I have always loved Red Tail as a masterpiece of architectural echo, bringing old design features from great courses like National Golf Links of America to public players. Happily, after a rugged 2003 season (where most NE golf courses suffered to some extent), Red Tail was in pristine...
I realized last week that on November 16th I will complete my first full year as a published golf writer. Coincidentally, with the New Year rapidly approaching, most writers turn to introspective “year in review” columns. So happily, I am introducing ***drum roll please*** THE...
…OK this time it’s NFL cheerleaders, but just when you slam people for real-life story lines from ESPN’s “Playmakers” it only gets worse…check out this from the “sports societal rocket sled to hell” division. As Steve czaban said “how...
It’s amusing watching ESPN, the holy church of the professional athelete, finally burn one of their own at the stake for heresy. “The Owenstein Monster ” started eating his own teammates. Of course, Dr. Frankenstein had to destroy his own monster too. The lesson to be...
JIM ENGH – PLAYING THE ENGHLES Since forming his own design firm in 1997, Colorado’s Jim Engh has won four “best new course” awards from Golf Digest, been named “Architect of the Year” in 2003 ahead of such luminaries as Fazio, Dye, and Doak, built a...
I’m still busy compiling all my notes from the Michigan trip, but after a wonderful round at the charming, refined and eminently natural Crystal Downs (Alistair Mackenzie, 1932) Tom Doak shared some thoughts over chili dogs and root beer at the Frankfort, MI A&W stand. JF: How...
Moonset over Arcadia Bluffs. The sun is rising behind me. See why I play golf every full moon in October?
Arcadia Bluffs G.C. 14710 Northwood Hwy Arcadia, MI 49613 800.494.8666 www.arcadiabluffs.com Architect: Warren Henderson and Rick Smith Par – 72 (5 par-3s and 5 par-5s) Price – $175, $125 at 4PM Conditioning – Four and 1/2 stars Design and strategy – Four and 1/2...
FOREST DUNES G.C. 6376 Forest Dunes Drive Roscommon, MI 800.DUNES-MI www.forestdunesgolf.com Architect – Tom Weiskopf Par – 72 (75 if you add in the 117 yard par-3 19th hole!) Price – $125, $100 twilight Conditioning – Five and 1/2 stars (all ratings out of 7)...
LAKEWOOD SHORES – GAILES COURSE 7751 Cedar Lake Rd. Oscoda, MI 800.882.2493 www.lakewoodshores.com Architect – Kevin Aldridge Par – 36-36=72 Price – Seasonal Unlimited Golf Packages $68-114 including one night stay, minimum two nights required Design: Four stars...
by Peter Black, Jr. The New York State Bar Association CLE lecture at Fordham University Friday featured some litigation shots that may have far reaching implications in the world of golf. New York intellectual property law expert Robert Clarida of Cowan Liebowitz & Latman in...
Three bits of housekeeping today. First, Tifosi, a Georgia company sent me two pairs of sunglasses to try on the golf course. The specs are supposed to cut out not only harmful UV rays, but are designed to provide sharp clarity of vision. I hate wearing sunglasses on the golf course, no...
Reason number 1,000,000 why the lore of Sawgrass is every bit as storied as any major venue. Noone who saw Tom Watson chip in at the 17th at Pebble Beach to edge Jack Nicklaus and win the U.S. Open will ever forget it. The next year, in an effort to capitalize on the shot’s legend...
The full interview will follow, but here are some snippets of the interview I did with Jim Engh, Golf Digest’s architect of the year in 2003. JIM ENGH IN HIS OWN WORDS JF: What’s the most important goal for you in creating a successful design. Engh: For me, it’s all...
Author’s Note: While this site is primarily about public courses and golf course architecture, we will spend some time over the next month or two reviewing some courses up for this year’s Best New Private Club award. The author’s views are his own and are in not meant to...
The view from the 16th teebox at Pradera, near castle Rock, Colorado. Randomly placed pot bunkers place a premium on strategy.
The 4th at Lakota
The 13th green at Redlands
I am writing longer pieces on both, coming soon, but in the meantime here is the skinny on two of the best courses I have ever played or seen. LAKOTA CANYON RANCH GOLF CLUB 1000 Club House Drive New Castle, CO 81647 970.984.9700 www.lakotacanyonranch.com Architect: Jim Engh Par 72...
The fossil monument lined 12th Hole. Photo courtesy of Jim Hajek and Jim Engh.
University of Denver archaeologist Dr. martin Lockley shows the Triceratops fossils that line the 12th fairway at Fossil Trace
FOSSIL TRACE GOLF CLUB 3050 Illinois St. Golden, CO 303.277.8750 www.fossiltrace.com Architect: Jim Engh Par – 72 Excitement Level – 11/12 Diff. – 7/12 Design: five and 1/2 stars (all ratings 0ut of seven) Natural Setting: 5.5 Conditioning – Five and ½ stars...
In Western Colorado, the Hamton Inn in Glenwood Springs in not only convenient to Lakota Canyon Ranch and Redlands Mesa, they are walking distance from the natural hot springs spa that is open tothe public year round. Ask for Edie Dutton or Becky. Rates are very reasonable, the hotel has...
There is CLE for this lecture. I'll give an intro on design features architects use frequently to create golf courses (redans, punchbowls, etc. and compare U.S. courses. Architect Stephen Kay who makes original courses and courses that look like those of other designers or other courses...
RED TAIL GOLF CLUB Devens, MA 978.772.3273 www.redtailgolf.net Architect: Brian Silva Par – 72 Excitement Level – 9/12 Diff. – 6/12 Conditioning – Four and ½ stars Cost – $90 peak, $50 reduced Yearly Memberships – Yes, $4,250 play anytime $3,250 play M...
I’ll write more tomorrow, but Jim Engh outdid himself (tough to do…I know! But he did), with the amazing Lakota canyon ranch. Tom Doak wrote that undulation is the soul of the game. Engh did that in spades. I have walked 230 places and I BARELY finished LKR. Its gorgeous...
We interrupt this golf trip to offer hearty congratulations to two of the AWITP extended family. First, you read here about my buddy Lee Sossen who won the very first biatholon he entered back in May. Lee has done it again, winning another nationally reknowned biatholon event this weekend...
RED HAWK RIDGE G.C. 2156 Red Hawk Ridge Drive Castle Rock, CO 80109 720.733.3500 Architect: Jim Engh Par 72 Excitement Level – 8/12 Difficulty – 6/12 Conditioning – Four stars Cost – $75 high, 3PM twilight $50 Value – Four stars, (four and 1/2 at twilight)...
The floating green at Coeur D’Alene resort.
Photo courtesy of CDA Resort.
COEUR D’ALENE RESORT GOLF COURSE On the Lake Coeur D’Alene, ID 208.667.4673 www.cdaresort.com Architect: Scott Miller Par – 71 Excitement Level – 11/12 Difficulty – 5/12 Conditioning – Five stars Cost – $185 peak, $99 reduced Value – Five...