Hi everybody. "PJ" here, long time listener, first time caller...kidding...I love the site and finally decided to ask to join the forums to join the conversation on golf course architecture. Thanks for having me. Here's some info about in case we've not met in 'real life.'
Age: 35
Hometown: Dowagiac, MI by way of Dayton OH
Currently Reside: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Counsel
Family: I'm married and we're expecting our first in October (at the end of golf season!), and we also have a 3 year old black lab named 'Alley.' I have two younger brothers, the youngest of whom has become a fantastic golf buddy in recent years...and unfortunately has been better than me as of lately...I blame this on work.
Home Course: Ravisloe CC, Homewood, IL (and given that a few of my regular foursome have moved away and/or had children, I'm always up for a new match. Just message me...until October
Background: Born in Ohio but grew up in Southwest Michigan. I've lived in Chicago for the past 14 years...long enough that I've started thinking of myself as a Chicagoan. My grandpa, Bill Horrell, cut down a 5-iron and taught me how to grip the club probably 30 years ago. I've loved the game ever since. He also taught me that if you stop making putts, that you should teach the putter a lesson by getting a new one. Luckily the first time my wife ever asked about all the putters, I thought to tell her that I 'collect' them and somehow legitimized the stack in the corner as a 'collection.' I recommend this as an excuse to anyone else who needs one. As far as a golfer, I didn't play better than bogie golf until law school, when my best friend Greg and I collected golf courses like youthful bad decisions and tried to play near-everything public in the Chicago area along with a couple beautiful private tracks. I got my handicap down to single digits for the first time when we were members at Ravisloe for a short time before it went public. I've remained loyal to the course since. I love it there despite it's faults (conditioning sometimes in the past few years, and a slightly gimmicky front 9 for D.Ross) and it has made me appreciate Donald Ross for his ability to design courses that are imminently playable while rarely easily beatable. They also seem extremely fun to play over and over and over and over like I have Rav (and Lake Wales CC in FL). My best scores are not there, but neither are my worst, and I plan to continue to stick with it for that reason until I somehow manage the funds to join...say Beverly. But that could be a while.
Index: 8.1 as of 5/1/15
Favorite Courses Played: Favorites that I've played and would go back to ASAP if I could, no order/ranking: Lahinch, Whistling Straits, Olympia Fields North, Caledonia Golf and Fish, Beverly CC, Chambers Bay, Old Head. For nostalgic reasons: Lake Wales CC, Ravisloe CC, Berrien Hills CC. These beat me up the first time too much to truly enjoy them, but I wouldn't say no to going back and I'd hope to hit it better - Medinah #3, Point O' Woods, Erin Hills.
Wish List: 1. Successfully teaching my forthcoming child to love golf as much as I do (your tips are welcome!)
2. Bucket list courses - Royal County Down, The Old Course, Ballybunion, Waterville, Carnoustie, Royal Melbourne, National Golf Links, Bethpage Black, Chicago Golf Club, Mountain Lake CC, Pebble, Pasatiempo, Pinehurst, French Lick, The Dunes Club (MI), Dunes Golf and Beach Club (SC), Oakland Hills CC, all of Bandon, and a RTJ road trip through bama with buddies.
3. And I think I'm content to dream about Cypress, Pine Valley, and Augusta, since they seem so unrealistic.
Thanks!