Connestee Falls near Brevard, NC. As a Louisiana resident, I was very much looking forward to some elevation (and cooler temps). Target was 88, ended up with a 92 playing from the tips (~6400 yards). Disappointing result considering I’m playing the best golf of my life right now. (shot 80 down in Louisiana two weeks ago, similar length) Hangover from rehearsal dinner for a buddy’s wedding probably did not do me any favors.
It’s pretty short but like most mountain courses, narrow off the tee which gave me some trouble. Ultimately though, great course, well conditioned, fun mountain golf. Lots of fun downhill and uphill shots. Now I’m back down in Nola, work on the gulf coast roost resumes!
My first foray into the links golf experience was an absolute blast. Played Castlerock Golf Club in Northern Ireland today and the pictures do not do this place justice. The course was excellent and the scenery was just out of this world. Can’t wait to see what the other courses on our trip have in store
Played The Keep at McLemore over the weekend. Cool routing and great views. Was able to get around in two and a half hours as a single and was lucky to dodge some rain. Fun course!
Played Greencastle today in County Donegal and to call it a hidden gem feels like an undersell but it was a really enjoyable place to play. Only cost 80 euros and the layout was a mix between parkland and links and I found that contrast within the same round to be a really neat experience.
The Glen Golf Park
Madison, Wi
Designed by Craig Haltom
Every city needs a Glen Golf Park! An old school unassuming 9-hole muni gem in the heart of a Madison neighborhood. Saved by the Keisers who put up the money and resources, it is a perfect template other municipalities should follow, simple and thoughtful. Fully renovated by Craig Haltom with input and shaping provided by Brian Schneider, Brian Slawnik and Sara Mess. Wisconsinites Jay Blasi, Andy Staples, Andy North also contributed ideas. The course is short with four par 3s and no par 5s and crosses a small gully several times. The shaping and orientation of the greens provide the challenge. Run offs, false fronts, bowls, skinny and wide, skinny and long, small and contoured, every green provides a new individual look. Some fun things are present like a coffin bunker by the cemetery hole 8th, stop lights on the blind tee shots on 5 and 9 and an homage to the 14th at Royal Dornoch. A couple aggressively tight overhanging tree shots might be my only negative on 4 and 5. The putting course was a blast and a great patio by the small clubhouse overlooking 4 holes provides a perfect post round hang. We played behind some male retirees and ahead of some women retirees and saw kids teeing off after them. There was walking path and signs for movie nights just adding to the communal multi-use nature of the property.
Want to genuinely say that I appreciate the effort you put into your posts in here. I always feel that I get a sense of the course and what it’s about.
Did you walk across the street to the Village Bar for a brick burger? Really completes the experience.
Also, for those unfamiliar, they took a completely non-descript neighborhood 9 holer and reimagined it into a community meeting spot as @Sweet_Cupn_Cake detailed above.
Sadly no. Had to get on road up to Dells for next round. And those aerials do not do the greens justice, so good. If only world class shapers were on hand for all muni projects
Final leg of our Ireland trip and we capped it off with an absolute banger at Portstewart today. Got a proper links experience with the wind bucking so had a par 4 where I went driver 3 wood and a par 5 where I went driver 9 iron. Our caddies were awesome and they really helped make it a first class experience from top to bottom. The thing I’ll remember most is how incredible of a walk this was. Walking between those massive dunes was awe inspiring stuff and it has given me an appreciation for the way golf should blend into its natural settings. This was an experience of a lifetime and I hope to be back someday.
Had just a top 3 day on the golf course today, with 7 co workers who were in town, one of which had a connection there
Just A+ weather, absurdly good vibes, a couple water hazards (the kind you like having), one of the coolest courses I’ve ever played, I mean just breathtaking layout with some of the most interesting greens I’ve seen.
Asks a lot of shots of you. Both directions off the tee. Crazy green contours. Lots of opportunity to hit super creative shots around the green, including putting from 80 yards for eagle on a sick par 5 (pictures above. The ball is sitting on top of the ledge that you can see in the picture right after that). Did we make a 6 from there? Hell yeah we did. But I walked off after taking 4 to get in from there w nothing but putter smiling.
Just a day that I went into expecting great golf but it was really just one of those incredibly high vibes all day kinda days that I was fortunate to realize was happening as it was occurring and really just soaked it in. I can vividly remember every shot and hole snd that’s a rare thing for me post round
Damn, after I played University Ridge I went and played Eagle Springs for the 2nd time. While I don’t regret it because I love that place, this looks so awesome & now I wish I had made time. Thanks for sharing!
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