Bend's 2022-2024 Golf Log

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Started my 5 day, solo trip this afternoon. Stopped in Pennsylavnia and played Cedarbrook GC right off I-70. I have driven past this 36 hole complex for over 20 years, but never stopped to play here until today. Pretty nice conditions, quick greens, and a somewhat hilly layout. I enjoyed the Red course front 9. Walked in at 545 pm without a tee time and had no issues getting right out. Here are a few pics. Tomorrow morning I play Architects GC in NJ and if time allows I'll squeeze in another 9 at Rockspring. Surprisingly I fit everything into my Supra, it's a tight fit however.

Edited June 26, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Today I played Architect's GC right across the PA border into NJ. Played terribly, shot a 96. Had fun, the course was in super condition and the course is really nice. $68 with cart. The girl in my group was a serious player and was awesome, she works for Golf Digest. This course is worth playing, it's been on my "need to play" list for a long time. Staying near where I was born so I know places to eat. Tonight is Italian at Domani in Hillsdale. Chicken Marsala! Tomorrow morning I'll hit my favorite bagel shop, Ronnie's Bagel before heading to Yale.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Today was an awesome day. Awesome weather, awesome golf, awesome BBQ. I arrived at Yale GC almost 2 hours early as the traffic on the drive up from Northen NJ wasn't as bad as I expected.  Traffic in tri-state can be terrible at any time Yale does not even open for play until 8am. They let me out early with a member at 8am and I am now totally enamored with this golf course! We played 18 in about 3 hours as we were the first ones out. I birdied number 15, and fought my way to an 88, and I left my driver in the car, it's not cooperating! The guy I played with knew the course like the back of his hand. It's a tough golf course! $125 with cart. It will be closing in a few years for a full renovation by architect Gil Hanse. It's a perfect golf course as far as I am

concerned, easily in my top 5 out of the 534 courses played so far!

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Upon finishing my round at Yale I called Fenwick GC in Old Saybrook which is about 40 miles East along the coast. The New Englander on the phone at Fenwick was pretty rude (no bother as I grew up in Connecticut and I can snap back with the best of them here) and he told me that "we don't allow singles to play at all." Not to be deterred, I jumped in the car and drove 45 minutes West anyway making up my mind I was going to play here. Luckily, I was able to pay my $30 to walk 9 with two nice, retired gentlemen. Fun little golf course on Long Island Sound, and supposedly the oldest golf course in Connecticut. The course sits amongst some super pricey "summer" homes right on Long Island Sound. The pro shop/shack is just large enough to fit a small lawn tractor in. Really. Lol. You get a nice breeze off the Sound, and it's an enjoyable l, easy walk. Not worth going out of your way to play, but it was close enough to Yale so I gave it a go. 

 

I made a point to stop at HooDoo Brown BBQ in Ridgefield to sample the best BBQ in CT, and it was incredible!

 

I hope Argonne is able to eat there!

Edited June 22, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[caniac6]

On 6/6/2022 at 6:11 PM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Today I played Architect's GC right across the PA border into NJ. Played terribly, shot a 96. Had fun, the course was in super condition and the course is really nice. $68 with cart. The girl in my group was a serious player and was awesome, she works for Golf Digest. This course is worth playing, it's been on my "need to play" list for a long time. Staying near where I was born so I know places to eat. Tonight is Italian at Domani in Hillsdale. Chicken Marsala! Tomorrow morning I'll hit my favorite bagel shop, Ronnie's Bagel before heading to Yale.

That’s a lot of chicken, and it looks good!

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Half a rack of ribs, and 1/2 a lb of crispy pork belly. I could not put it all down!

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Rainy this morning but I was able to get both rounds in. I drove to Copake Lake, NY and played the 101 year old Copake CC, hilly course, with great greens. Designed by Devereax Emmet. Conditions were fine with the exception of the sand traps, no sand in 90% of the traps, basically rocks. Clubs are too expensive to ruin. They would be better off making these grass bunkers instead. I always find it strange that courses still have gas powered carts, which I like better. Here are a few pics.

Edited June 8, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

After finishing Copake CC I drove about 15 miles over to The Hotchkiss School and played their 9 hole Seth Raynor course. Had planned on walking, but it's a stange layout with some long walks down and across roads to the next tee box. $28 w cart, members only before 11am, then they are open to the public. The golf course here winds right through the campus (check out the "live" roof) and even has an old cemetery near the 5th tee box. It was not super exciting, but it was fun. The 18th hole is a pretty tough, and narrow par 5 that demands 3 good shots to reach the green. I shot a 44 here after a 92 at Copake CC. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

My morning round was totally rained out today.

 

My tee time at Twisted Dune was for 1:50 and I got there at 845 am. They would not allow a single to be paired up with a threesome, only a twosome (no twosomes on the tee sheet) so I cancelled my tee time (thanks Covid) and drove to Maryland to play the PB Dye Golf Club. I guess they didn't need my $100!

Edited June 10, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[tboh]

22 minutes ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

My morning round was totally tained out today. My tee time at Twisted Dune was for 1:50 and I got there at 845 am. They would not allow a single to be paired up with a threesome, only a twosome, so I cancelled my tee tome (thanks Covid) and drove to Maryland to play the PB Dye Golf Club.

Wait ... huh?!?!

A single can not be paired up to make a foursome?

Bizarro world ... didn't you show your Vax passport while wearing your mask holding a can of antiseptic spray ... wth?

Just out of curiosity did they ask the 3some or no?

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

No sir, she said due to Covid a single cannot play with a threesome that they do not know! Only with a twosome, so Twisted Dune lost an easy $100+ from me.They did not ask the threesome, said it was "policy".

Edited June 9, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

So I had to find another place to play and since I was going that way anyway, I played PB Dye Golf Club in Maryland. $65 w cart. He forgot to give me my military discount, but I did get free range balls. This is a very difficult golf course that will kill you on mishits.  I only had three pars and shot a damn 100. Lost golf balls in the high grass killed me on the front nine. Awesome conditions here. Frederick, Maryland seems like a really nice area. I'll have to get back here in the Fall to play Whiskey Creek, Musket Ridge and Maryland National. 

Edited June 9, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Today I drove up to Columbus to play in a scramble at Columbus Country Club, designed by Donald Ross in 1903. This club held the 1964 PGA Championship as well. Recently renovated, they removed over 1100 trees! Great course and the greens were crazy fast. 

 

I think I am pushing my luck with the wife as she finally mentioned that I am "playing too much golf". I'll take an 8 day break, which I need anyway.

 

This was my 199th course played in Ohio and my 539th course played overall. I was glad I could get this one crossed off my list. 

Edited June 15, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I played Streamsong Blue this afternoon. Very good golf course, hotel is super nice as well. The course would definitely be easier the second time around. Greens were very large and rolled nicely for not being bent grass, which what I am used to. The whole resort shuts down for a month on Monday, not sure why. Maybe to deal with the fairway fungus on the Black course. $79 for golf (Army discount), $40 for the cart and $60 tip for the caddy. I'll talk more about that later.....was not worth the $60, I think he was too lazy to laser distances because a few times I double checked what he called out and he was off by 20 yards at times. I also hate when caddies tell me how to putt and tell me the (supposed) lines. Putting is not my issue.  I plan on coming back in December to play the Red and Black; I'll carry my own bag and laser (correctly) the yardages myself. The room is awesome here and everything I ate was top notch! 

 

I am going to try and get over to the Miami area later this week to sneak in two more courses.  Also, don't tell my wife but she is gonna play two rounds with me next week on the drive home to Ohio!

Edited June 22, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[lazyjk]

On 5/26/2022 at 12:25 PM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Medicine Hole (ND)

I went to college in ND and then lived there for almost 5 years during another stretch and I didn't realize until today there was an Engh 9 holer out there! I'm headed out to Bismarck for the 4th, might have to make a bit of a detour on the way out to check it out. 

[lazyjk]

On 5/26/2022 at 12:25 PM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Medicine Hole (ND)

I went to college in ND and then lived there for almost 5 years during another stretch and I didn't realize until today there was an Engh 9 holer out there! I'm headed out to Bismarck for the 4th, might have to make a bit of a detour on the way out to check it out. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I am really excited to play golf in North Dakota next month!!!!! Post some pics if you beat me to Medicine Hole! 

[lazyjk]

You've got a great ND itinerary for sure! Also I played Elkhorn Ridge in SD almost exactly a year ago on my birthday and enjoyed it a bunch. The back 9 is crazy - I don't think there is a flat hole until 18.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Early morning views from our room.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Just got a great deal on Golfnow to play Crandon GC on Key Biscayne near Miami tomorrow. It's supposedly a pretty nice golf course. We shall see.

 

 I am going to try and pick up another course from the Historic Florida Golf Trail Saturday morning as well. 

 

www.floridahistoricgolftrail.com

 

 

Edited June 26, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[hammergolf]

27 minutes ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Just got a great deal on Golfnow to play Crandon GC on Key Biscayne near Miamai tomorrow. It's supposedly a pretty nice golf course. We shall see.

 

 I am going to try and pick up another course from the Historic Florida Golf Trail Saturday morning as well. 

 

www.floridahistoricgolftrail.com

 

 

Bring your straight ball with you. Good course but really tight.

[Argonne69]

3 hours ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Just got a great deal on Golfnow to play Crandon GC on Key Biscayne near Miamai tomorrow. It's supposedly a pretty nice golf course. We shall see.

 

 I am going to try and pick up another course from the Historic Florida Golf Trail Saturday morning as well. 

 

www.floridahistoricgolftrail.com

 

 

I thought it was a decent, fairly tough layout, but I was disappointed that there are few views of the city. The vast majority of the border of the course is dense vegetation. There are a couple of gaps where you can see water. 

 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I hope it's worth the 2.5 hour drive to play Crandon.  I hope I can squeeze 1 or 2 more rounds before we head back on Monday. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Got up early today and made the 2.5 hour, one way drive over to Miami to play Crandon on Key Biscayne. Miami traffic really blows; I forgot my SunPass in Ohio so I was not able to use the express lanes which would have really helped. Crandon was OK, greens still recovering from recent aeration, otherwise it's a typical Florida course. I paid $66 on a Golfnow "hot deal". Another golf course without logo golf balls too. At least the girl in the pro shop was easy on the eyes! Fairly narrow course here, many tough driving holes, greens could be small or large. Lots of sand and a decent amount of water. Easy to lose golf balls here. Round took 4 hours and we waited on the group in front of us for 5-6 holes until the pro made them move aside for us. Tons of iguanas hanging out. Don't go out of your way to play it, but if you are near downtown Miami.....

Edited June 26, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[jjr]

Since you'll be at the RTJ Trail in August I though I'd put in a good word for Grand National and Magnolia Grove. The par 3 at M.G. is amazing too!

Edited June 25, 2022 by jjr

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

If I go to Alabama again this year it won't be in August, maybe November. If not, I'll go play 3-4 more RTJ courses in April 2023.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Looks like I talked the wife into "allowing" me to play early tomorrow morning, it'll be a "budget" municipal course this time around.

 

That will make 33 new courses already this year, my goal is to get to 65 by 12/29/22.

Edited June 26, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Rained all night so I decided to skip my morning round at Arcadia Municipal GC. I'll squeeze it in when I am down in November and or December. Tried to go in the afternoon, but it was pouring outside again. June is rainy season here in the F-L-A.

 

Next round will be Tuesday on my way home at the Mid Carolina Golf Club in South Carolina.

Edited June 26, 2022 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[caniac6]

On 6/24/2022 at 5:56 PM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Got up early today and made the 2.5 hour, one way drive over to Miami to play Crandon on Key Biscayne. Miami traffic really blows; I forgot my SunPass in Ohio so I was not able to use the express lanes which would have really helped. Crandon was OK, greens still recovering from recent aeration, otherwise it's a typical Florida course. I paid $66 on a Golfnow "hot deal". Another golf course without logo golf balls too. At least the girl in the pro shop was easy on the eyes! Fairly narrow course here, many tough driving holes, greens could be small or large. Lots of sand and a decent amount of water. Easy to lose golf balls here. Round took 4 hours and we waited on the group in front of us for 5-6 holes until the pro made them move aside for us. Tons of iguanas hanging out. Don't go out of your way to play it, but if you are near downtown Miami.....

A picture of the girl in the pro shop would’ve been nicer than the picture of the lizard!

[caniac6]

On 6/26/2022 at 10:52 AM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Rained all night so I decided to skip my morning round at Arcadia Municipal GC. I'll squeeze it in when I am down in November and or December. Tried to go in the afternoon, but it was pouring outside again. June is rainy season here in the F-L-A.

 

Next round will be Tuesday on my way home at the Mid Carolina Golf Club in South Carolina.

Musgrove Mill is private, but doesn’t get a lot of play. If you have any way to get on, I highly recommend it. Very interesting, and very difficult without being stupid. Played it on consecutive days, and it kicked my butt the first day, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I don’t think it is too far from the course you are playing in S.C.