Masters Week = Memories

This week, people across the northern half of this continent, not just golfers, are reminded that the sun does shine, birds do chirp, and that flowers and green grass aren't figments of our imagination.  However, when I think of the Masters, I am reminded mostly of my Dad.  I would guess most golfers would say that the US Open is the "father-son" major with it culminating on Father's Day, but not I.  

It's uncanny how vividly I can remember the VHS library in my childhood home in Toronto.  I can still see the side of one particular VHS tape with my Dad's handwriting in all capital letters, "1986 Masters - DO NOT TAPE OVER UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH."  (My Dad is a die hard Nicklaus fan).  My first memory of watching the Masters with my Dad was that following year, as a baseball obsessed eight year old.  When Larry Mize sank that long pitch and run from the back right of 11 green in the playoff to rip Greg Norman's heart out, I knew there was something really cool about golf.  I eventually started playing a lot more golf than baseball and it's all because of the Masters.  

My Dad had always gone down to the Masters on a trip out of Toronto for the third round of the tournament.  Fly down in the morning, watch the golf, fly home late at night.  I was very jealous.  I would always bug him about when I was going to be able to go, to which I heard the familiar response of "when you're old enough."  As we parents know, that's a phrase that just doesn't add up for kids - so like any other kid, I kept asking.  Then Christmas 1997 arrived.  There was an envelope in the tree from my Dad.  In it was a piece of paper listing a whole bunch of names, two of those names being Robert Gibb and Matthew Gibb.  It was the trip to the Masters.  He and I were going that following spring.  I couldn't believe it.  

Augusta National is a place that is not justified until you see it with your own eyes.  HDTV, 4K, 3D, whatever technology is the latest rage, it doesn’t matter - nothing will ever match seeing Augusta with your own eyes.  The smell, the sheer size of the place, the undulation, it's an amazing place when you first lay eyes on it.  

We had a perfect day.  We walked the entire course, we hung out around amen corner, we ate some pimento cheese sandwiches, we raided the merchandise tent.  But all good things must end, and as we were about to exit the gates off of the fifth fairway on that late Saturday afternoon, I wanted to take a bit with me.  I knelt down, ripped out some grass and shoved it in my pocket.  (Yes, I smuggled grass into Canada as a 18 year old.)  When I got home, I kept the clippings in this little case where I kept the ball that I used to make my first eagle.  I knew that was one of the best days I’d ever had.  What I never could have imagined was that one day I would spend a few days playing golf with my Dad on that same pristine grass.

It all began with a very innocent question posed by my mother in June 2004, "What could we do that would be fun and different for your father's 60th birthday next year?"  To which I replied, "Not sure...that's always a tough one with Dad."  She immediately replied back with, "Well, a lifelong goal of his is to play Augusta National...any way to make that happen?"

My mom is not a naive person, especially when it comes to golf.  She has lived in the household of two golf nuts her whole life so this was a genuine question.  After I paused for a few seconds, we both started to kind of laugh at the sheer insanity of the question.  I soon thought to myself, maybe this isn't impossible.  After all, I wasn't asking for myself, I was simply trying to arrange a game for my Dad.

At that point in my life, I had met 3 members of Augusta. I had met one during my time with the University of Minnesota Golf Team, the second while competing in the British Amateur, and the third at my home club in Toronto, St George's G&CC.  Nevertheless, I was a tad gunshy about asking the question.  As any serious golfer will attest, you simply don't ask to be invited to places like Augusta National, even if you're asking on behalf of your Dad.  But on the flip side, I kept hearing the words of my father, "You always gotta ask for the order...the worst that can happen is you'll get a 'no.'"  

Let’s just say I followed my Dad's advice.  My Dad - and I! - were able to spend 2 days and 2 nights at Augusta National, courtesy of one of the nicest, most genuine people I have ever met.  It was he, his nephew who was about my age at the time, my Dad and myself.  We played four times including the par 3, ate dinner in the clubhouse, and stayed in the Clifford Roberts cabin off the first fairway.  It was an extremely surreal experience and seems like a dream even to this day.  I realize not every father and son gets to go to the Masters, let alone play Augusta National. But regardless of the venue, what matters is the time we've spent together because of our shared passion of golf.  That’s what makes this sport so special.  

So every year, when the Masters begins, I am reminded how incredibly lucky I am to have had such a great sport in my life which allows my Dad and I to spend time together.  I’m now 34, married, with a 9 month old son, and you can guess where we will be this Sunday afternoon.  

Enjoy the week.

-MG

Harbour Town Golf Links

If I had to describe Harbour Town Golf Links in one word?  Tight.  For example, below is the opening tee shot. Pete Dye and Jack Nickaus apparently aren't fans of letting the player "ease into a round..."

Tee Shot on #1

(photo courtesy of golfclubatlas.com)

If you have read any of my writing, you will know that I am a believer in architectural design that gives the golfer width off the tee.  This provides the most playing options and allows for choosing your own path in how to attack the hole.  In essence, width on a golf course makes for a much more strategic and thought provoking experience for the golfer.

Harbour Town Golf Links is the antithesis of this form of golf with its bowling alley fairways and tiny greens.  But regardless of which style of course you prefer, make no mistake, this is a great golf course.  It doesn't hurt that it is set in the South Carolina low country, which makes for an idyllic setting.  From the moment you land on Hilton Head Island, you can almost feel your blood pressure drop a little bit.  There is no question that the relaxed low-country atmosphere the week following the Masters is a welcome sight, but no tour player would come if they didn't like the course.

Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus did a wonderful job routing this course through the towering pines, culminating with a fantastic finish along Calibogue Sound.  All great golf courses have a great finish and Harbour Town is no different.  16 is a great short par four, 17 a great par 3 heading out to the water, and the signature 18th along the water with the iconic lighthouse in the background make for a very memorable experience.  There are few finishing holes in golf better than the 18th at Harbour Town.  With the only fairway on the course that you have to try to miss, it provides the player the opportunity to swing freely and enjoy the final tee shot.  Just make sure you pay attention on the approach shot, which is one of the smallest greens I've ever seen.

Tee Shot on #18

(photo courtesy of the author)

Tipping out at around 7100 yards from the "Heritage" tees, this course is short by tour standards but long on challenge and variety.  One example is the par four ninth, one of the great short holes in golf.  This hole has befuddled tour players and amateurs alike since Harbour Town opened in 1967.  At just a little over 300 yards, this tight tee shot and miniature boomerang style green is proof you don't need length to make things difficult.  In today's bomb and gouge, launch optimized, distance obsessed game, we need more holes like this one - short, complex, and thought provoking.  500 yard par fours and 8,000 yard courses do little to engage the mind of the golfer.  As Tillinghast once said, "if any hole permits you to play it in a lethargic, unthinking manner, that hole is thoroughly sick."

Here is some closing advice for the first (or hopefully next!) time you play Harbour Town.  The first time I played the course as a teenager, John Farrell, longtime head pro of Harbour Town, told me to "...throw out the pinsheet and aim for the middle of every green.  These greens are so small you'll never have more than a 15 footer!"  Trust me, it works.

Hit 'em well
- MG

Lusting for Links

I am hungover.  I am in a links golf hangover.  It was such a joy this summer to see the best players in the world take on all those beautiful links with strategy and creativity. For about a month long stretch, we were treated to the Scottish Open (Castle Stuart), Open Championship (Muirfield), Senior Open Championship (Royal Birkdale), and Women's US and British Open (Old Course and Sebonack).  Since then, with few exceptions, the one dimensional parkland style course which has played the canvas for so many professional events has resulted in a serious lack of interest on my part.

Playing golf during this time of year also makes me yearn for links golf.  Whether it is the firmer and faster conditions, the cold breezes, or the seemingly less claustrophobic trees, golf at this time of year reminds me of the most superior form of golf - links golf.  Here's why:

• Fewer hazards.  With less water and out of bounds there are less penalty shots, resulting in faster rounds and greater enjoyment.   
• Wider fairways, less rough, slower greens.  All three combine for speedier play, creative shotmaking and a seemingly endless variety of ways to play the same hole, all resulting in more fun.
• Fewer trees.  Less trees, or no trees, means less water required, less dead turf, less leaves, less maintenance.   

All of the above elements allow for faster rounds, more enjoyment, and lower maintenance costs. And there is little argument that golf could use more of all three.

Throwback architects such as Doak and Coore/Crenshaw are doing their best to develop links style courses here in North America, and are drawing rave reviews.  Courses such as Bandon Dunes, Cabot Links, Streamsong Resort - to name a few - were built with the ideals of links golf at heart.  This style of golf has typically only existed on the links style courses of the UK, but is growing here in North America.  Kudos to those architects and the developers for having the courage to create such courses.

Golf is golf.  It's fun whether you are playing a local tree lined muni or one of the best links in the world. But links golf embodies the true essence of the game and we need more of it in this great game.  The firm and fast turf requires creative shotmaking, and when the wind blows (as it so often does in links golf) one needs to shape their shots to effectively control the ball against the wind and the firm ground.  It is something that cannot be fully explained without experiencing links golf on a windy day.  Speaking of, I'm off for one more round of autumn golf...a great remedy for my hangover.

Hit 'em well.
MG

Mr. Dawson's Mulligan

Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, was questioned earlier this week about hosting the Open championship at all-male Muirfield, aka The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.  He was asked whether or not he sees the exclusion of female members at Muirfield as a form of discrimination, similar to racism.  One of his responses, to one of the many questions asked on this topic, was as follows.

“I don’t really think, to be honest, that a golf club which has a policy of being a place where like-minded men, or indeed, like-minded women, go and want to play golf together and do their thing ranks up against some of these other forms of discrimination.” 

If that were a first tee shot, it might not be out of bounds, but it certainly wasn't striped down the fairway.  To paraphrase his many responses, Mr. Dawson simply doesn't view Muirfield's all-male policy as a big deal.  Not a surprise.  The R&A doesn't have any female members either, similar to many other private golf clubs in the UK. Additionally, Royal Troon and Royal St. George's are other courses on the Open rota which do not have female members.  But the question that begs asking is why he even addressed these types of questions regarding membership?  The membership policies of these clubs have absolutely nothing to do with the R&A, or the Open Championship.  Imagine if Mr. Dawson was granted a mulligan, and instead responded with something along the lines of the following:

"Our job at the R&A is to identify the finest tests of championship links golf in the United Kingdom for staging the Open Championship.  We believe Muirfield is one of the finest links in the world and that golf fans deserve to see the Open contested here.  It is not our right to involve ourselves in the affairs of a private golf club.  Muirfield is a private golf club and as a result, we don't allow ourselves an opinion on anything regarding their club, we are only concerned with the course.  We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to host the Open at such a world class golf course."

Now if that was a first tee shot it would be described as "far and sure."  This type of response would not only have diffused the argument, but more importantly wedged a much needed divide between the R&A championship committee and the affairs of the host clubs.  It would have also focused the remainder of the press conference back on the tournament, where it belongs.  The R&A does not need to concern themselves with the policies of the host club, only the 18 holes.  And there is little argument that Muirfield is one of the best 18 holes that links golf has to offer.  

Hit 'em well.
-MG

Swinging in Solitude

Late last week, I made a tee time at a local course.  7:27am, solo.  No one else.  For whatever reason, playing golf by myself has always provided me great pleasure.  Taking some time to walk, think and swing without any outside influence is something under appreciated in the world of golf.  Maybe I'm a loner.  Maybe I'm an old soul.  I remember my mother often saying in my childhood, "every now and then a little alone time is good for the mind, body and soul."  Smart lady.

It was an overcast morning at a course I didn't terribly enjoy.  The course is literally suffocating from trees.  As Colt once said, "trees are a fluky and obnoxious hazard," and I couldn't agree more. But I digress.  The first tee time was booked and it was a warm summer day.  I am a golfer who generally likes to play at a good pace, so that could be a large part why I like playing solo.  Coffee in hand, the first tee ball was struck at 7:27 am.  I made the turn around 8:35 or so and one of the backshop guys asked me if I was trying to set a record.  I finished up around 9:45, and soon after bumped into the starter who asked how I enjoyed the front nine.  He didn't believe me when I told him I just finished 18.  I hopped in my car, and jumped on a conference call at 10:00 am.  That conference call was a bit of a buzzkill but what a perfect way to start the day.

It had been some time since I played by myself.  In the working world, with lots of friends to play with at my home club, I always have weekend games arranged.  On this morning I realized that I miss this element of golf in my life.  During my time in St Andrews, I would occasionally walk down to the Old, New, or Jubilee early in the morning or late in the evening to play a few solo.  There is little argument that squeezing in a  few holes at dawn or dusk is a special treat in the town of St Andrews, but golf is golf.  The chance to spend some time alone with your thoughts - or swing thoughts - free from work, home, or society in general should be relished.  Playing solo is much more of a true "break" from the world, versus playing with others.

Many people with whom I have discussed this topic seem to think there is something wrong with me, but every now and then, someone wholeheartedly agrees.  When it does happen, it is like meeting a kindred spirit.  Don't get me wrong, I would go a little stir crazy playing solo all the time, but every now and then, it provides such a great experience.  Give it a go sometime soon.  Take enjoyment in the solitude.  And always listen to your mother.

Hit 'em well.
- MG

#40 - LACC North

Please allow me to describe the start of a recent vacation day.

- 6:00 am wake up call
- No coffee or breakfast snacks available in the hotel lobby
- Navigate through LA traffic for about 30-40 minutes half asleep while the pleasant voice of google maps barks turn by turn directions

This doesn't really seem like an ideal scenario, does it?  

However, on this beautiful spring morning, pretty much nothing could dissuade my enthusiasm for what was on the agenda today.  From the moment I made the turn onto Wilshire, stole some glimpses through the fences, I just knew Los Angeles Country Club was going to be a special place.  When I received the text the night prior from my member friend saying, "First tee time.  Caddies.  And oh, you must wear pants - no shorts allowed." I just knew this was going to be one of the special places in the game of golf.

I pulled up to the gate as the sun was coming up.  The security guard was very welcoming but instructed me to leave my cell phone in the car.  He also handed me this quaint little guest card which outlined rules and regulations of the club.  I love unique customs and traditions at private clubs, so this was right up my alley.

                                            

                                                Guest card at LACC.  

I had the sincere privilege to play this course through a friend of mine who is a longtime member.  He and I were paired together in the 2004 World Club Championship, a fantastic amateur competition between Golf Magazine's World Top 100 Golf Clubs.  LACC has it all - a world class golf course, a classic old clubhouse, a great practice area, but most of all a passionate member base.  (Oh, and a quintessentially art deco LA mint green tiled bathroom in the men's locker room)

Back in 2009, this member base felt the need to re-assess their golf course.  I had the pleasure of playing LACC North with a longtime member who was instrumental in the restoration of this classic old George Thomas design.  It wasn't that the course had been in disrepair, it's just that a lot of the strategy and beauty of it had been lost in the overgrowth over the years, something commonplace in many courses today.  Excessive trees, non-native grasses, and just plain claustrophobia that had resulted over time wasn't the course Thomas intended when he set foot on the grounds at the turn of the 20th century.  Thus a small group of members set forth an action plan to restore the course to its original design.

Gil Hanse and his team were hired to restore the course to George Thomas' original design.  First and foremost, Hanse and his team restored the natural "barranca" - aka natural valley/ravine - which weaves its way so beautifully now throughout so many holes, especially on the front nine.  Some of the original greens were brought back to their original form, and some were even rediscovered - #6 and #17 (see below).  Rumor has it that all in, approximately 2000 trees in the past three years since the restoration began. I cannot post pictures of the before and after of the course, but anyone who believes that tree removal can harm a layout, should go visit LACC North.  It is a testament to how less trees on a golf course can increase shot value, improve turf conditions, increase variety of playing options and create a more beautiful scenic vistas.  Golf invariably becomes less one dimensional with less trees, which in this writers opinion, is always a good thing.

Onto the course now.  There are so many great holes at LACC it is really hard to single out the best.  But here are my favorites anyway...

#6 - 335 yd Par 4
Hanse restored Thomas' original green, making this a phenomenal risk reward par 4.  Playing downhill at 335, it is deceptively reachable for longer hitters.  A relatively easy layup with an iron leaves a no-gimme short iron or wedge into this extremely shallow green.

#8 - 537 yd Par 5 (pictured below)
This is a fantastic double dogleg par 5 with the barranca coming into play on both the tee shot and the approach.  In my opinion, the strongest hole on the course.  Quite simply one of the best par 5's I've ever played.

#11 - 249 yd Par 3 (pictured below)

The signature hole at LACC.  This hole plays downhill, with views of downtown LA in the distance on a clear day.  This is a reverse redan green and can play anywhere from 190 - 250 yards.

#15 - 133 yd Par 3
This hole is proof that you don't need distance to create difficulty.  This tiny one-shotter leaves zero room for error.  Example - I pulled a wedge into the side bunker with a front pin and made a phenomenal bogey.

*17 - 115 yd Par 3 (pictured below)
This hole has an asterisk as this is the "extra" hole at LACC.  It was uncovered/discovered by Hanse and his team while restoring the barranca on the right side of the existing 17th hole.  This par 3 was used in previous LA opens hosted at LACC, and they have restored it as a 19th hole of sorts, a "bye hole" as they call it.  The club actually used it as a playoff hole at the recent US Girls Junior Qualifier.  This is a very cool example of a "course within a course" and proof that courses don't need to adhere to an exact 18 holes.  Options and variety are the magic ingredients of a great golf course.  Kudos to the club for resurrecting this fantastic golf hole.

#18 - 451 yd Par 4
One of the great finishing holes in golf.  A shared fairway with #1 gives one a feeling of St Andrews, but the shared bunkers make it distinctly unique.  The beautiful clubhouse behind the green, the challenging approach, the great green complex at 18 - this finishing hole has everything a great course demands.

As I was playing the course, I couldn't help but think that this course was worthy of hosting a major golf event of some kind.  However, I also knew the membership also put a premium on privacy.   As we strolled down the 10th fairway, I inquired with my host if there were any plans to host any big events.  He informed me the 2017 Walker Cup is being held at LACC North.  What a perfect venue for the Walker Cup.  I wouldn't be surprised if LACC got a few more marquee events down the road.  The have the land to support it and it has the history and tradition that the major events in golf are looking for in a championship venue.

LACC is also renowned as one of the elite private clubs in the game.  They have a membership comprised of very few celebrities, and when I asked my fantastic caddy why this was so, he simply replied "...the members just don't like the noise."  Well put.  If I was a member I wouldn't want it either.  In a city like LA, the desire to "get away" is even more warranted.  One of the great parts of golf is it is an escape.  You arrive on the first tee, or arrive to have dinner or drinks at your club, and you want to forget about the world for a few hours.  My host told me a great story about when Hugh Hefner bought the land to the right of the 14th tee back in the 1950's and which now is home to the infamous Playboy mansion.  Hugh telephoned the general manager of the club and asked if he could purchase the land behind the 14th tee so he could install a helicopter landing, and if he could buy a membership as well.  As legend has it, the general manager eloquently replied, "No and no Mr Hefner.  Welcome to the neighborhood. Click."

This is the type of place LACC has always been, and always will be.  A quiet, no-nonsense place for golf.  Little "noise" from celebrities, and even from the city itself.  It's so quiet at times on the course you forget you are in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world.  LACC is an escape from the omnipresent traffic and claustrophobia of the city.  I knew pulling up that morning that it was going to be one of the special places in golf and boy, was I right.

Hit 'em well.
-MG

*photos courtesy of www.thelacc.org

Fighting the Good Fight

What's great about golf is that we grab a club, put it in our hands, put our best swing on it, and hope for the best.  We do not grab a club, proceed to shove it into our belly/chest and rock our chest back and through.  This is not a "stroke" or a "swing," at least in this writer's humble opinion.

In the words of Mike Davis at the USGA, "Throughout the 600-year history of golf, the essence of playing the game has been to grip the club with the hands and swing it freely at the ball.  The player’s challenge is to control the movement of the entire club in striking the ball, and anchoring the club alters the nature of that challenge. Our conclusion is that the Rules of Golf should be amended to preserve the traditional character of the golf swing by eliminating the growing practice of anchoring the club."   Couldn't have said it better myself. 

And then yesterday happened.  Commissioner Finchem's bizarre news conference yesterday during the finals of the World Golf Championship certainly muddied the waters a bit.  Passionate golfers on both sides of the argument are coming out of the woodwork, myself included.  

So we know now where everyone stands on the issue.  The USGA and R&A obviously want to ban anchoring.  The PGA Tour, or should I say more specifically, the Player Advisory Council (PAC), does not want the ban to take effect.  We also have Mark King, the CEO/King of Taylor Made, behemoth of equipment companies, coming out and saying that the would prefer if the R&A and USGA were "obselete."  Yikes.

The better question to ask one self is who out of the three parties listed above, likely puts the most genuine interest of the game at the forefront?  Let's briefly explore all three.

PGA Tour:

Their players live and die by their own success at the game. Knowing this, there is absolutely no chance they will ever limit something that makes the game easier or allows them another option to get the ball in the hole.   (Footnote:  Kudos to Geoff Ogilvy, Brandt Snedker and several others for arguing the counterpoint, outside of the PAC)

Equipment Companies:

They live and die by the success that the everyday golfer has with their products to either improve their game, or enhance their enjoyment of it. The anchored putter has long been sold as a product that will quell the notion of the yips, so it is unlikely that they are going to argue in favour of banning the anchored putter.  For them, the wider the range of allowable products to make the game more enjoyable, the better. 

Governing Bodies (R&A, USGA):

To paraphrase both mission statements of the R&A and USGA, their sole purpose is to act in the best interests of the game.  They are NOT acting in the best interests of the people who play golf, or retailers of golf equipment.  Their actions are intended to maintain the integrity of this great game.

I don't know about you, but when you lay it out like that, I'm siding with the governing bodies on this one.  Doesn't it just seem like a ludicrous argument after reading the above?  Is it just me?  Personally, it seems like a non-discussion.  And just because it has been allowed for 20+ years doesn't make it OK to not proceed with the ban.  You have to make the best decision for the game, irrelevant of the time that has passed.  It's never too late to make a good decision.

Stand your ground R&A and USGA.  I truly believe you have the best interests of the game at heart and I applaud you for your efforts in maintaining the integrity of the game.  Keep fighting the good fight.

Hit 'em well

- MG

#54 - Kingsbarns v2.0

(pictured - #9, a fantastic par 5)

Kingsbarns.  When you utter this word to most golfers, they swoon.  If they have ever been lucky enough to have visited, it conjures great memories of the seaside links just minutes south of St Andrews, one of the great experiences in golf.  Myself, for whatever reason, I just think of the 18th hole.

On July 14, 2011 I wrote a review of Kingsbarns Golf Links which can be found here.  Let me state for the record that this is a magnificent golf course. It is truly one of the best in the world.  The point of the article was that I simply don't care for the location of the clubhouse and the 18th hole.  I have played and/or discussed Kingsbarns with all levels of players, from higher handicaps players to professional golfers who have competed in the Dunhill Links.  And all agree that the 18th is one of the weaker holes on the course.

Moving on...

A few years ago, my father and some friends started a website called Golf Traditions.  They were in need of some content for their site, so I allowed them to use whatever articles they wished from my blog.  I suppose they liked the somewhat controversial nature of the Kingsbarns article in hoping to get a little more social comments and interaction with their site.  For me, since essentially no one reads my blog, having someone pay attention or care about what I had written was unlikely, but very welcome!  So who came across my article on Golf Traditions?  None other than Art Dunkley, co-founder of Kingsbarns.  No joke.  I couldn't believe it.

I was soon after asked by a gentleman at Golf Traditions to touch base with his friend Art to discuss the article.  Of course I was willing!  What a great opportunity to discuss my point of view and maybe learn a few things about Kingsbarns.  I do have to admit that I had a bit of the "being called to the principal's office" type of feeling, but hey, first amendment and all, I picked up the phone.

I reached Art at his office in San Francisco back in November, and after some initial pleasantries, he basically asked who I was and why I was bashing the 18th at Kingsbarns.  (Side note - coincidentally, a family friend of mine went to high school with Mark Parsinen, co-developer of Kingsbarns with Art.  Such a small world - even smaller in golf.)  I explained my background, my involvement with Golf Traditions, opinions on courses, where I have played, my involvement with the game of golf, etc.  I explained that I truly loved the course, the variety, the magnificent location on the north sea, but I just simply did not care for the 18th hole.  Art obviously agreed that I had every right to voice my opinion but wanted to explain to me why the 18th hole is the way it is.  This was when the conversation got interesting - and to be honest, the exact reason why I made the call.

Art took me back to when they were unearthing the Scottish farmland and literally finding the course.  I could already sense the passion and sentimentality that Art had for Kingsbarns in his tone of voice.  He explained that the creek - or if you speak Scottish, a "cundy" - that winds it's way from the back of the 10th tee, all the way down around the clubhouse, and down around what is now the 18th green was not always so visible and prominent.  They dug it out.  Wow.  And while they were excavating this cundy in the efforts of using it as a strategic hazard for the course, they found an old stone bridge.  Double Wow.  When this bridge was found, it became a catalyst for the location of the clubhouse and the finishing hole - and rightly so.  They wanted to end with the dramatic cundy and bridge.  I get it.  Now it makes sense.

Art also addressed my additional concerns with the 18th in that it is a bit of a unfair, difficult hole, especially for the higher handicappers.  He said there are changes being made to the 18th over the winter months, including widening and deepening the green, as well as raising the cundy a few feet or so to make the rise to 18 green less severe.  He said that they are continually tweaking and improving upon the course, from making the back shelf of #9 green less severe, to making the too-often-muddy front right swale on #11 green into a sand bunker which, as Art says, "helps take away some of the randomness."  When I heard those words, I knew Art knew golf.  (I knew it already but I loved hearing this comment) Randomness is the beauty of links golf, but not when it comes to conditioning.  That front right swale was always wet and muddy, which when chipping on a firm and fast links course is never fair - or fun.  So rest assured that they're not resting on their laurels at Kingsbarns.  Art said he and the Kingsbarns staff "are tirelessly looking to improve the experience."  What more can you ask for out of a golf course?

As a youngster, whenever I came home from school, or from anything for that matter, my father always asked, "what did you learn?"  Habits being hard to kick, I asked myself the same question after I hung up the phone with Art.   I already knew it was one of the best courses in the world, but I did learn that Kingsbarns is going to continually remain one of the finest experiences in links golf, due to the passion and pride that Art and the Kingsbarns staff has in their golf course.

But I still don't love the 18th.

Hit 'em well
- MG

P.S. I want to sincerely thank Art Dunkley for his time in teaching me a few things about Kingsbarns.  It was invigorating to learn of the pride Art and his crew have for this truly great links.

Minneapolis GC (Minneapolis, MN)

(pictured above is the 3rd hole, illustrating the fantastic 

terrain and bunkering at Minneapolis GC)

Minneapolis Golf Club is the prototypical suburban metropolis championship golf course.  Known as “MGC” to everyone in the Twin Cities, it is wedged into the western suburb of St Louis Park.  St Louis Park is most famous for being the childhood homes of Thomas Friedman and The Coen Brothers.  But in this northwest pocket of St Louis Park lies nothing political, economical, or cinema related.  It is home to one of the best golf courses in the Midwest.

According to a friend of mine, longtime Minnesota PGA professional Don Berry of Edinburgh USA called Minneapolis GC, “quite possibly the best championship golf course in the Twin Cities.”  These are lofty words when there are local gems such as Hazeltine, Interlachen and Minikahda within 30 minutes of Minneapolis.  MGC has hosted the 1951 PGA Championship and a few US Amateur’s as well.  However, like many old school city courses, there simply lacks the room to host an event of any significance in this day and age.

From the moment you drive into the parking lot, you aren’t blown away.  The clubhouse is nothing extravagant but everything you need.  The men's locker room is an old school green cage locker room tucked into the side of the clubhouse, and members love it that way.  There's a grill room and bar, dining area, and that’s it.  But we must remember, outside of the pool, this is a golf club.  From a golf standpoint, everything is done right.  The course is a tough yet fair challenge for all handicaps and the conditioning is superb.  Even the little things are done right.  From the large white playing towels, wooden tees long and short, bright ball markers, simple and efficient ball repair tools, available caddies, walking strips mowed from the back tees, you name it, its covered.  A lot of credit for this goes to the staff of longtime head professional Dan Simpson and superintendent Dale Caldwell.  And let’s be honest, golf is why people join MGC.

Minneapolis was designed by Willie Park in 1916, then tweaked by Donald Ross in 1928.  It is a typical parkland layout, but with a fantastic variety of golf holes. There are short and long par 3’s, 4’s and 5’s.  As Tom Doak says, variety is the “spice of life” when it comes to golf course architecture – and variety is abundant at this course.  In terms of conditioning, it generally plays firm and fast.  The course is actually situated on a unique pocket of sand in western Minneapolis, so when it rains, the course is back to playing condition in no time. 

The 10th hole must be noted.  The signature hole at MGC, it is also arguably the best - and arguably the most difficult - par 3 in the state.  It plays 225 yards from the tips, slightly downhill, with bunkers left and right, a left to right sloping green, and absolutely ZERO room for error.  When in doubt, lay it up short of the green for a chance at an up and in par.  A great hole, especially in the summer with the MGC flower logo built into the hill, a nice touch. The course flows through some great terrain and there are many great holes throughout, but the last 5 holes are outstanding.  The 14th is a risk reward dogleg left par 4 of about 320 yards, 15 is a 560 yard par 5, 16 is a deceptively uphill 220 yard par 3, 17 is a deceptively tough par 4, and then the outstanding 460 yard 18th.  18 heads back to the clubhouse and is arguably the best hole on the course.  You can’t ask for much more than that out of a finish.

In terms of improvements, there isn’t a lot.  There isn’t a full range, which isn’t uncommon for many city courses these days, but a drawback nonetheless.  One aspect I am critical of is the fact that the course has not been updated in terms of tree removal.  Sun and air flow are absolutely critical to healthy turf and there are several areas of the golf course that suffer due to excessive shade from trees.  One can only look to the tree removal programs carried out by Oakmont (Pittsburgh), St George’s G&CC (Toronto) or nearby Minikahda to see the positive benefits from the removal of unnecessary trees.  Strolling through the clubhouse, you can see the old photos of the course, showing what it looked like with minimal trees on the property.  Variety and conditioning would only improve if a moderate tree removal program was undertaken by the membership.  

All in all, MGC is one of the best golf experiences in the Minneapolis area, if not all the Midwest.

Hit ‘em well.

-MG

.500 is a Failure

Well, at least the R&A got something right this week.  

As you will see from my previous post, I am not a fan of anchoring the club.  I have never been a huge fan of Tiger Woods, but always respected him as a golfer - how could you not?  I simply want to kiss the man when I hear his opinion on anchored putting.   "We swing all other 13 clubs. I think the putter should be the same. It should be a swinging motion throughout the bag."   Brilliant.  This was the basis of the ruling put forth today by the R&A and USGA and was made in the effort to preserve the integrity of the game.  Kudos to all parties involved for making the right decision.

As for the "other" decision this week, I am not a fan.  Having played in a British Amateur, and knowing some folks in the R&A, I highly respect this institution and believe they will act in the best interest of the Old Course.  I simply have a problem in the way that it was executed.  It seemed that there was no time between the announcement of the changes to the time we saw pictures of bulldozers and shovels arriving at the Old Course.  If your local club announced changes and immediately put shovels in the ground, there would no question be some uproar. Any changes to a course of this architectural importance should have been properly communicated to the golfing public, with adequate time for feedback and discussion.  

Golf purists and architects the world over were outraged by the fact that the R&A and St Andrews Links Trust were undertaking renovations to the sacred Old Course.  Tom Doak is even attempting to stop the changes with a petition.  The hash tag #savetheoldcourse lit up twitter world by casual golfers, golf course architects, and professionals.  Furthermore, as someone who was fortunate enough to live in St Andrews for a year while attending graduate school, eventually receiving a masters degree in marketing (and a PhD in Links Golf) I am sure that the people in the town of St Andrews are not fans of these changes.  The seven courses in St Andrews are property of the townspeople, yet I would highly doubt that if this was put to a popular vote, they would agree.

Make no mistake, these changes were made in the efforts of protecting the course from low scoring at the 2015 Open Championship.  If that is the rationale, they're a little late to the party.  Properly protecting the Old Course and many other venues around the world would have been infinitely better served by reining in club technology versus taking a scalpel to a course that Tom Doak coined "an international treasure that should be guarded."  We all just hope that the R&A, Links Trust, and Mr. Hawtree are using a paint brush versus a bulldozer.

Batting .500 would generally be regarded as excellent, but when dealing with issues of such vital importance to the game of golf, anything less than 1.000 average is a failure.  Let's hope all turns out well in St Andrews.

Hit 'em well.
- MG

The Argument Against the Anchor

As we all know by now, golf's governing bodies are in the process of finalizing a rule that will ban any sort of anchoring with the club as it relates to the golf swing.    

First, let's be clear about something.  Anchoring, by definition, is not a swing.  So in my humble opinion, why has it taken so long for golf's ruling bodies to allow it?  I believe it was something that made the game more enjoyable for so many amateurs, hadn't seen a ton of success at the professional level, so why bother banning it?  Something is wrong with that mentality.  It's like allowing theft to occur because it didn't really matter that much to anyone.  The principle of anchoring should have been reason enough to ban it from the beginning.  

Tiger Woods is someone who has said it best with regard to anchoring a putter.  "I've never been a fan.  (Putting) is the art of controlling the body and club and swinging the pendulum motion. I believe that’s how it should be played. I’m a traditionalist when it comes to that."  Who couldn't agree with that?  That is golf at it's core.  Grab a club, put it in your hands, and make a swing.

Anchoring has been getting much more attention from the governing bodies ever since recent major winners have been anchoring.  Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Ernie Els have captured 3 of the last 5 major championships with putters stuck in the stomachs.  And what is really scary is the potential for junior golfers to grow up using belly putters without even trying traditional putting.  If it takes the hands out of the stroke, and allows one to putt with less nerves, why wouldn't one use it?

Even Ernie Els, who won the 2012 Open with a belly putter, believes it should be banned.  Ernie has been quoted many times as saying, “as long as it’s legal, I’ll keep cheating like the rest of them,”  And how can you argue with that?  If the rules of golf allow it, why wouldn't someone who plays the game for a living maximize every rule to his or her advantage?  

One point that needs to be made is that if the belly is banned, lifelong anchorers such as Webb Simpson, Carl Petterson, and Tim Clark will have to learn a new style of putting.  This is likely why the ruling has taken so long to happen.  Webb Simpson has been quoted as saying that big head drivers and the golf ball have had a bigger effect on the game than long putters.  That is probably true.  However, those two elements don't  have to do with anchoring.  This is the main point here.  You still have to control your nerves, and make a swing.  Brandt Snedeker, arguably the finest putter on the PGA Tour, if not all of golf, believes that anchoring takes any nerves out of putting.  “I feel like when you’re under pressure and under stress on the 72nd hole and you gotta make a five‑footer, I want to know how your hands feel...I don’t want that putter stuck against your body. It obviously takes nerves out of it. Otherwise, guys wouldn’t be doing it."

I have little worry that players like Simpson, Clark, etc. will be rendered hopeless if the ban does happen.  These are some of the best players in the world and have world class short games.  The feel and imagination they possess around the greens will stand them in good stead, regardless of the length of their putter.  

Simply said, anchoring a club to your body is not a golf swing. We will see what happens over the next few months, but if the ruling goes the way it should, the integrity of the game of golf will be restored.  And if so, kudos to the R&A and USGA for acting in the best interests of the game.  

Hit 'em well.

- MG

#48 - North Berwick (West Links)

The picture above is a perfect representation of North Berwick. At every corner, this historic links is a quirky, entertaining, and flat out FUN round of golf. If you don't enjoy golf at North Berwick, you simply do not like links golf.

Muirfield (#11 in the world) is just down the coast to the west and gets much of the attention from international visitors due to its lofty world ranking - and being on the Open rotation. In my opinion, Muirfield is one of - if not the - finest tests of links golf in the world. However, if you cannot get onto Muirfield, do not skip the journey to East Lothian. North Berwick is situated on a fantastic piece of linksland along the North Sea about an hour east of Edinburgh. Simply said, North Berwick is quintessential links golf; windy, exposed, firm, fast, and possesses a wide variety of holes.

Onto the golf now. The front nine meanders its way "out" in true links fashion with some quirky and unique holes. Stone fences in play, blind approach shots, there is definitely nothing "boring" about this golf course. In my opinion, the course really starts to get fun at the 13th - pictured at the top of this entry. At 13, you have to cross a rock fence with your approach to the green that is nestled between the rock fence and the sea. And yes, the rock fence is in play, no free drop here. The 14th green is a completely blind approach to a green sunken down by the water and thus requiring a pin that is about 30 feet tall. The 15th is the world famous redan green. This is an interesting one. I have played North Berwick twice, and both times it was quite downwind on this hole making it virtually impossible...yet a classic challenge nonetheless. The 16th is a short par 4 with a green that my caddy described as "...a set of breasts, and not an inviting set of breasts either." If you don't land your approach on, ahem, the correct breast, good luck. Phil Mickelson was leading Open qualifying here one year when he made a 9. Game over. #17 is a straightforward par 4 with an uphill blind approach and 18 is a miniature version of the Old Course, complete with a classic old clubhouse in the distance. This golf course is proof that golf courses should be designed and built with fun as the #1 objective.

North Berwick is not without some great stories as well. One of which involves a lighthouse seen off on an island in the distance as you are midway through the front nine. What is the significance? Well, the author of the famous "Treasure Island" is Robert Louis Stevenson. Young RL Stevenson and his parents spent a lot of time in North Berwick on holidays as a child because his father built many of the lighthouses in the area. The island upon which that lighthouse is situated is Fidra Island, the island used as his inspiration for Treasure Island. This is just one of the many fun facts told by your caddy around this great links. (PS -oh yah, make sure to get a caddy)













(the par 4 5th. Note the lighthouse in the distance!)


Let me end with saying that, in my personal opinion, courses ranked 75-100 are a complete crapshoot. The fact that courses such as Sunningdale New, The New Course at St Andrews, or Panmure do not make the list yet courses such as North Berwick or Highland Links do is completely arbitrary. There are hundreds of courses around the world that could occupy the 75-100 spots just as easily. Yet the fact remains that North Berwick's West Links is one of the most unique and entertaining courses one can play. It is an absolute must if you ever find yourself in and around Edinburgh.

Hit 'em well.
-MG

#4 - Old Course (St Andrews, Scotland)

(view of #1 and #18 from #2 / #17 fairway)

If you haven't been fortunate enough to play a round at "the Old," you simply have to go. As my father so eloquently stated at one point during my childhood, in reference to Carmel, CA, "Go early. That way you can go often."

Truer words have never been spoken when applied to St Andrews and the Old Course. It is an amazing place. Nowhere in golf is a town so synonymous with golf. You can feel the history and tradition surrounding you. I can't remember the last time I was nervous for a non-tournament round of golf, but on the first tee of the Old, you can't help but feel a little overwhelmed. The aura of the place simply overtakes you. If it doesn't, you're not appreciating where you are.

Upon first glance, the Old Course is one of the weirdest looking places in golf. For the first time visitor, the 1st and 18th holes are quite simply, very odd. But the more you experience it, the better it gets. The experience of being in St Andrews. The experience of "out" and "in." The experience of the weather - especially the wind. The experience of putting from everywhere because a flop shot is worthless. Links golf is in part, about handling the elements, and simply put, the Old is links golf at it's finest.

My first time in St Andrews was with my Dad. We went for my 16th birthday. Most kids get their license, I got a trip to Scotland. (Yes, I know how lucky I am.) Anyways, I remember my initial frustration with the links style game. The first time around the hallowed links is just simply confusing. Lob shot? No chance. The ball bouncing every which direction? Standard. Drives going 350 downwind and 150 into the wind? The norm. It was madness. Blind shots, criss-crossing holes, drivable par 4's, humps and bumps abound (see picture below). Take all "stock shots" you think you have and throw them in the garbage. Creativity is the name of the game in links golf, and that is why it is so great. You're not forced to play one style of shot.

Some golfers say the Old is outdated, quirky and confusing. These people either a) played it once, or b) are not intelligent. The course was built by nature and maintained by rabbits for many years! What do you expect? A traditional golf course? True, it is worth playing at least two rounds at the Old so you can become comfortable with the lines and where you are going. Only then can you begin to understand the nuances and strategy of this great course. Playing it once does not do it justice. (Full disclosure, I lived in St Andrews for the past year as a post grad student at the University of St Andrews. So I am a bit biased regarding the Old. I played it roughly 40 times and it only got better every time.)

(The walk up to #11 green, one of the greatest par 3's anywhere. Dr. Alister MacKenzie's favourite par 3 on the planet.)

One final note is how the game is viewed in St Andrews. It is completely class-less. Everyone plays golf. It is one's birthright as a St Andrean. The town owns the links and one of the perks of being a resident in St Andrews is remarkable access to the seven courses of the St Andrews Links Trust. Here is the skinny of the deal. As a resident - yes, this includes students - you pay £170 pounds for an annual "links ticket." I paid more for one month dues back home. Oh, and up to the age of 18, St Andreans play all seven courses in town for FREE. Yes, you read that correctly, FREE. This is a true testament not only to what golf means in this town, but how golf should be. Community oriented, open to all, and most of all, affordable.

David Feherty was once quoted as saying that the Old is his favourite Open venue and that "...it is so incredibly beautiful when the shadows hit the swales and hollows." It is so true. My brother-in-law commented on the picture below that he thought it was the pearly gates. This coming from a guy who isn't even a "golfer." Remember, go early, that way you can go often.

Hit 'em well

-MG

(view down #1 and #18)

#37 - Carnoustie (Carnoustie, Scotland)

(above: the fantastic par 3 13th)

A friend of mine (10ish handicap, a self-confessed lover of "scenery" in golf) recently played Carnoustie and said it was possibly the most boring course he had ever played. To quote him, "...only the incessant staccato pops from the nearby gun range kept me from full-on REM sleep." After I stopped laughing from his very humourous comment, I almost punched him in the face.

Personally, I believe Carnoustie to be the finest test of championship links golf on the planet. In defense of my friend, there is absolutely no scenery at Carnoustie. There are no views of the sea, no beautiful vistas of an ancient town like St Andrews or North Berwick, nothing to distract you from a great test of golf. Which is exactly why it is so good, the "scenery" is the course!

To get a sense of what a round at Carnoustie entails, look no further than the par 4 opening hole. The first is a 450 or so yard par 4 with a burn and OB on the left, then a semi blind mid-long iron approach to a tucked green. Welcome to Carnoustie.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, courses that possess a variety of short and long holes provides not only enjoyment, but a good test of one's game. Carnoustie has a wonderful blend of strategic short holes (#2, #7, #13) and just plain difficult ones (#1, #2, #5, #9...etc etc). What I believe truly sets this course apart from other links is that it has a unique mix of links, parkland and heathland holes. This is something so rarely seen in golf, and gives the golfer a fantastic overall experience.

The course got a bit of a bad reputation after the 1999 Open when the rough was several feet high - and thick. You may remember then amateur golf sensation Sergio Garcia crying in his mother's arms after shooting 89, 83. (But this shouldn't be shocking, he cried in 2009 when he lost the Open to Harrington in a playoff in 2007 too!) The course was dubbed "Carnasty" during that Open, yet it is a very fair test of golf. Every hole - and every shot - is very fair. Do not, I repeat do not, skip this course when visiting Scotland, it is one of the best links experiences anywhere.

Carnoustie is unrivaled in terms of shot value and is the finest championship links on the Open rotation. I'll argue this to my grave.

Hit 'em well.
- MG

Panmure Golf Club (Carnoustie, Scotland)

I hadn't heard much of Panmure, outside of the fact that my old boss thought it was the best course in Scotland. I always rolled my eyes at his glowing recollection of Panmure as I had essentially never heard of it. Well, shame on me.

Panmure was founded in 1845, a classic old golf course. It has a wonderful blend of links, parkland and heathland holes similar to its neighbour up the road - Carnoustie. It also has a fantastic variety of short holes oozing with strategy and long holes demanding only your very best. I believe courses that challenge both the mental and physical are the most satisfying and this is very apparent at Panmure.

(below: blind tee shot on the short 8th - over a wall of gorse)












It is no wonder Hogan used Panmure as his practice area for the 1953 Open. It's 5 minutes down the road and enjoys the same type of feel of Carnoustie, just on a slightly smaller scale (it's not nearly as long.) The 6th hole, one of the best, is aptly dubbed "Hogan" as my caddy John informed me that Hogan believed that the hole would be improved by the addition of a greenside right pot bunker. (They put it in soon after he recommended it.)

Panmure is a must play if you are ever in the area. If you are planning to play Carnoustie, make sure to add Panmure and make it a 36 hole day. Panmure deserves many more accolades than it receives. As much as it pains me to say it, my old boss was right. Shite.

Also, if you ever make it to Panmure and wish to take a caddy, ask for John Gilbert. Best caddy on the planet.

Hit 'em well,
MG

#54 - Kingsbarns (Kingsbarns, Scotland)

(above: 175 yard par 3 second hole)


This is how I describe Kingsbarns - "It's a great course...but 18 bugs me."  Some people agree, some disagree, but that's a reason why golf is so great.

Designed and developed by Kyle Phillips and Mark Parsinen, Kingsbarns opened to rave reviews in 2000 and has matured quite nicely over the years. It is situated along the north sea, just 20 minutes southeast of St Andrews - a dramatic piece of land for golf. Along with the Old and Carnoustie, it plays host to the Dunhill Links every fall, a marquee event on the European Tour.

The front nine is solid, good routing, good flow. Great variety of holes as well, long and short holes of all kinds. The short par 3 8th, followed up by the behemoth par 5 9th is a great finish to the front nine. #10 and #11 are pretty bland, but along the long walk from 11 to 12 you can't help but get the feeling something special is about to happen. #12 is the start of a great stretch of golf. From the 575 yard par 5 dogleg left along the coastline a la Pebble Beach at #12, to the strategic 450 yard par 4 17th, the holes are great. They are scenic, challenging, and most importantly - fun.

So here's the "but." One of the most crucial elements of any good course is the location of the clubhouse. If the clubhouse is situated in a poor location that can't help but force a poor finish. The clubhouse at Kingsbarns is set well back from the north sea, thus, with the two nines finishing at the clubhouse, it's hard to make the closing holes dramatic. This invariably leaves the golfer a bit deflated after such great golfing scenery. After putting out on 17 (one of the best holes on the course) you turn and walk away from the sea, never a good sign for the finishing hole. It must be noted that you definitely don't need the sea, or scenery of any kind, to have a strong finishing hole. Many links courses don't end with the best hole on the course, but a course of this caliber 1 through 17 deserves a better finish.

The 18th hole is just...well...a bit odd.  It doesn't make sense with the rest of the course. The majority of the tee shots around this course you can see everything. Not at #18. Off the tee, you cannot see the green tucked down and to the left, so you just aim at the clock on the clubhouse.

(tee shot)














(approach shot)















If you don't hit a great tee shot, it's likely in layupville. If you do, and are even able to see the green, the green is so severely sloped back to front you need a phenomenal approach to even hold the green. Oh, and if it's strong downwind, like it has been the 4/5 times I've played there, there's no chance. Simply put, #18 just doesn't "fit." The rest of the course is so solid, it is just leaves a terrible taste in your mouth about the experience.

In my opinion, as an architect and developer, the 18th hole is the most important. You cannot leave golfers with a bad taste in their mouth as they finish their round. It doesn't have to be the best hole on the course (although it doesn't hurt) but it cannot be one the weakest. At Kingsbarns, the 18th hole is without a doubt the weakest on the course. And it's a shame because the rest of the course is so great.

One of my biggest pet peeves is bitching without a solution. So here's mine. Flip the nines. Finish with the strong par 5 at #9.  Or relocate the clubhouse to behind #17 green on the water. Something.

#54 on the Links world rankings is a bit lofty in my opinion for Kingsbarns.  Regardless, it is a spectacular course with stunning scenery and absolutely worth playing.

Hit 'em well.
-MG

#86 - Royal Aberdeen (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Before we begin, some quick facts I learned about Royal Aberdeen:
- Sixth Oldest Golf Club in the World
- Origin of the "Five Minute Rule" (which makes sense with all the dunes)
- Many regard the front nine as the best opening nine holes in links golf

To be honest, I didn't know what to expect at Royal Aberdeen. I had heard great things about the course, but never had the opportunity to visit. The course was laid out by Archie/Robert/Tom Simpson with cosmetic changes later carried out by James Braid. Braid is responsible in large part for Carnoustie - one of my favourite courses on the planet - so I had high expectations for this seaside course.

The front nine is spectacular. From the opening tee shot just yards in front of the bay windows of the clubhouse heading out to the sea, I knew this was going to be a special course. The course winds its way through massive seaside dunes reminiscent of Royal County Down. Highlights were the winding par 5 second, the heavily bunkered par 3 eighth, and the outstanding "Tom Watson Favourite" par 4 ninth. The course was in great condition, had great bunkering and a strong variety of holes.

The back nine is full of great holes. However, I believe Royal Aberdeen suffers from the same condition of Royal County Down. The front nine is so good that after working your way through the seaside dunes of the front nine, one can't help but feel somewhat deflated on the back nine. However, Royal Aberdeen does redeem itself with a strong finish. 17 is a fine par 3 with views back towards the sea, and the tough 18th with the clubhouse in the background is a great way to finish.

Overall, a fantastic golf course and worthy of Top 100 in the world status. A must play in Scotland. Make sure to tune in September 10-11, 2011 when Royal Aberdeen is host to the Walker Cup.

Hit 'em well.
- MG

(Below is a view across the course from the back nine. Dunes, blooming gorse, blue sky and blue sea. Always a great combination for good golf.)

#50 - St George's G&CC (Toronto, Canada)

(ABOVE: approach to #14, 480 yard par 4)


"Why the hell have they been hiding this place?" - CBS Commentator David Feherty during final round coverage of the 2010 RBC Canadian Open. Said in reference to the last Canadian Open being held at St. George's in 1968.

"Some of the finest parkland terrain I have seen." - Tom Doak


St. George's Golf & Country Club is a classic parkland layout located in Etobicoke, Ontario, just minutes west of downtown Toronto. It is a Stanley Thompson design, one of the most celebrated golf course architects in Canada. (For full disclosure, I am a longtime member of St Georges, having grown up playing this course. And yes, "spoiled" would be an accurate adjective for my golf course upbringing)

In 2009, St. George's ranked #89 on Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses in the World. While it is always an honour to be a part of the Top 100, in in my opinion, it deserves a much better ranking. It is classic, parkland style golf with great variety, flow and feel. The course is built on a fantastic piece of land, extremely rolling and undulating, making for a great walk in the park. It's undulations make for endless variety of lies - in my opinion an important characteristic of any course. The best courses in the world, e.g. Old Course, Augusta, etc, have extremely undulating fairways. This results in a shotmaker's delight - variety and challenge at every approach.

St. George's is a fine test not just for professionals, but all levels of play. It is a great "members" golf course. Wide but undulating fairways, strategic bunkering, a variety of tees and large, sloping greens. Some of the green complexes have gotten a bit extreme in recent years, for example the front of #15 green was rebuilt to avoid balls rolling 100 yards down the hill off the front. The stewards of the course are making sure the greens remain a fair and allow for a variety of pin positions, the way Thompson intended.

St. George's has one of the best "flows" to any course. The first is a warm up hole of 370 yards, but not a easy green so you had better pay attention. The first 11 holes are a great mix of tough holes and birdie holes, allowing you to get a feel for the course and your round. The member's have a saying - "the course starts at the halfway house." The funny part about that saying is that the halfway house is by the 12th tee. More like a "2/3rd's house," but anyway...

#12-#14 are played in a "loop" and are the start of what is one of the best finishes in golf. #14 is the signature par 4, Jack Nicklaus' favourite hole in Canada and the Kodak Challenge hole for the Canadian Open. It is a slightly downhill 480 yard par 4 with the approach across a small creek to a very "12 at Augusta" style green. #15 is a 570 yard par 5, #16 an uphill 214 yard par 3, #17 a 485 yard par 4, and #18 rivals #14 as the best on the course. With the classic Tudor style clubhouse behind the green, it is a great setting for the finishing hole. It plays 467 yards from the championship tees, and plays deceptively uphill to one of the best green complexes on the course. #18 is a great crescendo to a wonderful course.

The 2010 Canadian Open was the first time St. George's had hosted our National open since 1968 when Bob Charles took home the title. In preparation for 2010, under the consultation of the RCGA/Golf Canada, the PGA Tour, and Doug Carrick as an advisor, St. George's underwent some minor tree removal, back tee overhaul, and general "clean up." As it was happening, the membership was understandably a little apprehensive (myself included), but it has done wonders for the course. Tree and scrub bush removal has provided plenty of sun and air flow to greens that were previously suffocated and waterlogged. It's remarkable what sun and wind can do to improve turf quality. Furthermore, the championship tees now look like they belong - whereas before they looked like I had gone out there one night with a weed eater and a set of black markers. Overall, the return of the Canadian Open to St. George's was well received by all. The players, sponsors, fans and members at large were happy with the tournament and I would expect it to return in the next 5-7 years. In my opinion, it was unfortunate the course got so much rain that week, as it is a much better test when it's firm and breezy. Hopefully next time.

St. George's is a big, strong, championship golf course worthy of many more Canadian Opens and who knows, maybe even a future President's Cup.

Hit 'em well.
- MG

(BELOW: Approach to #18, 467 yard par 4)