[Thomas Dai]

So far this year I’ve played 11 different courses.
Some first time plays, some replays.
I’ve played a current rota course for The Open, a course that’s held the British Amateur and two courses that have held the English Amateur. I’ve played links, heathlands and parklands and a favourite around here that’s distinctly a one-off that plays over common ground and is eccentric to say the least.
Quite a few of these rounds have been in club open competitions so ‘playing from the tips’ or ‘tee it forward’ hasn’t been an option as in such tournaments all competitors must play from the same tee markers.

I’ve enjoyed playing all the courses and the weather and relative standard of my play has been pretty consistent so my overall assessment, as can occasionally happen to some, shouldn’t have been coloured by such aspects.


Whilst I’ve enjoyed the experience and challenge of playing the big names, the courses I’ve enjoyed the most have all been less than 6,000 yds with par ranging from 70-67. Hitting solid shots with a Driver and a fairway metal followed by the need to then hit a pitch or an iron to a par-4 is not enjoyable on a regular basis. Similarly having to regularly hit Drivers and fairway metals from the tee to reach par–3 greens in one shot is no fun either. I suspect I am not alone in my thoughts although I could be!


Where have you played this year so far and what types of courses did you enjoy the most?


Atb

[Matthew Petersen]

My golf game has utterly abandoned me in 2018 and so this year more than ever I find good company makes all the difference. It's much easier to laugh off double bogies with a good friends, or failing that easier to laugh off triples with good company you've been randomly paired with (the ballbusting gents I walked around Rustic with, for example), than some sullen cartballkers who wish you weren't there.

[Edward Glidewell]

My golf this year has been frustrating in that my ball striking is probably the best it's ever been, but my short game and putting have been atrocious. My last round was an 85 (which is a good score for me) but included multiple three putts and a couple of skulled/chunked chips.


I haven't played many especially good courses this year (partially because I live in Atlanta, and without private access there's not much quality here -- and maybe not much quality even with private access), but I did love my third ever round at Caledonia in Pawleys Island, which is a wonderful place. The Reserve Golf Club, also in Pawleys Island, is another fun, understated round -- those are probably the two best courses I've played thus far.

[Joe Hellrung]

I've been very lucky to play some fun golf with good friends and family this year.  My dad and I continue to play once every couple weeks at his course or mine (he is 70 and still walks the course).  I have also played my brother's course in New Jersey, the Ladies US Open venue, and attended the Masters again this year.  I'm scheduled to play a former US Open course later this summer, and have trips to West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Sandhills NC on the books for later this summer.  This has been welcome relief from some personal challenges, and makes me appreciate what the game has done for me even more. 

[Brad Tufts]

28 rounds so far, 15 new courses, highlighted by the new-look Meadowbook b/t Ann Arbor and Detroit...it's awesome!


New set of AP3s hasn't perked up yet...I've gone from a +0.9 to a 1.7 with a slew of 77s.   

[jeffwarne]

New set of AP3s hasn't perked up yet...I've gone from a +0.9 to a 1.7 with a slew of 77s.   

What's that done to your set configuration?
43 degree PW-yikes!

[John Kavanaugh]

My golf game has utterly abandoned me in 2018 and so this year more than ever I find good company makes all the difference. It's much easier to laugh off double bogies with a good friends, or failing that easier to laugh off triples with good company you've been randomly paired with (the ballbusting gents I walked around Rustic with, for example), than some sullen cartballkers who wish you weren't there.

Matthew,


Are you saying that when you are paired with cart ballers and choose to walk they wish you weren't there? What could they do to make you feel more welcome? Outside of walking that is...

[Tom_Doak]

I've only played about 15 rounds so far but they have included rounds in Australia, New Zealand, India, and Sri Lanka, in addition to the USA.  I'll add Ireland and France to the list this month.  And I also stopped through Japan and Vietnam, though I didn't have time to play any of the courses I visited there.


I've yet to play a round at the club I actually belong to.  Hopefully I will correct that this week.

[Brad Tufts]

New set of AP3s hasn't perked up yet...I've gone from a +0.9 to a 1.7 with a slew of 77s.   

What's that done to your set configuration?
43 degree PW-yikes!

Yeah, it mandates four wedges for sure (I always had three), so now with the 5-wood gone I have a gap between 20-deg hybrid (210 ground, 220 tee) and 3-wood (240).

[mike_malone]

My favorite new course I have played is Rolling Green.

[Charles Lund]

Torrey Pines North
Maderas Golf Club
Clearwater Bay Golf Club - Hong Kong
Discovery Bay Golf Club - Hong Kong
National Golf Club - Moonah
National Golf Club - Old
National Golf Club - Moonah
National Golf Club - Long Island
Royal Melbourne East
The Dunes Golf Links
Moonah Links - Legends
St. Andrews Beach
Cape Schanck Golf Club
Rosebud Golf and Country Club
Flinders Golf Club
Kasumigaseki East - Tokyo
Tokyo Golf Club
Port Ludlow Golf Resort
Murvagh Golf Club
Ballyliffin GC - Old Links
Northwest Golf Club


Next two weeks:
Rosapenna Sandy Hills
Rosapenna Old Tom Morris
Portsalon GC
Narin and Portnoo?
Enniscrone?
Carne GC


I've flown over 50,000 miles this year.  Spent time in Hong Kong on the way to and from Australia.  Got back to Seattle for about ten days and traveled to Seoul and on to Japan.  Was fortunate to have quality experiences with golf in Japan with a Japanese friend who arranged games.


Am at Ballyliffin for about ten days.  Mats on Glashedy in prep for Irish Open.  Had good photo walk with lots of pics.  Know course well, looking forward to coverage when home in July.  Met up with Aussie friend here.  Will play some lower tier links courses next two weeks.  Back again for two weeks in September.


Going to Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia from late October to Christmas.  Maybe I will get in a game in Japan.  Flying through Hong Kong on way to and from Australia.  Will head to Adelaide for a couple of rounds after Melbourne out on Mornington Peninsula.  Probably will play Royal Adelaide and Kooyonga.


I look forward to playing new courses, but mostly go to same destinations over and over.


Would like to get in plays on Vancouver Island at a couple of Macan courses and would like to get over to Gamble Sands.


Charles Lund







Sent from my Galaxy Tab® A

[Cal Seifert]

Havent played any top courses yet this year but have some planned during my trip to Hilton Head in late july (Already booked at Harbour Town, looking into Secession or Chechesee)  And northern Michigan (planning on driving down to play The Loop and maybe Kingsley or CD.

[Edward Glidewell]

Havent played any top courses yet this year but have some planned during my trip to Hilton Head in late july (Already booked at Harbour Town, looking into Secession or Chechesee)  And northern Michigan (planning on driving down to play The Loop and maybe Kingsley or CD.

If you can get on Old Tabby Links, I'd try to play there as well when you're in Hilton Head -- I doubt it's as good of a golf course as Chechessee (don't know about Secession) but I absolutely loved it. I thought the course itself was good, but the quiet/seclusion of the course and the whole island really adds a lot to the round. It's a beautiful, relaxing round of golf.

[Scott Warren]

It has been a good golfing year so far.


I’ve gotten out about 20 times, though only played 5-9 holes on about half of those occasions.


I’ve played a decent bit at both of my clubs, both in club competitions and just walking by myself in the late afternoon on an empty course, which is becoming a really favourite way to play golf.


I’ve had a steady stream of overseas visitors to NSWGC and loved showing one and all around. Particular highlights have been a long-overdue catch-up a week or so ago with Mike and Mary Policano and Marty Bonnar and his wife Nancy’s April visit.


An April trip down south chalked up the three new courses I’ve played so far this year and included being blown away more than I have been in years by a new course, National (Moonah); an idyllic dewsweeping round at Victoria GC with Mike Clayton, neither of us keeping score and just talking incessantly the whole way around; a lap around RM West in the golden hour with Matt Mollica; and finally a solo round late afternoon on an empty Kingston Heath, which is just about my version of a Catholic having the Sistine Chapel to themselves.


The older I get and the more busyness I get in my life, the more I am embracing golf not as a competitive outlet in which to challenge myself but as a form of (almost) meditation to slow my mind down and simplify, if only for an hour or so a lot of the time.


A month ago, I watched a mate get so stressed out and inside his own head about his swing and performance that on his first (and maybe only) ever round at Royal Melbourne West he was a basket case from the fourth hole and ultimately quit playing after 15 holes and just walked the last three with us. There we were - Mollica, me and my other sane friend - playing 16-18 on the West course in the last 40min of daylight on an idyllic autumn afternoon and the other bloke is just dragging his bag along looking devastated and confused and angry. That more than anything I have ever witnessed drove home to me what is really important about this game in my current stage of life (two kids aged four and one).

[Carl Rogers]

Am now recovering from the 2nd hip replacement (May 22).  Pain stopped play since last October.
Will probably wait until August before hitting the ball hard, but will see the Dr. tommorrow.

[Cal Seifert]

Am now recovering from the 2nd hip replacement (May 22).  Pain stopped play since last October.
Will probably wait until August before hitting the ball hard, but will see the Dr. tommorrow.

Hope you have a speedy recovery! Best of luck

[Sean_A]

I have had a roller coaster ride thus far...from awesome to surprising to ridiculous. 

First off...I played what I would call five top 50 GB&I....Elie, N Berwick, WHO, Princes & B&B.

Plus four others which help fill out the bottom 50....Crail, Little Aston, Liphook & Knole Park.

All good so far, but then a few stinkers....Meyrick Park and more especially Princes Himalayas.

A course I would play again, but not really recommend....Anstruther.

Two very surprising courses which I would recommend and definitely replay...Appleby & Alnmouth Village.

A few old stand-bys which usually serve their purpose....Oxford & Worcestershire.

And finally, a course which mildly impressed architecturally, but did more so with the WILL DO ATTITUDE of the members...Warkworth.

I don't have a great deal planned for the remainder of the year, but I will be playing some serious gems.

Ciao

[James Brown]

Just passed 30 rounds for the year.  And made a resolution to play more new courses this year.  Game is on the right track this season too, already down from 2.2 to 1.5 and putting better than ever at 43! 



New ones so far this year:


Piping Rock - great track, feels like a heathland course outside London
Maidstone- 100% pure gold
The Ledges (in Huntsville, AL) - 100% pure eye candy
Club at Viniterra - hated it, what an out of proportion golf course
Golden Horseshoe (post renovation, but not technically new) - great pleasant test


And playing Interlachen for the first time this afternoon if my plane leaves on time. 


Other new courses on the slate this year:

Cabot Links and Cliffs
Dunbar
Crail
Congressional
Full Cry

[Ed Brzezowski]

My favorite new course I have played is Rolling Green.

I thought you were in Scotland?

[Ed Brzezowski]

Am now recovering from the 2nd hip replacement (May 22).  Pain stopped play since last October.
Will probably wait until August before hitting the ball hard, but will see the Dr. tommorrow.

Had a new one installed in March, took the first serious hard swing Sunday and nothing fell out. Good luck.

ed

[Matthew Petersen]

My golf game has utterly abandoned me in 2018 and so this year more than ever I find good company makes all the difference. It's much easier to laugh off double bogies with a good friends, or failing that easier to laugh off triples with good company you've been randomly paired with (the ballbusting gents I walked around Rustic with, for example), than some sullen cartballkers who wish you weren't there.

Matthew,


Are you saying that when you are paired with cart ballers and choose to walk they wish you weren't there? What could they do to make you feel more welcome? Outside of walking that is...

My experience, even just in 2018 has ruin the gamut, John. At Rancho Park I was in the first group off, walking as a single and got paired with a couple guys in a cart. They couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming.


On the same trip I played Olivas again early in the morning as a walking single and there was a foursome and a group of two out before me (all in carts). On the 4th tee, the group of two asked if I wanted to join them, which I did, but then proceeded to barely talk at all. It was pretty strange. I would have been just a content to play through them if they didn't want me with them. Oh well.


I've also had weird experience getting paired with people even when I'm riding. Sometimes that just happens because people are hoping not get paid up, which I get. Also I'm a pretty good player and though I'm patient with those who aren't I remember how intimidating it can feel to play with someone who's much better than you.


Ultimately, the best rounds have been those with friends. I like to play when I travel but that does, typically, mean playing either alone or with strangers, and I do feel like the social aspect of the game means more to me now than it once did.

[Mike Hendren]

I played golf with Joe Hancock.  Winner, winner chicken dinner.

Bogey

[Pete_Pittock]

2018 started out well with a 8 round, 20 day trip to New Zealand. Played a round at Mackenzie's Titirangi with Ash Towe and

met Doug White at lunch. Later in the trip had a nice chat with Leo Barber before playing Paraparaumu Beach the day after a typhoon blew through. Was able to have a look at Tara Iti. Some say it is the 6th best non-US course in the world. I feel its closer to 3rd, no worse than 4th. The fact that I was -2 playing 2 thru 6 from the forward tees doesn't change my opinion. At Wairikei International as I stood on the tee I marveled at its design of the short par 4. Two perfect shots, eagle.
Courses: Tara Iti, Kauri Cliffs, Titirangi, Rotorua, Wairikei, Cape Kidnappers, Paraparaumu Beach



Early spring meant Pensacola and a goodbye to Bill and a hello to Ward, Lou and others. Perfect day at Pensacola CC, except for my golf. Missed the celebration of life as, while I was tending to the aftermath of someone backing across three lanes into my rental car.
Courses; Pensacola, Mossy Oak, Old Waverly

After 20 years of playing golf at The Reserve Vineyards it is time for a change. Turning in an application to join Astoria G&CC.
Fun golf, a better clime, dryer course conditions, even in winter. Will still live in Portland. Despite it being two hours away I will still be happier.

[Ruediger Meyer]

I've had two tremendous week on the british isles where I played almost all my rounds so far


In Ireland:
Lahinch
Tralee
Doonbeg
Waterville
Hogs Head
Dooks


In Scotland:
Nairn
Royal Dornoch
Castle Stuart
Brora
Wick
Durness
Gairloch
Dundonald


The courses were almost universally great and fun and almost all rounds were played in perfect weather conditions. I doubt the rest of the year will live up to my month of May.

[David Davis]

So far quite interesting:


Promoted peace in the Middle East with Schulzie and Clasby in January.
Froze my butt off in NL during Feb-Mar
Quick visit to Japan and Korea in April to visit some friends, see Yokohama renovation and revisit a couple classics.
Last week made my maiden voyage to South West England and was absolutely thrilled about the courses there way over exceeding my expectations.


This was lead by St. Enodoc which I absolutely loved. Englands oldest course in Westward Ho. West Cornwall, Perranporth and Bude & North Cornwall were a triumphate of old school quirk the last winning the award for the course I've seen with the most blind tee shots followed by the most blind approaches. A must see for anyone that loves to use the force to guide you through your round.


Lovely visits to Trevose that Ebert & Makenzie have been working on and Saunton East & West as well.


Finally a rare get-together with Mr. Arble where he shared his love for the excellent Burnham & Berrow. He pulled out all the straws with benign conditions and shorts weather.

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