Dream Nine: Par Threes
The par three. Whether it’s the shorter distance, the allure of a possible hole-in-one, or a breathtaking scenic backdrop, the par three is often the illustration of the most fond and lasting memories from a particular golf course. With that in mind the premise is simple: If you could create a nine-hole golf course comprised […]
Bunkers in Baghdad: Bringing Golf to Our Military
In the mountains of Afghanistan, a U.S. Marine Officer carefully lines up his shot. He stands atop a small platform built from two-by-fours, squeezes his grip a little tighter, and fires at his target about 200 yards away. A puff goes up as his dimpled white Callaway hits the rocky slopes about 20 feet […]
The Future of Municipal Golf Courses
The future of municipal courses in America is a subject of great concern with course closures on pace to exceed openings for yet another year. Many of the approximately 2,500 municipal golf facilities in the U.S. face an uncertain future despite making positive impacts with an often-conflicting responsibility—providing an affordable community recreation option while still […]
Top 10 Courses: Long Island
Home to classic major championship venues, breathtaking modern layouts, and everything in between, Long Island has long been a favorite summertime destination for avid golf travelers. Whether you’re spending the night in your car to save your place in line for the “People’s Country Club” or lucky enough to tee it up at one […]
Who Really Designed Bethpage Black?
By Tony Dear A while ago, we asked who deserved the credit for how a golf course turns out—designer, design associate, construction foreman, re-designer, restorer, renovator, shaper, superintendent, some of the above, or all of them. It’s an especially pertinent subject at Bethpage Black as a question mark hangs over the identity of the […]
The 5 Toughest Walks in Golf
You can’t help but take a few minutes to admire the views from the highest points at Pikewood National, which not only sits atop a mesa in the mountains near Morgantown, West Virginia, but has been continually climbing in national course rankings. The panoramic pit stops aren’t just because you’re treated to views of three […]