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My Club
Jan 17, 2010 0:11:50 GMT -5
Post by Richie3Jack on Jan 17, 2010 0:11:50 GMT -5
I wanted to bring attention to my 'golf club' because I think what they've created is a very smart business model for the golf business which will enable golfers to play good golf courses at an affordable price while allowing the company that owns the courses to make a nice profit. For a look at my club plan, go to www.canongategolf.com. The way it works is that I pay a monthy membership fee of $150 a month. This allows me to use the range just about any day i want to. Each time I want to play, it costs an addition $25 for a green fee and cart. The kicker is that the Canongate company owns over 20 courses in the Atlanta area and I can play any of the 20+ courses I want to play. So, if the course is busy, or has an outing or the greens were just punched, etc...I can just hop onto another course. And the courses are quite good as well. The courses I play (Windermere and Olde Atlanta) are DLIII and Arthur Hills designs. Eagle Watch is an excellent Palmer design. Hamilton Mill is a nice Couples design. This also greatly improves my game as well since I can test my actual game, mechanics and ability instead of shooting low scores just because I know the course inside out and I'm so comfortable with it. The only kicker is that I can schedule tee times at my 'home courses' (OAC and Windermere) 7 days in advance. The other courses I can only schedule 3 days in advance. This year I plan on taking pics of the different courses of Canongate and posting them in this forum. What's your home course. Got any pics? 3JACK
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My Club
Feb 7, 2010 22:35:40 GMT -5
Post by jonnygrouville on Feb 7, 2010 22:35:40 GMT -5
Just thinking about this has made me realise how incredibly lucky I am and have been with my golf. My home course where I grew up is the Royal Jersey, home course of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. It is not a long course by any means, but is traditional old school links golf. Being on an island, its greatest defence is the weather. Where you hit a wedge in the morning, you can be hitting a three iron in the afternoon. This is looking back from the first green: www.royaljersey.com/course_holes.asp?pageid=30&hole=1The castle on the right is on the left from the tee. Anything pulled and you can be flush up against the wall of the fort. You have the beach all the way down the right and a concrete bunker like the one on the left of the picture on your right from the tee as well. Brutal way to start! At college, I was lucky enough to play at Royal Worlington and Newmarket: www.royalworlington.co.uk/page/course-descriptionIt is hard to describe this place and, if I did, you probably wouldn't believe me. I am still an overseas member of Walton Heath, venue for the Ryder Cup in the 1980s, current host of the European leg of the US Open qualifying (where Michael Campbell played his way in before his victory) and where James Braid was the first pro: www.whgc.co.uk/TheCourses/Old.aspxThe Old Course is regularly in the top 100 in the world and the New makes it into the top 50 in the UK. I obviously have rose-tinted spectacles, but whole-heartedly agree with these rankings. True classics of course design. I wish more tour venues had 460 yard par fours where pros bascially can not hit driver. Making me miss the place writing this! I am now lucky enough to play my golf here: www.vantrigolf.com.vn/Golf%20CourseI have never played anywhere with so much water in play. It is reclaimed from a marsh, cobras and everything!
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My Club
Feb 8, 2010 12:47:15 GMT -5
Post by Richie3Jack on Feb 8, 2010 12:47:15 GMT -5
Nice, Jonny!
3JACK
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My Club
Mar 15, 2010 17:51:35 GMT -5
Post by secondary on Mar 15, 2010 17:51:35 GMT -5
I was going to post about My course in the "Crappiest Course" section but it isn't really the worst course I have played. www.fortyninercc.com It "used" to be good. They held PGA events there way back when and all that. It has lot's of potential. You can walk it real easy which isn't always the case in Tucson or AZ in general. I don't know when they took the pics for that web site, because it never looks like that! Supposedly in bankruptcy at the moment? I overhead the new Super talking about all the changes and improvements that he is going to make while i was at the range yesterday. Don't know where that $$ is coming from. I hope it is true though. The price is right and it's less than 5 minutes away. I just wish it didn't suck so bad. I was pretty spoiled before though and didn't even know it. www.sandcreek.com/cc/ is where I was a member before and it is/was sweet. 27 holes, awesome short game areas and great range. Best part was you could walk right up and play at any time. I miss that. But I don't miss the 4-6 months of downtime.
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My Club
Mar 15, 2010 20:08:17 GMT -5
Post by gmbtempe on Mar 15, 2010 20:08:17 GMT -5
Secondary,
I am playing down in Tucson on a four day tournament at four courses
Stone Canyon Vistoso El Conquistador Arizona National
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My Club
Mar 15, 2010 21:12:55 GMT -5
Post by secondary on Mar 15, 2010 21:12:55 GMT -5
Greg, Nice, Stone Canyon and Vistoso. Color me jealous. I live less than 3 miles away from AZ National, give me the date and a heads up just before and I will come check you out.
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My Club
Mar 25, 2010 15:11:09 GMT -5
Post by siegler on Mar 25, 2010 15:11:09 GMT -5
Secondary, I am playing down in Tucson on a four day tournament at four courses Stone Canyon Vistoso El Conquistador Arizona National I played Vistoso, the Canyon course at Ventana Canyon, and Starr Pass while in Tucson a couple years ago. I'd say that Vistoso was the most difficult, Canyon the most scenic, and Starr Pass my favorite. Tucson is a little overwhelming for a Minnesotan though! Played the Fourty Niner course right off the plane, which was a great value if nothing else.
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My Club
Mar 25, 2010 17:41:07 GMT -5
Post by secondary on Mar 25, 2010 17:41:07 GMT -5
No argument about it being a good deal, sort of sucks when you pay for a yearly membership (although pretty cheap) and then golfnow has tee times for under 30 during prime time. When I do the math it would have been cheaper to NOT join. I guess it gives me a non guilty conscious(sp?) when I go and chip and putt all the time. I WISH Starr Pass was my club all the time!!!
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My Club
Mar 26, 2010 0:11:54 GMT -5
Post by gmbtempe on Mar 26, 2010 0:11:54 GMT -5
I played Vistoso when it first opened with a couple guys who played in MLB, I thought it was a very good track but more difficult for a higher handicapper than lower due to the intimidation factor of all the desert.
Never played Arizona National which used to be the "Raven at Sabino Springs". Never played El Conquistador either.
Stone Canyon is supposed to be right there with the elite private courses in the state with tons of elevation change.
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jerryg
'88 Apex Redlines
Posts: 100
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My Club
Jun 6, 2010 14:39:03 GMT -5
Post by jerryg on Jun 6, 2010 14:39:03 GMT -5
Not exactly my club, but I would like to mention two very overlooked golf courses in the Twin Cities area. The first is The Ponds at Battle Creek, a 9 hole golf course designed by Garrett Gill. This is a wonderful layout considering what he had to work with and is a load of fun to play. Players of mid handicap or worse need to bring a few extra balls because of the very challenging nature of the course. All of Mr. Gill's designs are very worthy tests and way above average. The other is the Links of New Richmond (WI,) the sister course to New Richmond's Old Course. This course is a Joel Goldstrand design and is a reversible nine that is always in private club condition. This is a links design with very few trees, a little marsh, and punishing rough. Tees, fairways and greens are superb. Challenges abound, but are very fair. Since it isn't that far from the Minn./Wis. border, it is very accessible for us city folk.
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My Club
Jun 16, 2010 17:19:15 GMT -5
Post by siegler on Jun 16, 2010 17:19:15 GMT -5
Not exactly my club, but I would like to mention two very overlooked golf courses in the Twin Cities area. The first is The Ponds at Battle Creek, a 9 hole golf course designed by Garrett Gill. This is a wonderful layout considering what he had to work with and is a load of fun to play. Players of mid handicap or worse need to bring a few extra balls because of the very challenging nature of the course. All of Mr. Gill's designs are very worthy tests and way above average. The other is the Links of New Richmond (WI,) the sister course to New Richmond's Old Course. This course is a Joel Goldstrand design and is a reversible nine that is always in private club condition. This is a links design with very few trees, a little marsh, and punishing rough. Tees, fairways and greens are superb. Challenges abound, but are very fair. Since it isn't that far from the Minn./Wis. border, it is very accessible for us city folk. I live in Stillwater, MN and haven't ever played The Ponds at Battle Creek but you're the third person that has mentioned how good it is. I'll have to play there soon. I agree with you about Links at New Richmond too. They had a deal a couple years ago where you got to play for free and I liked the course. Most of my friends are to the west though, so I haven't had a chance to play there again. Those closest thing to 'my club' would be Tanners Brook in Forest Lake. I love the layout and there aren't any houses around. They have a $20 special in the fall that's a great deal.
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My Club
Oct 20, 2010 16:33:23 GMT -5
Post by tightdraw on Oct 20, 2010 16:33:23 GMT -5
My current home course more or less for thirty plus years (not including a hiatus of five years at New Haven Country Club) is the Golf Course at Yale or YGC as we refer to it. The course was opened in 1926; the lead designer was Charles Blair McDonald and he was assisted by Seth Raynor a great designer in his own right. YGC is one of the best examples of American classic design influenced largely by Scottish courses (from whence CB Macdonald came). The course is beautifully laid out and there is only one hole on the entire course that is undistinguished in any way (the weak par 5 16th). There are few level lies; elevated greens and tees. Greens are extremely large and multi leveled. the greens are invariably protected by extremely deep bunkering. The most famous holes are the par 9th over water with a green of about 50 yards with a five foot swail in the middle; and the 18th, a 621 yard par 5 that played from the back tees requires a drive of at least 230 yds into the normally prevailing winds to reach the fairway. The hole also has two fairways for the second shot: one high and one low separated by a hill of wild growth. Like other classic deisgns the course really only makes great aesthetic sense from the back tees. there are several blind shots and one hears bells ringing all over the course to indicate the coast is clear. Tommy Armour referred to the 430yd 4th hole as the best par 4 in the United States. It isn't and probably never was but it is a damned fine hole. The course stretches to no more than 6600 plus yards but last year the NCAA were held here and the winning score for 54 holes was 5 or 6 under par. Only a handful of golfers finished under par. It's what golf should be like. It is never boring, always challenging, requires course managemant skills and requires one to play every club in the bag well. It can bend but rarely breaks. It is hard to play Yale and not feel privileged to do so. People with no appreciation of golf history however may be less enamored of its character than others will be.
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My Club
Nov 19, 2010 1:26:36 GMT -5
Post by jonnygrouville on Nov 19, 2010 1:26:36 GMT -5
Lucky man. Is a lovey course. It is like the Berkshire or St. George's Hill or something, like a traditional inland course.
I had a match there against Yale. If I remember, I got thrashed!
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My Club
Nov 19, 2010 17:37:38 GMT -5
Post by tightdraw on Nov 19, 2010 17:37:38 GMT -5
when was that. do you recall. And for whom were you playing at the time. I played it in college and ever since one of my favorites. a great course from the way backs -- no roll, all carry and bunkers to die for and more often to die from
Tightdraw
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