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BCowan

2015 Firmest courses played in US
« on: December 10, 2015, 12:01:07 PM »
Without mentioning GCA favs and top 100 tracks.  What are some of the firmest courses you played this year in the US?  Anywhere from first time plays to haven't played in awhile wow I'm surprised. 
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JESII

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2015, 12:18:55 PM »
Why leave the more highly regarded courses off this thread? I'd think this could highlight that some courses are able to do it in areas some might think challenging. In addition, it also may highlight how few of the top courses really get it done...

Huntingdon Valley for me...as has likely been the case every year I've played golf.
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Mark Kiely

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2015, 12:21:45 PM »
I doubt this is really what Ben had in mind, but due to drought survival efforts, Robinson Ranch's Mountain Course in Santa Clarita, CA, is playing like this right now:


IMG_4916 by Mark, on Flickr


Fairways and rough aren't dormant, they're practically non-existent. Tees, greens and surrounds are getting watered, though.
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Chris Roselle

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2015, 01:24:12 PM »


Played Applebrook GC (a Gil Hanse design) in the late summer right before it held our U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier and it was as firm as I have ever seen it (it normally plays very bouncy).  And low and behold it was one of the most fun rounds I played all year!
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Matt Frey, PGA

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2015, 05:10:06 PM »
Without a doubt the firmest course I played this year was Pocono Manor; no fairway irrigation and a dry summer, but still in great shape.
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MClutterbuck

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2015, 05:18:25 PM »

Granted this is only half of the US and has a few courses from the rest of the Americas, but Volume 2 of the Confidential Guide anwers your question


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Tom_Doak

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2015, 06:47:49 PM »
Great topic, Ben.

I played and saw a ton of courses this year, but I've got to think which were the firmest.  Ballyneal was the most recent, and hard to top on that score.


EDIT:  My runners-up for 2015:


Chambers Bay
Cabot Links
El Desafio
Gamble Sands
« Last Edit: December 13, 2015, 10:48:51 AM by Tom_Doak »
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JNagle

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2015, 07:09:35 PM »
Would have to say, Manufacturer's G & CC outside of Philadelphia.  Fairway and greens were very firm.  Wanted to play it again the following day as I would have played much differently.  The roll-offs around the firm greens made for interesting and varied recoveries.  The subtle complexities of Flynn's green were doubly challenging because of the firmness.  Truly made for a spectacular round of golf.
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James Brown

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2015, 09:21:15 PM »
Taos Country Club was the fastest course I played this year in the US. 



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Nigel Islam

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2015, 09:28:31 PM »
Olde Stone in Bowling Green, KY. It shocked me, but I played the wettest time of 2015 in April and was impressed  at how fast and firm the zoisya fairways played. Greens were fast and firm too.
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Keith OHalloran

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2015, 10:10:53 PM »
Quote from: Tom_Doak on December 10, 2015, 06:47:49 PM
Great topic, Ben.

I played and saw a ton of courses this year, but I've got to think which were the firmest.  Ballyneal was the most recent, and hard to top on that score.


Ben specifically said no GCA favs!  ;D
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Ian Mackenzie

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2015, 10:54:36 PM »
Shore acres for me.
Played from the tips and, while not long by most standards, it now has a set of par 4s that are 480 - 497. I was amazed at the yardage I had into these holes.


Even when I had 185 to the hole, after huge roll on the fairway, I had to hit a 165-170 shot to even think about holding the green.
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Tom_Doak

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2015, 12:28:05 AM »
Quote from: Keith OHalloran link=topic=62275.msg1480298#msg1480298

Ben specifically said no GCA favs!  ;D
[/quote

One of the keys to my success is that I have never felt constrained by other people's rules.  ;)
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Sean_A

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2015, 03:47:30 AM »
I didn't play a fast course in the US (summer is the wrong time of year in NC for f&f), bit the fastest was Roaring Gap.


I only played a fast course or two in the UK with Cleeve Cloud being the fastest.   


Ciao
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Chuck Glowacki

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2015, 04:04:44 AM »
Laurel Links, Mattituck, NY (Kelly Blake Moran)



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Jason Thurman

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #15 on: December 11, 2015, 09:18:21 AM »
Weatherwax in Middletown, OH. It was mostly baked-out clay with a thin fuzz of burned out grass laid over it.


If we're talking courses that were purposefully firm and fast, it's a tie for me between Ballyneal and Wolf Run. In particular, Wolf was in unbelievable shape for most of the summer. I've never seen a bentgrass course in the Midwest play as bouncy as it did on my visits in July and August.
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MCirba

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #16 on: December 11, 2015, 09:38:03 AM »
Another vote for Pocono Manor East, but in a tie with Miacomet on Nantucket Island.
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Carl Nichols

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #17 on: December 11, 2015, 12:11:26 PM »
Burning Tree Club -- I am usually fortunate enough to play once a year, it's always in great shape, and this year the fairways were especially tight and the greens were very firm. 
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BHoover

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #18 on: December 11, 2015, 12:12:44 PM »
The firmest course I played this year was probably Erin Hills.
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BCowan

Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #19 on: December 11, 2015, 12:16:30 PM »
The firmest course i played this year was Huron Meadows a metro park course in Brighton,MI. 
« Last Edit: December 11, 2015, 12:18:40 PM by Ben Cowan (Michigan) »
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David Wuthrich

Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #20 on: December 11, 2015, 04:50:46 PM »
Ballyneal
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Daryl David

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #21 on: December 11, 2015, 04:53:16 PM »
Gamble Sands
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RSantangelo

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #22 on: December 11, 2015, 06:52:49 PM »
Ballyneal and Oakmont the two most firm and fast...both kind of expected though...no big surpirse
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Jud_T

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #23 on: December 12, 2015, 01:17:25 PM »
Kingsley this fall was as F&F as I've seen it in years and probably the firmest course I've played since Old Mac in 2011.
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Eric Smith

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Re: 2015 Firmest courses played in US
« Reply #24 on: December 12, 2015, 02:44:36 PM »
Sorry - GCA fave
« Last Edit: December 12, 2015, 03:16:18 PM by Eric Smith »
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