As a guy that's had three 3 woods in the last month, I love this kind of shit.. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/06/14/u-s-open-brooks-koepka-equipment-changes-country-club/
Going to play ritz Carlton grande lakes next week before our conference in Orlando. Looking forward to playing that tournament style with several of my manufacturer partners.
Not that trip but it’s only a couple hours from me. I just had a project cancel so I have some time over the next couple weeks
Appreciate that - what were your personal thoughts on Pacific Dunes (I haven't been out there yet)? That course is number 18 in golf digest's top 100 and number 2 in their top 100 public courses. I've had friends say the prefer it to Augusta fwiw. The loop does seem like a gimmick, but also a cool idea if it can be pulled off well. I haven't played it. Fair enough. I guess I go back to quality of his work vs hurting peoples' feelings. Ballyneal also weighs heavily in my opinion of Doak. That course is about as pure as golf can be.
Have been to Bandon twice and both times came away thinking Pac Dunes was the best of the bunch. Nobody in either of my groups agreed though.
I think even Tron, who shit on it relentlessly, acknowledged that he's glad that it the Loop exists. It's good that when there is a resort developer that wants to go big and is willing to get weird, Doak is there to indulge.
I think Pac is one that grows on you and I appreciated it much more this second trip (played it twice) than after my first trip. There are a couple holes that I understand the complaints (16 is a short par 4 that unless you lay up, all tee shots funnel to the same low collection area in a pretty bad spot, so the risk/reward has like a .05% chance at the reward) and 18 is a tough closing 5 that’s a true 3 shot hole (I don’t hate this too much though). Sandwiched between these two is an awesome mega-redan that I figured out where the kickers were this trip and that tee shot is a fun one. Pac’s greens also run the quickest on the resort, and when they let them start getting faster it accentuates the slopes and they can be pretty challenging. We had a pin this trip that our caddie said he had never seen that was right on a knob and I 4 putted. I’m a Doak fan, but I do think in some other courses creates some runoffs that are overly penal; I loved Common Ground the one time I’ve seen it, but I do remember getting some bounces that seemed needlessly difficult. Supposed to get down to Dornick Hills this summer and see his restoration there but I’ve heard great things about it.
I like the way my caddie puts it; Bandon is the best course, but Sheep has the best setting. I have Pac and Trails on about the same level as I really enjoyed both. Old Mac is fun but a little gimmicky so it’s last on the list
Played Troubadour yesterday. Golf course was immaculate but not very memorable. The "comfort stations" were out of this world. It seemed like every employees goal on property was to fetch you a cocktail. I have played some other discovery properties but with this being the newest it was pretty impressive.
My goal on life is to join a discovery property. A more realistic goal is have a friend join and piggy back off them.
Going to Reynolds/Lake Oconee for the first time in Friday. Playing the National and the Creek Club. Really excited.
Was doing some digging yesterday and it seems the cheapest buy-in to the Nashville one is 3 mill plus 100k+ initiation fee plus 25k annual dues.
I wasn't active in this thread until recently so I figured I'd go ahead and post this brag from last fall. Got to fly up and play Oakmont last year in the freezing cold. Still probably the coolest golf experience of my life outside of winning a member guest with my dad 10 years ago. Went 98-91 and I was thrilled with that 91!! Spoiler: Church Pews Spoiler: 18 Tee
Hell being a friend isn’t really worth a damn anymore because tee times are impossible to get for a guest
Looking at the website for Troubadour, golf course communities tied to $3 million homes feel like what gets hit first in an economic downturn - but if it is mostly boomers without mortgages that might be fine.
I believe Alexandra O’Laughlin is a member there in Nashville, so the last part of your statement seems very spot on
I’ve had an open invite to play troubadour for a while but haven’t had the time to go. After reading all your posts about it sounds like I have to make time
Discovery properties have vertical memberships. If at a place that isn’t crowded it is awesome because you can play with a 25 year old with ease as long as dad or grandfather is a member The place stric was talking about though has a packed tee sheet from Memorial day to Labor Day now which has made getting that same tee time much harder. Basically have to be with the primary
Got it, but yeah that's what I was referring to when I said accompanied as in he would be playing in a group with the member.
Max is a genuinely funny dude and the rare athlete who truly is able to use his own social media as an asset. I hope he keeps climbing the world ranking. Would be awesome to see him on the next Ryder Cup team.