Top 5 of "The Next Fifty"

[Doug Wright]

OK GCAers this "The Next Fifty" item has been sitting over there to the left untouched (and maybe unread?) for the past couple of years. If you were advising Ran & Co to get thee to any number up to 5 of them ASAP (assuming access and all that were no problem), which would you tell them to see and pronto--and why, architecturally speaking, of course?

All The Best,

[Phil_the_Author]

Doug,

Here are my five and the reasons why (I hope Ran is listening!):

1- Huntington C.C. - Any club that, in 1932-34, took legal action in an attempt to prevent New York State from developing three new courses at this new State Park called Bethpage, because they believed it would provide "undue financial competition for them," deserves to be examined to see just how those far-seeing minds cared for their own course.

2- Wild Horse - This Nebraska course that ranges from 4,688 to 6,805 yards from the gold tees has something for everyone. If wild horses (sorry for the pun) can't drag you there, maybe the opportunity to see tee boxes "marked with horseshoes" will.

3- Kasumigaseki C.C. - The East course was opened in 1929. A 6,895 yard championship course designed by the team of Shiro Akaboshi & Kinya Fujita, it was the site of the 1995 Japan Open, and even more impressively, the 1957 Canada Cup!

The West course deserves mention as well. Built in 1932 and designed by Seiichi Inoue, In 2000 it was remodeled by Taizo Kawata into a "one-green system." That's got to be one hell of a green and view from each fairway!

4- Silloth-on-Solway - First, how can you resist playing a course with that name? In addition to being the "seaside links rated in the best five links in England," How could any true player of the game not be drawn to a town of 3,000 that manages to hold the following festivals every summer:
1- July, Kite Festival
2- August, It's a Knockout Festival
3- September, a 4 day Beer Festival
4- September, Truck Show held during the final two days of the beer festival

5- Inwood C.C. - My father's place to be invited by his two dearest friends Sam Bogen and Harold Brummer, all now playing in different fields

[Paul_Turner]

I'd advise him to dump Hankley Common; no way it should be in that company  

[Tom]

I would love to know what you all think of Walton Heath New - it was one of my favourites when I lived in the area.  Very quirky course - always thought it was more interesting than the Old.  After that Deal & Formby.  And just to be difficult two courses not on the list - Conwy (now there's a fast links) and Royal Liverpool.

[Robert Emmons]

Dear guys,
In regards to huntington C.C., I believe you have the wrong club... I have been Green Chairman during the current restoration and welcome all interest in this 1910 Dev. Emmett. This year we had the oppurtunity to host the Devereaux Emmett Cup which was a great success. Let me know if I can help...

[John_Conley]

As usual with Ran's Next Fifty, he mentions a bunch of courses I've never even heard of before.  St. George's on Long Island, Williams in West Virginia, Black Rock in Mass, and Reddish Vale.

I'd send Ran to St. Paul so he could see White Bear and Somerset (which briefly appeared on his Next at my urging and was quickly replaced).

Not a hard town to get in and out of, two courses from pedigreed architects worth seeing, and a decent fall weekend before she snows.

[corey miller]

EMMROB-congrats on a wonderful job which I was told was done all in house.  Grew up in Huntington and played there last fall with "griff".  The reclaiming of the greens really changes the feel of the course and restored some neat areas on the putting surfaces. Perhaps some info on membership acceptance and how this was sold to them.(ie tree-clearing, bigger greens=too easy)

[Tommy Williamsen]

White Bear Yacht club and Somerset CC are both great experiences.  Ilove them both.  Having said that my choice would be Walton Heath New, which seems to be very underrated, Sunningdale New, which is one of my favorite courses in inland England and Wentworth West because it has hosted so many tournaments ( though I think it is very overrated).   In the US I would choose Quaker Ridge because it is good on its own but overshadowed by its more renowned neighbor, WF W & E.

[Robert Emmons]

Corey...Thanks...I will write a update, but tree clearing, green expansion back to 1929 arials, bunker restoration and renovation has created a revitalized course which is a true gem showcasing the design of Emmett.

[Rick Shefchik]

Ran -- If WBYC makes the cut, I volunteer to be informal host, guide and all-purpose Chamber of Commerce welcome committee. I'm not a WBYC member (played it several times and love it dearly), but I can get you a caddie -- my son loops there in the summer. (20 bucks a round, buy him a PowerAid at the turn and slip him two or three bucks when you're done if he did a good job, and he'll make sure you don't lose any headcovers.)

[Mike_Sweeney]

As usual with Ran's Next Fifty, he mentions a bunch of courses I've never even heard of before.  St. George's on Long Island,

For interesting below the radar old short Long Island course, I would take Gardiner's Bay on Shelter Island over St. George's. St George's is Dev. Emmet 6200 Par 70 located across the street from SUNY Stony Brook. It is very interesting, great greens, but a little tight on a small property. My guess is some land must have been sold off, because it had to be very remote out there when it was built.

Gardiner's Bay is also a similar distance of Par 70, and it sits on Shelter Island which sits between the two Twin Forks of Long Island. A couple of pedestrian holes, but some outstanding holes too with a beautiful setting and beautiful views of the water (Gardiner's Bay).  Not sure of the architectural history, but I think I heard George Bahto say that Raynor may have done some work there.

[brad_miller]

Congrads to Huntington CC, I have heard a little about the work from my brother, so good in fact that it must have been a committee of one.  Information on the planning and selling process would be great.
I believe Geoff Shackelford had it in one of his lists in "Grounds for Golf"

Before and after pics anyone!

[George_Bahto]

Geoff Shack and I walked Huntington CC together about a year and half ago and we were very excited about the VERY AUTHENTIC restoration they were conducting mostly (and perhaps, all) in house!

Excellent job of research and execution - asst super Miles McLaughlin spearheading the attack

Very cool place indeed.

[SPDB]

Ran should do a whirlwind tour through RI. It is the northern complement to his home town/area, i.e. a serious concentration of serious Ross courses. That would take care of Misquamicut (which Ran really should see), and he can even take in Tillie's Newport, which I'm simply astounded he hasn't seen - it possesses nearly every design and maintenance ingredient which he (apparently) holds dear.

Quick question - Is Newport Tillie's only seaside design/links?
(that's probably a topic on its own...)

[Robert Emmons]

Thanks George, Yes all in house, visits by Ron Pritchard and Tom Doak did help, and Myles is a great oldtime shaper. Now working on fescues, tees and trees...