[RJ_Daley]

Happy New Year to all my GCA.com friends and contributors.  Obvious quick answers to highlights of 2015 for me were another 5th Major enjoyed with new friends and some old ones.   My trip to Ireland and Scotland and great thanks to hosts, GC archie- Ally MacIntosh, our playing companion Jack Marr at Portmarnoch, Padraig Dooley at Cork CC, with companions La Nancy and Martin Bonnar, who turned right around and hosted me at his home course of Leven Links.  Also, a nice meet-up with Minnesota GCAers, Brian Hoover, Jason Topp at Lawsonia.  And, thankful for my local constant golf buddies who aren't GCAers, but so special to me, including retired Marine Corp Major, Steve Kaster, with whom I helped celebrate his 84th birthday two evenings ago, and who fully expects to be in our twice weekly foursome next year, always walking and carrying his Marine Corps logo bag!     

2016, I fully expect to attend 5th Major again to partner with Wild Bill McBride, and stay for a few more days to reconnect with good ol' Tom Huckaby, now member at SHGC.  And, my tentative plan to attend the Buda to celebrate Ally's work at Carne in Ireland, and hoping to also slide over to Scotland for more exploration of GCA there.  I certainly hope there are more opportunities along the way in 2016 for impromptu meet-ups near my location to explore interesting GCA Wisconsin has to offer.  Perhaps another latter stage of grow-in progress walk about to see the progress of Sand Valley with project VP manager Craig Haltom, would be a nice field trip for any GCA contributors with a side trip to golf at one of the nearby interesting courses.

Happy GCA discoveries to all in 2016. 

[Charlie_Bell]

Cabot Cliffs.  I played Cabot Links in 2012 and 2013, but I didn't make it to Nova Scotia during the past two summers.  My wife and one of our daughters accompanied me in 2013 -- from the far side of NS, which we visit almost every year -- and loved the air, the food and the beach.  With luck we'll return for an overnight, and I'll be able to play both courses.  If the Cliffs is as good as the Links, it will be a spectacular couple of rounds.  The Links is a fun and beautiful course, in one of the most dazzling settings anywhere.

[John Kavanaugh]

2016, I fully expect to attend 5th Major again to partner with Wild Bill McBride, and stay for a few more days to reconnect with good ol' Tom Huckaby, now member at SHGC.

Now that is some Happy New Year News!!! A most sincere congrats to Huckaby!!!

[James Brown]

Going to Bandon for the first time next July.


Also going to Royal St. George's for 72 holes as well. 


Wonder which I will like better??

[Bill_McBride]

Going to Bandon for the first time next July.


Also going to Royal St. George's for 72 holes as well. 


Wonder which I will like better??

I've played them all and it's real close. 

[Pete_Pittock]

2015    Wine Valley with Kirk, McBride and the judge. It was hot. It was HOT.    The Tennessee Dixie Cup.

This year will be a partial Kings Putter, golf in Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson in mid February. 

[Chris Mavros]

I'm looking forward to attending my first 5th Major and an LA trip is also set.  I may also try to get to Cabot. 

[Scott Little]

I have just moved from Southern California to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin and am suffering golf withdrawal.  However, I look forward to living in a new part of the country and being able to experience what Minnesota and Wisconsin have to offer.

[Ian Andrew]

Golf around Boston and New Jersey
I think I've decided to see more closer to home for a while
And extend trips after work days.

[Jason Way]

2015 will be tough to top.  Favorite new courses of the year were Essex County, Lawsonia Links, Boston GC, and Chicago GC.  Favorite replay was Shoreacres as it was my first time out since the restovation.  Favorite GCA experiences were visits to The Loop and Sand Valley for tours and dirt golf.  Favorite thing about golf in 2015 - the people with whom I played, including GCAers.  For me, making golf friends is the best kind of belt notching.


In 2016, trips back to Boston (incl. Fishers Island) and CO/NE are planned.  Also hoping to get to Prairie Dunes.  I'm excited about return visits to Sand Valley (to see if it is as good as I think it will be), and The Loop (to see if it is as mind-blowingly cool as I think it will be). 


And of course, I am most excited about getting the first shovel in the ground for the transformation of Canal Shores.  If all goes according to plan, I will get to watch Dave Zinkand build a 25,000 putting course less than a mile from my house.  Fingers crossed...

[Phil McDade]

I have just moved from Southern California to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin and am suffering golf withdrawal.  However, I look forward to living in a new part of the country and being able to experience what Minnesota and Wisconsin have to offer.

Scott: The muni course just down the road in Sparta is not a bad little course -- and probably less expensive than what you were used to in Southern California. LaCrosse, Winona, and Eau Claire offer some hidden gems a short drive away, and (soon) Sand Valley will be open just south of Wisc. Rapids.


On another sporting tack, you've just moved to some of the best rails-to-trails converted bike trails in the country, and Sparta is kind of a headquarters for biking enthusiasts. A lot of terrific biking in that area on very well-maintained trails.

[Terry Lavin]

This winter, I'm playing Seminole, Calusa, Old Collier and the Hideout. Locally, when El Niņo is done, I'm fired up to play the Urbina refreshed Bob O'Link. Nationally, I'm going to Long Island for a week and Philly for a weekend. 

[Jim Tang]

Two highlights for 2015:  Playing a round at Black Sheep with my brother and Jim Colton, where I used to work as a caddie.   Playing a round at Blue Mound with Matt Sander.

In 2016....

Late March - Spyglass Hill
Early June - Pinehurst No. 2, Dormie Club and Tobacco Road
Mid July - Cabot

All courses will be first time visits.

[Jason Way]

Nationally, I'm going to Long Island for a week and Philly for a weekend.

Attaboy Judge.  Looking forward to your report back from that hallowed ground.

[Stewart Abramson]

I've been planning a June 2016 trip to Ireland for months and  have all my tee times and accommodations set. The planning and anticipation is part of the fun for me.  I cannot wait.


Portmarnock
Portmarnock Hotel Links
The Island
County Louth
Ballyliffin -  Old and Glashedy
Portsalon
Rosapenna -  OTM and Sandy Hills
Cruit Island
Narin & Portnoo
Enniscrone
Carne
Rosses Point
Royal Portrush -  Valley and Dunlce
Royal County Down


We will be a 3 ball except at Baltray where I will be a single. If anyone would like to join us for a round on the course or at a 19th hole, we'd welcome meeting locals.

[Jim Tang]

Incredible trip, Stewart!  Ireland is so special.

[Eric Hammerbacher]

I saw a lot of great courses in 2015, but my highlight was playing with Jim Franklin at Baltimore Country Club Five Farms.  Jim is a great guy and a wonderful, knowledgeable host...and the course was amazing.  I'd always heard the East course was good, but it really exceeded my expectations.   I also was able to play the Elkridge Club, which was a blast, so I saw some cool courses very close to home.

In 2016 I'm planning on heading down south for a Pinehurst #2, Mid-Pines, Dormie weekend, a Hilton Head trip to see Harbour Town,  and hopefully up to check out Philly Cricket Club. 

I'm also going to try to attend some tournaments just to watch some great golf at some of the classic courses... USGA Four-Ball at Winged Foot,  Philly Am at Merion, and Crump Cup with Dad in September.

I agree with Stewart that planning is the fun part!

[Scott Little]

I have just moved from Southern California to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin and am suffering golf withdrawal.  However, I look forward to living in a new part of the country and being able to experience what Minnesota and Wisconsin have to offer.

Scott: The muni course just down the road in Sparta is not a bad little course -- and probably less expensive than what you were used to in Southern California. LaCrosse, Winona, and Eau Claire offer some hidden gems a short drive away, and (soon) Sand Valley will be open just south of Wisc. Rapids.


On another sporting tack, you've just moved to some of the best rails-to-trails converted bike trails in the country, and Sparta is kind of a headquarters for biking enthusiasts. A lot of terrific biking in that area on very well-maintained trails.

Sir,


     Thank you for the information.  I will be renting a home right next to the course in Sparta and I am a mountain biker as well.  I lived in Moorpark, minutes from Rustic Canyon, and could not hope to ever top that for excellence(and affordability) in local golf.  2016 will be the year of the golfing road trip.  Can't wait to get up to Giants Ridge when the fall colors come out.

[JJShanley]

I look forward to the three courses at Forest Dunes with JJS sr. in September, and the possibility of playing Silloth-on-Solway with him if I make it back to the U.K. in May.

[Michael Goldstein]

I'm looking forward to playing with Darius at Cape Wickham - 5 years after I was sent photographs of the site.

[Criss Titschinger]

My overall experience at this year's Midwest Mashie in the Twin Cities will be hard to top. The icing on the cake was a side round at White Bear Yacht Club. I haven't had the opportunity to play many of the great courses in the States or elsewhere. After playing WBYC, I have to say if there are that many courses "better" than WBYC, then we're pretty fortunate as golfers.

For 2016, I suppose the biggest thing for me is this past December, I got called off the waiting list to the club I decided to join. It's not going to win any top accolades, but it has everything I need in a club at a relatively modest price.

To finish my quest of playing all the Ross courses in SW Ohio/Indiana/Kentucky, I need to play 6 more courses. 4 private; 2 public. I don't know if I'll have time to knock these all out this year, but I hope to get in at least 2-3.

Outside of local rounds, I hope to notch a couple more courses in NE Ohio while visiting the in-laws. I think the family trip will have us in Wrightsville Beach, NC, where I hope to play Wilmington Muni. Finally, I'm hoping I can get the 2016 Midwest Mashie in my schedule, wherever it may be played.

[Jud_T]

Reconnecting with the Kingsley GCA crew.  Hoping to see some or all of Greywalls, the Loop, Battle Creek, West Bend, Blythfield, French Lick Ross, Warren, Black Forest, Culver, Ozaukee, Medinah #1, new and improved Shoreacres, Old Elm, Bob'o'link and Canal Shores...

[Rick Emerson]

Highlights of 2015 were getting to play some of the best courses in China including dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula with my Dad on his first trip to China, Stone Forest and Spring City with a new lifelong friend Jason Knutson, and all 10 courses at Mission Hills in Haikou in 4 days on a solo golf marathon.
2016 will bring a week in Melbourne in February with rounds at Royal Melbourne East and West, Kingston Heath, Victoria, and Metro. Then two days with at least 36 a day on each course at Barnbougle.
Then summertime will bring two months in the states with a Couple days in the NC sandbelt, Wilmington municipal, a nostalgia tour to courses in the DC Area and hopefully a couple bucket list courses in NY and Michigan when I go visit family and friends. Also, at some point I hope to finally get on Shanquin so I can legitimately say I've seen all the best in China.
My year is going to be pretty amazing and some of y'all's look just as good or even better. I'm looking forward to living vicariously through you guys and learning from you. We are a blessed bunch of golf junkies!

[Michael Graham]

I'm looking forward to going back to see Machrihanish Dunes in April for the first time since 2009. It will be interesting to see how the course has matured in the ensuing years. Most of all though I'm looking forward to my second Buda at Carne and Enniscrone in September. Combine two fantastic courses with great company and I'm sure it will be a great few days. At this time of year I'm also just looking forward to long summer evenings, being able to go out for a few holes after work.

[Ronald Montesano]

The planning and anticipation is part of the fun for me.

It is for me as well. When all the dots and crosses are written and the trip is certified, the breathe-out moment is worth its weight in golf gold.

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