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TEPaul

A homemade golf course
« on: February 03, 2002, 06:55:37 AM »
I live on a farm in eastern Pennsylvania of about 60 acres and yesterday I was taking a walk on it with my sister. There's one open field (with nice topography) that isn't being used and she said why don't you build a golf course or some holes on it! It's only about a 7-10 acres field basically rectangular but there are probably many possiblilties since there would be no traffic at all! I bet I could easily get a nine hole course on it that might even include a par 5!

I wouldn't move any earth at all--just pick a few natural landforms for green sites and in place of bunkering I'd just use high grass shapes in the middle of things to create interesting strategies! Around the greens if the landforms weren't interesting enough I could use the high grass configurations to create interesting angles and shot values off those topographies! And think how easily I could change those strategies by rearranging the placement of the high grass  sizes, shapes and placements!

I don't want to spend much money but if I could prepare the earth for grass that's acceptable enough it could be fun to do and to play.

And another thing! The irrigation would only be natural--just like in the old days!

Maybe I could even get 18 in there somehow because I've gotten pretty good at doing "courses within a course" on some other routing plans on a normal size acreage but that all presupposed a normal amount of play too.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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BillV

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2002, 07:05:40 AM »
There's a course across from Atlantic in Bridgehampton you have probably already seen that is although not homemade (Rees) similar to what you want.

When do we tee it up?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Craig_Rokke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2002, 07:17:01 AM »
TE-I'm surprised there are no holes there already!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Geoffrey_Walsh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2002, 08:32:27 AM »
TE - I live in the area and I'd love to help you in any way I could (including the initial routing  ;)).  Please let me know!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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TEPaul

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2002, 08:42:35 AM »
BillV:

Yeah, right! I know that course your talking about across from Atlantic! I'll be glad to do something like that if you want to pay for it!

What I'm talking about is not a Rees Jones designed private course like that; this would be really homemade! Mine would probably look something like golf around 1579!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Richard_Goodale

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2002, 08:59:33 AM »
Tom

There is one flaw in your plan, namely your assumption that:

".....there would be no traffic at all!"

Once the guys on this site figure out where you live (and believe me, they'll track you down with their Terraservers and GPS and Internet search engines) Paul G.C. will be busier than Bethpage Black on the 4th of July!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Willie_Dow

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2002, 09:05:36 AM »
Go for it Tom!

You're the perfect guy to do the job right.

Willie
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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RJ_Daley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2002, 10:03:34 AM »
Tom,

Could you give us some details of your ideal maintenace meld with your design ideas?  What grass where, what bunkering style and materials, what height mowed where and by what kind of equipment?  Will it be BYOB or will you have beverages available?  :P
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

TEPaul

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2002, 10:10:51 AM »
Rich:

If I could ever do it and they come in droves, no problem at all but only if anyone and everyone signs an ironclad liability waiver and then we can have a course that could rival TOC on a holiday with its golfers playing and anyone else walking around enjoying themselves! We can have dogs and cats and anyone at all. If someone gets hurt of killed we'll just lay them to the side and play around them or maybe even use the dead body for strategy as a strategic feature as interesting ones will be needed on a course like this! But I just don't want to lose my farm over an issue of involuntary manslaughter.

I think the high grass only shapes and sizes as hazard features might be a darn interesting idea--if you get in one it might not be too easy to get out--but so be it as the strategy of avoidance should be heightened and meaningful!

Oh, I guess there will be the issue of greenfees! Never more than $5.00 for the entire day and inflation will be an unknown concept!

The proceeds will go towards maintenance and whiskey or wine money but only for me, of course, and everyone else will be BYO!

This can be a field of dreams with the accentuation on the field part!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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redanman (Guest)

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2002, 10:49:24 AM »
Tommy

I didn't mean you had to do it that way, just that it can be done!

BV 8)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Joel_Stewart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2002, 11:48:32 AM »
Tom:
I was at the PGA show last week and met a guy named Dan McKean in Shohola, PA that built his own 9 hole course.  He did everything himself including cutting down 4,000 trees.  I saw the pictures of every hole and he would be a great person to talk to.  Let me know if you want to talk with him.
Joelpcu@aol.com
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Craig_Rokke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2002, 12:06:19 PM »
I think it's an idea who's time has come again. Some of the
courses in the late 1800's and early 1900's (ie Devon and a couple I can't think of right now) were courses built by property owners on their estates and farms. When's the last time that happened in SE PA?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Richard_Goodale

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2002, 12:20:40 PM »
Tommy

This sounds better and better.  Will there be reducedgreens fee/subscriptions for overseas visitors?  Have you found any neat anti-turbo boost areas yet?  On this "high grass" concept, are you thinking topiary sculpting, or womthing more "natural?"  Keep us informed.

Rich
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Patrick_Mucci

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2002, 03:08:21 PM »
TEPaul,

Build it and we will come.

Better yet, commit to it, and we will help.

It would be a dream come true for you.
I encourage you to strongly consider undertaking this project.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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ChipOat

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2002, 04:53:52 PM »
Deepdale GC started life as WK Vanderbilt's private course.  What will TE Paul's friends urge him to create?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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GeoffreyC

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #15 on: February 03, 2002, 05:01:37 PM »
Sounds like a GCA outing in the making.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Brad Miller

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #16 on: February 03, 2002, 05:27:13 PM »
Tom, see pages 305-307 in CBM's Scotland's Gift-Golf, for those without a copy of the book handy....Nine Hole Practice Course, with all the shots involved in golf. Happy to lend a hand this sping.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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BillV

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #17 on: February 04, 2002, 06:02:57 AM »
Can I be in charge of the wabbits?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Brad Miller

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #18 on: February 04, 2002, 06:39:30 AM »
Bill. your calling is Honorary Tree Consultant.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Mike_Cirba

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #19 on: February 04, 2002, 07:03:51 AM »
Tom,

As always, let me know if I can help with anything at all.  It sounds like a wonderfully fun idea.    

I used to do landscaping, so I'm a pro with a shovel....or a teaspoon for a minimalist like you.  ;)  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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redanman (Guest)

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #20 on: February 04, 2002, 07:30:20 AM »
Brad

I already cut the trees down last night!  Tom doesn't even know it yet!  ;)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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TEPaul

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #21 on: February 04, 2002, 07:45:48 AM »
redanman:

That's the kind of maintenance you want! It's an open field, there are no trees to cut down!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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JakaB

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #22 on: February 04, 2002, 07:47:43 AM »
I will pledge $100.00 towards your project if I can have a National Membership with holiday playing privilages.  I also reserve the right to act juvinile in the Grill Room.  I also want a wooden bag tag...none of this plastic crap.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:02 PM by -1 »
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redanman (Guest)

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #23 on: February 04, 2002, 07:59:47 AM »
Tom's just bluffing!  It was a forest last night, he just won't admit that I am that silent and quick!  ;)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Ed_Baker

Re: A homemade golf course
« Reply #24 on: February 04, 2002, 10:33:25 AM »
Tommy,

You have alluded to the fact that your dear wife is truly a good scout, and she surely must be, having lived for a number of years with an insomniac golf nut.

Given the amount of time that you spend playing golf,researching golf architecture,creating a master restoration plan for Gulph Mills, debating with the generally afflicted on GCA, and pondering the merits of the stymie, I would respectfully suggest that if you undertake this project that you consider sleeping with a football helmet on your head, and a ball pein hammer under your pillow!

I can just envision you returning from Gulph Mills after a casual weekend round in the morning,to find 100 of your closest GCA friends wacking golf balls around your back yard.
I'm not sure the casual ,"what's for dinner dear?" would fly!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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