Golfadelphia

“I try.”

– Cliff Booth

and the greens just aren’t as good when they have them so fast explaining to my son as the ball drops and hugs all around. A secret prayer for my New Year’s resolutions just before I go to sleep, earlier and earlier as these new years tick by. Now going to the gym on reg getting ready for Scotland, there’s finally snow but weather is too shitty to ski. Eagles in playoffs, then Super Bowl with snow and ice that just won’t fucking melt. Super Bowl parade hell yeah. More working out, watching YouTube videos of Scotland and finally broke down and did the sim thing just to get some swings in. The LA fires affecting me deeply, wondering what is still there and what isn’t, who is still there and who. . . isn’t. Another year old and then in LA, golf, friends, family, way too much rain. Back for a few weeks and finally warm enough to get out, I’m worried I’m not in walking shape so end up walking too many rounds in a row now my knee is killing me. Good job Ace. This is the year I get into college basketball (nope). Swing is in good shape, I check in for Scotland flight and there’s a lot of panic stress whether I’m actually able to check my clubs or not. Screw it I’m driving to the airport just in case I can’t. I do yoga in the morning I’m just so healthy nowadays, say good bye to the kids as they walk in from school and I’m off. Get To Heathrow and it’s a shit show as always, can’t figure out how to get to my connection and before I know it, I’m outside the airport. I want to yell, curse and scream but am too tired so I get in line for security and suppress any feelings, comforting myself I’ll take train or next flight if I don’t make it. I make it, some how, we get there but my clubs don’t. Whatever, am at Kingsbarns with rental clubs and it’s all worth it even on 1.5 hours of sleep. Lovely start, then the airport to get the clubs, then St. Andrews. Where is everyone. Sleep, or not, sit on phone, wake up, coffee, golf, lunch, golf, dinner, sleep. We’re not screwing around but I find time to walk around and get a sense of the place. Tariffs apparently are going to kill the economy while we’re over there and God let me just get through this trip before that happens. I’m at a castle while my friends are hotly debating politics because of course I am. Order another drink. Am in line at the post office to get more pounds for caddies and a guy in front of me carrying a large box with a kilt on. The courses are hitting me profoundly but there’s so many and we keep going, I’ll digest all of this later. We finally hit a wall at Panmure as the sun beats down but my swing is there, I just don’t care one way or another. No where to stay, we find some where near North Berwick and drive. Am pretty sure my hotel room is haunted but whatever, maybe the ghosts can tell me something about the course way back when. I watch Three’s Company in Japanese and alternate that with the UK version of Big Brother where Mickey Rourke is apparently in trouble because of what he said to JoJo Siwa and I’m asleep before I know it, I think the ghosts fell asleep with those shows too. One last day, hit a booming tee shot on the First, then my body is done. I manage pars at the Redan both times and that strangely satisfies me. I beam a fucking car on the last tee shot because of course I did. My B&B that night looks like something from The Others but my friend has a flight to catch so I follow the old man to my room and wonder. Walk around Edinburgh, meet up with the guys we played with at the Old and am in the air before I know it. Have a day at home and then out to Sedona with the family, I’m one with the jet. Hiking and off roading top rate with the majestic rock formations towering in the distance at all times. Gorgeous scenery as well but my daughter has to go to the ER with food allergy issues and it’s dark and empty driving her at like 9:00 pm any scenery to speak of completely gone on the dark desert highway, she makes out ok Thank God, not as dramatic as it sounds. Come home and now time to work which is good because my swing is missing, just in time for Men’s league awesome. Are dogs supposed to bark this much. What is she even looking at? Now in the heartland Ohio with parklands Muirfield Village, great milkshakes but are they fucking kidding with the rough? Tough but still enjoy it even though score becomes irrelevant. More out there, I finally find something with my swing at Scioto, faster tempo and I am back! More work, more work. It took a while but finally got in to that club as an overseas member. I need to get there post haste but was just in the UK so will have to figure that out sooner rather than later. Swing is shining, all kinds of good stuff happening. Winged Foot East made an impression, Rockaway Hunt and Westhampton too. At Westhampton, I get paired with a guy who wants to play from the, “medals,” I have no idea what he means and neither does my caddie but it seems like it’s always 10 yards behind the back tees. Except on par 3’s because if one of us gets a hole in one, “we want to make sure it counts.” All these pro shops intoxicate and are the bane of my existence, I want everything and nothing. Get my wife out for a nine and dine. Swing is at an apex and am at Plainfield about to have a day but lighting siren goes off after we finish First hole. That’s some how death knell of swing, albeit a slow death. Summer is upstate NY, Long Island, Utah and Virginia, swing is dying on the vine, again slowly. I don’t usually take the window seat but I do out to SLC and the sun sets in beautiful splendor and stays in the sky forever since we’re heading out west. Just sitting there staring out at it while Pink Floyd with their melodies and outre lyrics, all in the best way possible. It soothes even though a tough close of the year is ahead. First full round with son at a course while on vacation, he seemed to like it a lot, promising. Wonderful now a few trials coming, things speeding up as kids start school no time to revive old swing. Ok swing is dead, time for new swing and all the up and downs with it. Massachusetts to see The International, I see Brad Klein who’s an idol but have no time to talk to him before I tee off. Because of course. Dad visits and we get a round in with my son but I am essentially caddying for both of them since they can never find their ball. Apologize to the guy paired with us but he’s ok with it and am just happy with get all of us out to golf together. Summer waning but I’m ok with cooler weather. Huge trial finally gone but now another one on deck and golf may be going away for a while, living in one of those condos on Delaware Ave, the one that looks like a cruise ship. Sneak some rounds in, it’s a different swing each round, again with some really good and bad. It hits me, now is the time to actually beat Ghosts and Goblins and Castlevania (tbd). Finally, a good haircut. Holy shit my back is killing me and I have a friend coming in from out of town with 72 holes in three days. I break down and buy a back brace, I am old. Don’t know how but am playing pretty good with it, then finally able to throw it to the side. Trial is in full gear and no golf at all now and then settles so thank heavens, I can keep that trip to Aiken. Augusta Country Club is blowing me away and just over those trees is Augusta National, closest I’ve ever been to it. The golf is hitting me differently each round but in a good way, finally settled on a golf swing but still getting used to it. Tree Farm shocked me, I was expecting to be underwhelmed and complete opposite. My fantasy football teams are decent and just when I was sure I was going to quit. I finish re-watching the Sopranos and have a renewed appreciation for it, superb acting from Gandolfini, Falco and Imperioli, wonderful writing. The ref at my daughter’s game is absolutely corrupt, he should be locked up. It’s going to be a long season with the Clips. Have been watching a lot of mountain climbing and surfing YouTube videos. Climbing Mt. Everest looks like a shit show. Surfing Mavericks seems like 15 miles of paddling out. God bless to those able to do either, but I find the videos fascinating. Hickory round then a couple publics. Driving my daughter every where. Back home and a new course here and there. 20th anniversary with my wife, God bless her. We go to one of the current “it” places and indeed well deserved. Thinking about it, we used to go to restaurants in the same way I now go to golf courses. Way too cold this early but am realizing not the end of the world to slow. it down. Like the last couple turns and dips of a roller coaster that are more obligatory than anything else, the season is coming to an end and even God rested on the Seventh day and I see the clubs taking a hiatus but can’t do it just yet. That new swing is starting to fit in well and need to figure out a new bag and where exactly is there to go next year. Then Rob calls and before I know it we have

——

Friends, I give you 2025.

The road. There is one way to learn and that is to do. See as much as you can, what works, what doesn’t and like we’ve been examining a lot of this year, go try and figure out what makes greatness great. Look at the green sites and how the fairways lead up to them. Stand on the tees and take in how the hole presents. Get a sense of the place. That’s why I’m out here. The logos and grills and chicken salad and ranking on this list or that is great and all but it’s all secondary. I play where I play, to learn. “I host a few guys a year and they are all trying to play the top 100 courses on one of the lists, so what list are you trying to complete? “I’m not trying to complete any list.” “How come?” “Because there are courses in whatever top 100 list I have no interest in playing and there are courses no where near the top 100 that I’m very interested in playing.” Learning means seeing, which means traveling. Hence, the road. Pros will tell you all about the road; it’s called The Tour for a reason. Course architects know the road well and will tell you the same. And it’s something they all have in common. Transient beings tasked with instilling a sense of place anchored to the natural surrounds by unlocking its very best self. It seems counterintuitive but such a talent becomes second nature the more and more they’re able to see. Pilots will tell you flying a plane is easy but what gets difficult is responding to the unusual in the quick, urgently demanding manner needed at the moment. The best way to get good at that is through experience, reacting to so many different situations that when something does come up, it becomes second nature how to handle it efficiently. The more you see, the more you’re able to figure out what’s good, what’s bad and what’s subjective about it. And what out there is an absolute plane crash of a design disaster.

And we was born to ride

Roll down the window, put down the top
Crank up the Beach Boys, baby
Don’t let the music stop
We’re gonna ride it till
We just can’t ride it no more

– Randy Newman, “I Love L.A.”

As a senior in high school, I knew everything. I was not shy about letting everyone know I already had it figured out. Father Cummings taught Religious Studies but the class was really where he tried his best to make us better people through philosophy, civics and common sense. He caught my attention one day when he commented reality is externally objective. This struck a chord because I found reality certainly had subjective components and you certainly had to account for creativity and inventiveness, both of which molds reality. We debated about it the whole year and it wasn’t until one of the last classes he told the story of his friend, who was an airplane pilot and told him of the tougher landings out there. One of these was into Aspen, which calls for a high altitude landing into a closely laid mountain ring. The pilot needs his readings and configuration of the plane to be just so if he is to succeed in landing the plane; there is little margin for error. Father Cummings equated this to life. The moral compass and the rest of it has to operate at relatively precise readings in order to navigate all that is out there waiting to pull you off course. That is the objectivity he spoke of. While I was more focused on existentialism and how our perception of reality is much more powerful than he was acknowledging, he was really telling us rationalism becomes a dangerous road very quickly. While perception and subjectivity were certainly alive and well, it was much more critical to understand the objective, unwavering external parameters one would do well staying within. Each student shook his hand that last day of class but I did not. I don’t know why, perhaps the realization I might just not know everything yet was settling in.

I always regret not shaking his hand.

Such as life, one thing that road makes you realize is course design has subjective and objective components. Objectively, there are parameters that must be adhered to for the most part and nowadays, most every course is within that zone. Drainage, turf health, all the logistics are among these objective, fairly uncompromising dial readings. There are others, such as balance and engagement, routing truths and yes, our good friend recovery character, that are still rigid to some degree. The subjectivity relates to what’s important to the golfer and what he sees in the course and feels is good course design. How do the visuals impact each individual golfer, how does the playing structure interplay with their particular skill set, what kind of mood are they in and how good are they at separating that from evaluating the design components. How’s the caddie and how well do they know the host. How much do they like the host. Can they separate out all of those group dynamics from the design. All of these things influence subjective perception. It is up to the golfer to decide which of the subjectivity is worth considering and which needs to be set aside when thinking about a particular course. Repeat play obviously helps sieve this out. Like anything else, the more one is subjected to all these varying factors, the more one is able to set aside the ones that have no real impact on design considerations. And one gets subjected to these more and more by pounding the fairways and putting tees into the ground. As the year we looked at greatness a little more closely comes to an end, one is able to feel greatness the more one sees. The road indeed.

Subjective components that have the potential to over influence are boldness and memorability. Design features one has not come across before or present visually striking are much more capable of making an impression on the golfer. This is one other aspect of getting out there and seeing a lot. Such boldness is seen more along the lines of what function it serves and how it actually fits into the structure of play. Sure it may look cool and there’s something to be said for that but how does such boldness play and does it evoke feelings out of the golfer such as intimidation and inspiration. Unfortunately, boldness often has the converse effect of leaving courses without it at a deficit. Courses such as Pinehurst 2, St. Andrews Old, Walton Heath Old and Hidden Creek come to mind as brilliant designs that are relatively subtle and consistent in presentation yet their structure of play is sophisticated and complex, requiring time and experience to learn all there is within its layers. To be sure, boldness done the right way can have just as much complexity but it’s easier for boldness to stand out without it, skewing as it might.

Views and setting are yet other subjective components that can over-influence. The adventure of the game is what it is in large part because of the wonderful places it takes us and that includes the incredible natural settings upon which the courses are placed. At the outset, views and setting are two completely different components. Views comprise anything beyond the structure of play and are visuals that help set various tones during the round. Settings can add to the view but should be incorporated into the structure of play as an extension of the land upon which the course is set. The setting can typically help determine recovery character and off fairway dynamics. That includes cohesion elements such as how the holes interact with one another. Are they isolated from one another with trees or in some other fashion or are they set in some wide open valley together. In other words, how are the holes configured within the setting and each other. While views can certainly enhance, they should never detract while setting is more substantive and has the capacity to enhance or detract. More often than not, however, views inevitably leave too much of an impression, which is why courses by the ocean typically punch above their weight. Settings tend to de-value the quality of design if there is nothing standing out about it. Carnoustie, Ladybank and Trinity Forest are examples of designs much much better than the settings in which they are set, requiring the golfer to look through to the actual structure of play.

If there is an engine to course design, this year has shown me more than most it is likely green sites. If a golf course has a set of interesting greens, it’s the best chance of setting up the rest of the course for greatness. The general direction the green moves and all of its potential pin positions starts preferable angled shots into it and extending beyond, what happens to the ball with missed shots from each general position before the green. The path from tee to green usually says a lot about the architect. Their sense of adventure and how they view the natural elements comes out the most here. Maybe the terrain is rather benign, so then their ability to create becomes exposed. Does the architect provide width, do they over bunker and are those bunkers towering, blown out mini Mt. Everests or are they below grade. What style are those bunkers. Are there any other design features relied upon included in strategic maneuvering to the green. Is the course one of originality or does it seek to become a more revered rendition of some traditional form. These are the questions to ask from tee to green and then once at the green, the questions continue with respect to the amount of craft within the greens, how they move, how wild or how much restraint can be seen in them.

Then of course is the recovery character. What happens off fairway and off green. Most courses over rely on rough, it’s almost a pandemic. Sure rough has its place but the roll of the ball typically adds to more engaging recovery scenarios instead of trying to extract it out of the heavy grass. Once again, the configuration of the green complex adds to the recovery character. If there’s light rough and the ball move into position where all of a sudden a recovery shot needs to carry mounding or a bunker to a green running away from them, or settle on repairing back to the fairway, that decision is a lot more enticing when the ball isn’t buried in inches of grass. Are there native areas that allow some modicum of recovery. At the Gold at Golden Horseshoe, there were ravines in off fairway areas but they were cleared of most brush so most balls could be easily found and then, the golfer needed to figure out how he wanted to proceed from there. At the Green course at the resort, there was no off fairway area at all. You either hit the fairway or hoped that you lucked out and find it in the forest beyond where there wasn’t some sharp drop off and then had to hope that the cart paths didn’t bounce the ball into oblivion and if you found it, you had any line back to the fairway. Near the green, how is the golfer asked to scramble to the green. Is it simply bunker time. Now there are lots of short grass surrounds, so how do they relate to the green. Is it figuring out how to play off a tight lie or if the golfer given options both high and low.

These are the just some of the questions I ask. While I’m walking about the course, while I’m in the clubhouse, while driving away, in bed that night, and then as I’m at the next course, now comparing what I saw at the last place and place before that to this one and the one I’m playing afterwards. And so on. Carrying all of it down the road like a big rig through the night, that trailer getting higher and longer moving faster and faster, would be too much of a bother to ever stop. For what.

You know I don’t even know what I’m hopin’ to find

– Jackson Browne

Every now and then, there must be a palate cleansing. That rig needs to stop. One tires. That’s what the off season is for. That’s what the writing is for. That’s what sitting in the grill room or wherever after the round, just talking, is for. That’s what the flights are for. Decompress, digest and process, along with whatever else is going on. Family, work, my shitty score. There needs to be a reset of sorts so the golfer can approach each course in the right mindset. Of course, that too gets easier as the miles on that road tick on.

If one really wants to gain a true appreciation for golf course architecture, one must get on that road. Like the architect who gets exposed to a variety of terrain, place and elements, the golfer must do the same. The touring pros among us will most definitely agree, it’s right in the name of their profession. It is a game of place and adventure, the adventure of which includes the road that led you there and the road leaving to the next. The feel of golf in the desert and how it differs from the mountain. Links golf in treacherous weather compared to pristine parkland golf without a care in the world. Start with that course on the other side of town you’ve always meant to get to. Then the one down the road 20 minutes. Then how about that one you heard about an hour away. Now what about a road trip. Ok, full blown golf trip time. All in due time. Each time, a new adventure awaits. The road never ends, nor does the learning, and no, I’m not sure where the road is even going but it’s about as fulfilling as it gets in ways that are tough to put into words. Or I could put them into words but are best left unsaid.

Cause when that morning sun comes beating down
You’re gonna wake up in your town
But we’ll be scheduled to appear
A thousand miles away from here

– Jackson Browne

The Road has been and always will enjoy its necessary place in the game. It’s just as part of every year as the fairways they ultimately lead to.

On that road in 2025, we look to the time treasured tradition of random stories worthy of mention.

• The rental club curse is a very real thing. When one rents golf clubs and plays lights out with them, they become convinced they finally found their perfect set and immediately go buy whatever the rental set was. I have been caught in the rental club pit several times and know better but the hybrid at Kingsbarns and the iron set at Mountain Shadows with my son almost revived it for me. The hybrid was such easy distance while the iron set was getting me close to pins time after time. I didn’t go through with buying either but it was close. There has to be something about no pressure or whatever that takes over. I have to think more about how to harness this sorcery.
• A mini ranking of Nineteenth holes visited for the first time this year
  • The Dunvegan. Cozy, convivial, ten steps away from the Eighteenth of the Old.
  • Lakeside. Old school L.A. impossible to replicate most any where else.
  • LACC North. Elegant, splendid, this is unmistakably top of the line.
  • Plainfield. Am all in as my kind of place.
  • Muirfield Village. Eschewing the beer for a milkshake in a great atmosphere was just what one looks for when pilgrimmaging.
  • Winged Foot. Casual informal fun in such a hallowed formal setting felt like I was getting away with something.
  • Mountain Ridge. Watching the planes come in for landing as the course sprawls out below was a delightfully unique setting.
  • The Foundry. Desirable aesthetics inside and out, a well kept secret more or less.
• Nineteenth holes that would definitely be on the list if I had a chance to go in them
  • Palmetto. The historical laid back charm is just right after decades of refinement.
  • Kingsbarns. The views alone and then you get to the seats. It would be hard to stand back up.
  • Castle. Another views monster. Take advantage and take in the splendor.
  • Rockaway Hunt. Looked like a great place to take advantage of the nautical and old school wood.
  • Duke’s. Meant to be top shelf, worthy of some hang out time.
• The B&B in Edinburgh was fine. It was an old Georgian mansion that this man owned and operated. It had these large skeleton keys for the rooms that were so old he asked you didn’t take them out of the house. Yeah that meant someone could come in the room when you’re not there but some times you have to take a leap of faith. There was this large window from my room that overlooked the hills beyond. The room was large and yeah, you could feel the history. There was a nice cat. Walking back on the driveway from the street after dinner and drinks took a minute or two and it was one of those last peaceful moments of that vacation before the chaos of travel took over. Which started a few hours later that morning as I lugged my bags down said unpaved driveway. Some times it’s good to be forced out of your element.
• It was the Fall and daylight was getting hard to come by. We had an afternoon round at Applebrook and right around the Thirteenth we realized we needed to haul ass to get the round in. My friend from out of town had never played it and we wanted to make sure he got it in so haul ass we did. No standing on ceremony with putts and no looking for lost balls. One of those blood moons was on full display as we walked down the Eighteenth and I don’t think I made worse than a bogey and had at least one birdie. Like I learned at Scioto, haul ass! But that setting and that moon out was the stuff Fall golf was made for.
• I was golfing with this guy in Virginia. He was pretty big, I wouldn’t want to meet him a dark alley. The day before, he forgot his range finder in the cart and when he came back the next day, they didn’t have it. He installed an Air Tag on it and that showed the range finder was at some nearby house. He was going to go to the house after the round and have a chat with whoever opened the door. I always wondered how that panned out.
• I think I liked every caddie I had this year. No complaints. The ones at my club are great but beyond those, my favorite was probably the one I had at the Old Course on the second day. We were able to talk Premier League and his reads were phenomenal. And he would say things like, “I believe you owe me a birdie after missing that putt last hole.” Fate.
• I woke up around 4 a.m. so I could drive up to Connecticut and get a round in at Keney Park in the early afternoon. All I had time for was something from a gas station for lunch. I got paired up with two guys who were going after it with the beers and classic rock blasting and a really good player who taught high school gym. They left after nine holes and the groups in front of me were glacial. I was hot, I was tired, there was nothing to eat or drink until I got to water coolers that were empty, so I had to take it out of the wooden shelf thing and tilt it all the way just to get some water. Finally finished and it was getting dark. Had no time for dinner so it was a rest stop lunchable. Just time to check in, shower and go to sleep before waking up and getting to the course pretty early. Breakfast was CVS gummy bears. As mentioned above, I noticed Brad Klein sitting at a table by himself overlooking the course so I sat across from him and introduced myself. We exchanged a few sentences when he had to leave for his tee time and that was that. There’s not anything that really could be done about it. Maybe in hindsight, I wouldn’t have stopped for those fucking gummy bears.
• On that same trip, a guy in my group hit his drive, which hit a tree 150 yards out on the left, bounced back in his direction, took one skip on the ground and the guy caught it single-handed. The stuff you see.
• We watched the Super Bowl in the perfect setting, a bar in Havertown with a bunch of other Eagles fans. Kid friendly, with a DJ and a guy playing the drums. I kept telling my kids to enjoy it, it’s rare your team plays in the Super Bowl, it’s even rarer that they actually win and it’s really rare where you can have so much fun watching the game because they’re kicking so much ass. After the game, the bar spilled out into the street with the rest of the town and we all celebrated for a couple hours more. Everybody just happy. This might be the first time I’ve posted a video but the guy with the Eagles WWF belt is reason enough to do so.

Now on to it. The year in review.

States (and other countries) played in:

• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• Georgia
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Utah
• Virginia
• Scotland

From the courses I played for the first time this year:

Biggest Surprise

Manhattan Woods. Designed by Gary Player and Stephen Kay in 1999, it has most recently underwent some work by Jaeger Kovitch. Thus far I have not come across a Player design that has made much of an impression yet Kay is behind several courses I enjoy and Kovitch continues outstanding work to existing courses. His changes seem to shift towards strategy and variety in the structure of play, usually leaving a course with deeper meaning than it was before he arrived. I expected a beautiful, well isolated golf course with a more straightforward structure of play but instead, came away impressed with the masterful subtlety of the greens and strategic variety among that isolated beauty found about the wooded hills upon which the course is set. The round was engaging and substantial, using a balance of ground based and aerial components while the arch of the terrain seems to always come into play some how. By far my most favorite course Player has been involved in and one of those courses I keep bringing up to anyone who will listen.

Lundin. I at least had a sense of what to expect with many of the Scotland courses but with Lundin, I was blown away anyways. The ocean close at hand provided a great setting along with wily wind but the interplay with the bluff on the first few holes was brilliant. That brilliance extended to the green sites. While most of the holes were straight out, the variety in how they traversed the land to the land was always different and then the transition to the hills overlooking the sea and lower lying holes added to that remarkable variety. The Sixteenth is the template for the Leven hole utilized by Macdonald, Raynor, Banks, among others. The strategy here is very intricate and subtle. It wasn’t until after I finished the hole that I realized the ideal sides or angles, as well as where you were absolutely stalled out. It’s charming with an idyllic setting, close to the beach then getting views from high above. Control of the ball with a wry sense of mischief is the best way to play a round here. I could play it several times over without feeling the need to stray.

Springdale. An embarrassment of riches in Philadelphia when it comes to William Flynn. With Springdale a stone throw’s away in Princeton and a recent restoration by Ian Andrew with Wayne Morrison consulting, my visit was a matter of inevitability. I was expecting a few strong holes and some sniffs of Flynn character but instead was gobsmacked with how good of a Flynn design this really is, particularly on more modest land compared to the portfolio of terrain Flynn has at most of his designed courses. Yet Flynn makes the most of the interesting land features and the plays on angles into fairways and greens is superb. Flynn needed to create interest at the flatter Kittansett but here, he wrung the most he could out of the features while bunkered and used slight push ups every where else with distinct variation. A very worthy Flynn.

Exceeded Expectations

Exceeds expectations is different from surprise in that surprise courses are usually so far under the radar or there’s some aspect about them that leads to that pleasant surprise while one that exceeds expectations are those where there was a high bar of expectation beforehand and the course not only meets it but shatters it.

Winged Foot East. Tillinghast was always clear he considered Winged Foot among his best creations. The holes of the East as well as the West are meant to have individuality and stick out on their own, so that one can play them in any desired combination and have a thrilling round no matter the sequence. I knew the East had more variety tee to green than the West but was not expecting just how exceptionally complete of a golf course it really was with the greens the denouement. The East indeed boasts a hauntingly impeccable set of greens with infinite complexity, a variety of holes that differ in length, shape and structure of play, a set of par 3’s rivaling any other course and is a wonderful walk. The driving game is lively while many of the fairways intrigue to the green, using bunkering intelligently yet sparingly. The ideal sporty golf course.

Westhampton. Expectations of well known golf courses in Long Island are always high. What Westhampton does so well is show off a much different side of Raynor’s design style that I personally feel puts him in the same discussion as the architectural greats. This side of Raynor is much more subtle and cerebral. The bold geometric template style has its place but Westhampton showcases just how subtle and remarkably complex Raynor could get when he needed to. Faced with rather benign land, he relied on mounding and below grade features to make the golfer think his way around the course, similar to something like Portmarnock. He relied on wind in conjunction with the hazards, making sure no forced carry was overly burdensome if the elements were extremely against. And he relied on splendid green complexes, which require patience and study to figure out their whims of movement. All of this demonstrates a side of Raynor’s genius he didn’t get to show off all that much, as he was usually asked to build courses on much more dramatic land that typically lent itself to broad strokes of memorable boldness. What places like Westhampton and Fishers and Yale establish, however, is Raynor absolutely worked with the land instead of imposing his style upon it. It may not be immediately apparent since his style is not really naturalistic, but he took his cues from the land and his style was a reflection of it. Raynor’s subtle complexity as an architect is most impressive and with Westhampton a wonderful example of it in spades, is one of the better Raynor designs one can play.

Rockaway Hunting. The lineage of Bendelow, Emmet, Tillinghast and Maxwell with a restoration by Hanse in 2016, Rockaway has surely seen its share of changes. The routing is extraordinary. The use of confined space, some rolling hills near the clubhouse and especially the water channels brings on a dazzling display of variety. On a relatively calm day, it was one of the rare courses I started praying for wind since I had a feeling everything including the variety is amplified tenfold when the wind is up. That was confirmed by my caddie and the members I spoke with. Recovery character is yet another area it shines. In all, it’s the kind of course I wanted to go right back out with what I learned and also just to experience the transitions in the routings. Finally, the distinct Long Island feel was prevalent throughout the round, meaning the course could not exist any where else. Run don’t walk.

Best Restoration/Renovation/Redesign

Scioto. When Andrew Green arrived in 2021, most if not all of the Ross character only remained at the routing. We had lunch in the grill room before the round and while sitting at the table, noticed the place mats were the famous dodo bird drawing upon which a lot of the restoration was based. Greens, bunkers, fairways and trees were all covered in the project and the result is one of the better large scale Ross courses out there. The roll of the ball along the hills and green surrounds is splendid while the set of greens are so fun that their challenge gets overlooked. The place looks cool and plays cool. Green has displayed the capacity to not just restore but to make sure it exudes that excitement that made it worth restoring in the first place. That is certainly the case at Scioto.

The International – Pines. In the recent article, The Alchemy Age, https://golfadelphia.com/2025/12/09/the-alchemy-age/ the importance of post design evolution is touched upon. The recent re-design of the Pines by Coore and Crenshaw is an example of the type of malleability existing course owners and memberships should be willing to commit to. Here, Coore and Crenshaw essentially started over in seeking harmony with the land. The sandy soil, assortment of hillocks and hollows as well as the gradual rise and fall of the larger slopes are a complete orchestra set for a symphony of awe-inspiring golf. Coore and Crenshaw have proven masters of artistically highlighting the natural surrounds upon which their courses are set and if that is all they accomplished here, it would be seen as a resounding success. Yet they go further in how the classic structure is steeped in strategy among characteristically modern speed at the fairways and greens. This is no small feat, especially about hilly terrain. The design insists the golfer look at the immediate natural features before him as well as the larger backdrop with most every shot. Each mound, depression, slope and hillside matter. In most instances, the golfer is encouraged to use these natural features to their advantage. With Coore and Crenshaw at the sunset of the remarkable careers, the Pines shows their maturity in harnessing the natural surrounds in the most artistic manner possible both visually and functionally. 

Bel-Air. In writing of the course, Tom Doak remarked he would seize the opportunity to restore Bel-Air above most any other course. That opportunity was ultimately realized in 2017 when he was retained by the club to undergo restoration efforts. Doak, along with Eric Iverson, Kye Goalby and Blake Conant, focused on restoring the greens (including the return of “Mae West”), fairway contours and bunkers using historical aerials and research by Tommy Naccarato, as well as removing water features that were installed over the years. And of course, extensive tree removal. A new strain of Bermuda was used while drainage and irrigation were improved as well. Here, Doak was presented a course where the routing was intact and most of the changes were cosmetic and most importantly, possible to restore. He focused on the more important features to return the original character and his brilliance with the greens is world renown. The club does not seem to have any aspirations to host professional tournaments, so Doak did not need to worry about any of those types of factors that have the capacity to influence these types of projects. In short, much was in place for Doak and his team to accomplish a faithful restoration of Bel-Air to an iteration much more closely resembling the original design. The bunkering is superb, showcasing the catcher mitt style characteristic of Bell. At the time, it was one of the boldest bunkering schemes for Thomas and Bell and this certainly comes through at present. In terms of Doak’s restoration, the course now has the strategy and character intended by Thomas and his associates. These changes opened up corridors of play, especially with the ground game with the work to the green surrounds, and sharpened the subtle layers of thought that Thomas focused on with his designs. Doak refrained from anything that would place his own mark on the design and simply adhered to a pure restoration approach. The project was well researched and well executed, returning Bel-Air to more of its original identity with subtle complexity. The Thomas and Bell character prevails.

Favorite Contemporary Moderns

Kingsbarns. Keith Phillips is one of the better architects of modern links and I can’t think of any of his work I have played and not been impressed with. Kingsbarns is a very good modern links, its simple figure eight routing along the coast varies from strategic to challenging to fun in an artful cadence. It’s sculpted and brawny and gorgeous, like a thoroughbred horse. It demands touch and thought and yes, some muscle. The course doesn’t try to appear like it has been there much longer than it has. It doesn’t emulate classic links either. Rather, it’s comfortable in its own style, the modern shaping and strategy settled comfortably in its own skin about the gorgeous countryside. In an era that focuses on celebrating the brilliance of the past, it’s refreshing to see modern renditions showing the they too can forge a path to really great golf.

Old Barnwell. I have the benefit of playing a course that Schneider and Conant renovated day in and day out. One thing I have learned from my course and my day at Old Barnwell is there’s a lot to learn. A strategic monster with complexity abounding, the visuals only revealing so much. There’s rushing movement in spots and there were at least three times my caddie and I took a while to figure out how to best get the ball any where close to the hole. I relished every minute, even though I look forward to the day when I’m able to navigate myself around, knowing the pitfalls that lie with each shot and know when invention cold result in a windfall. It’s a deeply rich course and I found it akin to something like Ulysses or even Finnegan’s Wake. You’re not going to get all of what’s there the first time around but you can at least recognize the greatness within.

St. Andrews Castle. The manner in which Kidd created randomness and the strong divisive opinions from those who played it were enough to attract my curiosity. Having played it and having both hated and loved it from hole to hole and shot to shot, there are a few inalienable truths about it I will share with you all. How one receives the Castle largely depends on their frame of mind. If score matters to you, this course isn’t for you. If you can’t deal with unfairness in the game, this course isn’t for you. If predictability or standard norms excite you, then the course isn’t for you. It’s bold, extreme, severe, gorgeous and torturously fun. You will get mad and lose balls whether because of the wind, some ludicrously quick contour or both. There’s an insane amount of randomness and yes, unfairness. But it makes you take chances and try shots you never had to hit before. The ball just seems to keep moving and careening, usually to places that are no good at all. There’s only one shot that is intimidating and could be considered difficult and that is the Seventeenth. But it’s the most exhilarating and beautiful hole on the course. I like it and hate it depending on the hour but I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Favorite Public Course Played

This category would be dominated with Scotland courses but the point of this category is to try and highlight public courses most may have never heard of or played. So the seven courses in Scotland I played (Kingsbarns, New, Old, Old Reversed, Castle, Duke’s and Carnoustie) are take out of consideration here. Many are highlighted in other categories.

Santa Anita. Santa Anita tells us a lot. Engaging, fascinating even, golf design can be had on uninteresting terrain with a non-existent budget led by ordinary men. Get the fundamentals right on drainage, routing, angles and spacing, then use inspiration for distinction. James Harrison Smith was a civil engineer tasked with designing a golf course. A casual golfer at best with no course design experience and tasked with building a course during the Great Depression, he built a masterpiece that was remarkably fundamentally sound. The public sector could use this model for either languishing courses or under utilized land. Santa Anita also tells us that good design is good design, becoming priceless because it is so, never mind the name of the architect. Sure, part of the timeless lore is because of some of the template holes, which have become ultra popular over the last 30 years, but it’s the structure of play overall that drives the repeat play and word of mouth it has generated all this time. Importantly, the course is an affordable public that provides engaging course architecture to every class of player. The course is likewise timeless because of its lower sustainability. Its efficiency makes it easier to maintain, thereby surviving the annual budget calls. Lastly, Santa Anita could realize its potential with spots of restorative work, which would amplify all of the above tenfold. It can be done. It should be done. Such restorative work would place it among the elite class of municipal favorites.

Public courses are vital. You ask many in the course architecture industry or even notable enthusiasts and they will tell you their love of the game started with their local muni. My son is starting to get interested in playing other golf courses than our home club, so I would like to take him to architecturally interesting ones. We will be going to Santa Anita next time we’re out in Southern California.

Keney Park. Devereaux Emmet designed nine holes here in 1927 and then Hartford engineer Robert Ross extended to eighteen holes in 1931. In 2016, Matthew Dusenberry performed restorative and renovative work, making improvements to irrigation and draining while focusing on the greens, bunkers and tees. The focus of the project was to bring all eighteen holes into a cohesive Emmet character. On rolling land interspersed with sharp ridges and gulleys, the current course takes advantage of such terrain in thrilling fashion. The structure of play is fun yet challenging at the same time and does very well avoiding overly penal elements. Each hole is distinct, relying on the unique land features as well as mounding and mostly below grade bunkering. Architecturally interesting, engaging for any skill of golfer and a nice walk. The citizens of Hartford are fortunate.

The Manor. Designed by Alex Findlay and opening in 1928, this is the other side of public golf that makes it unique. The course has remained mostly all preserved from its opening with only a few minor changes made to the Tenth and Seventeenth over the years. The clubhouse is likewise original. Essentially a mountain course, Findlay found remarkable green sites, then showcased his sense of adventure from tee to green as he drags the golfer all over the terrain as width fluctuates like an accordion and the golfer tries to figure out the roll through it all. In many contexts, the terrain might have been softened and one will notice random tree plantings here and there likely as a way to shield errant shots but with the design mostly original, the golfer gets a very real sense of just how extreme Findlay was willing to get in confronting even the most severe terrain. Regardless, the yardage accommodates the terrain and the course ensures the golfer is able to use his full arsenal of skills in interacting with the land. A piece of history for anyone so inclined to visit.

Favorite Course Played

St. Andrews Old. What can I say, the course spoke to me. The golfer has his moments where the game opens up its soul and for that brief time, is enlightened. My round here was one of those moments. Beyond the history and sentiment, the course is so versatile and strategic and the greens incomparable. I harken back to my review because I’m not sure I can say it any better. “The Old has been crafted by nature and time, guided by Old Tom. Its age and history benefit it greatly in the sense that it is sacrilege for it to change in any dramatic fashion. Immune from the misled or altruistic ambitions of green committees or architects or purveyors, the course has allowed to flourish in its preserved imperfect excellence. In turn, the layers of its character remain deeply embedded in intricacy, to which the golfer can only learn over time and experience. My time here was limited and I was afforded a window into its brilliance, knowing it was such a glance and far from all that is ripe for discovery. The tee shots must be with purpose, the approaches with balance. The trouble is aplenty and calls upon the golfer’s ingenuity in handling. The greens are immaculate and insist on a similar artful poetic cadence. In all, what the Old does better than any where else I have come across is how it draws upon the golfer’s soulful inspiration on each shot. The embodiment of the game was born here, likely for a reason, and is now rightfully holy land for the golfer.”

Los Angeles Country Club – North. I was talking with a good friend the other day about the state of golf course architecture. He was of the opinion that the current emphasis on naturalism and strategy is the apex of course design and should remain on those lines indefinitely. While I disagree only because the dictates of history and evolution demand change, I do hope he’s right, as I agree such tenets lead to the best golf I can think of. If it is the apex of course design, then that makes LACC North the apex of the apex. As I wrote in my review, “LACC North exemplifies what I believe are the hallmarks of ideal golf course design. Artistic use of natural and naturalistic elements for a lively range of supreme strategy and challenge. The excellence in which LACC North adheres to these design principles is among the if not the best I have come across. The course goes even further for me in its exceptional versatility and recovery character. The decisions, shots and especially the greens expand one of the highest engaging structures of play one can find, leaving it playing at that high level across the plane of positions on any given hole as well as the spectrum of skill levels. The recovery character is of special note. Almost all of my favorite courses have a good deal of “zero sum game” recovery character. There are places that are absolutely as dead as out of bounds while most spots for recovery are either bunkers, high grass or rough. LACC North emphasizes Thomas’ fourth guideline above, which is among the more important: “An ideal hole should provide infinite variety of shots and at time give full advantage for the voluntary pull or slice, one of the most finished stroked in golf.” There’s a raw natural element here that comes in at a lot of off fairway shots, then there is the bunkering that is the best one can find any where. These conspire to offer the golfer a chance at redemption for most misses. This might be the most under discussed “game within a game” at LACC North. The golfer will face a never-ending assortment of recovery situations that I dare say he will hope he misses on occasion so that he can get some more of it. The genius of the place is so high level in all respects while remaining a pleasing beastly challenge without succumbing to the limitations of penal design.  What the heart wants the heart wants. When all is said and done, if I was able to place a tee at the First hole of any course I played in North America up to this point, it would be here over any where else.” Well said.

Carnoustie. I had an enlightening lesson from my pro recently. Apparently my swing is timing based, which makes me streaky. The more I play and warm up, the better I’m able to get said timing down. I’m working on more consistency at the moment but when I was in Scotland, this characterization of my swing is pretty spot on. And Carnoustie was right in the sweep spot of the trip where timing was firing on all cylinders. It’s secondary to actually being there and playing the course but being able to play the course well brings a wonderful level of satisfaction. Whether I showed up and played good or bad wouldn’t have mattered with respect to what I think about the course but the beer after the round tasted all that much better. As it stands, however, Carnoustie is one of my favorite played ever. It’s an altar to the core traits of the game. Skill, thought, resolve and judgment are all tested and treasured here. And that’s it. Those who walk its fairways are there for the structure of play and the game of golf Carnoustie provides. When the design is examined, it is worthy of its place as one of the world’s best. The routing with its “U” shape is ingenious for the use of wind direction and angles. The bunkering is selective yet imminently effective in creating thought provoking decisions throughout the round. The quality of turf is world renown, which leads to greens and fairways that roll true. In conjunction with the burns, this comes back to strategic play in not just carrying them but not rolling into them or any other trouble for that matter. It’s a supreme battle of elements, arranged in complex fashion that forces the golfer to dig down into the depths of his abilities. The way in which it presents that challenge is sophisticated and cunning, which never defeats the golfer and instead, challenges him to try again and again which he happily will do. When the golfer walks off the Eighteenth, he undoubtedly understands the game a little more and is a better golfer in some way or another. Golf courses evoke all kinds of feelings and emotions. Some provide inspiring views, some provide relaxing seclusion while others provide a pleasant stroll through nature. Carnoustie provides an arena where the sole focus is on the game itself in one of its highest iterations possible. For the true golfer, that is the most desirable character a course can have.

The Tree Farm. This course was definitely one of the surprises or exceeds expectations of the year for me. I came into the round very even-keeled but it didn’t take very long to be impressed by the design. The grand scale of short grass in conjunction with the extraordinary routing was impressive, as was the restraint that all made for a very flowing round. The structure of play is fun with the challenge around the edges. The strategy and inventiveness and recoveries are all fun yet require thought, poise and the rest of it. I knew that Zac Blair wanted a course that focused on fun and the manner in which he accomplished that with Kye Goalby and Doak in a very refreshingly classic collaborative effort was remarkably distinct. If anything, the design shows just how sophisticated and diverse fun can get. A very stress free yet engaging structure of play. Balls are rarely lost and there’s usually a few different ways to go about it. I haven’t come across anything modern like it. Yet the inception of the course and the man who started with the idea are likewise different from a lot of current projects. A course architecture enthusiast envisioning a memorable course that accentuates the fun yet soulful side of the game is a modern day story worth hearing about. The degrees of collaboration, manner in which the land was used and a shift away from bunker frequency are all aspects of the project that are hopefully duly noted by future projects.

Honorable Mention

Old Reversed. It’s safe to say I had no idea what the fuck was going on. After a dream come true opening tee shot and a stirring walk down the fairway to my approach, things started to speed up rather quickly. This old man started following our group which added to the surreality. A brief wait on the Eighth tee was enough for me to calm down and get my bearings. That didn’t help with the tee shot but a nice recovery for par finally settled things. Pro tip. A slice is the worst shot for your tee shots when playing the regular routing just as a hook is the worst in reverse. And I was hooking a lot. Even after the round, however, I stayed patient. Then the next day when we played the regular routing, it all seemed to come together. I’m actually glad they do it that way, make you play reversed first.  If the Old with its right-sided routing is elegant and complex, the Reversed is more moody and manic in its cadence yet more of a driving course in the end. Indeed, the tee shots are contemplative and the recoveries, more cheeky. If the right-sided allows the greens to flourish with all the run up to them, the left-sided highlights the strategic value of the rough areas, gorse and bunkers in a much more zero sum context. I was fortunate to see the Reversed, see the Old in a light many have not. It was an adventure in the best sense.

Augusta Country Club. At one time, the club enjoyed two courses, the Hill and Lake. The Hill was re-designed by Ross and the Lake had significant input from Raynor. The Lake course was victim of a property sale during the Great Depression yet the Hill remained, with some noticeable Raynor influence of its own. The Hill is now interchangeable with Augusta Country Club as its sole course. Restoration efforts by Silva in 2001 and most recently by Tripp Davis in 2022 have furthered the course towards more and more historical Ross character. The course was much hillier than I was expecting yet uses the elevation differences well with avoiding over-severity and its play on scale. Some times greens felt like they were 500 yards away and some times it felt like they were 50 yard when the reality was some where in between. The greens had a nice balance of tilt with some interior contours, which extended to their surrounds, all showing splendid movement. In all, it’s a sporty course requiring deftness of touch with pleasing, simplistic visuals. All without one flat lie with the exception of the First and Eighteenth fairways. It never ceases to amaze me how many Donald Ross designed courses have their own distinct individuality. Here at Augusta with the rounded off greens and intersecting ridges of movement within a larger subset of hills that never gets too steep, the playing style has a nice balance that sets itself apart.

Palmetto. One of the oldest golf clubs in the country that has taken all that time to perfect historical charm. Herbert Leeds started things off, followed by Alistair Mackenzie just after his work at Augusta National and a clubhouse by Stanford White, the pedigree here is mesmerizing. Rees Jones performed some modernization work to the course that focused on bunkering and re-grassing but restorative efforts began in 2003 when Tom Doak made recommendations in that vein which was performed in 2005. Gil Hanse is now the resident architect for the club. The course drips in classic charm, using the hills early and often. Even with a smile on its face, however, the broad shouldered greens are deviously fast and intolerant of even slight miscues. Shorter in distance, this fleet of movement is its primary defense. It is quite effective. The variety of holes and the classic playing style the course demands are impressive. One needs to know the land and while it can get away with passing knowledge of the idiosyncrasies of the fairways, the greens demand intimate, almost classified knowledge. But it’s the charm here that the course has been able to preserve that made me appreciate just how unique it is, evoking a prevalent pleasantness throughout that has the golfer focusing on all the right things while not letting the four putts affect the mood. Design-wise, that can be attributed to the graceful routing.

North Berwick. West Bay Beach on one side, North Berwick the town and its charming houses on the other while in between is one of the oldest courses in existence in bold, quirky, delightful character. The scenery, history and memorability abound here. This is an appealing combination that has seen the course rise in popularity as more and more discover the charms that have been here along. Craggy randomness and blind shots and fairness no consideration. There are a handful of holes here that are as good as any where else in the world, including the original Redan. There is timeless quirk and unabashed use of the unique coastland one needs to study, learn and become friends with. The greens are notable for their movement and inaccessibility from certain angles, again urging the golfer time and knowledge are sorely needed to understand. North Berwick is an unabashed favorite for many. Likewise, it deserves its spot as one of the world’s best for its design inspiration.

2025 Composite Course

Comprised only of courses played this year, each hole corresponds with the hole number. Can AI some how make this possible to play?

• First – Manhattan Woods (par 4)
• Second – Winged Foot East (par 5)
• Third – Augusta CC (par 4)
• Fourth – Lundin (par 4)
• Fifth – Panmure (par 3)
• Sixth – LACC North (par 4)
• Seventh – Mountain Ridge (par 3)
• Eighth – St. Andrews New (par 5)
• Ninth – Old Barnwell (par 4)
• Tenth – The International – Pines (par 3)
• Eleventh – St. Andrews Old (par 3)
• Twelfth – Bel – Air (par 4)
• Thirteenth – North Berwick (par 4)
• Fourteenth – Old Reversed (par 5)
• Fifteenth – Palmetto (par 4)
• Sixteenth – Tree Farm (par 5)
• Seventeenth – Carnoustie (par 4)
• Eighteenth – Scioto (par 4)

State of my Game

It’s getting there. My lowest index of the season was while I was in Scotland, which stayed that way until August when the downward dive finally began by a couple strokes. Conceptually, it took me a while to realize it’s a good idea to get maintenance lessons and after a while, my backswing drifted out of whack which led to an array of chaos. At any rate, I’m usually able to figure out what the swing is doing and put together a fine round but the offseason work has already started to get more consistent and address my weakness, which is irons. If I’m to get any lower, this is the way. With all that out of the way, there’s no denying this was my best season when all is said and done. Greener pastures ahead as well.

Best Shot

The Tuesday after Memorial Day, I was walking a few holes at my club. The flags and cups were out. At the Second, something clicked and the swing felt pretty good. Easy pars at the Third and Fourth. I decided to turn for the Seventeenth as it was getting late and liked where the swing was so leave on a high note. This guy at the Fourth yelled over that he almost had an ace, he thought it was in until he reached the green. I stepped up to the tee with my 8 iron. I knew where the hole was since I saw at when I was playing the Fourth. The swing was a good one, to an elevated green. I trudged up to it and didn’t see my ball. I thought I hit it long, but wasn’t there. Then maybe it fell off one of the edges as that’s easy to do but nope no ball. Then it dawned on me as I audibly uttered, “oh fuck.” Peering over the hole, there was my ball. I didn’t know what to do. I took some photos, tried to get the attention of a few golfers, then after a long while, walked to the Eighteenth tee. I don’t even remember what I shot there.

I knew it wouldn’t count and didn’t even bother notifying our pro shop. And of course. Of course I would get a hole in one playing by myself, not even a full round, with the flag and cup out. Of course. Yet still. I have a hole in one. It was satisfying but like anything else, the next shot awaits.

Palmetto 15. At the uphill short par 4, drove the green and had an eagle putt from about ten feet. Just slid by.

St. Andrews New. Drives were uber long. I was hitting this mid-high tight fade over and over, have no idea how I was doing it but that flight was perfect for run out. Felt so effortless. So this is how the other half lives. I actually started playing a fade with my hybrid and long irons over there. They just felt more natural and got me out of the Eighteenth approach rut (see below), including a wonderful 4 iron approach on 18 at Panmure. As soon as I came home and tried to fade, it’s almost as if my clubs wanted to self-explode.

Tree Farm 15. Tee shot ended up short of the front bunker. A blind pitch to the pin all the way down on the left ended up a couple inches from the hole. That’s one way to par.

Squires 9. Out of the left fairway bunker 200 yards and with the hole uphill, hit it to within ten feet.

Llanerch. Personal best round from the White tees, 78.

Scotland pars at The Old 11, Carnoustie 16 and 17, Castle 17, North Berwick Redan twice and 13, Lundin 18, notable ones I can think of. My ego is forcing me to tell you there were many other pars though. I was happiest with these.

Plainfield 11. Thought it was going in, settled a couple feet away for bird.

There’s more but it does get fairly braggy.

Worst Shot

Plainfield West 9, 2. The approach shot was fine but I screwed up the distance and lost sight of the ball as it sailed over the green …… right into a crowd of kids having lunch on a bunch of picnic tables. They were nice and handed it back to me, no one harmed except my fragile ego.

Scotland flubbed approaches on 18 after awesome drives. Kingsbarns and St. Andrews New. The one at KB went into water while the one at New rolled into a greenside bunker.

North Berwick 18. Second round, tee shot killed some poor parked car. We searched for the damage for over 20 minutes and couldn’t find it. Sure as hell heard it though.

Bel – Air. There’s some tradition that everyone rolls a ball down the tunnel to 17 and whoever gets furthest wins. I won but my ball went so far it blasted down a hill never to be seen again. I mean I lose enough Pro V1’s on my own.

Pretty much every shot at the Gold at Golden Horseshoe. This includes dunking a par 3 tee shot, going to the drop zone 50 yards away and dunking that one too. Wasn’t feeling it that day.

A few missed pretty short putts with something on the line. Mental fortitude with this game eludes me.

Washington Golf and Country Club. Most of the round, couldn’t get the ball off the ground, which was nice. Something about those Virginia courses that doesn’t agree with me.

Philadelphia Cricket, Wissahickon 2. It happened again. Shanked approach shot into the staging area. This happened the first time I played here five years ago. Wissahickon loves whispering to me over and over, “I own you.”

2026 is upon us and I wish everyone good health, happiness and a deep appreciation for your time with this game no matter the highs and lows that accompany it. Let the dials and gauges of life always give you good news as well. I hope to see you all out there and if you see me, say hello.

I’ll be sure to shake your hand.