We're excited to announce that we're hosting an FEGC meetup with the team over at Poppy Ridge on Sunday, December 28 at 11:00 a.m. Jay Blasi, architect of the new course, is going to be on site with us to talk through the project and then we'll head out and play the new layout.
We have space for 20 people so if you'd like to attend, please reply here or shoot me an email at will@thefriedegg.com. This will be a walking only event.
We're excited to announce that we're hosting an FEGC meetup with the team over at Poppy Ridge on Sunday, December 28 at 11:00 a.m. Jay Blasi, architect of the new course, is going to be on site with us to talk through the project and then we'll head out and play the new layout.
We have space for 20 people so if you'd like to attend, please reply here or shoot me an email at will@thefriedegg.com. This will be a walking only event.
I've enjoyed listening to your reflections on your trip to Surrey/Berkshire and Kent. I was wondering if you could say a bit more about what fascinated you so much about RSG and Deal and why you had them seemingly higher than Sunningdale or St George's Hill. I play most of my golf on the west links of North Berwick, so maybe I'm spoiled by links and heathland feels like a change of pace, but I'm much more enamoured by the heathland than the links of southern England. That isn't to say that Kent courses aren't fantastic, but the routing, greens, and turf around Surrey only compete with the Sandbelt in my opinion. Is it a case of preferring links? Or is it something about the greens at RSG that put it over the top for you?
I've enjoyed listening to your reflections on your trip to Surrey/Berkshire and Kent. I was wondering if you could say a bit more about what fascinated you so much about RSG and Deal and why you had them seemingly higher than Sunningdale or St George's Hill. I play most of my golf on the west links of North Berwick, so maybe I'm spoiled by links and heathland feels like a change of pace, but I'm much more enamoured by the heathland than the links of southern England. That isn't to say that Kent courses aren't fantastic, but the routing, greens, and turf around Surrey only compete with the Sandbelt in my opinion. Is it a case of preferring links? Or is it something about the greens at RSG that put it over the top for you?
Kansas City Country Club posted some drone footage of its A.W. Tillinghast-designed course, which recently underwent a historical renovation by Andrew Green. Lots of cool-looking holes out there. I'm not a fan of the all-green-everywhere turf presentation, but just about every club does it these days, so I can't fault KCCC specifically.
Kansas City Country Club posted some drone footage of its A.W. Tillinghast-designed course, which recently underwent a historical renovation by Andrew Green. Lots of cool-looking holes out there. I'm not a fan of the all-green-everywhere turf presentation, but just about every club does it these days, so I can't fault KCCC specifically.
Seriously, what's the point of going through this exercise every two years? The list has barely changed.
Oh, right. Golf media outlets need to sell magazines and drive website traffic in November.
Also: I need something to talk about, and here I am. I'm part of the problem.
Anyway, I spent about 10 minutes comparing the 2023 and 2025 lists, and here are the main differences I spotted (I may have missed a few):
New-course debuts:
Childress Hall (Upper) at 73
CapRock Ranch at 84
Te Arai (North) at 98
Some of my colleagues have been to Tom Doak's Upper Course at Childress Hall, which opened last December, and they tell me that the hype is real. Amazing golf course. But I remain opposed to the idea of ranking a course ahead of Old Town Club and Machrihanish before it's even a year old. At least give the place time to grow in fully.
Double-digit risers:
New South Wales from 64 to 26
Royal Troon from 66 to 53
The Lido from 68 to 48
St. George's Hill from 71 to 57
Lofoten Links from 88 to 66
Bandon Trails from 90 to 76
Royal Melbourne (East) from 92 to 82
Shanqin Bay from 95 to 64
The Lido appears to be holding strong after a big debut on the 2023 list. It now out-ranks every Dream Golf course except for Pacific Dunes.
New South Wales recently underwent a renovation by Mackenzie & Ebert and seems to be reaping the benefits.
Double-digit droppers:
Ballyneal from 51 to 63
Cabot Cliffs from 52 to 78
Cape Kidnappers from 55 to 65
Woodhall Spa from 58 to 74
Rye from 72 to 90
Rock Creek Cattle Co. from 73 to 88
Cabot Links from 79 to 96
Winged Foot (East) from 80 to 91
Ohoopee Match Club from 81 to 99
Les Bordes (New) from 83 to off the list
I wouldn't read much into any of these declines (or into the rises I mentioned earlier, for that matter). A lot of the reshuffling from year to year is basically random. But I do think the new-car smell is starting to wear off of some of the modern courses listed above. The really good ones will bounce back in the panel's esteem.
Since I find this ranking somewhat boring, I'll try to spice things up: what do you think is the most overrated course on the list?
I'll stake my flag on No. 60, the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club.
Seriously, what's the point of going through this exercise every two years? The list has barely changed.
Oh, right. Golf media outlets need to sell magazines and drive website traffic in November.
Also: I need something to talk about, and here I am. I'm part of the problem.
Anyway, I spent about 10 minutes comparing the 2023 and 2025 lists, and here are the main differences I spotted (I may have missed a few):
New-course debuts:
Childress Hall (Upper) at 73
CapRock Ranch at 84
Te Arai (North) at 98
Some of my colleagues have been to Tom Doak's Upper Course at Childress Hall, which opened last December, and they tell me that the hype is real. Amazing golf course. But I remain opposed to the idea of ranking a course ahead of Old Town Club and Machrihanish before it's even a year old. At least give the place time to grow in fully.
Double-digit risers:
New South Wales from 64 to 26
Royal Troon from 66 to 53
The Lido from 68 to 48
St. George's Hill from 71 to 57
Lofoten Links from 88 to 66
Bandon Trails from 90 to 76
Royal Melbourne (East) from 92 to 82
Shanqin Bay from 95 to 64
The Lido appears to be holding strong after a big debut on the 2023 list. It now out-ranks every Dream Golf course except for Pacific Dunes.
New South Wales recently underwent a renovation by Mackenzie & Ebert and seems to be reaping the benefits.
Double-digit droppers:
Ballyneal from 51 to 63
Cabot Cliffs from 52 to 78
Cape Kidnappers from 55 to 65
Woodhall Spa from 58 to 74
Rye from 72 to 90
Rock Creek Cattle Co. from 73 to 88
Cabot Links from 79 to 96
Winged Foot (East) from 80 to 91
Ohoopee Match Club from 81 to 99
Les Bordes (New) from 83 to off the list
I wouldn't read much into any of these declines (or into the rises I mentioned earlier, for that matter). A lot of the reshuffling from year to year is basically random. But I do think the new-car smell is starting to wear off of some of the modern courses listed above. The really good ones will bounce back in the panel's esteem.
Since I find this ranking somewhat boring, I'll try to spice things up: what do you think is the most overrated course on the list?
I'll stake my flag on No. 60, the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club.
I have two tee times booked at Poppy Ridge in mid December. I got the earliest times I could get, and the Sunday time is definitely a twilight time with some finishing risk. My son will join on Sunday.
Sunday, Dec 14, 1:10pm, $100 per player (Chris Brooks, Jacob Brooks, two openings), pay at course
Monday, Dec 15, 12:20pm - pre-paid $486.00, $121.50 per player (Chris Brooks, three openings)
I will also book the 9 holer for Monday morning (lots of times available) once we have an idea of our numbers. I'm going to be staying somewhere in Livermore on Sunday night.
I have two tee times booked at Poppy Ridge in mid December. I got the earliest times I could get, and the Sunday time is definitely a twilight time with some finishing risk. My son will join on Sunday.
Sunday, Dec 14, 1:10pm, $100 per player (Chris Brooks, Jacob Brooks, two openings), pay at course
Monday, Dec 15, 12:20pm - pre-paid $486.00, $121.50 per player (Chris Brooks, three openings)
I will also book the 9 holer for Monday morning (lots of times available) once we have an idea of our numbers. I'm going to be staying somewhere in Livermore on Sunday night.
Just dropped a new blog going over a little BTS for an LPGA/Epson PT this past year! A short read for those who would be interested in hearing a little more about the physical therapists role with the players on a given week!
Can't get the link to work but if you copy and paste this URL it will take you straight there!
Just dropped a new blog going over a little BTS for an LPGA/Epson PT this past year! A short read for those who would be interested in hearing a little more about the physical therapists role with the players on a given week!
Can't get the link to work but if you copy and paste this URL it will take you straight there!
I had the great pleasure of meeting up with four FEGC members yesterday at Golden Gate Park GC. Myself along with Chris Brooks, Ray Gobberg, Brett Hochstein, and Jamie Hiteshew had a great round. We snuck out at 3:00 and played as a group of five. Rounds like this are truly what fill my tank.
There were plenty of good shots to recount, but my favorite moment of the day was when Brett, who is a wonderful guy and who also happened to do a lot of work on Golden Gate Park during the renovation, recommended we all hit low runners into the seventh green, which he shaped, to try to catch the contours in the ground and sling balls into the back right pin. For those of you who haven't played GGPGC, the seventh has an awesome green with three distinct quadrants. Each quadrant is relatively small, but there is a lot of mounding to work the ball into tight spaces. It's phenomenal work that Brett did and provides an equal amount of fun and challenge. I've added a couple of photos below.
The pin shown above is in the back left quadrant, whereas we were playing to the back right (just over the bunker in this picture).
Here's a more aerial view of the entire green. If you choose, you can run shots into the green using the ground and mounding on the left to feed balls hard to the right.
My highlight from the day, though, was when Jamie tried to snipe a 4i into the green and got a wee bit aggressive with his swing and sent the ball sailing onto the next tee box, coming to rest at the feet of the group of golfers in front of us. At that very moment, I remembered reading a lot of member intros where most identify as "not interested in fighting." Thankfully for us, Ray's immediate comment was something to the effect that there are five of us and only four of them AND they look old, so we can totally take them.
So I guess the TL;DR here is that Ray Gobberg is interested in fighting!
I had the great pleasure of meeting up with four FEGC members yesterday at Golden Gate Park GC. Myself along with Chris Brooks, Ray Gobberg, Brett Hochstein, and Jamie Hiteshew had a great round. We snuck out at 3:00 and played as a group of five. Rounds like this are truly what fill my tank.
There were plenty of good shots to recount, but my favorite moment of the day was when Brett, who is a wonderful guy and who also happened to do a lot of work on Golden Gate Park during the renovation, recommended we all hit low runners into the seventh green, which he shaped, to try to catch the contours in the ground and sling balls into the back right pin. For those of you who haven't played GGPGC, the seventh has an awesome green with three distinct quadrants. Each quadrant is relatively small, but there is a lot of mounding to work the ball into tight spaces. It's phenomenal work that Brett did and provides an equal amount of fun and challenge. I've added a couple of photos below.
The pin shown above is in the back left quadrant, whereas we were playing to the back right (just over the bunker in this picture).
Here's a more aerial view of the entire green. If you choose, you can run shots into the green using the ground and mounding on the left to feed balls hard to the right.
My highlight from the day, though, was when Jamie tried to snipe a 4i into the green and got a wee bit aggressive with his swing and sent the ball sailing onto the next tee box, coming to rest at the feet of the group of golfers in front of us. At that very moment, I remembered reading a lot of member intros where most identify as "not interested in fighting." Thankfully for us, Ray's immediate comment was something to the effect that there are five of us and only four of them AND they look old, so we can totally take them.
So I guess the TL;DR here is that Ray Gobberg is interested in fighting!
Garrett’s Bob Parsons impression on the architecture pod today was all time. Laughed so loud in my office, le wife had to come make sure I wasn’t choking on my bagel.
Also got me thinking, what are some other great impersonations we’ve heard over the years, golf-wise?…KVV’s Gary Player comes to mind immediately, as well as Porath’s ability to spit Paul McGinley bars at the drop of a hat.
Maybe PJ could put together an all-time FE impersonations power ranking…
Garrett’s Bob Parsons impression on the architecture pod today was all time. Laughed so loud in my office, le wife had to come make sure I wasn’t choking on my bagel.
Also got me thinking, what are some other great impersonations we’ve heard over the years, golf-wise?…KVV’s Gary Player comes to mind immediately, as well as Porath’s ability to spit Paul McGinley bars at the drop of a hat.
Maybe PJ could put together an all-time FE impersonations power ranking…
With the holiday next week, I will be doing a general mailbag with PJ, I will pull some questions from last week's architecture focused ones into the podcast but just wanted to put a call out for any questions. Thanks!
With the holiday next week, I will be doing a general mailbag with PJ, I will pull some questions from last week's architecture focused ones into the podcast but just wanted to put a call out for any questions. Thanks!
Today at 4:00 p.m. ET, we are going to reveal our 2026 FEGC and FE Events calendar. I'll include as much detail as possible but feel free to jump on and ask questions if you have them.
Today at 4:00 p.m. ET, we are going to reveal our 2026 FEGC and FE Events calendar. I'll include as much detail as possible but feel free to jump on and ask questions if you have them.
Sunday Night Baseball has officially moved to NBC. Why do I post that here?
With NBC now officially booked every Sunday Night of the year between NFL, NBA, and MLB, this adds a major hurdle to the myriad suggestions every year that the FedEx Cup Playoffs move to the west coast and air on primetime. I also wonder about west coast US Opens.
Sunday Night Baseball has officially moved to NBC. Why do I post that here?
With NBC now officially booked every Sunday Night of the year between NFL, NBA, and MLB, this adds a major hurdle to the myriad suggestions every year that the FedEx Cup Playoffs move to the west coast and air on primetime. I also wonder about west coast US Opens.
I've been listening to SGS from the beginning and I could probably count the number of episodes I've missed in that time on one hand. As such, I consider myself highly fluent in SGS-speak. Nevertheless, it seems like a nickname or two fell through the cracks. As a result, whenever these people are subsequently referenced in an episode, I have no idea who they are talking about.
One such player that came up for me from today's episode with "The Boys" was Freddie Ketchup. I've heard that name used numerous times and I still don't know who it is.
I'm hoping this thread can serve as a hub where people can ask for SGS nickname clarifications without fear of judgement :)
I've been listening to SGS from the beginning and I could probably count the number of episodes I've missed in that time on one hand. As such, I consider myself highly fluent in SGS-speak. Nevertheless, it seems like a nickname or two fell through the cracks. As a result, whenever these people are subsequently referenced in an episode, I have no idea who they are talking about.
One such player that came up for me from today's episode with "The Boys" was Freddie Ketchup. I've heard that name used numerous times and I still don't know who it is.
I'm hoping this thread can serve as a hub where people can ask for SGS nickname clarifications without fear of judgement :)
I was fortunate enough to win Lottery tickets for the Master's this April, Are there any additional course recommendations outside of Tree Farm and Old Barnwell. We were fortunate enough to play them last year, but the pricing this year is out of control.
I was fortunate enough to win Lottery tickets for the Master's this April, Are there any additional course recommendations outside of Tree Farm and Old Barnwell. We were fortunate enough to play them last year, but the pricing this year is out of control.
I know Fried Egg isn't equipment-centric (except when it comes to regulating it), but I thought I would start a topic near and dear to my heart - putters. I'm a Scotty Cameron loyalist, proud owner of 10 of them, and very excited to try the new OC line of low-torque putters that Scotty just released.
Putters, like golf architecture, are more of an art than a science, and different things appeal to different people. I'd love to hear from others on what they use, what they like, and what they collect.
I know Fried Egg isn't equipment-centric (except when it comes to regulating it), but I thought I would start a topic near and dear to my heart - putters. I'm a Scotty Cameron loyalist, proud owner of 10 of them, and very excited to try the new OC line of low-torque putters that Scotty just released.
Putters, like golf architecture, are more of an art than a science, and different things appeal to different people. I'd love to hear from others on what they use, what they like, and what they collect.
And a little more background: the course was built in the 60s in MN. It's not top anything. I grew up playing here and it's home to me. I have no idea if it's a good course or not but I never tire of playing it. The owner's continue to play keeping up with the joneses rather than be trendsetters and let the course stand on its own merit.
Very biased because we’re friends with the owner but I’m a huge fan. I’ve had two over the last six years. They’re so well made. And if anything breaks in transit they’ll send you a replacement part.
Discussion Of Affordability On The Last Episode Of Designing Golf
Apr 21
There are plenty of great designers who can and will build to a budget. A big part of the issue with these renovations, though, is that they're being done at clubs that either a) weren't originally built with modern amenities like the irrigation example in the episode or b) weren't originally built with ANY long-term, lower-cost sustainability in mind.
I live in Jacksonville where there are tons of these middle ground neighborhood golf courses. They all have miles of concrete cart paths--both on the holes themselves and most notably for miles and miles in between--plus ailing water features and too many bunkers and bad drainage and all the rest of it. The cost to maintain all of that to minimum standards demands a higher price for membership or public play than they can get away with charging with "aging infrastructure." So they pop for a reno, but then no one wants a reno that takes out most of the cart paths and reduces the size of the clubhouse, and around and around she goes...
I'm pushing 50, and what's most unfortunate I think is that the less expensive aging golf courses I grew up on were all neighborhood courses that were bunched in on maybe 150 acres maximum and all the holes ran parallel and all of that but they were MUCH more sustainable and much cheaper to maintain. The modern version of those aging courses that COULD be accessible entry points for golf are all the subdivision clubs we got in the 90s with miles and miles of non-golfing ground to maintain. They're just the opposite from an expense and sustainability perspective, and we're stuck with them because even 150 acres in a similar area would be too much money in land cost (particularly when you can sell houses instead) to justify building a golf course.
Winston-Salem, NC: Reynolds Park Golf Course (Maxwell about $25 to walk)
Winston-Salem, NC: Tanglewood Park Championship Course (a solid RTJ)
Asheboro, NC: Asheboro Muni (Ross 9 holer, $10 to walk all day)
Wilmington, NC: Wilmington Muni (18 hole Ross, $46 to walk)
I mention Reynolds Park almost as much as Ben mentions Warren. It's a wonderful Maxwell on some great land. Tanglewood is a fun one with a good short 4's that are unique to my eye (5th and 15th). Two loops around Asheboro for $10 felt like petty theft. It was a delightful surprise. Wilmington Muni is in a coastal town and the city has done a good job maintaining it and restoring it. Gets a lot of play and it's not hard to see why. There's a volcano hole! And a bell!
I was lucky to win one of the bags at the event, so not entirely sure what model it is, but I really enjoy it. I mostly use a push-cast at home, but when I travel every caddie I've had said they love to carry it compared to standard stand bags so a-plus review there.
Denver, Colorado: Common Ground
East Georgia: Arrowhead Pointe
Houston, Texas: Cypresswood
Lexington, Kentucky: Gibson Bay
Louisville, Kentucky: Nevel Meade
Upstate South Carolina: Furman
All of these have some architecual interest and are walkable. I'm not breaking news on Common Ground, but I adore each of the other courses listed. Arrowhead Pointe is the best hidden gem I've played anywhere in the country. Both courses at Cypresswood are solid, but the Traditions course really makes me feel things. Gibson Bay gets lost in the limelight of Kearney Hill and with it being in Richmond, but is a stout test with some greay holes. Nevel Meade is a beacon of light in the otherwise sad scene that is public golf in Louisville. Furman has some of the best greens complexes I've ever seen and makes me understand why Brad Faxon is such a putting guru.
I have the stand model. It’s a very well designed bag. Pockets are perfectly sized and positioned. The fit and finish of the bag is great. However my stand stopped deploying after 5 rounds and the straps broke within a month and I had to replace the clasp and closure system. Other than these issues. I really enjoy the bag and am only swapping to a more minimal bag due to my want to walk more than 36 holes a day regularly.
I really want to check this place out next time I go to Kauai, God willing. The Makai course at Princeville was great but the charm at Wailua was evident just from driving by it on the main road. Forget Poipu Bay, give me Wailua!
I've got one of the older models of the Rye, and I love it. One of the shoulder straps on it broke after two seasons of pretty heavy use playing and carrying my bag, but they offer free replacements. I'd consider it a "no frills" bag, but they look great, are well made, and you're supporting a small business. If something happened to mine, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.
SE Mich: Living in Detroit seems like most of what I view as great value courses are clustered around Ann Arbor but I'd say Calderone, Leslie Park (at the walking rate), and Washtenaw are all good value courses (not factoring pace of play since I've had wildly varying results depending on time of year). U of M at the affiliate rate is also great bang for buck, another win for university courses.
32, married, no kids (yet)
New to the FEGC. Grew up in northwest Indiana where I've put many balls into the waters of the infamous Lost Marsh golf course during that time. Lived downtown for about 10 years but I just moved back to northwest Indiana. I'm a member at Briar Ridge in Dyer, happy to host anyone who wants to get a game in! Would love to meet some guys in the FE community.
Discussion Of Affordability On The Last Episode Of Designing Golf
Apr 21
My club is in this weird middle ground you mention. Very basic, member-owned course built in the 1960's. The course and membership were dying in the late 2010's but were totally revitalized by the COVID golf boom, which enabled them to hire a new super who saved the greens with a larger budget. We had bentgrass that are 30+ years old and were on their last leg. With the COVID boom, the board began entertaining a renovation that is now underway. Through some lucky connections, Beau Welling took on the project. We're redesigning 6 holes, moving the driving range, and then renovating the other 12 holes that'll follow mostly the original corridors. All that to say, the leadership is actively trying to upgrade the amenities into a more luxurious country club. Before we were mostly golf course with a dining room.
We're building a fancy entrance, comfort stations, and a manned bag drop hut in the parking lot. Our initiation fee has gone up 6x and dues increased as well with the debt service for the renovation. I'm very concerned we're out over our skis if the golf craze recedes at all, but we'll see over the next few years.
