That means two things: (1) no golf for me any time soon, and (2) more blog posts for you!
So let's review last year's "must-play" list and delve into the courses I'm looking to get to this year.
First up, the courses from last year's list that I made it out to. It was good year as "must-plays" goes, as I made it to 3 of the 5 courses on the 2012 list, plus one from the 2012-2016 list.
MUST PLAYS 2012: COURSES PLAYED
1. Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, Bloomfield, CT. I played this one very early in the season, just after opening. I really can't say enough about this course, a varied design that plays fairly open on the front side, and more tightly through the forest on the back. It's the perfect stop half way between Boston and New York.
2. Meadow Brook Golf Course, Richmond, RI. I ended up here on a last minute decision -- I had spent a night in Providence and was thinking of heading down to the Connecticut casinos for some poker, but at the last minute decided play 18 instead. The course comes as advertised: "7400 yards from the back tees with rolling fairways and multiple elevation changes throughout, allowing golfers to use every club in their bag." It still needs a little bit of maturing, and there is one notable oddity -- the first tee is quite a distance from the pro shop -- but it has the potential to be the prime choice for golf and gamble trips in the future.
3. The Ailsa Course, Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire, Scotland. As perfect a place as I've ever been. If you haven't read about it yet, click here.
4. The Oaks, The International Golf Club & Resort, Bolton, MA. I had put this one on the 5-year list, but suggested that I would try to get there in 2012 because it was newly semi-private, and there's always a chance it would go back to full-time private. I actually ended up playing there twice, 10 days apart. It immediately vaulted to one of my favorite courses, a perfect mix of challenging but still fair, with fantastic conditioning and a tremendous hole variety -- not to mention some of the best views of the Worcester Hills and Mt. Wachusett around. I cannot recommend this course enough.
Although it was an awfully good year for courses played, there will still be some carry-overs this year. Before we get to the this, let's review the rules again:
- "Must plays" for the year (or the next 5 years) cannot be courses that I played last year.
- "Must plays" for this year should all be fairly local so that it's realistic; must plays for the 5-year list can be a bit more extended.
- I want to be somewhat pragmatic.
MUST PLAYS FOR 2013
1. The Springfield Country Club, West Springfield, MA. As I mentioned last year, my friend Kevin (of Asher Invitational fame) joined here last year, but unfortunately I didn't get a chance to play. That will change this year as I have been invited to their member-guest, a 5 day (!) affair. Can't wait.
2. Shaker Hills Country Club, Harvard, MA. Shaker has long been one of my favorite courses (and still features my favorite hole, the par-5 16th). That's why it was shocking to hear that the course was shuttered and sold at auction last spring. Fortunately, the buyers didn't decide to turn it into a movie production studio, and instead have been at work renovating the course and clubhouse. I'm looking forward to getting back there this year to see the updates.
3. Taconic Golf Club, Williamstown, MA. Golf.com ranks it as the #39 on their "Top 100 You Can Play" rankings; Golf Digest has it ranked as the #19 course overall in the state of Massachusetts. I was fortunate enough to play there back when I was about 18 years old, and really I was too naive to appreciate it then. But, lo and behold, when I looked at the schedule for The TOUR of Greater Boston, there it was, marked down for October 7. I'll be there.
4. Acushnet River Valley Golf Course, Acushnet, MA. Another carry-over from last year's list. It's too good a course to go ignored, and now that I know there's a pro-level Titleist fitting facility nearby it's a no-brainer -- I think it's time for new wedges.
5. The Black, Bethpage State Park, Farmington, NY. In the words of Jack Shephard, "We have to go back!"
MUST PLAYS FOR 2013-2017
1. Chambers Bay, University Place, WA. I've said it once, and I'll say it again -- this course is #1 on the list until I play it. It seems like some of the buzz for the course has died down recently, but I'm sure it will pick up again soon enough with the U.S. Open coming in 2015. My post-Scotland obsession with links-style golf has only enhanced my desire to get there. It will happen.
2. Cabot Links, Inverness, NS. The only new course on the 5-year list this time around; this one is my newest obsession. Not only is it Scottish-links, its in Nova Scotia ("New Scotland"). And the early reviews are spectacular. Unfortunately, it turns out to be more difficult to get to than I had hoped (apparently there no longer is a Boston-to-Halifax ferry), but I'm convinced that the wife can be swayed to go away for another "unique" vacation.
3. Pine Barrens, World Woods Golf Club, Brooksville, FL. Too close to my parents' house to not get there. It's only a matter of time.
4. Ballyowen Golf Course, Hamburg, NJ. This is the 3rd course on this list which advertises itself as being born "in the Scottish tradition" or to actually have a picture of a man wearing a kilt playing the bagpipes on its website. I may actually have a problem.
5. Boston Golf Club, Hingham, MA. The reviews (ranked in the 70s on both the "top 100" courses lists). The secrecy. The proximity. This:
If anybody knows a way to get on there (or any members who want to invite me), just let me know!
No comments:
Post a Comment