Best Airport Approaches for Golf Course Sitings

[Sven Nilsen]

I flew into Chicago last night on the tail end of a return trip from the East Coast.  While lining up for our approach from the south west on Runway Foxtrot at O'Hare, I was able to pick out the following courses from the air:

Lost Marsh
Harborside
Beverly
Marquette Park
LaGrange
Fresh Meadow
Chicago Highlands
Meadowlark
Oak Brook
Butler
Willow Crest
Butterfield
Hinsdale
Village Links of Glen Ellyn
Chicago Golf
Arrowhead
Cantigny
Prairie Landing
Pheasant Run
Indian Lakes
Medinah
Itasca

Any other airport approaches that provide some eye candy to help pass the time?

[Jim Franklin]

I flew into Chicago last night on the tail end of a return trip from the East Coast.  While lining up for our approach from the south west on Runway Foxtrot at O'Hare, I was able to pick out the following courses from the air:

Lost Marsh
Harborside
Beverly
Marquette Park
LaGrange
Fresh Meadow
Chicago Highlands
Meadowlark
Oak Brook
Butler
Willow Crest
Butterfield
Hinsdale
Village Links of Glen Ellyn
Chicago Golf
Arrowhead
Cantigny
Prairie Landing
Pheasant Run
Indian Lakes
Medinah
Itasca

Any other airport approaches that provide some eye candy to help pass the time?

That is impressive.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Sven,

It's largely runway dependent and also hinges upon the FAA approved glide paths or approach patterns.

Coming into Newark you won't see much approaching L/R 4 and L/R 22

[Tommy Williamsen]

I just don't know how anyone can tell what courses are what from the air.  I fly a lot and even coming back to BWI I have no idea where I am, except when I actually fly over Baltimore.  I try to pick out courses but I am a complete failure.  How you guys do that is way beyond my meagre talents.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tommy,

I think it is directly proportional to how familiar you are with the golf courses

[Leo Barber]

Approach to Paraparaumu Airport takes you directly across the Paraparaumu Beach links.  The airport that has been popular with small planes and gliders has recently started accepting commercial flights direct from Auckland.  As you can see by the photo you can literally land and walk to the first tee.

[Wayne_Kozun]

I would think that the approach to Prestwick airport would be pretty good in this dept.

[Jackson C]

Fly into Lihue airport in Kauai, and you will fly in low over Kiele, including the spectacular ocean par 3.

[Howard Riefs]

Always fond of the flight pattern to Nantucket.

Sankaty Head in foreground, Nantucket Golf Club in center, Old Siasconset (nine holes) center-left.


 

[John Kavanaugh]

Aren't cameras electronic devices that should be turned off during take offs and landings?

[Kalen Braley]

Its an old antiquated rule JK.

There is zero evidence they do any harm, and there is mounds of evidence that suggests they are completely harmless.

Its the same reason we have stupid checkpoint rules instituted by the TSA, where we frisk 70 year old grandmas and toddlers.

[Mark Steffey]

Its an old antiquated rule JK.

There is zero evidence they do any harm, and there is mounds of evidence that suggests they are completely harmless.

Its the same reason we have stupid checkpoint rules instituted by the TSA, where we frisk 70 year old grandmas and toddlers.

kalen didn't see men in black 3

[Brian Colbert]

Never flown into SSI but I imagine that it is pretty cool, standing on the driving range you can practically see in the windows of planes landing.

[mike_beene]

The old Casa de Campo runway was unique

[Bart Bradley]

This one is pretty good...but no commercial flights land here.  Only charter flights.  I highly recommend the charter.



Bart

[Ross Harmon]

I'm on an Airtran flight right now and there's actually an article in their mag this month about golf courses near airports. Also, a follow up article about courses in the middle of nowhere like Bandon.

[Sam Morrow]

Last year when we went from Houston-Hobby to Philly we went right over Trump National and Pine Valley. A few years ago when we flew Hobby to Vegas it was cool how many courses we flew over.

[Jason Walker]

Philly is a pretty good one, especially if coming from the west and you get lucky with the approach arrival.  Depending on the side of the aisle you can see all the main line courses (about a dozen), the Delaware County courses (Aronimink, Rolling Green) and depending on how far east you go before turning back to the airport, PV, Trump Philly, Woodcrest, and my home Tavistock are all very visible.  

When I was doing my flight training at Northeast Philly airport about 12 years, Torresdale-Frankdford CC played a prominent role.  When approaching Runway 33/15 the tower would use "the golf course" as an identifier since it sits a couple of hundred yards from the runway edge.  Still have never played the course!  

The best flight for me, not related to any specific airports really, was flying from Philly to Newport, RI on a clear day.  I'd be cleared from Northeast Philly to JFK, get through the mess, then visual down Long Island to Newport.  Going low and flying over the golf courses was always a blast.

Whoever mentioned SSI before, I used to fly in there a bit.  Always was weird for me golfing and seeing the planes--they don't seem that close to the course when you're flying in!  I'll be flying in there for Georgia/Florida weekend this year with some friends, can't wait!

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Aren't cameras electronic devices that should be turned off during take offs and landings?

Glad you asked because I was about to ask the same thing.  Even though I have done the same thing several times.  I actually find my Garmin to be the most entertaining electronic device to turn on in flight to see where exactly I am at any given time and see what golf courses I am flying over.  I also liked when people in my car would notice on the information screen that the maximum speed attained on my current trip (I never hit the reset button) was over 440mph.

John I will be up in Louisville in Aug for a conference maybe I will try to get a bit further north...

[Tim Gavrich]

In the last few months, I've been able to spot Congressional on the way into Reagan Nat'l (quite a steep descent/ascent, smaller airport than I'd thought it was) and I picked out Quail Hollow and Carolina GC on the way into Charlotte. I haven't spent hours perusing Google Maps for nothing, you know!

[mike_beene]

Tim as regular user of National Airport I always hope the captain doesn't leave the river as I understand they shoot first and ask questions later.

[Mike Benham]

Aren't cameras electronic devices that should be turned off during take offs and landings?

Not all cameras are electronic ...

[Mark Chaplin]

Kalen - in 2006 we foiled a plot to blow 10 airliners out of the air using liquid bombs. Some of the bombers were planning to take their unsuspecting wives and children on the flights. Sadly these evil people have affected our travel experience, but better search a 5 or 75 year old than find they had unwittingly carried the bomb parts onto a plane.

[Leo Barber]

Aren't cameras electronic devices that should be turned off during take offs and landings?

Mine was in the cockpit of a light plane and suspect a few of the others were as well looking at the window sills

[Howard Riefs]

Whoever mentioned SSI before, I used to fly in there a bit.  Always was weird for me golfing and seeing the planes--they don't seem that close to the course when you're flying in!  I'll be flying in there for Georgia/Florida weekend this year with some friends, can't wait!

Pretty easy to spot Wayne Huizinga's 737 parked at SSI. I drove past it a few times driving from the Cloister to the Sea Island courses.




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