1. Royal County Down
2. Royal Portrush
3. Ballybunion
4. Doonbeg
5. Lahinch
6. European Club
7. Sand Hills (working to get invite)
8. Rustic Canyon

[Andy Silis]

          1) The Bridge
          2) Due Process
          3) Mayacampa
          4) Rustic Canyon
          5) Barona
          6) White Bear Yacht Club
          7) Alderra

           These are all confirmed. If I'm lucky there will be more
           new treasures!!!!!

[Matt_Ward]

Adam:

You named Black Mesa and I have to say you will find one helluva golf course there. I played a rough version of the course last September and from what I could see / play the course will be one that will garner much praise and rightful attention.

The key for Black Mesa will be remaining true in keeping housing and all other encroachments away from the actual course. The contrast between the fairways cuts and the New Mexico landscape is simply first rate stuff.

I will also say now that the uphill par-5 16th is going to be one of the finest holes that exist in the Land of Enchantment and one that will leap very high when the subject of quality par-5's for public courses is discussed.

As far as sleepers worth considering -- you can try Devil's Thumb in Delta, Colorado. This Rick Phelps design finished 2nd in the GD best new affordable category and has plenty to offer.

I also interested in seeing the new Pete Dye layout in the greater Salt Lake area and in the next few weeks I'll be hopefully playing the new Silverleaf layout by Tom Weiskopf in the Scottsdale area which I have heard some wonderful things about.

[Joel_Stewart]

Matt:
If you go to Scottsdale this year try and play Whisper Rock.  It seems I am the only one on this web site to play it and think its outstanding, one of the best in Arizona.

As for courses I want to play this year,
Seminole
Oakmont
The Country Club
Wannamoisett
Kiawah
Secession

Return trips to
Medalist
Merion
Friars Head

A ho-hum list

[Gene Greco]

Morfontaine
Kiawah
Harbor Town
San Francisco Golf Club

[Matt_Ward]

Joel:

Thanks in mentioning Whisper Rock -- if time permits I hope to play it as well in the next few weeks.

P.S. One other course I want to see this year is the new Yellowstone GC in Montana -- it's a TW design and I have also heard some nice things about it from a few people who have been on the grounds.

[brad_miller]

A fine course in the Charleston SC area, equally for the course and company.

[Steve Lapper]

Most excited to play anywhere Brad Miller plays....just following the $$.

Seriously, I am looking forward to playing:

For the First Time;

1) The "New" Fenway
2) Plainfield
3) Rustic Canyon
4) Ridgewood
5) The Glen Club
6) Wild Horse
7) The Bridge (Have walked it already)
Alpine
9) Hollywood
10) The Knoll

Most Excited to Repeat:

1) Friars Head
2) Sand Hills
3) Pacific & Bandon Dunes
4) Pine Valley
5) Pine Valley
6) Pine Valley
7) Prairie Dunes
Southern Hills
9) Bethpage Black
10) NGLA
110 Taking Brad's $$

 

[Craig Van Egmond]

It will be hard to top 2002, having attended Kings Putter I, finally meeting Tommy N in person and all the other attendees, and playing Barona, Rustic Canyon, Wildhorse and Cypress Point!!!

The first big item on this years agenda is The Kings Putter II after that I plan to continue my assault on playing all the Perry Maxwell courses here in Oklahoma.

I also have hopes of making it to New Mexico to Pinion Hills and Black Mesa amoung others. Maybe tie this in with the fall opening of the new Texas Tech course with a stop in Canyon, TX thrown in.

I also want to check out my first Jeff Brauer course, either Colbert Hills or the Cowboy Club.

Dream courses for 2003:  Prairie Dunes, Southern Hills, Oak Tree, Sand Hills.

[ed_getka]

Craig,
   It will be hard to top your ace on #8 Rustic too! How is school coming? See you in March.

[Jeff_Lewis (Guest)]

Kasumigaseki, Hirono, Kawana, Naruo, Sand Hills, Southern Hills

[Gene Greco]

Add Kapalua Plantation to my list. (in two weeks!)

[L Lane]

With a trip to Japan, someone must be on the verge of the Golf Mag or GD top 100 list of courses played. Good job

[John_D._Bernhardt]

I am so thrilled about playing Royal Dornoch from the championship tees in a compitition format. the year look promising but the other 4 times I played there were from the regular tees.

[John_D._Bernhardt]

I am so thrilled about playing Royal Dornoch from the championship tees in a compitition format. The year looks promising but the other 4 times I played there were from the regular tees.

[J_Olsen (Guest)]

How are things going Miss Lane?

[ForkaB]

Calm down, JB!  It's only going to be the Medal tees.  The 5 or 6  "Championship" ones, which are hidden back in the whinns and the marram grass, are rarely used.

I'm looking forward to playing Cruden Bay--finally--from the tips in late May.  Then, perhaps later in the year, Royal Aberdeen.

[John_Lovito]

I am looking forward to finally getting out to Bandon/Pac Dunes later in the year.  I was fortunate in January to play three long time wish list courses: Pebble, SFGC and Pasatiempo.

[THuckaby2]

I'm looking forward to playing Cruden Bay--finally--from the tips in late May.  

Yahooooo!  Oh man, as you know Rich it always amazed me you hadn't been there before.  I'm not gonna say anything further as I know how high expectations are often not met, other than just request you do report when you play it.  I played a bunch of rounds there, most from guest tees, twice from the tips, and well.... each round was quite fun.  I gather you'll be doing it in competition, eh?  Will you also do a practice or bounce round there?  I'll be very curious as to how, or if, it plays differently in competition.  Please do report!

TH

[ForkaB]

Tom

I found out the painful way last year that a practice round at an unknown venue does not suit my game.  I shall be a Cruden Bay virgin when I tee it up.  Given that it is a Senior Open, I just hope that to them the "tips" ain't the ladies tees.........

[THuckaby2]

Fair enough - hell, practice rounds don't do much for me either other than give me false expectations if I play well, or depress me if I don't.    There's nothing at CB that you won't be able to figure out with a good caddie or just by watching the locals... That sounds like one hell of a good time, in any case.  Looking forward to the report!

TH

[A_Clay_Man]

Would'nt that be the tits?

[MBL]

Given that my golf trips this year will be curtailed somewhat due to market conditions, I am most looking forward to playing:

1. Crystal Downs (fingers crossed for No. MI in August)
2. Victoria National GC (JakaB -- we'll be down when the weather breaks!)
3. Sand Ridge GC (wedding in May)
4. The Meadow Club (hopefully can squeeze West Coast swing)
5. No. 2 (not yet planned, but praying for Fall trip)
6. Congressional - Blue (was disappointed by Gold last summer, so....)
7. Canoe Brook CC (as much the company - my father - as the courses)

All that said, just returned from weekend bachelor party in Vegas (yes, I am exhausted)......played The Wolf and highly recommend to anyone who gets the chance:  a GREAT track -- congrats to Pete Dye!!