Your Last Ten

[David Davis]

Just returned from quite an adventure:


The Bluffs, Vietnam
Ayodhya Links, Thailand
Stone Forest, China
Spring City Lake and Mountain, China
Blackstone and Lava Fields, Mission Hills - Haikou, China
Shanqin Bay - China
The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula - China
Nine Bridges - South Korea
South Cape Owners Club - South Korea
Jack Nicklaus Seoul - South Korea
Naruo - Japan
Hirono - Japan
Kawana - Japan
Tokyo - Japan


Now I'm tired but feeling culturally more enlightened. 

[Eric Smith]

What have y'all been up to so far this year?  Highlights thus far?

Thanks for the bump, Jason. Best to you and all the folks helping with the Canal Shores project. I've been reading about it a lot lately and am duly impressed. I'm also long overdue for a golf adventure to Chicago and this is one I've wanted to see since back when Shivas and Co. were playing it in reverse through tunnels and sh*t.


My 2016 thus far ...


Wolf Point
Sweetens Cove
Kiawah (Ocean)
Yeamans Hall
Augusta CC


Had a ball playing 72 holes at Wolf Point under ideal conditions. Some might question whether driving a par 4 and then proceeding to four-putt (!) qualifies as fun, but that's the way I see it - WPC is match play's ultimate cage fight! Hats off to Mike Nuzzo, Don Mahaffey and crew for their gifts to golf course architecture.


Sweetens is the most fun I know of here in Tennessee. To think what that site was and is numbs the mind.   Its a great place to spend the day playing all kinds of golf shots and trying all kinds of crazy putts. All on a 9 hole course. Let that sink in for a minute.


Yeamans was downright magical. I will never forget walking from the range to the first tee and the view of the first fairway opening wider and w i d e r and w  i  d  e  r - that isn't something you see every day down there! I'm now torn as to which is my favorite in the lowcountry - here or Chechessee? In many ways they feel related to one another.


I've only played on warm season grasses this year and that's to be expected in mid-April. I am however getting excited for the summer and the fine fescues of Nebraska, Colorado, and ultimately England and Scotland. Watch out! #oldtom16

[Tom_Doak]

I only played one of these courses - Harvester - due to chilly windy weather across the midwest, and that was the windiest and coldest day of the bunch.  But here's what I saw for Volume 3 on my most recent trip:


Rochester G & CC, Minnesota
Sand Valley
Lawsonia
Davenport CC, Iowa
TPC at Deere Run
Spirit Hollow
Amana Colonies
Cedar Rapids CC
Harvester
Veenker Memorial GC
Waveland
Des Moines G & CC
Wakonda
Ballyneal


Bet you can't guess correctly which two will appear in the Gourmet's Choice section.

[Jim Nugent]

Just returned from quite an adventure:


The Bluffs, Vietnam
Ayodhya Links, Thailand
Stone Forest, China
Spring City Lake and Mountain, China
Blackstone and Lava Fields, Mission Hills - Haikou, China
Shanqin Bay - China
The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula - China
Nine Bridges - South Korea
South Cape Owners Club - South Korea
Jack Nicklaus Seoul - South Korea
Naruo - Japan
Hirono - Japan
Kawana - Japan
Tokyo - Japan


Now I'm tired but feeling culturally more enlightened. 

David, would love to hear more about these courses. 

[PCCraig]

I only played one of these courses - Harvester - due to chilly windy weather across the midwest, and that was the windiest and coldest day of the bunch.  But here's what I saw for Volume 3 on my most recent trip:


Rochester G & CC, Minnesota
Sand Valley
Lawsonia
Davenport CC, Iowa
TPC at Deere Run
Spirit Hollow
Amana Colonies
Cedar Rapids CC
Harvester
Veenker Memorial GC
Waveland
Des Moines G & CC
Wakonda
Ballyneal


Bet you can't guess correctly which two will appear in the Gourmet's Choice section.

I'll guess Rochester and Waveland? Regardless, what did you think of Rochester?

[PCCraig]

Glen View Club

What did you think of the work at GVC?

[PCCraig]

Rochester Golf & Country Club, MN
The Minikahda Club, MN
Interlachen Country Club, MN
Island View Golf Club, MN
Southview Country Club, MN
Keller Golf Club, MN
Big Fish Golf Club, WI
Northland Country Club, MN
Old Elm Club: Blue x 2
Shoreacres: Black, IL

[/size]
[/size]Might as well update this, given that I was the first response on this thread from about 5 years ago. Most recent first:
[/size]
[/size]Town & Country Club, St. Paul, MN
[/size]Forest Creek (North), Pinehurst, NC
[/size]Forest Creek (South), Pinehurst, NC
[/size]Pinehurst CC (#2), Pinehurst, NC
[/size]Bellerive CC, St. Louis, MO
[/size]Harborside Golf Course (Starboard), Chicago, IL
[/size]Windsong Farm, Independance, MN
[/size]Keller Golf Course, St. Paul, MN
[/size]White Bear Yacht Club, St. Paul, MN
[/size]Bellerive CC, St. Louis, MO

[Buck Wolter]

I only played one of these courses - Harvester - due to chilly windy weather across the midwest, and that was the windiest and coldest day of the bunch.  But here's what I saw for Volume 3 on my most recent trip:


Rochester G & CC, Minnesota
Sand Valley
Lawsonia
Davenport CC, Iowa
TPC at Deere Run
Spirit Hollow
Amana Colonies
Cedar Rapids CC
Harvester
Veenker Memorial GC
Waveland
Des Moines G & CC
Wakonda
Ballyneal


Bet you can't guess correctly which two will appear in the Gourmet's Choice section.

Wakonda and Rochester would be my guesses but that would seem too obvious --assuming one of the other editors picks Ballyneal. My guess is that there's not enough Maxwell left at Veenker but there are some seriously quirky holes there. If it is Waveland, Topp and I might have a parade!

Very anxious to read your thoughts on that whole list. I think Iowa was just barely represented in the last edition --Wakonda, DM Golf and Sidney? Don't have it handy.

[Rees Milikin]

I only played one of these courses - Harvester - due to chilly windy weather across the midwest, and that was the windiest and coldest day of the bunch.  But here's what I saw for Volume 3 on my most recent trip:


Rochester G & CC, Minnesota
Sand Valley
Lawsonia
Davenport CC, Iowa
TPC at Deere Run
Spirit Hollow
Amana Colonies
Cedar Rapids CC
Harvester
Veenker Memorial GC
Waveland
Des Moines G & CC
Wakonda
Ballyneal


Bet you can't guess correctly which two will appear in the Gourmet's Choice section.

Thoughts on Davenport CC?

[Tom_Doak]

what did you think of Rochester?

I am consulting at Rochester, actually; I'd played the course many years ago. 


We are wrangling over the scope of the master plan right now, so best not to comment just at the moment.  They're a different client than most I've had lately ... the members haven't seen many other courses go under the knife, and they're very concerned about closing the course for any length of time to do anything. 

[Tom_Doak]

Very anxious to read your thoughts on that whole list. I think Iowa was just barely represented in the last edition --Wakonda, DM Golf and Sidney? Don't have it handy.

You're correct that Iowa was barely represented in the last edition; I'd just seen Wakonda and a couple of courses near my first wife's family's home, in southwest Iowa.   None of my co-authors has played there at all ... that's why I made the trip.  Overall, I was quite surprised and impressed with the quality of courses I saw.

[PCCraig]

what did you think of Rochester?

I am consulting at Rochester, actually; I'd played the course many years ago. 


We are wrangling over the scope of the master plan right now, so best not to comment just at the moment.  They're a different client than most I've had lately ... the members haven't seen many other courses go under the knife, and they're very concerned about closing the course for any length of time to do anything.

Interesting. Congrats on getting the Rochester job. I played there 5 years ago and thought it was neat...there are some good holes out there. But the course needed to thin out a lot of those pine/evergreens that were planted everywhere.


It was interesting to see the two "modern" holes that they had built years ago on the back nine as they had been left to nature I believe at that point.


Will be very interested in what direction you take in the coming months/years down there!

[Jason Way]

What did you think of the work at GVC?

That was my first play Pat, so I don't what it was like before Jim's bunker work.  I can say that I thought the bunkers were very cool.  Subtly beautiful, but with some artful touches, which strikes me as a perfect fit for the overall style.  In general, I enjoyed the course quite a bit.  It has a USGA Championship venue feel to it - stately and old, which I dig.  #2-5 and #16-18 were real standout stretches.

[Jason Way]

Thanks for the bump, Jason. Best to you and all the folks helping with the Canal Shores project. I've been reading about it a lot lately and am duly impressed. I'm also long overdue for a golf adventure to Chicago and this is one I've wanted to see since back when Shivas and Co. were playing it in reverse through tunnels and sh*t.

Thanks Eric.  We are entering the public comment period this week, so I will take all of the positive vibes I can get.


I'm happy to host anyone who wants to come out for a little adventure golf and tour at Canal Shores. 

[Rick Emerson]

Just returned from quite an adventure:


The Bluffs, Vietnam
Ayodhya Links, Thailand
Stone Forest, China
Spring City Lake and Mountain, China
Blackstone and Lava Fields, Mission Hills - Haikou, China
Shanqin Bay - China
The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula - China
Nine Bridges - South Korea
South Cape Owners Club - South Korea
Jack Nicklaus Seoul - South Korea
Naruo - Japan
Hirono - Japan
Kawana - Japan
Tokyo - Japan


Now I'm tired but feeling culturally more enlightened. 

Wow, that is an amazing list. David, if you have a minute would you drop me a PM and tell me a little about Japan. I am considering a trip there this fall.
Here are my last 10:
King Key Golf Club, Tianjin China
Poly Chengdu 198 Golf Club, Chengdu, China
Lost Farms
Barnbougle Dunes
Royal Melbourne West
Royal Melbourne East
Victoria Golf Club
Kingston Heath
Metropolitan
Stone Forest Leaders Peak or C course, Kunming China

[Michael Goldstein]

Waikare (tomorrow)
Peachtree
Hauraki
Tokorahi
Omakau
Arrowtown
Tara Iti
Rawene
Houhora
Ahipara


It's fair to say a couple stand out - the total maintenance budget of the other 8 wouldn't total US$500K! 

[Buck Wolter]

Owatonna CC
Punta Espada
Windsong Farm
Town and Country
Keller
Midland Hills
Kingsley
Wack Wack CC
Orchard CC
Ballard CC

[Jordan Caron]

Never replied to this thread ever and thought it would be cool to go back over my last ten.


Streamsong Blue
Streamsong Red
Portland Golf Club
Marine Drive
Seattle Golf Club
California Golf Club Of San Francisco
The Home Course
Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek
Royal Colwood
Old Mac (and of course those three other tracks!)

[Criss Titschinger]

Davenport CC, Iowa
Spirit Hollow
Amana Colonies
Cedar Rapids CC
Harvester
Veenker Memorial GC
Waveland
Des Moines G & CC
Wakonda

Overall, I was quite surprised and impressed with the quality of courses I saw.

If I can't make an Iowa Mashie happen, I might just do a trip on my own that contains most, if not all of this list. Would add Elmcrest just for its connection to Zach Johnson.

[J_ Crisham]

I only played one of these courses - Harvester - due to chilly windy weather across the midwest, and that was the windiest and coldest day of the bunch.  But here's what I saw for Volume 3 on my most recent trip:


Rochester G & CC, Minnesota
Sand Valley
Lawsonia
Davenport CC, Iowa
TPC at Deere Run
Spirit Hollow
Amana Colonies
Cedar Rapids CC
Harvester
Veenker Memorial GC
Waveland
Des Moines G & CC
Wakonda
Ballyneal


Bet you can't guess correctly which two will appear in the Gourmet's Choice section.

Cedar Rapids CC - a recently restored Ross with terrific elevation changes and a pretty cool volcano hole, #14 short par 4. Davenport CC- recently restored Allison design. Another hidden gem. Wakonda is a what if kind of course- a restoration could put it top 100 US Classic.

[Ian Mackenzie]

1. Glen View Club
2. Shoreacres
3. Chicago Golf Club
4. Old Elm
5. Skokie
6. Royal Dornoch
7. Brora
8. Castle Stuart
9. Loblolly
10. MacArthur

[Carl Nichols]

Most recent first....


Fenway
Quaker Ridge
NGLA
Southampton
Somerset Hills
Pepper Pike Club
Valley Club
Bel-Air
LACC
Riviera

That's quite the list.  What did you think of LACC?

[Carl Nichols]

Interesting exercise.  This goes back to October; it's been a good run.  In reverse chron order:


Bethesda CC (home course, multiple rounds)
Cabo del Sol (Ocean)
Seminole
Medalist
Broken Sound (Old)
Old Marsh
Boston Golf
Congressional (Blue)
Wilshire
Sea Island -- all resort courses plus Ocean Forest, Frederica, and Brunswick

[Tim Gallant]

Fun start to the year. Here's hoping for more of the same!


Prestwick
TOC
Luffness
Montrose GC
Harding Park
Cal Club
Olympic Cliffs
Olympic Lake
PB
Riviera
LACC North
Wilshire

[Pete_Pittock]

Really slow start to the year
Primm-Desert
Primm-Lake
Talking Stick North
Southern Dunes (Ak Shin)
Saddlebrooke
Cypress Point
Emerald Valley
Reserve Vineyards-North (pathetic that I've played only one round at my home course)
MIddlefield

but the NW has finally dried out and they can mow