2009 was an amazing year for me. I took more golf trips this year than any other year, mostly because of being involved with a new girlfriend that 1. Plays golf and 2. Travels extensively. So 2009 was the ultimate year when it came to quantity of golf courses.
So far this year I have played 124 new golf courses in 21 states with at least ten more courses to go in December. I'll break my year down by month, that's how awesome it was:
February-played two courses I've been trying to get on for a very long time, Old Chatham in NC, and Congressional in DC, the day at Congressional was exceptional because I also played Columbia and Chevy Chase the same day!
March-tagged along with the girlfriend on a trip to Charleston and played Palmetto, Augusta CC, and Bulls Bay
April-traveled to Texas for the first time. Had the pleasure of being hosted at High Meadow Ranch by Casey Wade and corresponding with but missing Sam Morrow and Anthony Nysse. Highlights of the trip were Whispering Pines, Colonial, Spanish Oaks, Briggs Ranch, Champions, Carlton Woods, and Crown Colony. Later in the month I was lucky enough to play another course I have been trying to play for a long time, The Creek in Long Island, but the surprise of that day was Engineers, absolutely amazing course, and a lock for top 100 in my opinion.
May-A trip to West Virginia to play Raven at Snowshoe, Stonewall, Greenbrier Sporting Club, and the ultimate hidden gem, Pikewood National. This course should be a must for everybody to experience. The experience of walking this course is like none I have had on a golf course. Also played a very good Nicklaus, Creighton Farms in VA.
June-Trip to Indiana, played Crooked Stick, Wolf Run, Brickyard Crossing, Broadmoor, both courses at French Lick, St. Louis CC, and the highlight of the trip was playing Victoria National with John Kavanaugh. A true gentlemen and wonderful host.
July-made a trip to Myrtle Beach, played all four courses at Barefoot in the same day! Lester George was kind enough to set my girlfriend and I up at Ballyhack. Great experience.
August-Midwest trip, played Tullymore, Lost Dunes, The Dunes, Blue Mound, Beverly, Erin Hills, Cog Hill, Firestone, and Sycamore Hills. The experience of playing The Dunes Club is one of a kind.
September-trip out to the heart of Pennsylvania to play Sunnehanna, Rolling Rock, and Bedford Springs. Rolling Rock has some of the best Ross greens I have ever seen.
October-Couple trips to New England, was randomly paired with GCA’er Paul Thomas at Boston Golf Club, and despite the weather we managed to have a great time playing a true gem of a golf course. Other highlights were Old Sandwich, Eastward Ho!, Essex County, Winchester, and Wannamoisett. Wannamoisett proved to me that Ross was absolutely the best router of golf courses.
And the great thing is, the year isn’t over yet. I still have a trip to play on the RTJ trail for three days, Shoal Creek, and the mini GCA outing at Sugarloaf. I’ll actually be sad to see 2009 end as it was such an unbelievable year that I know I will never top in terms of the number of courses played.