First, Vijay already used his two career money exemptions in 2022 and 2023. He should not have this one available.
Second, Andy was asking if somebody has compiled a list of who has career money exemptions they can still use. Ask and ye shall receive.
Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, David Toms, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III.
Finally, fields are flexing up to include all fully exempt people this year, so it is true he may not be taking a spot if and only if the field is flexing up. (Except Phoenix)
First, Vijay already used his two career money exemptions in 2022 and 2023. He should not have this one available.
Second, Andy was asking if somebody has compiled a list of who has career money exemptions they can still use. Ask and ye shall receive.
Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, David Toms, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III.
Finally, fields are flexing up to include all fully exempt people this year, so it is true he may not be taking a spot if and only if the field is flexing up. (Except Phoenix)
Hey folks! I'll be in Austin, TX in late Feb and I managed to arrange my work schedule to sneak in a round of golf. I've done some Googling and have a short list, but wondered if any one on here has any must plays. Let me know!
Hey folks! I'll be in Austin, TX in late Feb and I managed to arrange my work schedule to sneak in a round of golf. I've done some Googling and have a short list, but wondered if any one on here has any must plays. Let me know!
I play in a volleyball league that is pretty competitive, but in the offseason, the commish of the league is starting up a 5-week sim golf league, inviting people from all skill levels for screen golf. The commish doesn't know much about golf, so I'm trying to give him some tips. (For example, I asked him what the two-man format was, he said best ball. I pressed him further knowing full well he meant scramble) He claims the sim has almost any course we want and is excited to do courses like Augusta and Sawgrass. It sounds like there are going to be some beginner beginners in this. For example, they think I (an 18 index) am going to be one of the best players in the league (My teammate is a 2).
I think you see where I'm going with this. I think throwing newbies onto courses like Augusta and Sawgrass would be a complete disaster and unfun for all involved. Assuming they do indeed have every course in the world, any suggestions for ones I should suggest? I was thinking Mammoth Dunes, Kapalua Plantation, LACC, Trinity Forest, anything with wide wide fairways where people won't be hating life and quit.
I play in a volleyball league that is pretty competitive, but in the offseason, the commish of the league is starting up a 5-week sim golf league, inviting people from all skill levels for screen golf. The commish doesn't know much about golf, so I'm trying to give him some tips. (For example, I asked him what the two-man format was, he said best ball. I pressed him further knowing full well he meant scramble) He claims the sim has almost any course we want and is excited to do courses like Augusta and Sawgrass. It sounds like there are going to be some beginner beginners in this. For example, they think I (an 18 index) am going to be one of the best players in the league (My teammate is a 2).
I think you see where I'm going with this. I think throwing newbies onto courses like Augusta and Sawgrass would be a complete disaster and unfun for all involved. Assuming they do indeed have every course in the world, any suggestions for ones I should suggest? I was thinking Mammoth Dunes, Kapalua Plantation, LACC, Trinity Forest, anything with wide wide fairways where people won't be hating life and quit.
My biggest takeaway from the latest Yoak was that nobody was willing to just say "here's the money, do whatever you want." Like, yea, I get it, when you're investing $25 million on a golf course, you really, really need it to make money and you're likely super worried about the outcome. But what there thousands of people putting in not much at all? With 10,000 investors, you'd only need $2,500 invested per person. I mean, that's a lot of money, yes, but the point is (1) if it's an investment, it's small enough to lose, and (2) if successful, any perks from that money could probably pay for the initial investment over the lifetime of the going concern.
Now, I know finance law prohibits just asking normal folks to invest in a venture without becoming a public company, and that has non-trivial costs attached. However, the cost is low enough that I think plenty of folks would be willing to be compensated through a kick-starter structure, that is, I assume I'll get zero return on my investment, but maybe I'd get to play golf at a steep discount, or get access to a locker/bar that is otherwise private when I visit. I mean, I'd happily pitch in for a Bandon-like entity to get built if I know I'll get discounted golf and preferred access going forward. I also wouldn't care at all what the course was like, because I genuinely think pitching in for a Doak-level masterpiece to get built would be worth it.
Maybe I'm totally out of touch with reality, but it just seems doable to me.
My biggest takeaway from the latest Yoak was that nobody was willing to just say "here's the money, do whatever you want." Like, yea, I get it, when you're investing $25 million on a golf course, you really, really need it to make money and you're likely super worried about the outcome. But what there thousands of people putting in not much at all? With 10,000 investors, you'd only need $2,500 invested per person. I mean, that's a lot of money, yes, but the point is (1) if it's an investment, it's small enough to lose, and (2) if successful, any perks from that money could probably pay for the initial investment over the lifetime of the going concern.
Now, I know finance law prohibits just asking normal folks to invest in a venture without becoming a public company, and that has non-trivial costs attached. However, the cost is low enough that I think plenty of folks would be willing to be compensated through a kick-starter structure, that is, I assume I'll get zero return on my investment, but maybe I'd get to play golf at a steep discount, or get access to a locker/bar that is otherwise private when I visit. I mean, I'd happily pitch in for a Bandon-like entity to get built if I know I'll get discounted golf and preferred access going forward. I also wouldn't care at all what the course was like, because I genuinely think pitching in for a Doak-level masterpiece to get built would be worth it.
Maybe I'm totally out of touch with reality, but it just seems doable to me.
I'll have time for one round while on the Big Island and am torn on which course to choose. Outside of Nanea (definitely not well connected enough for that one!), curious if anyone has thoughts on the obvious public choices (Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani North, or Mauna Lani South) or if there are others I should consider?
I'll have time for one round while on the Big Island and am torn on which course to choose. Outside of Nanea (definitely not well connected enough for that one!), curious if anyone has thoughts on the obvious public choices (Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani North, or Mauna Lani South) or if there are others I should consider?
I'm heading down to Melbourne in a couple of weeks with some friends and will be playing some of the big dogs in the area, but I am going to stick around awhile and play more solo, and maybe pop over the 7 mile beach.
What are some good spots to hit up in Melbourne that are a reasonable price? Has anyone taken the train out to Warrnambool for a day trip from the CBD? That seems like a fun adventure, but 7 hours on a train in a day is a lot.
I'm heading down to Melbourne in a couple of weeks with some friends and will be playing some of the big dogs in the area, but I am going to stick around awhile and play more solo, and maybe pop over the 7 mile beach.
What are some good spots to hit up in Melbourne that are a reasonable price? Has anyone taken the train out to Warrnambool for a day trip from the CBD? That seems like a fun adventure, but 7 hours on a train in a day is a lot.
Morning FEGC! I'm curious if any North American fans have been to a DP world tour event. I'm thinking about going to the KLM Open in June and it would be my first time going to an international golf event. Has anyone made the trip over? Was it easy to do, what was the experience like? Thanks in advance.
Morning FEGC! I'm curious if any North American fans have been to a DP world tour event. I'm thinking about going to the KLM Open in June and it would be my first time going to an international golf event. Has anyone made the trip over? Was it easy to do, what was the experience like? Thanks in advance.
Will shared this yesterday to your inbox, but I wanted to also put the information for The Shotgun Start's first live show here.
On Thursday, February 12, Andy, Brendan, and PJ are heading to Chicagoland for their first ever live theater show at Space in Evanston, Illinois. The show will feature all your favorite segments, audience Q&A, and almost certainly a soliloquy on the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears. Come for the laughs, stay for Champions Tour minute, and help make sure the mics are plugged in before they start.
Tickets for FEGC members are on sale now and are released to the general public on Friday, January 9. You can use code FEGC2026to purchase your tickets during the pre-sale period this week.
Will shared this yesterday to your inbox, but I wanted to also put the information for The Shotgun Start's first live show here.
On Thursday, February 12, Andy, Brendan, and PJ are heading to Chicagoland for their first ever live theater show at Space in Evanston, Illinois. The show will feature all your favorite segments, audience Q&A, and almost certainly a soliloquy on the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears. Come for the laughs, stay for Champions Tour minute, and help make sure the mics are plugged in before they start.
Tickets for FEGC members are on sale now and are released to the general public on Friday, January 9. You can use code FEGC2026to purchase your tickets during the pre-sale period this week.
Three TGL matches down and everyone has played except Jupe stinks, and we just found out tonight that their potential roster next week is some combo of Akshay, Tiger, Kis, and Max. Not the change i thought they would make but you can’t show up to practice late. Also, they announced WTGL tonight with the retired Lexi Thompson. I don’t know if I’m more surprised there is an expansion team, a women’s version of the league, or that this will last more than 2 seasons. You have to wonder if the Liv/Tour negotiations are hung up on the PIF being able to get the next expansion team. A couple other thoughts:
Just like the MLB and NBA, analytics may be killing the fun in TGL with Cantlay’s hammer strategy
Per the most recent SGS, BP didn’t seem too thrilled there is TGL chat going on in the hottest club in town, and Andy looked like he was just disappointed.
Shane told Gotterup he’s the best indoor golfer in the world and he responded with “I don’t know if that’s a good claim to fame”
Updated power rankings: Drive, frogs, NYGC, LAGC, Bay, Jupe
Three TGL matches down and everyone has played except Jupe stinks, and we just found out tonight that their potential roster next week is some combo of Akshay, Tiger, Kis, and Max. Not the change i thought they would make but you can’t show up to practice late. Also, they announced WTGL tonight with the retired Lexi Thompson. I don’t know if I’m more surprised there is an expansion team, a women’s version of the league, or that this will last more than 2 seasons. You have to wonder if the Liv/Tour negotiations are hung up on the PIF being able to get the next expansion team. A couple other thoughts:
Just like the MLB and NBA, analytics may be killing the fun in TGL with Cantlay’s hammer strategy
Per the most recent SGS, BP didn’t seem too thrilled there is TGL chat going on in the hottest club in town, and Andy looked like he was just disappointed.
Shane told Gotterup he’s the best indoor golfer in the world and he responded with “I don’t know if that’s a good claim to fame”
Updated power rankings: Drive, frogs, NYGC, LAGC, Bay, Jupe
After heavy rainstorms slammed into the West Coast in late December, Soule Park Golf Course suffered significant flood damage. Multiple holes along the large barranca that runs through the Ojai, California, municipal course will need to be repaired or partially rebuilt.
This is the second time in three years that the course has taken a hit from rising waters. In the winter of 2022-23, portions of holes 12 and 14 were washed away. During the recent storm, the punchbowl green on the par-5 fifth hole took a particularly hard hit. Below are overhead photos of the green taken in 2022, 2024, and 2026, respectively.
Yeah. Yikes.
Soule Park has been vulnerable to floods throughout its 60-year history. In 2005, an especially intense storm left the course in a dire state. Fortunately, as I detailed in this 2019 piece, an ambitious leaseholder stepped in to rehabilitate the property and spearhead a renovation by Gil Hanse. In recent years, the course has seen a major uptick in play and media coverage.
Soule Park is near and dear to several of us at Fried Egg Golf. I grew up in nearby Goleta, California, and my dad and I played the course frequently in the late 1990s. Today, my colleague Cameron Hurdus lives about 30 minutes away.
Cameron visited Soule Park a few days ago and sent along these notes to me:
"The plan is basically to try and recapture as much of No. 5 green site as possible and put 'something' back, but no one has been hired on the design side yet.... I think what they end up building will depend on how much land is recaptured."
"There are a lot of areas that need to be addressed — just stabilizing spots and also potentially creating dams or buffers that might reroute water downstream slightly."
"The river is getting very close to the pond on No. 1/No. 10, [and a breakthrough there] would be the worst-case scenario."
"No. 12 will need some sort of stabilizing measure to keep it from eroding more."
This is all tough to hear. But I'm glad that the current leaseholder, Keith Brown, has remained committed to keeping the course open and preserving Hanse's excellent design work. All best to Keith and the team at Soule Park in their recovery efforts.
After heavy rainstorms slammed into the West Coast in late December, Soule Park Golf Course suffered significant flood damage. Multiple holes along the large barranca that runs through the Ojai, California, municipal course will need to be repaired or partially rebuilt.
This is the second time in three years that the course has taken a hit from rising waters. In the winter of 2022-23, portions of holes 12 and 14 were washed away. During the recent storm, the punchbowl green on the par-5 fifth hole took a particularly hard hit. Below are overhead photos of the green taken in 2022, 2024, and 2026, respectively.
Yeah. Yikes.
Soule Park has been vulnerable to floods throughout its 60-year history. In 2005, an especially intense storm left the course in a dire state. Fortunately, as I detailed in this 2019 piece, an ambitious leaseholder stepped in to rehabilitate the property and spearhead a renovation by Gil Hanse. In recent years, the course has seen a major uptick in play and media coverage.
Soule Park is near and dear to several of us at Fried Egg Golf. I grew up in nearby Goleta, California, and my dad and I played the course frequently in the late 1990s. Today, my colleague Cameron Hurdus lives about 30 minutes away.
Cameron visited Soule Park a few days ago and sent along these notes to me:
"The plan is basically to try and recapture as much of No. 5 green site as possible and put 'something' back, but no one has been hired on the design side yet.... I think what they end up building will depend on how much land is recaptured."
"There are a lot of areas that need to be addressed — just stabilizing spots and also potentially creating dams or buffers that might reroute water downstream slightly."
"The river is getting very close to the pond on No. 1/No. 10, [and a breakthrough there] would be the worst-case scenario."
"No. 12 will need some sort of stabilizing measure to keep it from eroding more."
This is all tough to hear. But I'm glad that the current leaseholder, Keith Brown, has remained committed to keeping the course open and preserving Hanse's excellent design work. All best to Keith and the team at Soule Park in their recovery efforts.
I'm brainstorming ideas for Golf Architecture 101 episodes and segments for the 2026 run of Designing Golf.
What basic questions do you have about golf course design? Or, if you're more advanced in your golf architecture knowledge, what 101-type topics would you like to see covered?
I'm brainstorming ideas for Golf Architecture 101 episodes and segments for the 2026 run of Designing Golf.
What basic questions do you have about golf course design? Or, if you're more advanced in your golf architecture knowledge, what 101-type topics would you like to see covered?
Heading to the Land Down Under for the 2027 Australian Open next January. Will probably only be able to golf 1-2 times but was trying to lay the groundwork early in hopes of getting out somewhere world class with my FiL.
Does anyone have any insights or experience getting out on some of the better courses in Melbourne? Thank you!
Heading to the Land Down Under for the 2027 Australian Open next January. Will probably only be able to golf 1-2 times but was trying to lay the groundwork early in hopes of getting out somewhere world class with my FiL.
Does anyone have any insights or experience getting out on some of the better courses in Melbourne? Thank you!
Trying to cobble something together for a long weekend mid-fall 2026 and add to my quest to play a round in every state.
The Nevada/Arizona/Utah corridor looks like an efficient way to punch three of those off the list. I have some ideas off of Google maps and basic research, but if anyone has preferences or great experiences with courses in that area, I'm happy to investigate and possibly add them to my agenda. Most likely scenario is fly into Vegas on Thursday night and out on Sunday evening, so at least one round each day. Thanks in advance.
Trying to cobble something together for a long weekend mid-fall 2026 and add to my quest to play a round in every state.
The Nevada/Arizona/Utah corridor looks like an efficient way to punch three of those off the list. I have some ideas off of Google maps and basic research, but if anyone has preferences or great experiences with courses in that area, I'm happy to investigate and possibly add them to my agenda. Most likely scenario is fly into Vegas on Thursday night and out on Sunday evening, so at least one round each day. Thanks in advance.
Indiana college golf course tour is best budget golf trip in country: Warren + Pfau + Both Purdue courses. If could a Culver invite as well then it can't be beat.
Renovated Yale is awesome by the way, just played on friday. Greens massively expanded. 10 is even more diabolical now. I think the price point might keep some away and probably some additional growing needed, but I'd get there ASAP if anywhere close.
Pretty sure he has offered, but they'd lose valuable football parking while it was being done - feels like they should be penalized for parking cars on a Mackenzie course in college course rankings
As a clemson alum, Walker is fun and is indeed one of the best publics in the area, but sadly that says more about the area than Walker. Many great afternoons spent there!
Kampen for Purdue, I assume, or did you get the renovated Ackerman-Allen course (which has been redone since my days there, which is why I am a bit curious)
2026 Pga Championship Aronimink Aaron Rai Jon Rahm
May 18
"Bring dispersion patterns back in line with the game board on which the sport is played."
This is a very succinct way to explain the need for a roll back.
2026 Pga Championship Aronimink Aaron Rai Jon Rahm
May 18
Aronimink was fabulous! Those greens are all-world. If all-world golfers can’t putt them well, then so be it! The golf course has to win sometimes also, you know. And this was one of those times. All the big names faded away and we got the best player this week. Just like when Corey Pavin won at Shinny and Rich Beem and KJ Choi and Steve Jones and Danny Willett and Shaun Micheel and all the other one time major winners.
Stop whining about this tournament. It was exciting as hell there until Rai put it away at the end.
And Rex Hoggard is an idiot, pining for more 8000 yard courses for bomb-and-gouge fests. That guy is clueless and I don’t know how he keeps a job with the comments he made this morning on his podcast.
Not the most walker-friendly course ironically for being named The Walker Course, but Clemson's home track is my personal favorite that I've gotten to thus far. Lots of fun shots out there. One of the best public courses for anyone heading near the Greenville-Spartanburg area.
I went on Sunday and spent a good chunk of the day at 10 grandstand. So few approach shots close to the pin (Rosey's was great but it was his third after an errant drive). Tons of guys off the green in the lower section to the right and several uphill chips/putts that came right back. Lots of pars. And a lot of interference from 8 green with tee shots from 8 hitting the green and rolling off, sometimes onto 10 green and then needing relief, which slowed things down a lot. P Reed hit the stick on 8 and then it bounced and rolled almost onto 10 green. It was a good spot to camp out for much of the day but just really not a lot of excitement or fireworks. Underwhelmed was probably the right word. Just a lot of up-and-downs.
After Ludwig/Rai came through at 10 I started walking the back nine. I watched his laser-like tee shot on 15 and even at that point on the grounds it still felt like maybe someone behind would step it up and challenge him. I think if it had been 1-2 guys battling down the stretch and he out-dueled them it would have felt different. Nobody else really got out of neutral, and all credit to Rai for just really outclassing everyone else on the back nine. He just locked in and went out and got it when no one else did. I'm sure the energy on the course really changed when he rolled in the putt on 17, but I was in the merch tent at that point and missed it.
Mixed feelings overall, but largely positive. The challenging setup flummoxed many of the players, which was interesting for a while, but didn't seem like it produced a lot of riveting "moments" for much of Sunday. It was high-intensity, but somehow not high-drama?
Aronimink was beautiful. Philly sports fans....yeesh.
Mackenzie drew the plans for both Scarlet & Gray. Ohio State fired Perry Maxwell early on during the build and then took liberties with what they put in the ground.
Nicklaus finished the hatchet job by turning Scarlet’s #4 into a strong Design Disaster candidate.
As good as UM is now, it could be even better if they scrubbed Arthur Hills handiwork away, recaptured MacKenzie’s full green pads, and felled a few trees that intrude on the playing corridors.
As an Ann Arbor native, I'm a big fan of the UofM Course. Also, take this with a grain of salt from a Michigan fan; I believe Andy said on one of the pods that Alister Mackenzie did not design the OSU Scarlet Course. Definitely call me out if I'm wrong but I vaguely remember him saying something along those lines.
Were there other golf publications that gave Rai contending the kind of consideration and coverage you believe he merited?
I’m sure lots of golf media companies now owe him his due. Well played and well deserved to him. He earned it and his life will never be the same.
These out of the blue winners usually make a ton more sense with the advantage of hindsight.
Fair enough - not that a 2 Egg rating is a slight or anything, just wondering if you all reevaluated courses since this review is a couple years old. Lawsonia is a gem either way!
