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George Pazin

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Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« on: May 13, 2010, 02:07:13 PM »
Continuing on with Ben Week, we have the dashing flyboy, Ben Sims. :) I suspect his stories will be far more entertaining than my stories as a t shirt titan, though it is admittedly tough to top the t shirt industry for sheer excitement...

I believe Ben has met quite a few posters on here, so there should be lots of good stories and questions all the way around.

Please welcome Ben with questions and comments - have fun, play nice!

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5 most recent:

Ben Stephens

Dale Jackson

Jim Colton

Ryan Farrow

Alex Miller

Full list:

GTK participants
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Richard Choi

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2010, 02:22:10 PM »
I am going to resist the temptation to give you a hard time as I am sure Jim and Brad will take care of that nicely.

How many different airplanes have you flown? Which one is your favorite to fly?

What is the most beautiful course you have ever seen from the sky?

What is the best military course that you have played?

Charlie Goerges

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2010, 02:40:30 PM »
Tell us about:



THE DELL
Severally on the occasion of everything that thou doest, pause and ask thyself, if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this. - Marcus Aurelius

George Pazin

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2010, 03:33:36 PM »
Standard questions:

What brought you to golf?

Golf course architecture?

This website?

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Are you more like Maverick or Goose? :)
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Eric Smith

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2010, 03:40:11 PM »
Please tell us what this man means to Ben Sims.


Ben Sims

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2010, 04:59:40 PM »
I am pretty juiced to partake in a GTK thread by Mr. Pazin.  Maybe it's my narcissistic tendencies.  Either way, I'm happy to get to know some more folks.

I am 27 and live in Del Rio, TX (from Bremen, GA originally).  This would be the second time I've lived here, as I was a student in Undergraduate Pilot Training here in 2005-06.  I am a 2004 graduate of the US Air Force Academy.  However, I am a lifelong and red blooded Georgia Bulldog fan.  I currently serve at the rank of Captain, and fly the T-6 Texan II as an instructor pilot. 

Golf is my hobby, simply.  I started playing 9 years ago as a sophmore at the Academy and always enjoyed the courses more than the shots.   I've been very fortunate to see some great courses the past few years, and my love of all things golf architecture and agronomy related soon followed. 

Ben Sims

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2010, 05:06:05 PM »
I am going to resist the temptation to give you a hard time as I am sure Jim and Brad will take care of that nicely.

How many different airplanes have you flown? Which one is your favorite to fly?

What is the most beautiful course you have ever seen from the sky?

What is the best military course that you have played?

Rich "In a box" Choi,

1)  I have flown three different airframes.  The T-6 Texan II and the T-1 Jayhawk as a student.  Then I flew the C-17 Globemaster for 3 years operationally before coming back to Texas to fly the T-6 as a instructor. My favorite?  For sheer fun, the T-6 is the BMW 3-series of planes.  Very slingable, can turn really well, and is super forgiving.  But the C-17 is my first love.  That big baby has style...

2)  The most beautiful course I've ever seen aerially is probably Pine Valley.  Only because I knew what it was and just being over it was pretty sweet.  We were taking off from McGuire AFB in New Jersey, and got held down low by Philly Center control. 

3) The best DoD course I've played is at my alma mater.  The Blue Course at Eisenhower Golf Club at AFA is one of RTJ's best I've seen.

Ben Sims

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2010, 05:11:02 PM »
Tell us about:



THE DELL
\

Charlie,

Ah yes, the infamous story from my first GCA trip.  As I am walking from the 14th green to the 15th tee at Ballyneal, my attention is pulled to the left and I realize that the green is behind a big dune on the left.  As we continue to the tee area, about 3/4's of the green apprears beyond the saddle between the dunes.  With the view I've just seen 30 seconds earlier of a blind par 3, and not having the situational awareness to shut up I say, "Hmm, this looks like a picture of The Dell at Lahinch". 

To which Brad "Turtle" Fleischer (did you know he is actually from Jersey?) responds, " Well yeah, except that you can see the green"

Thus began my friendship with him. 

Kyle Harris

Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2010, 05:11:39 PM »

2)  The most beautiful course I've ever seen aerially is probably Pine Valley.  Only because I knew what it was and just being over it was pretty sweet.  We were taking off from McGuire AFB in New Jersey, and got held down low by Philly Center control. 


[/quote]

KC-10s fly very low approaches over Huntingdon Valley for the same reason.

We also get the occassional E-3 Sentry flying into NAS JRB Willow Grove. And when the president is in the area, Air Force One.

Ben Sims

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2010, 05:16:15 PM »
Standard questions:

What brought you to golf?

Golf course architecture?

This website?

-----

Are you more like Maverick or Goose? :)

George,

1)  I stopped playing baseball and one of my teachers at the academy told me the best way to make rank the AF was to play golf. ;D

2)  Golf architecture just up and bit me like a rabid gila monster.   I have been for many years a devoutinternet surfer.  More and more, I found myself looking at googlemaps at course aerials trying to understand--other than one being more green than the other--why one would be a top 100, and one not.  I became infatuated when...

3)  I found this site trying to figure out what in the hell The National Golf Links of America were.  I lurked for two years until after my epiphany in Bandon last year, when I emailed Ran. --as an aside, have you any idea the amount of people who have NO IDEA what The National is?--

4)  Neither.  Those dudes were Navy squids.  I mean, who wears brown shows to fly a plane?  My callsign is Corky...

Ben Sims

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2010, 05:19:45 PM »

2)  The most beautiful course I've ever seen aerially is probably Pine Valley.  Only because I knew what it was and just being over it was pretty sweet.  We were taking off from McGuire AFB in New Jersey, and got held down low by Philly Center control. 



KC-10s fly very low approaches over Huntingdon Valley for the same reason.

We also get the occassional E-3 Sentry flying into NAS JRB Willow Grove. And when the president is in the area, Air Force One.
[/quote]

The vernerable KC-10.  'Gucci' as the crews like to say.  I have flown a few Phoenix Banner (presidential support) mission where we hauled the limos and suburbans, etc.  It's pretty sweet when you land, watch the cars and guns unload and then on the minute, I mean on the second, AF1 touches down.  Those cats are good.

Wyatt Halliday

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2010, 05:33:26 PM »
If I had to sleep in the Detroit airport, where is the best place to lay my head and why?


How hard was it to only play nine holes at Crystal Downs?


What was the one thing you took away from your experience at the Downs?


How do you feel about the architecture of the eigth hole at Kingsley?


Other than potentially Wolf Point, do you believe that there is a golf course in Texas with a Doak rating higher than six?


How does Black Mesa stack up against Rawls (follow up: How is Bogey's leg?)?


Now that you've had a taste of both, do you prefer modern or classic golf courses?


Have you even contracted food poisoning from a Del Rio taco truck?


Tell us why the Bunker Bar is so special to you.


Does Michael Murphy speak like he writes? If so, did you understand anything he said?

Ben Sims

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2010, 05:55:04 PM »
If I had to sleep in the Detroit airport, where is the best place to lay my head and why?


How hard was it to only play nine holes at Crystal Downs?


What was the one thing you took away from your experience at the Downs?


How do you feel about the architecture of the eigth hole at Kingsley?


Other than potentially Wolf Point, do you believe that there is a golf course in Texas with a Doak rating higher than six?


How does Black Mesa stack up against Rawls (follow up: How is Bogey's leg?)?


Now that you've had a taste of both, do you prefer modern or classic golf courses?


Have you even contracted food poisoning from a Del Rio taco truck?


Tell us why the Bunker Bar is so special to you.


Does Michael Murphy speak like he writes? If so, did you understand anything he said?

Ah yes, My buddy Wyatt.  I knew they'd turn up soon.

1) I reccomend the black vinyl chairs in front of Starbucks.  If placed front to front, you can get almost 28 inches of flat area to lay down.  An added bonus is the impromtu workout I got while moving those 200 pounds chairs around. 

2) Very hard.  In you remember, I really only completed, like, 4 holes.  I love that place after just one visit.  Thanks for reminding me that my back went tango alpha picking my ball from the hole on #4.

3) Undulation is not necessary to create terror on the greens.  Take #10 for example.  Relatively mundane green right?  No.  not when it's set at such a terrifying angle.

4) Where is Mike Devries when you need him.  Read this.  That huge bunker complex in the middle of the fairway at Kinglsey belies a wonderfully positioned green.  I think the hole would be more interesting if that complex weren't in the way to deter running long drive at that raised green.

5) That's a tough one.  In all seriousness, there may not be.  Dallas National?  Colonial?  I think the Rawls has a solid shot at a 7 on Doak's scale.   

6) Very funny.  A sweet casino at Buffalo Thunder and an early takeoff prevented Black mesa.  The Rawls was canned by an over zealous wife accidentally breaking my dog's leg.  Bogey is fine, thanks for asking.  As a Lab, his primary exercise has now become swimming. 

7) Modern or classic?  Terrible question.  Some classic gems have been renovated and updated to make them more like their original selves, which in turn look like many modern courses!  Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, Bill Coore, these are just among the most well known of guys building courses that adhere to classic strategy with a modern, minimalist twist.  I don't prefer any of their work over CB Mac, Dr. Mac, Raynor or Ross.  It's just different, and if it's done well, they are all my favorite.

8) No.  In fact.  I have never had better tacos in my life than the taco trailers here in Del Rio. 

9) Bunker Bar.  Man oh man.  How about this.  $500 snifters of that Couvousier Napoleon stuff (I didn't buy it), liars dice at an unprecedented level of expense, yelling at the ocean a la Shivas Irons on the 16th green of Bandon Dunes at 1:00a.m.  That was in between Sheep Ranch, Pac Dunes, and Old Mac.  Probably one of the cooler 36 hour stretches of my life.

10) No, in fact, conversation with him is quite lucid.  Mind expansion only came in the form of Pinot Noir and meatloaf, so it was very tame.  But he tells stories of an almost unbelievable nature like I tell stories of going to Wal mart.  he dropped names like Boris Yeltsin, Hunter S Thompson and John Steinbeck the way I drop Jim Colton and Brad Fleischer.


Jim Colton

Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2010, 06:16:25 PM »
Ben

1) What do you think you'll be doing in 50 years?


2) How far did you make it through O.D.A.A.T. before finally giving up?


3) Since you picked any number of top ranked courses to visit this year instead of coming to inaugural Yucca, who are we supposed to make fun of this summer?


4) For those of us who haven't played Sheep Ranch, tell us about the experience.

George Pazin

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2010, 06:36:19 PM »
I am pretty juiced to partake in a GTK thread by Mr. Pazin. 

Mr. Pazin? I'm kinda offended by that. :)

Here are a few of the planes Ben mentions:

C-17


T-6 Texan II


They look about as similar as Pine Valley and Augusta...

Looking forward to your thoughts on Sheep Ranch. I'm the only weirdo who's looking more forward to playing that than the other Bandon beauties. Just hope it doesn't go NLE before I win the lottery.
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Dan Herrmann

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #15 on: May 13, 2010, 07:04:10 PM »
Let me just note that Captain Sims is a real gentleman.  Long story I don't need to tell here, but he's 100% class.

George Pazin

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #16 on: May 13, 2010, 07:05:09 PM »
I just remembered I know someone who went to the Academy and I think he played baseball and he would be around your age, maybe a year or two older. I don't remember his first name - maybe Matt? - but his last name was George, he is from Pittsburgh. I once printed t shirts for him while he was at the Academy, they were black and had a graphic of Superman flying up out of the baseball field with a WF(?) on his chest. Any chance you know him?
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Ben Stephens

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #17 on: May 13, 2010, 07:45:24 PM »
Hi Ben from another Ben.

Cool to know that you are a pilot in the USAF! I live 3 miles away from RAF Cottesmore in the UK home of a few Harrier squadrons (formerly Tornados) - i have seen AWACs flying over my house coming to land. I have been fortunate to witness some amazing planes at the Royal Air Tattoo while it was at Cottesmore (for two years when Fairford was having a refit) The B1 bomber was awesome, saw the B2, F117, F-16, F15 and of course the C17 I was speechless on the scale of it! But for me as a Brit the best plane is the Harrier!

What is the best plane in your view - military or commercial?

In an emergency would you land on a golf fairway? if so which hole would you love to land on?  ;D

Which courses would you like to play that you have not played?

Cheers
The other Ben!

Ben Sims

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #18 on: May 13, 2010, 08:27:36 PM »
Ben

1) What do you think you'll be doing in 50 years?


2) How far did you make it through O.D.A.A.T. before finally giving up?


3) Since you picked any number of top ranked courses to visit this year instead of coming to inaugural Yucca, who are we supposed to make fun of this summer?


4) For those of us who haven't played Sheep Ranch, tell us about the experience.

Okay, back from the gym.  I was doing mucho toe raises to get my calves up to golf architect standards.

1) I'll be 77, living in Charleston SC, Bend OR, or Elijay GA.  Hopefully I'll be reminiscing--with bourbon or scotch in hand--about all my great years in jets and on golf courses and how I was fortunate enough to have a career in both.  I'll also be a member at Ballyneal and Chechessee Creek. A dude can dream right? ;D

2) Once my name was mentioned, I quit.  I made it into a book about golf.  Game over...

3) I would say that Wyatt is a good candidate.  But he's too likeable.  I'll go with Spaulding. 

4)  I could write a book.  I did all the necessary arrangements over the phone and P.O. box as if I was CIA or something.  My buddy was creeped out by the whole idea of a golf course with no actual holes and a P.O. Box for a cash register.  We showed up at 1300 on a Thursday.  The gate was dummy locked, and we just drove in.  Behind a searingly beautiful stretch of blooming gorse, the course unfurled as we drove up the first rise.  It was--surprisingly--bland.  It's just a field. 

With a great collection of greens.  On the ocean.  More open than any hole at The Resort.  In early April.  With just you and one of your best friends. In blue jeans and hiking boots. Heaven?   "God, is that you?"  No, it's just an afternoon sprinkle in the form virga being bathed by sunlight about 300 yards offshore.   Which makes the 7 foot high elephant in the middle of the peninsula green even harder to pay attention too. 

You park on an open promenade of gravel.  The greenkeeper drives up.  In his pickup truck--ahem, I mean the clubhouse--he provides a card with recommended ways to play to each of the thirteen greens, marked by letter, not number.  It might be one of the top five most exclusive scorecards in golf.  After three holes, you stuff it in your bag as a keepsake and start playing all over here and yon'.  "How far away is that hole?  800 yards?  300 yards.  I have no friggin' clue, just hit the ball!"  There is ONLY match play.  Medal play is worthless out there.  As is pride and vanity.  It's golf pure and simple.  As pure as any place I've ever seen it. 

Ben Sims

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #19 on: May 13, 2010, 08:32:13 PM »
George,

Thanks for the pictures to help give folks a good idea about just how different flying can be.  If you look close in the second picture, you'll see the instructor in the rear cockpit looking down.  Which is to say, he is writing notes on how poorly his student is flying ;D

I only played baseball at 'The Blue Zoo' for a year.  But chances are, I know him.  I'll need a last name.  BTW, that shirt didn't have "WF", it was "WP".  And it stands for something I can't mention here. 
« Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 08:34:40 PM by Ben Sims »

Ben Sims

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #20 on: May 13, 2010, 08:40:27 PM »
Hi Ben from another Ben.

Cool to know that you are a pilot in the USAF! I live 3 miles away from RAF Cottesmore in the UK home of a few Harrier squadrons (formerly Tornados) - i have seen AWACs flying over my house coming to land. I have been fortunate to witness some amazing planes at the Royal Air Tattoo while it was at Cottesmore (for two years when Fairford was having a refit) The B1 bomber was awesome, saw the B2, F117, F-16, F15 and of course the C17 I was speechless on the scale of it! But for me as a Brit the best plane is the Harrier!

What is the best plane in your view - military or commercial?

In an emergency would you land on a golf fairway? if so which hole would you love to land on?  ;D

Which courses would you like to play that you have not played?

Cheers
The other Ben!

1)  The best plane, commercial or military?  Okay, the P-51 has to be the best airplane for the job it was designed to do in the history of aircraft.  But the F-22 is a close second.  Those dudes will go up in 2 ship vs. 8 ship against F-15, and kill every one of them.  The F-15 is no slouch mid you.  It's mind numbingly good at what it does.

My C-17 might be the best purpose built airlifter in history.  You are talking about an aircraft that can haul the equivalent of 18 African elephants to a gravel/dirt strip of 3500' long.  Imagine a Boeing 777 landing on the grass strip across the road from Friars Head and you'll start to understand.

2) Maybe.  Okay, no, never.  I have an ejection seat.  So lets say this, if I could eject over ANY golf course.  #8 at NGLA, comes to mind fairly quickly.  And if I drift in my parachute a little, I'll just end up at Sebonack or Shinny.

3)  I have a theory about "The Five".  I feel like if one were to study these five courses and base their entire career solely on what could be learned by "The Five", they could build very good golf courses.  They are--in no particular order.  The National, Pine Valley, Merion, Cypress, Sand Hills.  One day I hope to see/study all of these places.  Then I'll be allowed to croak.  
« Last Edit: May 13, 2010, 08:47:01 PM by Ben Sims »

Anthony Gray

Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #21 on: May 13, 2010, 08:59:43 PM »


  Ben,

  Have you ever seen someone hit a Coore's Light 5-Wood?

 Favorite UGA football player?

  Secound place gets you a ..............

  What's been keeping you so busy and away from GCA?

  Anthony


Carl Nichols

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Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #22 on: May 13, 2010, 08:59:44 PM »
Ben-
1. Only one course for life, what do you pick?

2. Who was the best President?

JC Jones

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #23 on: May 13, 2010, 09:12:52 PM »
Ben,

Glad to see some of us younger folks getting a try here.

Crystal Downs or Sheep Ranch?  Two completely different experiences, pick one over the other.

Am I an idiot for allowing a move to North Carolina to prevent my first ever trip to Ballyneal?

Sounds like you have the same feelings about Texas golf as I do about Florida golf.  Florida has Seminole, what does Texas have?
I get it, you are mad at the world because you are an adult caddie and few people take you seriously.

Excellent spellers usually lack any vision or common sense.

I know plenty of courses that are in the red, and they are killing it.

Ben Sims

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Starting Fri., 5/14/10 - Get To Know Ben Sims
« Reply #24 on: May 13, 2010, 09:15:10 PM »


  Ben,

  Have you ever seen someone hit a Coore's Light 5-Wood?

 Favorite UGA football player?

  Secound place gets you a ..............

  What's been keeping you so busy and away from GCA?

  Anthony



1)  Ha!  I had forgotten about Ronny's (Ronnie?) magical little barley and hops 5 wood, so to speak.  Thankfully the architecture at Lookout Mountain allows for that.  It was a fun day for me out there.  

2) Tough not to love Herschel.  The most famous thing Bill Bates ever did was get run over by Herschel Walker. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nc2XsimM90 "My GOD a freshman"  

3) ...plaque in the lady's room?  

4) My new post here in South Texas keeps me in the cockpit twice a day, and then all of life's stuff on top of that.  In the past thirty days I have flown 37 sorties for 49 hours.  It's been intense.

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