Your golfing highlight of 2014

[Mike Tanner]

Rejoining my golf buddies for our annual trip to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley after a two-year absence. Three and a half days of golf, drinking and eating, and a little sleep. It was good to be back.

Also, combining a business meeting in Orlando with a side trip to Tampa, where I played Pine Barrens at World Woods. I kept looking around and thinking, "This is Tom Fazio?!" I don't know if he can still do it, but he took a walk on the wild side there.

[Lou_Duran]

How could I forget the 2014 highlight of playing golf with Lou Duran!   

That's ok Doug, I like being forgettable. 

Actually, the thread brought to mind our time together at Denver CC, a course and a club that flies under the radar but would fit me to the T.  How long had it been?  10 years?  What a great start to a fantastic trip which included some razzing from Barney in the sand hills of NE, and ended in the company of the engaging world traveler Mike Whitaker at Colorado Golf Club (ok, I did have to suffer a bit in Whitty's and Zuckerman's afterglow the day after they conquered the 5th Major, but playing Ballyneal made it tolerable).  Thank you for being the consummate host. 

Oh, Garland, I wish we could have finished our round at Perranporth though I think our English friends might have been of a different mind (slow pace of play eating away our allotted time for socializing at the restaurant/bar).  You do have a rather unusual game, but we were managing just fine.  You should let the "in person" you come through online more often.  And no, we don't have a Bailey House at my home club.

[Brian Finn]

It's fun reading everyone's highlights. I had a great golfing year, full of travel, meeting literally dozens of GCA guys, and playing a silly amount of golf. Forced to choose one highlight, I will go with the few days I spent at Prairie Dunes in the Spring. Several rounds over one of the three best courses I've played, including my maiden voyage alongside Ian Andrew and Chris Johnston. Ian was there with a gaggle of architects (including the esteemed Drew Rogers) on their way to their annual meeting.  Golf nerd nirvana. Our group stuck around a couple more days, finishing up with a group of 6 playing the back nine with my (7 club) set of hickories. It doesn't get much better.

[Bradley Anderson]

Three of our legendary golf course superintendents have retired recently in Chicago. Ed Fischer from Old Elm, Tim Davis from Shoreacres and Randy Wahler from Knollwood.

My favorite round of golf last summer was when they all showed to play with me at my golf course in June. The golf course was looking good and they were very complimentary.

I had played their golf courses many times over the years and admired their work and the great contributions that they made to greenkeeping. It was very cool to get them all together to play my course.

[Joel Zuckerman]

Beats a thousand words.....

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[Jason Topp]

Beats a thousand words.....

Now it does!

[Josh Bills]

2014 year was my first golf trip since the birth of my twin daughters who are now 3.  I was lucky enough to partake in the 5th Major with Brian Finn as my partner.  While we didn't really contend for the championship, our fortune to be placed in the a flight with just outstanding people, including Lou Duran, Greg Clark, Steve Green, Jeff Carlsen, Brandon Urban, Barry Watts, Rich Goodale, Dan Kelly, Dan Moore and Reed Kemp was absolutely fantastic.  While I know there is hoopla over naming a particular spot at Dismal, to not partake in such a great group and place, would be a mistake in my opinion.  Everyone at Dismal, including Chris, were nothing but welcoming.  The trip also included time at Sand Hills, Wild Horse and Awarii Dunes while out there.  I look forward to a return trip and may come from Denver next time to take in courses from that direction.  No doubt Brian Finn was a big reason the trip was as enjoyable as it was, even though our rental car was taken back from us en route to Awarii Dunes because they forgot they had sold it, we broke two windshields with rocks and had to sleep in Chicago's airport when our flight from Omaha went through a major storm which shut down all outbound flights in Chicago.  It is this kind of trip, and meeting all these wonderful people that make golf such a great sport and GCA such a great forum.  Look forward to what 2015 brings.  

[Mike Hendren]

Flexing my clout to get Tom Doak on Teugega unannounced for a round with me.

Bogey

[Garland Bayley]

Oh, Garland, I wish we could have finished our round at Perranporth though I think our English friends might have been of a different mind (slow pace of play eating away our allotted time for socializing at the restaurant/bar).  You do have a rather unusual game, but we were managing just fine.  You should let the "in person" you come through online more often.  And no, we don't have a Bailey House at my home club.

I was just getting warmed up as I parred 11, and 12 after you guys left. However, when I got to 15 I caught up with an extremely slow foursome playing out of carts, and it was getting late so I walked in. I thought of playing 18, but there were guys searching for balls there, so after a brief stop on the tee I kept going. So it seems with a bit of a log jam in front of us, I doubt any of our groups could have finished anyway.

[Tom Ferrell]

Enjoying a dinner at Bandon with Mr. Keiser, Mr. Coore, and Mr. and Mrs. Youngscap.  Doesn't get much better than that!

Punchbowl putting with three friends after a 36-hole day - what a blast!

Sunset at Colorado Golf Club with James Duncan and his Brambles friends in September.

On course, playing at Sea Island in January and getting hot for four birdies while teaming with CGC head pro Graham Cliff to take out my brother and cousin. 

[Will Lozier]

BUT the golf highlight of this year has to be...

...playing real golf with our two oldest kids. It was an absolute blast, and as long as they ask me to play, I'll be happy to take them. I look forward to our youngest son rounding out the foursome in a few years.

Matthew, how could you have any fun watching that PERFECT position at the top ALL day and being jealous of youth and flexibility?!? And fearlessness...he probably drained a couple of 20-footers too, huh? 

Great stuff! 

[Will Lozier]

perfect

[Sven Nilsen]

BUT the golf highlight of this year has to be...

...playing real golf with our two oldest kids. It was an absolute blast, and as long as they ask me to play, I'll be happy to take them. I look forward to our youngest son rounding out the foursome in a few years.

Matthew, how could you have any fun watching that PERFECT position at the top ALL day and being jealous of youth and flexibility?!? And fearlessness...he probably drained a couple of 20-footers too, huh? 

Great stuff! 

Matt is too humble to bring it up, but its going to be a long time before either of those kids beats their old man.  If you've ever played a round with Sander, you can see where the next generation gets it from.

Sven

[John Kirk]

Beats a thousand words.....

Now it does!

Congratulations to Mike Whitaker and Jack LaLanne.

[JBovay]

The one that sticks out for me was playing golf with my dad in August after he came off the DL from prostate cancer-related surgery. A return to normalcy. He's cancer-free currently, thankfully.

Other highlights include, naturally, the times my paths crossed with other GCAers. At Yale with Steve Lapper and Tom Dunne. A wonderful tour of Hackensack GC from Bill Brightly on the eve of the first US Four-Ball qualifier there. A wonderful round at Paramount. And this coming Saturday's round(s) at Mountain Lake is (are) definitely going to be another.

Tim,

Sorry to learn about your Dad's cancer, and glad to know he has recovered. It's always humbling to hear how health problems can arise from nowhere. Thanks to you and others who have recently shared stories of their own, family members', and friends' illnesses and suffering. There are many things more important in life and golf than playing great courses... which is why I'll be making a trip to Polk County, Florida in February with no aspirations to play any of its Top 100 courses but firm plans to join my grandfather at the modest club to which he's belonged for decades.

Have a great time today!

[Matthew Sander]

BUT the golf highlight of this year has to be...

...playing real golf with our two oldest kids. It was an absolute blast, and as long as they ask me to play, I'll be happy to take them. I look forward to our youngest son rounding out the foursome in a few years.

Matthew, how could you have any fun watching that PERFECT position at the top ALL day and being jealous of youth and flexibility?!? And fearlessness...he probably drained a couple of 20-footers too, huh?  

Great stuff!  

Matt is too humble to bring it up, but its going to be a long time before either of those kids beats their old man.  If you've ever played a round with Sander, you can see where the next generation gets it from.

Sven

Sven,

You're making me blush...and your nose is growing.


Will,

He does look pretty darn good there. The move that gets him to that position isn't quite as pretty! They both hit some really good shots that day. He plopped one to about 5 feet on a short par 3 while I was taking some video. His nonchalant satisfaction with the result is sullied by my incoherent hooting and hollering.

[Craig Disher]

Dick,
After reading through the thread my reply was chastened by your wonderful post. Along with everyone else, I wish you the best and hope we'll see you again on the gca tour. I'll also double down on the recommendation for the Mayo Clinic. The results they've achieved in many cases are extraordinary.

My highlight has to be the September Buda Cup. Camping out for 3 days with some great gca veterans and playing several rounds on a course that's well into my top 5 - St. Enodoc - is still fresh in my memory. Personally, it was a sublime golf experience.

[Bill Gayne]

First trip to East Lothian. North Berwick and Muirfield is as good as golf gets.

Sunday morning on the Old Course.

Playing 65 rounds this year. More than I ever expected.

Leven links with Malcom McKinnon and Andy Stamm.

The Masters.

[Bob_Huntley]

My highlight was a blistering drive of 165 yards at the Carmel Valley Ranch driving range. Having decided that I was going to retire from the
game I still felt the need to have a club in hand.

Having read of Dick Daley's illness I realize that he may well not be able to keep playing. He has caused me to change my mind about going out on the course, even if it only a couple of holes. 

Dick, I wish you all the best care in the future and was glad I met you at North Platte.

Bob 

[Terry Lavin]

Just catching up here and am saddened yet heartened by the news of Dick Daley's sudden onset neuromuscular illness. We were the lucky beneficiaries of Dick's chortling presence at a GCA play day at Beverly this summer. His infectious laugh carried the day. Sad though it is, I'm also heartened by his message to all of us, as he really packed in a lot of golf fun with a bunch of us this year. One never knows when certain abilities may be halted, so I'm happy to read about such an epic year of golf, just before the dreaded diagnosis.

Cheers to you, Hizzoner, from this here Hizzoner. Lets all hope the drugs work!!!

[Tom Birkert]

The highlight - and you will have to excuse the bragging - was winning a competition at my club as I will now be able to show my son my name on the board in the Member's Bar.

With regards to courses, I am very fortunate to have an understanding wife and so I was able to get to the US in July while she looked after our 1 year old, and with the gracious help of many wonderful people (some of whom populate this site) a fantastic itinerary was set up - it's always impossible to top Pine Valley, but when you add in Merion, Shinnecock, Maidstone, Yale, The Creek, Sleepy Hollow and Gulph Mills it truly becomes something special.

I'm also glad in a strange way that I didn't get to play to Fisher's Island - gives an even greater incentive to get back next year if at all possible (baby number 2 is on the way and due to arrive in May).

Thanks all for sharing.

[Tim Lewis]

2014 has been by far the greatest golfing year of my short life, including trips to Bandon, Streamsong, and Scotland. Along with this, it has also been a monumental year in regard to the pursuit of my dream of becoming a golf architect. The experiences I gained, and people I have met have made 2014 a very special year for me, and have solidified my passion for the somewhat strange yet enchanting art of golf course architecture. As far as playing highlights go, hitting my tee shot off the hotel on the 17th at TOC and continuing on to make par tops the list, with North Berwick in a 20-25 mph wind, and playing Pacific Dunes with my dad coming in a close second. Being able to meet people like Bruce Hepner and Kye Goalby, and being able to watch them work for a solid month or so have been the most formative experiences for me this past year, but if had to choose my highlight for the year, it would be getting a chance to tour the Sand Valley site and meet the legendary Bill Coore. 

[Mike_Young]

I played the normal classics we all try to play over the years but I think the highlight was meeting Ed Getka at the Dixie Cup and and listening to him talk about his son and seeing how golf was helping him cope as best it could.  I think he was glad he made the trip and it sort of emphasized how the game interacts with anyone who is truly into it no matter the score or the course ranking.  It was a life lesson....hope that's not too corny...

[Mark Bourgeois]

The highlight - and you will have to excuse the bragging - was winning a competition at my club as I will now be able to show my son my name on the board in the Member's Bar.

With regards to courses, I am very fortunate to have an understanding wife and so I was able to get to the US in July while she looked after our 1 year old, and with the gracious help of many wonderful people (some of whom populate this site) a fantastic itinerary was set up - it's always impossible to top Pine Valley, but when you add in Merion, Shinnecock, Maidstone, Yale, The Creek, Sleepy Hollow and Gulph Mills it truly becomes something special.

I'm also glad in a strange way that I didn't get to play to Fisher's Island - gives an even greater incentive to get back next year if at all possible (baby number 2 is on the way and due to arrive in May).

Thanks all for sharing.

Tom

That is a whole lot of celebrating! You must be running out of Top 100 venues to play.

[Craig Disher]

I played the normal classics we all try to play over the years but I think the highlight was meeting Ed Getka at the Dixie Cup and and listening to him talk about his son and seeing how golf was helping him cope as best it could.  I think he was glad he made the trip and it sort of emphasized how the game interacts with anyone who is truly into it no matter the score or the course ranking.  It was a life lesson....hope that's not too corny...

Not corny at all.