Arg's Travel Log

[Argonne69]

Beautiful course. Gil Hanse did a wonderful job. Greens are killing me. 

 

 

[mci711]

18 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Beautiful course. Gil Hanse did a wonderful job. Greens are killing me. 

 

 

 

Is that #5? Love a 480 yard par 4, uphill with a massive false front! I hit a 4 iron pin high last time I played and ended up with a 50 yard pitch shot lol

[jjr]

The mention of Chateau Ela brought back memories. I played Chateau Elan, AAC, The Golf Club of Georgia and Royal Oaks CC 20+ years ago, all beautiful very good tracks, Royal Oaks is semi private and I was lucky enough to play 18 with Tommy Aaron the 73 Master's Champ (my father's cousin was his buddy) had him down on the front and was counting my autographed $5 bill until he took me down on the back. If you get back that direction the Royal Oaks layout is really good!

 

Arg, not knocking your photography or drinking skills but no pic of the amazing clubhouse and no wine consumed? 

Edited February 28, 2023 by jjr

[Argonne69]

2 hours ago, mci711 said:

 

Is that #5? Love a 480 yard par 4, uphill with a massive false front! I hit a 4 iron pin high last time I played and ended up with a 50 yard pitch shot lol

 

Yes, I believe that's #5. 

 

[Argonne69]

Simply gorgeous day. Couldn't have picked a better better day for number 1000. The clouds broke, and it was clear skies and warm temps all round. Pretty special. 

 

Simply wonderful course. Nice elevation changes and excellent bunkering. Plenty of waste areas and native looking bunkers. Water on just a couple holes, but the green complexes provide plenty of defense. Oy. There were a couple of meh holes, but otherwise they were quite varied. Nice mix of long/short and left/right. 

 

Actually quite generous off the tee, but otherwise there is little room for error. The rough is very low, and does nothing to stop balls from running into the pine straw, junk, or waste areas. Approaches are a completely different matter. Reminded me of Pine Needles with the large drop-offs. Hit plenty of greens, but stayed on few. False fronts, sides, and backs. Probably harder than #2 in that regard. Up and downs were nearly impossible. Steep sides and then slopey greens combined with the grain played absolute havoc. Putting was tough. Putts that looked like they broke a foot broke 4. The grain was putting the brakes on good strokes, or racing them 12 feet past. 

 

Par 3s were very good. Nice mix of length with plenty of trouble. 5s were excellent. Two were reachable risk/reward holes, and two were simply long with trouble galore. The 13th is a sweeper around a pond, and if one flirts with the water left off the tee one can possibly give it a go. Short 4s were very good. The 16th might be driveable, but the chute is narrow, and the false front will reject anything short, leaving a tricky wedge up the steep front. 

 

Conditions were very good. The dormant fairways were very tight. Rough was very low. Bunkers were disappointing. Looked good, but very inconsistent with the sand. A number were painfully thin. Greens were excellent. Fairly smooth and rolling at 10 if you could find a flat spot. With the grain and slope they could be 7 or 12. 

 

Played the White tees at 6428 yds (70.8/131). Lol. What a beautiful day. Reminded me of my round at Pine Needles a year ago. Decent day off the tee, but the greens ate me alive. You think you have a good touch around the greens and then you hit a brick wall. One birdie, seven bogies, and two doubles. Highlight of the day was a nice half gap wedge to 6' on the short par 4 16th to set up the sole birdie. Lowlights galore, but let's not go there. Lol. 

 

I'll give #4 8 cows. Not a course you're going to step on for the first time and break the course record. A solid test, but yet beautiful and (frustratingly) fun. Pretty much what you'd expect from a Pinehurst course. I played #2 before it's renovation, so I can't really compare the two, but I'd probably put #4 it ahead of it. Today is the final day of the winter rates, so the total price with room wasn't crazy. Certainly a better value that Old White at The Greenbrier. Definitely worth a play. 

 

Well, I did it. With the crummy weather and catching a cold, I thought I might stumble on the way to #1000. However, it worked out fine. Yeah, Shadow Creek would have been cool, but #4 is no slouch. Glad I made the drive out here. Thanks for the support. I really appreciate it. 

 

 

[david.c.w]

Congrats on a tremendous milestone.  Glad 1000 was a special course with good weather and your health cooperated.  

 

 

[Argonne69]

Pinehurst No 4, Pinehurst, NC 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/meulsoxa3aqyc3i/AACToOGEwE_akwAuFZBvmVXXa?dl=0

 

[mci711]

Congrats on 1000! Only 750 more than me 😂

[Double Mocha Man]

 

Who's the handsome guy standing on the tee?  Kudos on your 1000th!  When do you expect to hit 2000?  😆

[tw422]

23 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Pinehurst No 4, Pinehurst, NC 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/meulsoxa3aqyc3i/AACToOGEwE_akwAuFZBvmVXXa?dl=0

 

Congrats on a great 1000th course.  Now, more importantly where and what is the beer choice?? 🙂 Looks like the place was/is empty?  and you got a bluebird day.  I remember the golf there being pure.  

Edited February 28, 2023 by tw422

[Argonne69]

16 minutes ago, tw422 said:

Congrats on a great 1000th course.  Now, more importantly where and what is the beer choice?? 🙂 Looks like the place was/is empty?  and you got a bluebird day.  I remember the golf there being pure.  

 

Lol. I'm going to walk over to Pinehurst Brewing. I was told that they smoke a mean slab of ribs on Tuesdays. 

 

No, the place was quite full. Last day of winter rates brings out us cheapskates. 

 

[Argonne69]

How cool is this? Checked into the Holly Inn, the original resort hotel, and find out they upgraded me to a mini suite. Walk into the room and find a gift basket waiting for me that includes a custom bag tag with my name and "1000th Course Played." That's pretty awesome. 

 

 

[jjr]

Very cool, wow, super jealous, congrats on the 1000th and the upgrade, I'm sure the ribs will be tasty too!

[Double Mocha Man]

2 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

How cool is this? Checked into the Holly Inn, the original resort hotel, and find out they upgraded me to a mini suite. Walk into the room and find a gift basket waiting for me that includes a custom bag tag with my name and "1000th Course Played." That's pretty awesome. 

 

 

 

The Holly Inn is doing things right.  Just think how much word-of-mouth they'll get from you!  (Sorry, marketing and advertising is my career)

[hammergolf]

56 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Pinehurst No 4, Pinehurst, NC 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/meulsoxa3aqyc3i/AACToOGEwE_akwAuFZBvmVXXa?dl=0

 

Congrats on #1000

[david.c.w]

37 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

The Holly Inn is doing things right.  Just think how much word-of-mouth they'll get from you!  (Sorry, marketing and advertising is my career)

Funny to think that @Argonne69is actually an "influencer".

 

 

[highhdcp]

Congratulations on 1000!

 

 

[tw422]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

How cool is this? Checked into the Holly Inn, the original resort hotel, and find out they upgraded me to a mini suite. Walk into the room and find a gift basket waiting for me that includes a custom bag tag with my name and "1000th Course Played." That's pretty awesome. 

 

 

did they know you were coming to play your 1000th course??  if not, that is remarkable customer service....and agreed on the ROI for the marketing they will get from this.  Fantastic outcome for you!

[Argonne69]

15 minutes ago, tw422 said:

did they know you were coming to play your 1000th course??  if not, that is remarkable customer service....and agreed on the ROI for the marketing they will get from this.  Fantastic outcome for you!

 

I mentioned it when I booked last week. Didn't really think they'd do anything. 

 

[Argonne69]

Decent ribs at Pinehurst Brewing Company. Not much of a beer selection, but the pork ribs were juicy and tender. Hot link, beans, and O rings were OK. The Hickory BBQ sauce was tangy. 

 

 

[tw422]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I mentioned it when I booked last week. Didn't really think they'd do anything. 

 

Still impressive though and I'm giving them credit for hearing that and doing something.  Enjoy it!

Edited March 1, 2023 by tw422

[JungleJimbo]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

How cool is this? Checked into the Holly Inn, the original resort hotel, and find out they upgraded me to a mini suite. Walk into the room and find a gift basket waiting for me that includes a custom bag tag with my name and "1000th Course Played." That's pretty awesome. 

 

 

@Argonne69 what else was in the gift basket? eg is there some sort of certificate (in the dark green folder, towards the back right of the photo/basket?)

 

What a nice gesture by Pinehurst/Holly Inn... IMHO, i doubt Shadow Creek would’ve had similar thoughtfulness to us general public (Albeit yes they know how to roll out the red carpet..  for junkets/high-rollers?)

[Argonne69]

5 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

@Argonne69 what else was in the gift basket? eg is there some sort of certificate (in the dark green folder, towards the back right of the photo/basket?)

 

What a nice gesture by Pinehurst/Holly Inn... IMHO, i doubt Shadow Creek would’ve had similar thoughtfulness to us general public (Albeit yes they know how to roll out the red carpet..  for junkets/high-rollers?)

 

The basket included a red No 4 ball cap, the bag tag, a sleeve of chocolate golf balls, (good for a gag on the 1st tee with your buddies), a coffee mug filled with a bag of chocolate covered peanuts, a Pinehurst No 4 poker chip (in the green bag), and a congratulatory card from the hotel staff. Nice gesture. 

 

 

[caniac6]

39 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

The basket included a red No 4 ball cap, the bag tag, a sleeve of chocolate golf balls, (good for a gag on the 1st tee with your buddies), a coffee mug filled with a bag of chocolate covered peanuts, a Pinehurst No 4 poker chip (in the green bag), and a congratulatory card from the hotel staff. Nice gesture. 

 

 

That’s first class. Congrats on 1000, and well done Pinehurst!

[islesmb]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

How cool is this? Checked into the Holly Inn, the original resort hotel, and find out they upgraded me to a mini suite. Walk into the room and find a gift basket waiting for me that includes a custom bag tag with my name and "1000th Course Played." That's pretty awesome. 

 

 

Congrats on 1000, Pinehurst is such a great place. I just got back from there this afternoon, played #7 this morning and Tobacco Road yesterday. 

[TBone0576]

12 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

The basket included a red No 4 ball cap, the bag tag, a sleeve of chocolate golf balls, (good for a gag on the 1st tee with your buddies), a coffee mug filled with a bag of chocolate covered peanuts, a Pinehurst No 4 poker chip (in the green bag), and a congratulatory card from the hotel staff. Nice gesture. 

 

 

That is really awesome they would do that for you and celebrate your accomplishment.   Looks like you made a great choice for 1000.  Congrats.  I'm sure they would love to have you back to play all the other tracks you haven't hit yet.  

[Argonne69]

Decided to take a different route back to Atlanta this morning instead of retracing my path through Charlotte and the 50 miles of construction on I-85. Headed southwest towards Rockingham, and I'm now outside Columbia on I-20. Just under four hours remaining. 

 

Gotta love Google Maps. Driving on rolling state highways I felt like a bootlegger running from the local sheriff as I crested some of the hills. Lol. Once again, pretty country. 

 

[vernon]

Simply awesome.

 

Good for you!

[Argonne69]

Made it back to Atlanta in one piece, but my poor back is going to need rest. Wouldn't be a drive to Atlanta without running into bumper to bumper traffic at some point. People sure like crashing into each other.

 

Tomorrow looks like a washout, and Friday is a travel day, so after the excitement yesterday, I'll take a two day rest and be back on the links in the late morning on Saturday at Harbor Club on Lake Oconee. 

 

Final thoughts on Pinehurst. If you haven't visited, it's a must. It's almost sensory overload. Just walking in the clubhouse is an experience with the numerous display cases showcasing the major championships. The pro shop is huge. The view from the veranda is special. Excellent practice facilities. I attended a 3 day golf school there in 2008, and remember it fondly. 

 

There are now nine courses there, and two more are being built. Seriously, you could spend a week there are not play all the courses, and that doesn't include the other local courses including Mid Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines. 

 

Pre-season prices aren't bad, and the courses are in playable shape, even though they don't look lush. You can save a few bucks in February. 

 

[ssp]

4 hours ago, vernon said:

Simply awesome.

 

Good for you!

My thoughts summed up very well.