Bend's 2022-2024 Golf Log

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Headed South this weekend to look for areas to move to in 2026. The wife is even allowing me to golf! 

 

I have tee times at Fort Mill GC (SC), Aiken GC (GC). I'll probably try and toss in Midlands Valley (SC). I was hoping my connection would come through and get me on Palmetto or even Augusta CC, but it looks like it's not in the cards this trip! I'll add in the University of Georgia on the way home as we are going home a different way since I26/I40 is still closed from the storm last month. If I can get an early tee time, I'll squeeze in nine holes at Mount Vintage as well.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Awesome weather today. Wife and I played Fort Mill GC on the way to Augusta today. 68 and sunny! Front nine was designed by Donald Ross and the back nine by George Cobb. Very fun golf course, most holes have a good amount of room off the tee. Greens were rolling pretty fast. I could play here a lot and be perfectly happy. 

 

Was trying to get a tee time at the University of Georgia golf course on the way home, but they are booked pretty solid. I have a back up tee time at Lancaster GC in Lancaster, SC. 
 

Tuesdays is Midlands Valley GC (early, alone) and Wednesday is Aiken GC with wifey.  We are also meeting with a realtor tomorrow as we will be moving to Augusta in 2026. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I was supposed to rain today, so I decided to play Midlands Valley Golf Club yesterday afternoon instead. Course is a 1961 Ellis Maples design. Decent enough but you can tell it was a bit down on it's luck and somewhat run down. I heard that they have new owners as well. It "could be" a pretty nice course, but it needs updating, and probably a bunch of other stuff that costs big money. Today we figured out where we are going to look for land so we can build a home. Tomorrow I play Aiken Golf Club, I was rained out back in March when I was supposed to play it.

 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Does anyone know how to link photos to an image hosting site like photobucket?  I don't have any more memory here to upload pictures!

Edited December 2, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[Argonne69]

2 hours ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Does anyone know how to link photos to an image hosting site like photobucket?  I don't have any more memory here to upload pictures!

 

I use Dropbox. One can create a direct link to a photo in a folder. 

 

[caniac6]

On 11/20/2024 at 7:38 AM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Headed South this weekend to look for areas to move to in 2026. The wife is even allowing me to golf! 

 

I have tee times at Fort Mill GC (SC), Aiken GC (GC). I'll probably try and toss in Midlands Valley (SC). I was hoping my connection would come through and get me on Palmetto or even Augusta CC, but it looks like it's not in the cards this trip! I'll add in the University of Georgia on the way home as we are going home a different way since I26/I40 is still closed from the storm last month. If I can get an early tee time, I'll squeeze in nine holes at Mount Vintage as well.

I thought you were kind of set on the Augusta area?

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

21 hours ago, caniac6 said:

I thought you were kind of set on the Augusta area?

We are. Evans, GA. It's only 25 minutes from Aiken. Tons of golf courses right across the river from Augusta. I'll be joining The Aiken Golf Club as well as Eisenhower Golf club on the Army base once I move there

Edited December 3, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[caniac6]

1 hour ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

We are. Evans, GA. It's only 25 minutes from Aiken. Tons of golf courses right across the river from Augusta. I'll be joining The Aiken Golf Club as well as Eisenhower Golf club on the Army base once I move there

We considered Aiken, but we have been in Winston-Salem so long it’s tough to leave.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I like NC a lot, but not quite warm enough for the wife. We checked out Wilmington, but not a good retirement spot. I am coming down your way at the end of March w my son to golf a few days; we were thinking Duke, UNC Finley and or Lonnie Poole. Maybe only 1, maybe all 3! Which one of those three is the best?

[NCLancer]

46 minutes ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

I like NC a lot, but not quite warm enough for the wife. We checked out Wilmington, but not a good retirement spot. I am coming down your way at the end of March w my son to golf a few days; we were thinking Duke, UNC Finley and or Lonnie Poole. Maybe only 1, maybe all 3! Which one of those three is the best?

Answering which is best is very difficult and if you ask 10 people you'll probably get 3 votes for each and the 10th person will throw their hands in the air say they can't decide! 

 

 

[caniac6]

1 hour ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

I like NC a lot, but not quite warm enough for the wife. We checked out Wilmington, but not a good retirement spot. I am coming down your way at the end of March w my son to golf a few days; we were thinking Duke, UNC Finley and or Lonnie Poole. Maybe only 1, maybe all 3! Which one of those three is the best?

I graduated from the turf program at NC State, but Lonnie Poole was not there, and I haven’t played it, but it looks tough. Finley was recently redone by Davis Love. I saw it in process, and it looked like it was going to be good. I worked at Duke, so I’m a bit biased, but I like it. Cameron is fairly close, and the Duke Hall of Fame is next door to Cameron and open to the public. Duke Chapel is definitely worth checking out, too.

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

I like NC a lot, but not quite warm enough for the wife. We checked out Wilmington, but not a good retirement spot. I am coming down your way at the end of March w my son to golf a few days; we were thinking Duke, UNC Finley and or Lonnie Poole. Maybe only 1, maybe all 3! Which one of those three is the best?

 

I'd rank them Lonnie Poole, Duke, and then UNC Finley.

 

https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1842161-args-travel-log/?do=findComment&comment=24697970

 

https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1842161-args-travel-log/?do=findComment&comment=23901196

 

https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/1842161-args-travel-log/?do=findComment&comment=23902716

 

Edited December 4, 2024 by Argonne69

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I still need to post pics from The Aiken Golf Club (SC) and Lancaster GC (SC). Supposed to be low 50's on Sunday, thinking about a quick trip to Lexington, KY as there are still a few courses that I have not played there. I hate Winter now.

 

Florida in a few weeks, thinking about playing most of these. I get to play a round of golf with one of my favorite teachers I had as a kid in Naples. Being a teacher myself, I am pretty excited.

 

These are the courses that I am scouting out:

 

The Park

West Palm Beach Par 3

Osprey Point

Panther Run

Babcock National

Myakka Pines

Clearwater CC

Pinecrest GC

Sebring CC

Winterpark 9 (if I can convince the wife to stop to play 9 on the way through Orlando)

MacDill AFB (not sure on conditions however)

Cedar Hammock CC
National Ave Maria

Cleveland Heights GC

Clewiston GC

 

If I can get half of these in, I'll be happy.

 

 

Edited December 17, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[TBone0576]

On 11/20/2024 at 6:38 AM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Headed South this weekend to look for areas to move to in 2026. The wife is even allowing me to golf! 

 

I have tee times at Fort Mill GC (SC), Aiken GC (GC). I'll probably try and toss in Midlands Valley (SC). I was hoping my connection would come through and get me on Palmetto or even Augusta CC, but it looks like it's not in the cards this trip! I'll add in the University of Georgia on the way home as we are going home a different way since I26/I40 is still closed from the storm last month. If I can get an early tee time, I'll squeeze in nine holes at Mount Vintage as well.

My parents build a home on Mount Vintage back in the early 2000s.   It was once a gorgeous facility and I think they even hosted some type of LPGA event.   Eventually added on 9 holes but my folks moved out of there around 2014 or so and I have not been back since about that time frame.  There were a number of lean years with membership and also one of the board members or something was stealing money from the club ( something like that ).   Always thought it was a fun layout to play and even had a hole in one out there with my folks in tow which was cool. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I was not able to play Mt. Vintage as I was rained out a few days. My wife and I played The Aiken Golf Club. Such an awesome place with a very laid back vibe. Course only tips out ~6,000 yards, but plays longer due to some elevation changes. Course was in awesome shape. I'll be joining here as soon as I move! 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

On the way home I was able to get out of the car and play the front nine at Lancaster Golf Club in Lancaster, SC. Weather was 20 degrees colder on the way home. Front nine was designed by Donald Ross and the back nine was designed by Russell Breeden. We only played the front. The course starts out with 4 handshake holes in a row, wide open and easy. Then the bottom drops out and it's a lot tougher. Fun golf course, it's in the middle of nowhere and 15-20 minutes away from I-77. 

 

Supposed to be low 50's here in Cincinnati on Sunday, I may try and squeeze in a round before I head down to Florida for a few weeks. 

Edited December 6, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

No golf updates until I get to Florida in a week and a half. 

 

I just got permission to go to Scotland for 2 weeks 3 weeks in September. Gonna be an awesome trip! I already compiled a list of 30+ courses I want to play, I know I won't get all of them in however. I'll go to St. Andrews first and try to get out on The Old Course as a single for three days, if not, oh well. Lots of great golf nearby.

 

TONS of awesome golf to play in Scotland.

Edited December 18, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I cancelled my trip to Phoenix for early April, the damn airline changed our flight back from 9am to midnight. My wife works the next day, so we took vouchers and we'll head out there another time. 

 

I have also committed to a Scotland trip in September for 18-21 days. Should be awesome. I have a bunch of courses mapped out and I will try my luck through the daily lottery on The Old Course. I'll be bummed if I don't get out, but there are so many courses to play.  I'll stay around St. Andrews for 5-6 days, then 5-6 days near North Berwick. I have a few other locations mapped out for 1 nighters in smaller towns as well.

 

So far, I already have three days set for tee times:

 

Gullane 1, 2 and 3 and Musselburgh Old Links

 

Florida this weekend, my goal is to finish up the year with 10 new courses for 55 this year. Not as good as Arg, but not bad for limited travel!

Edited December 17, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[Argonne69]

2 hours ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

I cancelled my trip to Phoenix for early April, the damn airline changed our flight back from 9am to midnight. My wife works the next day, so we took vouchers and we'll head out there another time. 

 

I have also committed to a Scotland trip in September for 18-21 days. Should be awesome. I have a bunch of courses mapped out and I will try my luck through the daily lottery on The Old Course. I'll be bummed if I don't get out, but there are so many courses to play.  I'll stay around St. Andrews for 5-6 days, then 5-6 days near North Berwick. I have a few other locations mapped out for 1 nighters in smaller towns as well.

 

So far, I already have three days set for tee times:

 

Gullane 1, 2 and 3 and Musselburgh Old Links

 

Florida this weekend, my goal is to finish up the year with 10 new courses for 55 this year. Not as good as Arg, but not bad for limited travel!

 

Does the Old Course still allow players to queue up early? I had a morning tee time through the singles lottery, but I showed up early and was able to join a threesome. 

 

[Dancin]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Does the Old Course still allow players to queue up early? I had a morning tee time through the singles lottery, but I showed up early and was able to join a threesome. 

 

Not sure. I know they switched to an online form system you fill out the previous day instead of waiting out all night and then they contact you if there is an opening and you have some amount of time to agree to it or not.

Edited December 18, 2024 by Dancin

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Yes, you show up between 9am and 4pm and enter your info into a screen for the next day's lottery. They contact you by 9pm if you get a time. I guess too many people were "waiting around" clogging up the area. I sure hope I can score one. The only other courses I really want to play are Eden and the New course. Kingsbarns looks great, but not so much at $600 when are plenty other links courses along the water to play. Also, the Old Course is "closed" for 2 weeks starting on Sept. 8th.

 

I was going to play The Park in West Palm Beach next week, but not at $220 plus caddy tips. I'll pass on that this trip. I have 2 tee times at two courses (That makes 8 crossed off this list) on the Historic Florida Golf Trail, and I'll start making my tee times this week for the other courses I want to play. Unless you have access to great private courses, Florida golf pretty much sucks. There are less than 12-15 courses that I would really  like to see in Florida, since I'll never be able to play Seminole. Lol.

Edited December 18, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[Argonne69]

I really enjoyed the Castle course. It's not as "linksy" as Old and New, but it's an excellent track. 

 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Was able to get in 9 holes (they have 27 holes here) with some friends that just moved to Lakeland, Florida on Sunday. Cleveland Heights GC, which turned out to be a very fun golf course. Weather was a warm 70 degrees, and we ate a nice meal outside in downtown Lakeland, which is pretty cool. 

 

Hoping the weather over in West Palm Beach will be nice this upcoming weekend. I have rounds booked already at Osprey Point in Boca Raton and The Champions Club in Stuart, FL. Looks like shopping with the wife if I am rained out that Friday.

Edited December 25, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Fun day golfing today. I played golf with a former teacher that I last saw in 1982! I was in 9th grade at the time. We have been FB friends for awhile and he invited me to golf at his private country club today in Naples, FL. Perfect weather today. Cedar Hammock CC is inside a gated community, lots of homes but away from the course for the most part. Lots of room off the tee, near perfect conditions, great pace of play (3 hrs 45 min), speedy greens. Course number 632. Next course is Thursday in Boca Raton; Osprey Point GC. 

Edited December 25, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I went ahead and made my tee times for the next week:

 

Osprey Point

Champions Club

Panther Run

Myakka Pines

Pinecrest

Sebring International

 

Public golf in Florida pretty much sucks. Thank goodness my wife came to her senses and no longer wants to move here. It's fine for a vacation, but that's it. 

Edited December 25, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I played The Champion's Club at Summerfield GC in Stuart, Florida this morning. Weather was on and off rain. Very humid. Course was designed by Tom Fazio and was very penal. Lost 7 balls and shot a 104. The 3 handicapper I played with lost 5 and shot 82. $86 with cart. Not the most aesthetically pleasing course. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Yesterday my wife and I played Osprey Point GC in Boca Raton, FL. It's a 27 hole city-owned complex that was packed with golfers. We played the Hawk and Falcon nines. Nice golf course, but nothing all that exciting. The starter was the crustiest old man that I have ever spoken to. Why on Earth would you have a person who hates people as your starter? Teed off at 1:15 and barely finished all 18 before darkness set in. Course number 633 played. Hoping to get four more courses in before heading home to crappy, Ohio weather. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I was able to squeeze in nine holes at Clewiston Golf Course in Clewiston, FL. Clewiston is in the heart of sugar cane central. The original nine holes dates back to 1929. Fun, little course in the middle of nowhere. Paid $50 for 2 nine hole rounds w a cart. Greens were fast, on the smaller side and were bermuda grass so they had grains going every which way; tough to get your line. This course is part of the Florida Historic Golf Trail. Course number 635. All of the staff were SUPER friendly here, which was a nice change. 
 

Not sure if I'll get the two courses in that I reserved for tomorrow, it's been raining here quite a bit and they are calling for 90% rain tomorrow.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I was able to get 10 new courses in over 8 days while in Florida. I played two courses in Sebring, Florida. First one was Sebring International GC. Nothing special, but honestly it's just nice to golf in some warm December weather. Weather was cloudy until the afternoon. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

The second course I played in Sebring was an older course, Sebring Municipal GC. I liked this course a lot better. Tipped out at around 6400, course is around 90 years old. Hardly anyone was out playing golf and it was 83 and sunny!