New courses for me in 2022 were awesome. How about you?

[JHoulihan]

New courses - listed in order played.

StoneRidge - MN
Minneapolis - MN
Chaska Town Course - MN
Marquette/Greywalls - MI
Marquette/Heritage - MI
Belvedere - MI
Forest Dunes/Loop Black - MI
Forest Dunes/Loop Red - MI
Champion Hill - MI
Arcadia Bluffs/South - MI


Greywalls was the most exciting.


Belvedere the the best overall experience.


Champion Hill was the hidden gem most likely to be driven by but with many great holes and views especially with fall colors.


Justin

[Brian Ross]

New Courses in 2022

Oak Hills Country Club -- San Antonio, TX -- Play (Ride) -- 6
Sand Hills Golf Club -- Mullen, NE -- Play (Walk) -- 10
Ballyneal Golf & Hunt Club -- Holyoke, CO -- Play (Walk) -- 10
Bellefonte Country Club -- Ashland, KY -- Walk -- 5
Kenny Perry's Country Creek Golf Course -- Franklin, KY -- Play (Ride) -- 3
Fox Hollow Golf Club -- Glasgow, KY -- Play (Ride) -- 2
Ruth Park Golf Course -- University City, MO -- Play (Walk) -- 3
Culver Academies Golf Course -- Culver, IN -- Walk -- 8
Wannamoisett Country Club -- Rumford, RI -- Play (Walk) -- 8
Newport Country Club -- Newport, RI -- Play (Walk) -- 8
Essex County Club -- Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA - Walk -- 9
Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower) -- Springfield, NJ -- Ride -- 7
Baltusrol Golf Club (Upper) -- Springfield, NJ -- Ride -- 7
Brookside Country Club -- Macungie, PA -- Play -- 4
Somerset Hills Country Club -- Bernardsville, NJ -- Walk -- 8
The Seawane Club -- Hewlett, NY -- Walk -- 6
Rockville Links Club -- Rockville Centre, NY -- Walk -- 7
Garden City Golf Club -- Garden City, NY -- Walk -- 8
National Golf Links of America -- Southampton, NY -- Walk -- 10

[Thomas Dai]

Not many first plays for me this past 12 months.
In addition to somewhere very special on the shore of Sheephaben Bay in Donegal two notables worthy of mention were Notts/Hollinwell, thank you James, and Cardigan on the West Wales coast.
Roll on 2023.
Atb

[Daryl David]

Not much for me either. Maybe more in 2023.



Flinders Golf Club
The National Gunnamatta
Barwon Heads Golf Club
13th Beach (Beach course)
Lonsdale Golf Links

Gamble Sands Quick Sands

Poverty Bay NZ
Wanganui NZ

[Brian Brown]

I was lucky to play three new courses this year:
Quogue Field Club (9 holer on Eastern Long Island)
Garden City Golf Club
Pine Valley Golf Club

[Jim Jackson]

Getting in a bit late on this one but, man, 2022 was a great year for stretching these post-COVID legs to arrange some strange.




Royal Adelaide
Kingston Heath
Cape Wickham
Ocean Dunes
Barnbougle Dunes
Lost Farm
Bougle Run
RM West
RM East
Victoria
Metropolitan
The Dunes
St. Andrews Beach
Royal Sydney
New South Wales


Royal Hague
Utrecht de Pan


Old Town
Yale
Eastward Ho!
Myopia
Essex County
Grove 23


And some reprises of note:
Seminole
Crooked Stick
Ballyneal
Fishers Island

[John Kavanaugh]

Jim,


Does Crooked Stick hold up against those beautes?

[Jim Jackson]

I love everything about Crooked Stick but I agree with those who have seen it for decades that Mr. Dye's original work may have been more compelling.  But, for me, its small, proud membership, incredible conditioning, absence of tee times, and one of the best professionals in the biz, makes it the kind of place I'd be proud to play every day.  For a decent player, it's a true test, which I love.  And for pure shot values, it's among my favorites in the US.


To answer your question, I'd put it in the same quartile as Metro, Vic, St. Andrews Beach on the list of the courses I played in 2022, and I prefer it to Royal Sydney, Ocean Dunes, and The Dunes on the Mournington.  But man, all of that is heady company.

[John Kavanaugh]

Quality response. Thanks!!!

[Anthony Gholz]

Awesome is a strong word. 


Only a few new courses this year, but Olympia Fields South was my favorite and it is awesome.  The South is the "second" course today, but was the first (of 4) in the beginning.  Routing by Tom Bendelow and just renovated by Andy Staples.  The routing makes me increase my regard for TB and Andy's work added to it and made it fun to play.  Much more interesting than the US Open/Seniors/PGA Tour North.  For this 12 handicapper the North, even at 6400 yards, was just hard and less interesting property than the South. 


Kudos to Bendelow and Staples.
Anthony

[Jeff Shelman]

Not a ton for me as I’m still not traveling all that much for work, but still some good ones.


Desert Mountain Cochise - maybe my second-favorite there
Lake Nona
Charleston Muni
Yeamans Hall
CC of Charleston
Inglewood
Tacoma Country and Golf Club - sneaky good
Salish Cliffs - awful casino course
Dismal Doak

[mike_malone]

Awesome is a strong word. 


Only a few new courses this year, but Olympia Fields South was my favorite and it is awesome.  The South is the "second" course today, but was the first (of 4) in the beginning.  Routing by Tom Bendelow and just renovated by Andy Staples.  The routing makes me increase my regard for TB and Andy's work added to it and made it fun to play.  Much more interesting than the US Open/Seniors/PGA Tour North.  For this 12 handicapper the North, even at 6400 yards, was just hard and less interesting property than the South. 


Kudos to Bendelow and Staples.
Anthony

“Awesome “ refers to the variety and quality of the whole group of courses that I played.

[SL_Solow]

Anthony, Andy's work on OFCC South is far from complete.  Let me know next time you are in town.

[Jon Heise]

This was a pretty loaded year for me too.  Not sure what I need to target in '23, because I hit up so many good ones I've been excited about.  A whole lotta fun, that's for sure.


Highlights:


Pasa
Harbor Town
Milwaukee CC
Barton Hills
CC Detroit
Meadowbrook
Inverness
Cedar Rapids
Davenport

[John McCarthy]

I only played 4 different courses this year.  However 2 were new, Old Dance and Landmand.

[Brad Tufts]

Back in the saddle for new courses in 2022... here goes:


Stanwich first play since tree removal, single previous play was in 2000
Mingo Springs in Maine...Moore/Sweeney-approved, not on the way to anywhere, really enjoyed it, fun history
Moundbuilders in OH...get it while it lasts!
Oak Park CC in Chicago
Ardglass...tough weather day but some unreal holes mixed with mundane
Portstewart...all world front nine, underrated back nine
St. Patrick's...really, really great, need to return ASAP after only one round
Doonbeg...scenic but eh
Ballybunion Cashen, liked it better than I was prepared for
Old Head, ditto with Cashen, all-world vibes if a few blah holes
Willowbend in MA, I think I missed the best nine
Pt. Judith in RI, one of RI's deep Ross bench
Briarwood in OH, a throwaway but not offensive
Shaker Heights, wow
Columbus CC, also wow
Moraine, WOW
TCC Open routing, thanks PR!!  Had played the members 18, and the pre-2013 composite twice before, but not this version.
GC of Tennessee
Sewanee
Black Creek
CT National
Furnace Brook...quirky public nine right near my office, totally fun if you like that sorta thing
Kukiolono Park in Kauai...a great locals 9 playing almost linksy
Hokuala Ocean...played before in a previous incarnation but it's been renovated
Princeville Makai...might be better than the Prince (back as a private course in 2024?!?!) ever was


Repeats:  Tedesco (home course), Va-Jo-Wa in Maine, Charles River, Essex, Pine Brook, Salem, Portrush, RCD, Lahinch, Ballybunion Old, Portmarnock, Concord CC (MA), Wannamoisett, Brickyard Crossing, Brae Burn, Worcester CC, Wachusett, South Shore, George Wright, Cape Cod CC.


25 new of 45 unique courses, 116 rounds.  Not bad for only about 250 playable days in the Northeast!

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I won't bore anyone with the minutae but 2022 was another banner year for new courses.  I played 124 courses that I had never played before (2284 now lifetime).   In addition I started keeping track of another statistic that heretofore I had never done.  I believe I met and played with 107 new people I had never met before in 2022.   Given the architectural pedigree of many of the 124 the people might have been the highlight.


Two of the courses I was really looking forward to in 2022 I had to cancel when a mid summer catastrophe (breaking two fingers and a bone in my hand) derailed a couple trips I had on the books.


Whats in store for 2023, a trip to Hawaii for a friends wedding should yield some good ones, and maybe a trip to New Zealand in the fall (fingers crossed, I've never been)


A few highlights from 2022:
Diamante (Dunes)
Quivira GC
Quixote Club
Allegheny CC (blown away considering I did not know anything about it a year ago)
Butler CC
Omni Bedford Resort GC
Columbus CC
Kenwood CC
Elyria CC
Youngstown CC


& Mystic Rock @ Nemacolin (which didn't count as a new course for me, but was dramatically different than when I played it in 2002)


Oops almost forgot, not a new course for me, but I was fortunate enough to get a return visit to that "Onion" course in S. GA late this year!  What a special place that is...


I saw a lot of  "Ma & Pa" places along the backroads of American golf including one in KY that has the audacity to just be called "The Golf Course"  You gotta love it!!


I hope everyone in this esteemed group has nothing but fairways and greens in 2023 and I hope I get to meet and tee it up with many more of you in the years to come.

[Tim Martin]

I won't bore anyone with the minutae but 2022 was another banner year for new courses.  I played 124 courses that I had never played before (2284 now lifetime).   In addition I started keeping track of another statistic that heretofore I had never done.  I believe I met and played with 87 new people I had never met before in 2022.   Given the architectural pedigree of many of the 124 the people might have been the highlight.


Two of the courses I was really looking forward to in 2022 I had to cancel when a mid summer catastrophe (breaking two fingers and a bone in my hand) derailed a couple trips I had on the books.


Whats in store for 2023, a trip to Hawaii for a friends wedding should yield some good ones, and maybe a trip to New Zealand in the fall (fingers crossed, I've never been)


A few highlights from 2022:
Diamante (Dunes)
Quivira GC
Quixote Club
Allegheny CC (blown away considering I did not know anything about it a year ago)
Butler CC
Omni Bedford Resort GC
Columbus CC
Kenwood CC
Elyria CC
Youngstown CC


& Mystic Rock @ Nemacolin (which didn't count as a new course for me, but was dramatically different than when I played it in 2002)


Oops almost forgot, not a new course for me, but I was fortunate enough to get a return visit to that "Onion" course in S. GA late this year!  What a special place that is...


I saw a lot of  "Ma & Pa" places along the backroads of American golf including one in KY that has the audacity to just be called "The Golf Course"  You gotta love it!!


I hope everyone in this esteemed group has nothing but fairways and greens in 2023 and I hope I get to meet and tee it up with many more of you in the years to come.

#HERO

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Back in the saddle for new courses in 2022... here goes:


Moundbuilders in OH...get it while it lasts!

Anyone know realistically how soon this will be going away?  I played it last fall and glad I did before it goes away, I just may want to get back up there again if I can since it is such a unique place.   Sad to see it go.

[Mike Hendren]

Zero new courses this year but I logged the most rounds in 45 years.  Sweet.

[Brent Carlson]

New courses 2022 in order:


- Rancho Park - would have loved to see it as originally designed
- Sepulveda Encino
- Riviera - far exceeded expectations with still more potential
- Streamsong Black - very unique and enjoyable
- Streamsong Blue - typical Doak quality
- Valley Club of Montecito - golf doesn't get more enjoyable that there
- Goose Creek - good SoCal public option.  Makes me want to see more Schmidt-Curley designs
- Moraine - what a gem
- Oakland Hills (South) - first time since restoration.  Hanse Golf Design really outdid themselves.  Stunning
- Inverness - fun and also a stern test.  Friendly membership
- Cal Club - wow!  Fescue unique in CA
- Green Hills - felt a bit like a mountain goat
- Meadow - the NorCal version of Valley.  Serene and so good
- Lake Merced - the NW corner of the property is special
- Stanford - the team's practice facility as designed by Blasi is so cool
- Mystic Dunes - first Koch design.  Felt like the routing had been altered


A good year indeed.  Looking forward to 2023.

[Tyler Kearns]

Played 12 new courses this year;

Carberry Sandhills G & CC - MB (9 holes, incredibly rolling sandy terrain)
Forest Creek GC North - NC
Glen Lea GC - MB
Glenboro G & CC - MB (9 holes, more wonderfully rumbled sandy terrain)
Landmand - NE (scale!!, wild greens)
Old Dane - NE
Omaha CC - NE (wonderful greens, hilly property, beautiful bunkering)
Pine Needles GC - NC
Pine Needles Short Course - NC
Pinehurst No. 3 - NC (hardest sub 6,000 yard golf course?)
Southern  Pines GC - NC (extremely fun, wild but manageable greens)
The Cradle - NC (more clubs should have something similar)

It was nice to get out and travel to see some new courses, despite a very busy work schedule.


Tyler

[John Kavanaugh]

New courses 2022 in order:


- Rancho Park - would have loved to see it as originally designed
- Sepulveda Encino
- Riviera - far exceeded expectations with still more potential
- Streamsong Black - very unique and enjoyable
- Streamsong Blue - typical Doak quality
- Valley Club of Montecito - golf doesn't get more enjoyable that there
- Goose Creek - good SoCal public option.  Makes me want to see more Schmidt-Curley designs
- Moraine - what a gem
- Oakland Hills (South) - first time since restoration.  Hanse Golf Design really outdid themselves.  Stunning
- Inverness - fun and also a stern test.  Friendly membership
- Cal Club - wow!  Fescue unique in CA
- Green Hills - felt a bit like a mountain goat
- Meadow - the NorCal version of Valley.  Serene and so good
- Lake Merced - the NW corner of the property is special
- Stanford - the team's practice facility as designed by Blasi is so cool
- Mystic Dunes - first Koch design.  Felt like the routing had been altered


A good year indeed.  Looking forward to 2023.

So happy to see Mystic Dunes on your list. Can you name it’s equal anywhere in the world?

[Brent Carlson]

New courses 2022 in order:


- Rancho Park - would have loved to see it as originally designed
- Sepulveda Encino
- Riviera - far exceeded expectations with still more potential
- Streamsong Black - very unique and enjoyable
- Streamsong Blue - typical Doak quality
- Valley Club of Montecito - golf doesn't get more enjoyable that there
- Goose Creek - good SoCal public option.  Makes me want to see more Schmidt-Curley designs
- Moraine - what a gem
- Oakland Hills (South) - first time since restoration.  Hanse Golf Design really outdid themselves.  Stunning
- Inverness - fun and also a stern test.  Friendly membership
- Cal Club - wow!  Fescue unique in CA
- Green Hills - felt a bit like a mountain goat
- Meadow - the NorCal version of Valley.  Serene and so good
- Lake Merced - the NW corner of the property is special
- Stanford - the team's practice facility as designed by Blasi is so cool
- Mystic Dunes - first Koch design.  Felt like the routing had been altered


A good year indeed.  Looking forward to 2023.

So happy to see Mystic Dunes on your list. Can you name it’s equal anywhere in the world?

John,


With a front 9 resembling the British Isles and a back 9 like the Carolina Lowcountry (albeit with housing lining some fairways) I can't say I've played its equal.

[John Kavanaugh]

I owned a home behind the 8th tee at Mystic so I have a soft spot for the course. With that said I think it compares with Ojai Valley Inn.