I ended up talking about this on the podcast a bit but here's a little more on it: - Technically it's an environmental weed outside a km or so from the coast line - Over time (partly because of how quickly it grows) it's become a large part of the vegetation mix of sandbelt golf courses - It can be quite successful and useful as a screening plant to block views of homes, maintenance buildings, etc. or as a safety buffer - At Kingston Heath it is quite influential as a penal hazard - In general it is a poor golf plant as it is very difficult to play from or find a ball within it. It's a bit like gorse in this respect. - A lot of clubs in recent years are removing it and trying to promote indigenous heathland/grass type vegetation instead. At places like Royal Melbourne, the seedbank for this type of vegetation exists underneath the tea tree, and they have had success cutting the tea tree, burning it, and having these other species propagate.

Rams Hill is a Fazio, not sure if it is just the sandy turf but it doesn't play like any of his other courses I've played.

Played and loved Dormie Club when it was publicly accessible, right after Tobacco Road. Started a solo Bandon trip with a morning at Sheep Ranch and thought I found heaven, was fun but exhausting playing with the wind in the afternoon. Appreciated Old Mac more on the second round. Did not enjoy Trump Old Aberdeen. Replayed Old Petty as soon as I walked off 18. Also, shoutout to Gil Hanse's renovation of La Costa--thought it rivals Rams Hill for most fun design to play in SD, same basic holes/layout/corridors but vastly different golfing experience-didn't feel like NCAA coverage on Golf Channel captured but I didn't watch much of it either.

To add to this, what are the best/worst times of the year to visit? How stupid is it to combine Sydney-Melbourne-Perth flying from US West Coast?

Looked (optimistically) at the following lifetime memberships, Isle of Harris, Askernish, Forfar, Fraserburgh. Heard great things about Brora/Tain/Golspie from caddies/members. Wish I checked out Nairn Dunbar when playing at Nairn. Not sure how much $$ Carnoustie , but the train up from Euston to the 1st tee was easy and the Buddon and Burnside are great everyday walks. Monifieth, two 18s, right there looked nice but didn't get the chance to play.

Palm Springs is great but the season is can be slightly shorter than you think. Most courses are closed into early November and it's hard to get in 36 with the daylight. We've found late April-early June to be the sweet spot for golf, lodging, etc. I have a "public access" itinerary floating around somewhere--pulled off Golf WRX.

I think Andy wins by a nose. Patrick Reed is the ultimate heel - amazing value late - and If Hollywood is voting by proxy through the Happy Gilmore 2 budget, John Daly still gets eyeballs!

Maybe my brain has been fully broken by this podcast, but no mention of Tosti? He’d fit right in with the combustibles at the Andy Invitational at TPC Initech. Have Matt Every do a “Week in The Life” video of Tosti picking up his Dodge Dart from Atlanta and driving to Memphis. They can talk through any supposed suspensions, bad behavior, and show 38 angles of him driving the green at Valhalla.

Maybe my brain has been fully broken by this podcast, but no mention of Tosti? He’d fit right in with the combustibles at the Andy Invitational at TPC Initech!

Love Yellow too. Was there yesterday! Def get to Albi.