[Dan Boerger]

Yesterday I played Merion West, Merion East and Aronimink. It was a 54 hole extravaganza, which ended with a fine dinner while we watched a rare Phillies come from behind victory over the more talented Mets. A few comments ...

We started out at Merion West. Man, was this fun. While the 3rd is a reachable par 5, I love how it narrows at the finish just asking you to brave the out of bounds. I wasn't so bold. You could make a case for the 5th hole being one of the best of both courses. Six, seven and eight just have to be experienced to appreciate how "short" doens't mean unchallenging. On the back, 14 and 15 are two personal favorites. Also, one cannot help but be impressed with the routing on this smaller track of land.

We then played the East. I know this course is often discussed at lenght on these boards (and with good reason). What many might (and I stress might) not be aware of is how this course is in condition for championship play at all times. There is simply not a mundane shot out there. One is required to think long and hard before striking your ball. If you don't, many a scoring opportunity will be lost. I played resonably well, capped by a par long 2 putt par on 18.

Aronimink is in impeccable condition. Fast and firm to be sure. Brute length with green complexes that are exceptional, IMO.

[K. Krahenbuhl]

That must have been one heck of a day...well worth the energy to play 54 I'm sure.  From the pictures I have seen you have confirmed my belief that Merion West would be very challenging for its length.

[tlavin]

That has to rank as one of the all-time best golf junkie days.

[redanman]

Congratulations on your perseverance and scheduling contacts if nothing else, but I would never do that 54 thing, even if my body could.

[Dan Boerger]

W - We originally intended to do this on June 21 to celebrate the Summer solstice, but that didn't work out due to scheduling conflicts. It was a physical marathon, but all of us are very busy with work and family so this was a good way to get lots of golf in. I didn't feel as wiped out as I thought I would, but the weather was ideal (not yet oppressive humidity here in Philly) and we stayed well hydrated. Would I do it again? If you asked me as I finished my par putt at 18 at Aronmink (great drive, bad second shot, lucky chipp and putt) I might have said no, but after a night of rest I would say yes!

[D_Malley]

we used to play 54 holes almost every monday, all on merion west and starting at 11:00am.  the last couple holes were usually in the dark, and we would have to squeeze through the locked fence to get out. hoagie from rittenhouse deli after the first round.  we played each round in 2 1/2 to 3 hours all walking.  but i was alot younger then and in much better shape.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

Aronimink is in impeccable condition. Fast and firm to be sure. Brute length with green complexes that are exceptional, IMO.

Haven't had the time to post my thoughts on my weekend at Aronimink, but Dan hit the nail on the head... the course is in impeccable condition tee to green.  Hat's off ot John Gosselin and his crew.  

TEPaul talked about that "light greenish brown" color in another thread, and Aronimink has that in SPADES!!!  And, while many of the holes (#'s 1, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 15) look straight, the firmness and speed of the greens definitely dictates a preferred position in the fairway to promote an optimal angle to the pin... or even the correct side/tier of the green.  And, to me that creates subtle, internal "dog-legs" within the framework of the hole.  

[cary lichtenstein]

I rarely play more than 18 holes in a day now, but when I was younger, I played 36 many times. One thing I found, I don't know if others have had a different experience than I had:

If I played the same course twice in one day, which I always did in Scotland and Ireland, I got to know the course much better the 2nd time around, and my memory of the course, even today, is much sharper than if I played 2 different courses in the same day.

I remember played Both Winged Foots in one day, and the courses kind of merged in my memory cells, without a clear distinction.

[John_Cullum]

Threee courses-one day-all different locations.

That would have to be the poster for hit and run golf

[Jim Nugent]

3 rounds in a day is a whole lot.  Amazingly, I just read about some guys who want to set a record by playing 10 St. Andrews courses in one day.   Are there 10 courses in and around St. Andrews?  

[Dan King]

Jim Nugent writes:
3 rounds in a day is a whole lot.  Amazingly, I just read about some guys who want to set a record by playing 10 St. Andrews courses in one day.  Are there 10 courses in and around St. Andrews?

The Balgove (3:30), The Strathtyrum (4:20), The Old Course (6:30), Eden (8:40), Duke's (10:45), Torrance (13:05), Devlin (15:10), Kingsbarn (17:30), Jubilee (19:50), The New (22:00) Finish (23:59.59)

A bit ambitious :-).

http://standrews10coursechallenge.blogspot.com/

Cheers,
Dan King

Remember that it is always possible to 'overgolf' yourself. Two rounds a day is enough for any man with a week or more of solid golf in front of him.
 --Horace Hutchinson, 1896

[Ari Techner]

That sounds like a great day!  
The only time I have done 3 courses in 1 day was up at Boyne Highlands playing The Heather, The Ross and The Moor all in one day.  Those 3 courses dont compare to what you just played.  
I did however just get back from a trip to IL/WI and we played 18 at Erin Hills and then proceeded to play 45 holes at Blue Mound CC after.  We also did a Olympia Fields North/South/South 54 that was fun.  
IMO there is nothing like spending a WHOLE DAY on the golf course.  

[Mike_Cirba]

Dan,

That sounds like a great day, and I'd imagine playing the West first had a lot to do with giving you the energetic inspiration to get through the difficulty of the others.  

[Evan Fleisher]

Sounds pretty awesome to me!

Two summers ago (at my home course back in dubuque, IA) I played 54 walking on Saturday, then walked 36 on Sunday (18 at home and 18 at Eagle Ridge)...the most golf I've ever played in a 36 hour period in my life.

They weren't world class golfing venues, but it sure was a great endurance test!  

[Paul Richards]

Dan

Very impressive, but until you can beat our day at Firestone - 3 of us played the North, the South and then the West - our third quit, and the two of us played the South again - four full rounds of golf
  -   and then drove 400-plus miles home that night to Chicago afterwards.

Beat that!


Oh, for the record, this was the last day of our 21-courses in 9 days extravaganza!!!


 

[Paul Richards]

The only other day that compares, in my book, is when I came back from my 17-day trip to Scotland.  I worked that day, and then spent some time with my golf pro describing the trip.   I then  played 3 full rounds around my home course - all after 4:15 pm, never scoring worse than 81.

 

[Evan Fleisher]

Paul...you rock...  

[PThomas]

I played 54 at Pac Dunes one time...pretty doggone cool being out there almost all by yourself as the sun is going down

[Dan Boerger]

Paul - That's impressive! After Wednesday, I could not imagine 72 holes in a single day.

MP - You're right ... playing the West was the perfect way to start.

What became most difficult for me was concentration to the shot.

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