Bend's 2022-2024 Golf Log

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It's nice to be back in the states.

 

That being said with the heat wave going on I am going to head up to Michigan solo two-three weeks after next and play the following courses:

 

Angel's Crossing

Pilgrim's Run

Arcadia South

Mines

Diamond Springs

American Dunes

 

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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Went up to Columbus the other day for an appointment downtown and I played the Eagle Eye 9 hole golf course (military) at the Defense Logistics Supply Center. Paid $10 to walk 9 holes. Course number 560. Only have a handful of privates that I still need to play in and around Columbus.

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Took a little drive down to Lexington, KY today and played two more courses on my list.. First up is Lakeside Municipal golf course. Lakeside is just your typical regular, no frills golf course, nothing special. $27 with cart. The greens were kinda slow, not much sand at all in the bunkers. Kind of boring overall. Course number 567.

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Since I was down that way I played a second round at the University of Kentucky golf club. This time around I played the lesser of the two courses there, Wildcat course. Was marginally better than Lakeside. Not as open and not in as good condition as their other course; Big Blue. Rough was high and tough to hit out of. Had to play with two brand new golfers which is tough to watch. No sand, just dirt in the bunkers. Greens kinda beat up. I repaired 3-5 ball marks on every single green. If you only have time for one round here skip Wildcat and play Big Blue. Course number 568. 

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I recently was able to play the Lanny Wadkins designed Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio. Slope from the back tees is 149. I played it ~6400 yards, stil very tough. Lots of rough. Tough par 3's here. Quick greens. Liked the course, did not like all of the houses. Course number 569.

Edited August 31, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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At the end of September I am going to Cooperstown, NY to play Leatherstocking. I am also looking at playing Ravenwood near Rochester as well. I was hoping ro squeeze in Mark Twain GC (Elmira, NY) and the Links of Hiawatha, but the wife has decided to tag along so I'll probably not be able to get those two courses in. I was supposed to go last year at this time, but Covid! I'll find a course up near Cleveland to play 9 at on the way to break up the drive. 

[Chanceman]

On 7/24/2023 at 10:07 AM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

It's nice to be back in the states.

 

That being said with the heat wave going on I am going to head up to Michigan solo two-three weeks after next and play the following courses:

 

Angel's Crossing

Pilgrim's Run

Arcadia South

Mines

Diamond Springs

American Dunes

 

 

Did you get to do this trip? A little bit of Mike DeVries watching.

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American Dunes near Grand Haven, Michigan. Was previously called Grand Haven CC, and I played it about 15 years ago when it was a tree lined, really tight course. Jack Nicklaus redesigned it with a new marketing strategy towards veterans.  I am not usually a fan of Jack's designs, but this one was awesome. Definitely worth a play! If you are a veteran they give you a pretty nice discount on your greens fee as well. 

Edited September 2, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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Was finally able to play Arcadia South. What an awesome golf course and the perfect compliment to the Arcadia Bluffs course which I played way back in 2008 IIRC. The South course is open and no trees. Awesome greens and just a super fun golf course. It might not get any better than summer golf in Michigan. 

Edited September 4, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[imkirby34]

9 minutes ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Was finally able to play Arcadia South. What an awesome golf course and the perfect compliment to the Arcadia Bluffs course which I pkayed way back in 2008 IIRC. The South course is open and no trees. Awesome greens and just a super fun golf course. It might not get any better than summer golf in Michigan. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could definitely see myself going bunker-to-bunker quite often.  Curiosity got the best of me - what's it say on those greenside bunker signs?  

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I don't remember even looking at one!

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Played Pilgrim's Run GC. A very nice, a bit overwatered, parkland style course a short drive North of Grand Rapids. It was around $85 with cart. It's a nice course, but it does not even crack my top 10 played in Michigan played out of almost 90 courses. 

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Second round today was at Angel's Crossing GC in Vicksburg, Michigan. About an hour South of Grand Rapids. Good, solid golf course. 

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Unfortunately, when the wife tags along I don't get in the max number of courses. Oh well. I missed out on Diamond Springs. Next time I will play that with Harbor Shores, and GVSU Meadows. I had also wanted to play Sotin Brae as well.  I was able to barely get the front 9 of The Mines in. The Mines was a super fun golf course, at least the front 9 holes anyway! Busy too. Pics are from the front nine. Overall, Grand Rapids is a good golf town with lots of good golf options, all within 30-45 min drive. 

Edited September 5, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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I have a few Ohio courses lined up in the next few weeks as well as a weekend trip to New York to play Leatherstocking and Ravenwood near Rochester. Stay tuned. 

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Finally got around to playing the nine hole course on Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Prairie Trace East. I have already played the two, 18 hole courses there (Twin Base and Prairie Trace West). The course was nothing special, it played fast and firm, the greens looked like they were punched in the last week or two, and although on the slower side were in nice shape. Sand in the traps was great. I try to play as many military golf courses as I can. The best part of the round were the Blackhawk helos flying over head and quite low sometimes!  My 570th different golf course played and my 205th in Ohio. The only courses left to play in Dayton are NCR North and NCR South.

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It looks like we'll be headed out West again next summer. My plan is to fly into Salt Lake City and then drive up to Washington state. We'll stay in Kennewick for a few day (wife has friends there) and Seattle for a few days as well.  Right now I am planning on these courses:

 

South Mountain (Utah)

Buffalo Peak (Oregon)

Palouse Ridge (Washington)

Wine Velley (Washington)

Columbia Point (Washington)

Gamble Sands (Washington)

Chambers Bay (Washington)

 

 

Edited September 12, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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Played a repeat course this weekend. Miami White Water Forest GC which is part of the Hamilton County Park system. When I left the Army 1992 and moved to Cincinnati this was the first course that I played here. Has been several years since I have played here. Greens were pretty fast, play was really slow. They don't ask people to play fast I guess. Also, the twosome in from of us refused to tee off until the group ahead was off the green, on par three, par four and par five holes! Amazing! One of the other courses nearby has closed for good leaving only one other course in a growing area. The starter said they are always booked; all the more reason to tell people to play in 4.5 or less hours!

Edited September 19, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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Long day today. Made the three hour, one way drive to Jasper, Indiana to play Sultan's Run GC. Course was designed by Pete Dye protege, Tim Liddy. Awesome piece of land and not flat like most of Indiana. This is one of the best public courses in Indiana. $95 with cart, free range balls and $5 lunch coupon. Hated the GPS carts because they constantly shut off in certain areas. Lots of opportunities to lose golf balls here as well. Great course! It's about an hour West of Louisville.

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After my round at Sultan's Run, I drove about 10 minutes out of my way and played an old, 1940 nine hole course; Huntingsburg CC. The pro shop was the "bar". Lol. Approximately 3000 yards with multiple sets of tees. Course had consecutive par 5's and a few really quirky holes; postage stamp greens. Course was in great shape and played fast and firm. They made good use of a smallish piece of land. The donkeys along hole number 2 came when you called them. Round was $30 with cart and took me, maybe 1 hour after some teenagers allowed me to play through.

 

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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Went to Cooperstown, NY this weekend. On the way, we stopped and played nine holes at the soon to be closed Sanctuary GC near Canton, Ohio. The course was sold for housing. It's ranked in the top 20 courses in the Cleveland metro area according to Golfclevelandohio.com. The course was in nice shape considering it closes for good on 10/15/23. 

Edited October 3, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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I was supposed to play Leatherstocking last Fall, but I caught Covid. I was not able to play Mark Twain GC in Elmira, NY since the wife tagged along this time. We hiked the trails at Watkins Glen State Park, which was fun. We also did not play Ravenwood today as the wife was running behind this morning , so I had cancel the tee time at Ravenwood. I was able to ply 9 at Lost Nation outside of Cleveland to break up the drive a little. Leatherstocking is a very quirky course which would play easier the second time around. I shot a 50 on the front nine, and a 40 on the back with a nice long string of five pars. The four holes across the street are pretty tough as well. Great drives can end up in bad spots here! I splashed one off the tee on 18, and then I nailed an approach from 165 yards to about 3 feet, then sank the putt. All in front of about 300 people outside for a wedding reception. Ha! I didn't tell them I had a 50 on the front nine! Play here if you get a chance. $150 with cart.

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Here are few pics of the Granite Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen State Park. Cool place. 

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Since I was not able to play Ravenwood GC near Rochester today, I stopped a bit Northeast of Cleveland and played the front nine at Lost Nation GC. Some of the holes were originally a private club. Greens were in great shape, almost all sand traps were NOT maintained. Might as well grass them in! Price was $24 (each) for 9 with a cart. This was my 207th different course played "in Ohio."

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I am hoping that this "possible" invite to a Top 20 private comes through this weekend, but it will cause me to do some road tripping. If so, I'll be able to add a few courses on the drive there and back.

 

This month, I have two trips planned down South to look at places where we may want to retire as it certainly won't be Ohio. I'll try and squeeze a few rounds in without the wife complaining too much. We'll be going to Columbia, South Carolina as well as Augusta and Athens, Georgia. 

 

Courses I may play:

 

Fort Mill GC (SC)

Asheboro GC (NC)

Forest Hills GC (GA)

Aiken GC (SC)

Univ. of Georgia GC (GA)

 

Stay tuned.

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The weather canceled a trip up to Michigan this weekend, oh well. 

 

Wife gave me permission to head down to TN/NC/GA this weekend. I'll play the following golf courses:

 

Egwani Farms (TN)

Old Union (GA)

Butternut Creek (GA)

Sequoyah National (NC)

 

Over Veteran's Day weekend I'll head down to Alabama and play:

 

Farm Links

Redstone Arsenal

RTJ Judge

RTJ Legislator

RTJ Senator

 

 

 

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I played Egwani Farms GC just South of Knoxville, Tennessee yesterday. Fun golf course. Lots of room off the tee. Greens were pretty fast for mid October. Course number 576.

Edited October 15, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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I played Old Union GC in Blairsville, Georgia this morning with some locals. Mostly flat course with a lot of man made mounds. Fun golf course. They sell memberships for $749 a year. Course is in North Georgia, about 15 miles South of the North Carolina border.  Course number 577.

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My round at Old Union took less than 4 hours so I drove about 5 miles down the street and played nine more at Butternut Creek GC. Very hilly with many quirky holes. Would be an easier play the second time around. Tomorrow I will play Sequoyah National GC on the way home.

Edited October 18, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

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The last course that I played this past weekend was Sequoyah National GC located in Cherokee, NC. I have had this course on my radar for a few years now. The conditions were amazing, and amazing everywhere. Course is NOT walkable. You can hit a bad shot and end up in a great spot, but you can also hit a great golf shot and be lost very easily here. They had gps carts, but the gps was turned off. Yardage was hardly marked anywhere, and it's needed on such a hilly golf course. To make matters worse, my laser died and the cart's usb ports did not work! Number nine does not go back to the clubhouse, and the drink girl didn't show until we were walking off the 13th hole. Lol, and they had a sign that said no outside food and drink. Cost was $148, but they do sell times cheaper online. Pace of play was exactly 4 hours, which was faster than I expected here. It rained the last few holes. Course number 579. Looks like I won't break 600 until next year, oh well.

Edited October 18, 2023 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC