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A Quest to Play the Top 100 Public Golf Courses in the United States
A Quest to Play the Top 100 Public Golf Courses
2007 CONTINUED
(CONT'D) ... got the job done.
The old Pinehurst Resort has a “seventh wonder of the world” appeal going for it. It’s a historic southern plantation hotel and resort that has class written all over it.
Driving up the long entry road to the hotel, we felt the same rush that a ten-year gets when pulling into the Disneyland parking lot. The fact that we were there when the famed No. 2 course was celebrating its 100-year anniversary made it that much more special.
They definitely have the golf resort thing figured out at Pinehurst. Once you sign in at the front desk, they hand you two key items: (1). A tag for your clubs, and (2). A Pinehurst guest card. At that point, you literally have the run of the joint, including shuttle bus service, a daily buffet breakfast, and a full-blown dinner at any of the four resort restaurants. And somehow, your clubs mysteriously show up wherever you play. It’s the bomb!
Our group met at a restaurant/bar called “Hackers Bar & Grill” which turned out to be our most popular hang-out of the trip. It's one of four quality restaurants that are located on the resort. With a name like Hackers, we expected cheeseburgers and danger dogs, but we were served pan-roasted Pork Chops, BBQ ribs, and even home-style meat loaf. I always loved the south and carried home about five extra pounds of evidence to prove it. They also kept the drinks coming at a rapid pace. We were joined by Kasey’s friend, Dave True, who was nearby for a business event and would join us for golf on Sunday. It was now time to let the games began.
Most of the 40 and over group retired around 10:30 p.m. That left Kasey, Spanky, Dave, and Joe. They stayed and enjoyed the spirits until the wee hours. That would be the same Joe that was well-coached on the flight out about the dangers of getting hammered early in a Golfest trip. Apparently, he had ear plugs in. When they arrived back at our two-unit, two-story condo around 3:30 a.m., they were about as quiet as a marching band on crack. Only six-hours remained until our first tee time.
Pinehurst No. 7 was on the agenda on Sunday morning. Speaking of seven, that is how many people were waiting at 8:00 a.m. for the shuttle bus to the breakfast buffet. Any guesses on which foursome missed the bus? The rest of us blew through an awesome breakfast, took the shuttle bus to No. 7, hit some balls and were standing on the first tee box at 9:30 a.m. The marching band made the call with just minutes to spare, looking a little green around the edges.
The opening act at Pinehurst gave us a great preview of things to come. The fairways were like carpet, the greens were perfectly manicured, the traps were in pristine condition, and the views made you wonder why this course wasn’t rated. It deserved to be. We got our first exposure to all of the Pinehurst-hype of being one of the toughest courses in the world from 50-yards in. It was common to be sitting 30 yards away from the pin in two, and ended up with a double-bogey. Go figure?
Despite a slight-case of alcohol poisoning, Spanky fired up his dangerous three-wood for the day’s best score – a 78. By the way, Kasey’s friend Dave was last seen a couple of fairways back, bracing his head against a tree – purging. Apparently some of the marching band members got ahold of some bad crack? A late lunch was dished up at a place called the Tavern. The rest of the night was enjoyed at a much slower pace. Some began the process of stocking the refrigerators will Red Bull, Ice Cream, and water. Most of us were conserving energy for Pinehurst No. 2, something that would require an 18-hole walk.
Pinehurst No. 2 has been described in magazines as the toughest course in the United States where you will not lose a golf ball. It was the site of the 2005 U.S. Open where New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell staved off an aggressive Tiger Woods to win the U.S. Open. The Donald Ross designed course is wide open, but features an abundance of strategically placed traps and something new to our golf vocabulary – “CROWNED GREENS.”
What in the heck is a crowned green you ask? Let’s put it this way: If you pitch or chip it up short, don’t move, because your ball is going roll up, stop, reverse course, and roll right back to your feet. To describe it another way, it’s like putting on top of a turtle shell. Two feet too far, and it rolls off. Two feet short? Same predicament.
The first foursome included a pair of Jim’s – Allen & Dee – against Jeffrey and Mike in our usual skins game. The second group featured Spanky, Kasey, and Mark, followed by the threesome of Bob, Art & Joe. Throw in some caddies and it was a great day – no lost balls in the entire group. After the obligatory photo opp next to the Payne Stewart statue, we were back for naps or massages.
Dinner was scheduled later that evening in the prestigious Carolina Room in the main hotel. This elegant restaurant first opened in 1901 and required a Golfest first – a sports coat. If I must say so myself, our group dresses up nicely.
We were treated to an excellent five course meal, served by a waitress who was funnier than heck. She helped make it a great experience.
Tuesday would dish up 36-holes of golf at No. 4 & No. 8, both rated courses on our list. By coincidence, it also turned out to be one of the more humid days on the trip. While No. 7 served up a preview, and No. 2 dished up some history, No. 4 & No. 8 presented the scenic views and most unique golf holes. Lots of water, lots of elevation changes, and more than its fair share of risk-reward golf holes. Between rounds, most of us played tourist and dropped big chunks of money at the pro shop. If you have an empty sports room or den in your home, you can deck it out completely at this pro shop, but bring your VISA card.
After breakfast the next morning, we all piled into our respective rental vehicles and headed from Pinehurst to the Atlantic Ocean, in search of the Oyster Bay Golf Course. Along the way, we got a great tour of the laid back south. You know all of those jokes that they tell on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour? The one’s about rednecks and the south? Stuff about mobile homes, cars on blocks, window air conditioners propped up with posts, and people and “dawgs” sitting on porches with nothing to do? After this three-hour road trip, we came to the conclusion that it is ALL true, because we saw it first hand.
We arrived at Oyster Bay about an hour and a half before our scheduled tee time. Most of our group hung out at the massive bar and wolfed down hot dogs and cocktails. Others shopped in the adjoining pro shop, which was big enough to be a full-blown restaurant.
Just before our tee time, we were given the “Oyster Bay is one of the top 100 courses in the United States” speech by the starter and bag loaders. Considering that our group has a lot of experience in this department, they had actually raised the bar too high. In fact, Oyster Bay probably enjoyed a great heyday when it opened 25-years ago, but it was looking tired and a little rough around the edges. It was just a nice old golf course - forget the rating part.
The unique characteristic about Oyster Bay is the abundance of oyster shells that are used to highlight features around the course. Incidentally, those babies are sharp when you fall on them. Ask me how I know that? Oyster Bay also gave us our first exposure of the trip to “on course” gators. No injuries to report.
After the round, we headed south towards South Carolina and our fine accommodations at the Barefoot Resort. Most of us had a serious Italian food craving and the help at Oyster Bay recommended an Italian joint on Highway 17. We found it, but few were impressed by the building. I decided to scout it out. The place smelled like old socks and like Oyster Bay, may have been 20-years past its prime. Mike and Jeffrey decided to stay while the rest of us headed for the always reliable Outback. Mike and Jeffrey swore it was the best Italian food they ever ate, which it probably was --- once they got over the smell.
Our group bounced out of bed the next morning and headed back across the border to the Rivers Edge golf course. It’s located about 35-miles up the road on the Shallotte River. This course expressed personality in a big way and showcased some of the most scenic golf holes we have ever seen. It looked like ... (MORE)
The old Pinehurst Resort has a “seventh wonder of the world” appeal going for it. It’s a historic southern plantation hotel and resort that has class written all over it.
Driving up the long entry road to the hotel, we felt the same rush that a ten-year gets when pulling into the Disneyland parking lot. The fact that we were there when the famed No. 2 course was celebrating its 100-year anniversary made it that much more special.
They definitely have the golf resort thing figured out at Pinehurst. Once you sign in at the front desk, they hand you two key items: (1). A tag for your clubs, and (2). A Pinehurst guest card. At that point, you literally have the run of the joint, including shuttle bus service, a daily buffet breakfast, and a full-blown dinner at any of the four resort restaurants. And somehow, your clubs mysteriously show up wherever you play. It’s the bomb!
Our group met at a restaurant/bar called “Hackers Bar & Grill” which turned out to be our most popular hang-out of the trip. It's one of four quality restaurants that are located on the resort. With a name like Hackers, we expected cheeseburgers and danger dogs, but we were served pan-roasted Pork Chops, BBQ ribs, and even home-style meat loaf. I always loved the south and carried home about five extra pounds of evidence to prove it. They also kept the drinks coming at a rapid pace. We were joined by Kasey’s friend, Dave True, who was nearby for a business event and would join us for golf on Sunday. It was now time to let the games began.
Most of the 40 and over group retired around 10:30 p.m. That left Kasey, Spanky, Dave, and Joe. They stayed and enjoyed the spirits until the wee hours. That would be the same Joe that was well-coached on the flight out about the dangers of getting hammered early in a Golfest trip. Apparently, he had ear plugs in. When they arrived back at our two-unit, two-story condo around 3:30 a.m., they were about as quiet as a marching band on crack. Only six-hours remained until our first tee time.
Pinehurst No. 7 was on the agenda on Sunday morning. Speaking of seven, that is how many people were waiting at 8:00 a.m. for the shuttle bus to the breakfast buffet. Any guesses on which foursome missed the bus? The rest of us blew through an awesome breakfast, took the shuttle bus to No. 7, hit some balls and were standing on the first tee box at 9:30 a.m. The marching band made the call with just minutes to spare, looking a little green around the edges.The opening act at Pinehurst gave us a great preview of things to come. The fairways were like carpet, the greens were perfectly manicured, the traps were in pristine condition, and the views made you wonder why this course wasn’t rated. It deserved to be. We got our first exposure to all of the Pinehurst-hype of being one of the toughest courses in the world from 50-yards in. It was common to be sitting 30 yards away from the pin in two, and ended up with a double-bogey. Go figure?
Despite a slight-case of alcohol poisoning, Spanky fired up his dangerous three-wood for the day’s best score – a 78. By the way, Kasey’s friend Dave was last seen a couple of fairways back, bracing his head against a tree – purging. Apparently some of the marching band members got ahold of some bad crack? A late lunch was dished up at a place called the Tavern. The rest of the night was enjoyed at a much slower pace. Some began the process of stocking the refrigerators will Red Bull, Ice Cream, and water. Most of us were conserving energy for Pinehurst No. 2, something that would require an 18-hole walk.
Pinehurst No. 2 has been described in magazines as the toughest course in the United States where you will not lose a golf ball. It was the site of the 2005 U.S. Open where New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell staved off an aggressive Tiger Woods to win the U.S. Open. The Donald Ross designed course is wide open, but features an abundance of strategically placed traps and something new to our golf vocabulary – “CROWNED GREENS.” What in the heck is a crowned green you ask? Let’s put it this way: If you pitch or chip it up short, don’t move, because your ball is going roll up, stop, reverse course, and roll right back to your feet. To describe it another way, it’s like putting on top of a turtle shell. Two feet too far, and it rolls off. Two feet short? Same predicament.
The first foursome included a pair of Jim’s – Allen & Dee – against Jeffrey and Mike in our usual skins game. The second group featured Spanky, Kasey, and Mark, followed by the threesome of Bob, Art & Joe. Throw in some caddies and it was a great day – no lost balls in the entire group. After the obligatory photo opp next to the Payne Stewart statue, we were back for naps or massages.
Dinner was scheduled later that evening in the prestigious Carolina Room in the main hotel. This elegant restaurant first opened in 1901 and required a Golfest first – a sports coat. If I must say so myself, our group dresses up nicely. We were treated to an excellent five course meal, served by a waitress who was funnier than heck. She helped make it a great experience.
Tuesday would dish up 36-holes of golf at No. 4 & No. 8, both rated courses on our list. By coincidence, it also turned out to be one of the more humid days on the trip. While No. 7 served up a preview, and No. 2 dished up some history, No. 4 & No. 8 presented the scenic views and most unique golf holes. Lots of water, lots of elevation changes, and more than its fair share of risk-reward golf holes. Between rounds, most of us played tourist and dropped big chunks of money at the pro shop. If you have an empty sports room or den in your home, you can deck it out completely at this pro shop, but bring your VISA card.
After breakfast the next morning, we all piled into our respective rental vehicles and headed from Pinehurst to the Atlantic Ocean, in search of the Oyster Bay Golf Course. Along the way, we got a great tour of the laid back south. You know all of those jokes that they tell on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour? The one’s about rednecks and the south? Stuff about mobile homes, cars on blocks, window air conditioners propped up with posts, and people and “dawgs” sitting on porches with nothing to do? After this three-hour road trip, we came to the conclusion that it is ALL true, because we saw it first hand.We arrived at Oyster Bay about an hour and a half before our scheduled tee time. Most of our group hung out at the massive bar and wolfed down hot dogs and cocktails. Others shopped in the adjoining pro shop, which was big enough to be a full-blown restaurant.
Just before our tee time, we were given the “Oyster Bay is one of the top 100 courses in the United States” speech by the starter and bag loaders. Considering that our group has a lot of experience in this department, they had actually raised the bar too high. In fact, Oyster Bay probably enjoyed a great heyday when it opened 25-years ago, but it was looking tired and a little rough around the edges. It was just a nice old golf course - forget the rating part.
The unique characteristic about Oyster Bay is the abundance of oyster shells that are used to highlight features around the course. Incidentally, those babies are sharp when you fall on them. Ask me how I know that? Oyster Bay also gave us our first exposure of the trip to “on course” gators. No injuries to report.
After the round, we headed south towards South Carolina and our fine accommodations at the Barefoot Resort. Most of us had a serious Italian food craving and the help at Oyster Bay recommended an Italian joint on Highway 17. We found it, but few were impressed by the building. I decided to scout it out. The place smelled like old socks and like Oyster Bay, may have been 20-years past its prime. Mike and Jeffrey decided to stay while the rest of us headed for the always reliable Outback. Mike and Jeffrey swore it was the best Italian food they ever ate, which it probably was --- once they got over the smell.
Our group bounced out of bed the next morning and headed back across the border to the Rivers Edge golf course. It’s located about 35-miles up the road on the Shallotte River. This course expressed personality in a big way and showcased some of the most scenic golf holes we have ever seen. It looked like ... (MORE)
This site was created on June 15, 2007.
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