Welcome aboard, gents. It’s great to have the fans of the best sports broadcaster in America walking these fairways. As a special goodie bag, here’s some classic bits from the archives, just to get you oriented: 1. Wall to wall Potomac Cup coverage Here’s a great line from the event: “We better do something fast” added Marylander Ron...
This little experiment is more about writing about interesting people than great golf travel or architecture, but I felt like “stretching my legs” a bit as a writer and branching out. I’ll be live from Jamaica for the next four days for the Pro Team Golf League Launch, but I’ll be doing this in between for a few days and giving out the years...
I got great news from Andy Bemis, head pro at Royal New Kent and Stonehouse. After having some issues with some greens last year, the new super has RNK firing on all cylindars again. Run to go play it, don’t even stop to part your hair on the way out the door - it’ll just get mussed up by the wind anyway. On that note, I wrote a Mark Twain like...
Three administrative matters today. First, I’ll be finishing my roundup of most of the candidates for “Best New Private Course” shortly. My reviews of Ballyneal, Liberty National, Dismal River and Bayonne will be up at Cybergolf next week. Here are some preliminary thoughts on Bayonne – which looks remarkably like another excellent course...
Pete Dye’s Mystic Rock course at Nemacolin Resort is about to get heavy tournament play in the coming weeks. This weekend, the resort plays host to the Pennsylvania State Open Championship, the biggest state tournament of the year. PA PGA representatives are delighted to have their showcase event at one of the state’s premier golf destinations. The course...
1. New Jersey will become the first state in the country to institute and drug testing policy for high school athletes. The program will screen random athletes for about 80 different designer performance enhancing drugs ranging from amphetamines to steriodal based old-style drugs banned for years. Final details will be released June 7. One state elected official, Sen...
Here are some pix of Lederach and Baltimore CC, West Course. The Lederach review is here: Above and to the left, the first fairway is a harbinger of things to come, as Kelly Blake Moran cants his fairways severely here. Above and to the right, you see from the 2d tee, the rear of the blind fairway bunker of the par-5 third. Its blind from the tee of 3 and fairway, so...
Can you tell Kelly Blake Moran is a Texan? He may not wear a ten gallon hat or leather boots, but boy is he proud of the Lone Star State. Amarillo Slim in a windshirt. “And I’ll tell you another thing!” he roars disapprovingly. “Those Oklahoma teams that won those national championships a few years ago? I’ll give you one guess where half...
BALLYOWEN GOLF CLUB Crystal Springs Golf and Spa Resort 105-137 Wheatsworth Road Hamburg, NJ 07419 973.827.5996 Architect: Roger Rulewich Par – 72 Excitement Level – 8/12 Difficulty – 9/12 Design – Four and ½ stars (out of 7) Natural Setting – Four and ½ stars Conditioning – Six and ½ stars Cost – $135 Peak, $85 Off...
Golfers don’t need Punxatawny Phil or Staten Island Chuck (NYC’s copycat groundhog) to tell them when to go play. DC and Baltimore area players are chomping at the bit now with this warm winter. Public golf in DC usually averages about $95, which as we all know is too steep. To maximize your golf dollars, here is a review of the best public courses in the...
There is a goodly amount to like about Tom Jackson’s design at Stonewall, but once again golf course economics tend to detract and distract from an otherwise good performance by a designer. Jackson may have done the best work of his career here on the shores of Lake Manassas and in the shadow of the famous and very private Robert Trent Jones Club. Tee shots...
Here’s a great alternative golf vacation – take part in some of the most unique golf tournaments in the world. My favorite is the Bushmill’s Malt Causeway Coast open, held over four days in June at four world class courses in Northern Ireland. Players are paired in four man teams and play one round each at Portstewart, Ballycastle, Castlerock and...
Right now the AWITP team is on 95-S in the teeth of a snowstorm. Not the greatest omen for golf, but as we have not yet reached VA, hopefully we’ll see 50s, maybe even 60s by journey’s end. I would shudder to think of trying to walk and play Tobacco Road in blowing 40 degree cold. The course would prove most cruel indeed. On such days, always remember...
CONCORD GOLF CLUB (THE MONSTER) Concord Road Kiamesha Lake, NY 12751 845.794.4000 Architect: Joe Finger Par – 72 Excitement Level – 8/12 Difficulty – 10/12 Design: Four and 1/2 stars (all ratings out of 7) Natural Setting – Four and 1/2 stars Conditioning – Three and ½ stars Cost – $65 Peak, $55 Off-Peak/Reduced Yearly memberships...
In the interest of consumer awareness, every once in a while we will have to make frank and honest reviews of some courses that “need improvement” ;);) in certain areas. Some great designs occasionally fall into dis-repair. Other courses may have great conditioning, but have lackluster, poorly conceived designs. Other courses are in heavily travelled...