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Yale Golf Course

Hey all!

I'm going to play Yale on Thursday. Bit the bullet with the $350 greens fee. Very excited to see it. Has anyone played it since the reopening? What are your thoughts? Even if you haven't, anything you think I should look out for?

Hey all!

I'm going to play Yale on Thursday. Bit the bullet with the $350 greens fee. Very excited to see it. Has anyone played it since the reopening? What are your thoughts? Even if you haven't, anything you think I should look out for?

June 3, 2026
Patriots Point (Charleston) Reimagined

Hello yall! Ive done a quick sketch of what I believe would make for a way more exceptional experience at Patriots Point Links in Charleston, SC. With a mass tree removal, larger fairways, expansive native grass, cops, and minimal bunkers could be a unique experience in the Charleston area for the public. The routing is essentially the exact same as it sits currently, but the overall aesthetic would shift away from the rough-covered land and overly “wavy” features with obnoxious palm trees everywhere on perhaps the greatest land near a city-center for an exciting course. Ignore that there are no bridges, remember this was super quick. Let me know though what you think! Oh let’s rename it to Hog Island (much better than Patriots Point)…I posted this on the FEGC app but would love to hear from those who havent downloaded it. Here is the original post.

Hello yall! Ive done a quick sketch of what I believe would make for a way more exceptional experience at Patriots Point Links in Charleston, SC. With a mass tree removal, larger fairways, expansive native grass, cops, and minimal bunkers could be a unique experience in the Charleston area for the public. The routing is essentially the exact same as it sits currently, but the overall aesthetic would shift away from the rough-covered land and overly “wavy” features with obnoxious palm trees everywhere on perhaps the greatest land near a city-center for an exciting course. Ignore that there are no bridges, remember this was super quick. Let me know though what you think! Oh let’s rename it to Hog Island (much better than Patriots Point)…I posted this on the FEGC app but would love to hear from those who havent downloaded it. Here is the original post.

2
May 31, 2026
Essex County NJ Public Golf

Wanted to see if there were opinions on which course to play on my way through New Jersey later next month. Looking at Rock Spring, Francis Byrne or Hendricks Field in the Essex County area. Any thoughts on which has the most standout architecture? Also open to other suggestions!

Thanks!

Wanted to see if there were opinions on which course to play on my way through New Jersey later next month. Looking at Rock Spring, Francis Byrne or Hendricks Field in the Essex County area. Any thoughts on which has the most standout architecture? Also open to other suggestions!

Thanks!

May 31, 2026
Rodeo Dunes

Link: https://youtu.be/AKyUiGfigp4?si=ZMicSmma3VshdU7R

Rodeo Dunes opened to their founding members, and had a press day recently.

I'm noticing a couple unique architectural features from the flyover. There are places where turfed rough acts as a divider/barrier on fairways. Sometimes it's functioning as a big partition between fairway; others it's a scarp slope from a high to lower section of fairway. I'll be curious how it affects longer hitters. Might there be landing areas where a driver gets stuck in some rough, and the prudent play is to club down to ensure a fairway lie for the approach? Spotted on holes 1, 3, 4, 5, 12, and 15.

Another feature is a lack of short grass surrounds on some of the green complexes. There are a good number of greens that are pocketed within dunes, with their surfaces set slightly below the peaks. On some of these, the only short grass is effectively the green itself. Anything else is rough, or native. A missed shot, if it doesn't trundle onto the putting surface, seems like it could get hung up in a downward sloping lie of rough. Examples might be the 2nd (on left and right), 4, 5, 6 (an example of all sides), and 16.

I'm pleasantly surprised that the course appears pretty different visually to Ballyneal, despite their relative proximity. One possible reason why is that there are also a few flourishes of built/geometric elements to some of the green complexes and bunker shaping. It seems like a deliberate choice, because I'm sure Coore and Crenshaw and their associates could've tied every feature more seamlessly into the natural choppiness of the site, but they seem comfortable contrasting against it on 9, backside of 12, 14, 17, and the left hollow beside 18 green.

Many exciting looking holes out there! Still wild for me to imagine there possibly being upwards of six courses on that site eventually.

Link: https://youtu.be/AKyUiGfigp4?si=ZMicSmma3VshdU7R

Rodeo Dunes opened to their founding members, and had a press day recently.

I'm noticing a couple unique architectural features from the flyover. There are places where turfed rough acts as a divider/barrier on fairways. Sometimes it's functioning as a big partition between fairway; others it's a scarp slope from a high to lower section of fairway. I'll be curious how it affects longer hitters. Might there be landing areas where a driver gets stuck in some rough, and the prudent play is to club down to ensure a fairway lie for the approach? Spotted on holes 1, 3, 4, 5, 12, and 15.

Another feature is a lack of short grass surrounds on some of the green complexes. There are a good number of greens that are pocketed within dunes, with their surfaces set slightly below the peaks. On some of these, the only short grass is effectively the green itself. Anything else is rough, or native. A missed shot, if it doesn't trundle onto the putting surface, seems like it could get hung up in a downward sloping lie of rough. Examples might be the 2nd (on left and right), 4, 5, 6 (an example of all sides), and 16.

I'm pleasantly surprised that the course appears pretty different visually to Ballyneal, despite their relative proximity. One possible reason why is that there are also a few flourishes of built/geometric elements to some of the green complexes and bunker shaping. It seems like a deliberate choice, because I'm sure Coore and Crenshaw and their associates could've tied every feature more seamlessly into the natural choppiness of the site, but they seem comfortable contrasting against it on 9, backside of 12, 14, 17, and the left hollow beside 18 green.

Many exciting looking holes out there! Still wild for me to imagine there possibly being upwards of six courses on that site eventually.

3
Chocolate Drop: Kingsley Club's Second Course Under Construction

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are building a second 18-hole golf course at Kingsley Club, the Northern Michigan getaway where Mike DeVries designed a highly regarded course in 2001. Judging from this video, construction appears to be in its early phases, with tree clearing but not much discernible shaping having taken place. The property abuts DeVries's course from the 12th green to the 14th green and extends down to Highway 113, near the town of Kingsley.

We haven't yet heard when the course is expected to open, but based on the progress so far, we would assume it won't be ready for regular play until at least 2028. We also aren't sure how access to the course will fit within Kingsley Club's current membership model.

There's no doubt, though, that it will be a striking and much-discussed course.

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are building a second 18-hole golf course at Kingsley Club, the Northern Michigan getaway where Mike DeVries designed a highly regarded course in 2001. Judging from this video, construction appears to be in its early phases, with tree clearing but not much discernible shaping having taken place. The property abuts DeVries's course from the 12th green to the 14th green and extends down to Highway 113, near the town of Kingsley.

We haven't yet heard when the course is expected to open, but based on the progress so far, we would assume it won't be ready for regular play until at least 2028. We also aren't sure how access to the course will fit within Kingsley Club's current membership model.

There's no doubt, though, that it will be a striking and much-discussed course.

3
May 23, 2026
Another Koprowski Design announced!

Par 3 Short Course announced at Candyroot with Michelle Wie West!

Par 3 Short Course announced at Candyroot with Michelle Wie West!

Feedback on Amateur Golf Hole and Course Designs

Part of my nerd-ing out on architecture is creating custom plots and course designs using pencil and paper and now primarily PGA 2K25 course designer. Would this be the right place to share images and designs and get feedback on such things? Not just for me for all amateur designers.

Part of my nerd-ing out on architecture is creating custom plots and course designs using pencil and paper and now primarily PGA 2K25 course designer. Would this be the right place to share images and designs and get feedback on such things? Not just for me for all amateur designers.

8
May 26, 2026
FEGC Course Profile College Tour?

Played the University of Michigan course yesterday and had me thinking about university courses as an fun category of publilc golf (some more public than others), often with some very storied architecture. I know Yale has been profiled, but I'd say there's still a deep bench of courses that could be profiled. Time for a college road trip this fall during football season? Tailgates n Tees

Courses that come to mind as profile worthy:

University of Michigan (Alister Mackenzie)

Radrick Farms (very early Pete Dye design)

OSU Scarlet Course (Alister Mackenzie)

Rawls Course at Texas Tech (Tom Doak)

Warren Course at Notre Dame (Coore and Crenshaw)

Purdue Kampen-Costler (Pete Dye)

Stanford (George Thomas and Billy Bell Jr.)

Any other courses for the docket?


Played the University of Michigan course yesterday and had me thinking about university courses as an fun category of publilc golf (some more public than others), often with some very storied architecture. I know Yale has been profiled, but I'd say there's still a deep bench of courses that could be profiled. Time for a college road trip this fall during football season? Tailgates n Tees

Courses that come to mind as profile worthy:

University of Michigan (Alister Mackenzie)

Radrick Farms (very early Pete Dye design)

OSU Scarlet Course (Alister Mackenzie)

Rawls Course at Texas Tech (Tom Doak)

Warren Course at Notre Dame (Coore and Crenshaw)

Purdue Kampen-Costler (Pete Dye)

Stanford (George Thomas and Billy Bell Jr.)

Any other courses for the docket?


4
May 20, 2026
Guest Ballot Selected at Brambles

My wife and I are going to Napa for my 40th at the end of June and so I entered the ballot with hopes of playing there on my actual birthday and found out today that it was selected! I could not be more pumped. Brambles has intrigued me since I saw the All Grass Is Local piece and read more about James Duncan’s vision. Any advice, tips, or general insight would be appreciated as I’m sure this is the best place to come for such things.

My wife and I are going to Napa for my 40th at the end of June and so I entered the ballot with hopes of playing there on my actual birthday and found out today that it was selected! I could not be more pumped. Brambles has intrigued me since I saw the All Grass Is Local piece and read more about James Duncan’s vision. Any advice, tips, or general insight would be appreciated as I’m sure this is the best place to come for such things.

May 13, 2026
BEST SPOTS TO WATCH GOLF AT ARONIMINK

Headed out to THE MINK on Saturday. Wondering if anyone has thoughts on where the best viewing will be. My buddy is bringing his 1.5 year old son so ideally would be able to post up somewhere, but also open to wandering a bit.

If anyone else is going to be walking around, would love to say what’s up!

Headed out to THE MINK on Saturday. Wondering if anyone has thoughts on where the best viewing will be. My buddy is bringing his 1.5 year old son so ideally would be able to post up somewhere, but also open to wandering a bit.

If anyone else is going to be walking around, would love to say what’s up!

May 13, 2026
Anti Rollback - potentially controversial

Are there any folks who are into course architecture who don’t support ball or equipment rollback? For me I don’t really understand the point. This “ issue” ( if we can even accept there is one, which I’m not sure exists in the first place), solely affects elite amateurs and professionals I have never once heard an amateur golf say the ball goes too far or that golf is too easy.

As some background, I’m a +2 handicap who plays in a lot of tournaments. I hit it roughly 300. I receive 0 dollars from Titleist and currently play a TP5 golf ball. To me, golf is about the lowest score winning, which remains true if an event is played from 6000 yards or 9000 yards.

Are there any folks who are into course architecture who don’t support ball or equipment rollback? For me I don’t really understand the point. This “ issue” ( if we can even accept there is one, which I’m not sure exists in the first place), solely affects elite amateurs and professionals I have never once heard an amateur golf say the ball goes too far or that golf is too easy.

As some background, I’m a +2 handicap who plays in a lot of tournaments. I hit it roughly 300. I receive 0 dollars from Titleist and currently play a TP5 golf ball. To me, golf is about the lowest score winning, which remains true if an event is played from 6000 yards or 9000 yards.

May 12, 2026
Winter Park Progress

Spent a couple days in Winter Park watching Rhebb & Johns rebuild greens and bunkers after the recent loss of their greens. Greens look incredible. They’ll go with temp greens for most of the summer. Will be a must play after grow in.

Spent a couple days in Winter Park watching Rhebb & Johns rebuild greens and bunkers after the recent loss of their greens. Greens look incredible. They’ll go with temp greens for most of the summer. Will be a must play after grow in.

3
May 11, 2026
Royal Dornoch, the classic 1877 Jack Nicklaus design

1
Sad News for Winter Park 9

I wanted to pass along some unfortunate news about Winter Park 9. The course closed temporarily on April 27 after a maintenance worker sprayed greens with the wrong chemical. This caused irreparable damage to 5 greens. The course is supposed to re-open in a couple of weeks with temporary greens with a full re-opening planned for July. In the meantime, the greens will be resurfaced. I last played the course on March 22 and the greens were in good shape as the course was prepping for its annual City Am the first weekend of May. The tournament has been postponed until October. This comes about a decade after the highly successful renovation by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns.

I’m including a photo of the 6th green, taken by a friend on April 17. I’ll also include the link to a local news story about this.

I live an hour from the course and it’s my favorite place to play. Naturally I hope all of the work on the greens goes as planned and the course returns to its stellar form.

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/winter-park-golf-course-shut-down-after-chemical-mistake-damages-greens?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=69fb426d3d68e800011b4a3b&fbclid=IwdGRleARo0BZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeswNgS3ZJemecrlxEjUk4WFKOC71jT_zezQL4u8V13VZ0_lP4hyNyocq0Ul8_aem_v6BT_y_MytksHRultsxpSQ


I wanted to pass along some unfortunate news about Winter Park 9. The course closed temporarily on April 27 after a maintenance worker sprayed greens with the wrong chemical. This caused irreparable damage to 5 greens. The course is supposed to re-open in a couple of weeks with temporary greens with a full re-opening planned for July. In the meantime, the greens will be resurfaced. I last played the course on March 22 and the greens were in good shape as the course was prepping for its annual City Am the first weekend of May. The tournament has been postponed until October. This comes about a decade after the highly successful renovation by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns.

I’m including a photo of the 6th green, taken by a friend on April 17. I’ll also include the link to a local news story about this.

I live an hour from the course and it’s my favorite place to play. Naturally I hope all of the work on the greens goes as planned and the course returns to its stellar form.

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/winter-park-golf-course-shut-down-after-chemical-mistake-damages-greens?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=69fb426d3d68e800011b4a3b&fbclid=IwdGRleARo0BZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeswNgS3ZJemecrlxEjUk4WFKOC71jT_zezQL4u8V13VZ0_lP4hyNyocq0Ul8_aem_v6BT_y_MytksHRultsxpSQ


1
May 13, 2026
Seeking Minneapolis/Twin Cities Golf Recommendations

My buddy and I will be in the Twin Cities on 6/16 and have an open afternoon for a round. I’ve done a fair amount of research, but with how many great public options there are, I figured I’d ask here for some help prioritizing.

Right now, it seems like Keller and Braemar are two of the top municipal options. I’ve also heard great things about Chaska Town Course, Rush Creek, Baker National, Legends, and Stoneridge.

If you had one afternoon and could only pick one, what would you prioritize and why?

My buddy and I will be in the Twin Cities on 6/16 and have an open afternoon for a round. I’ve done a fair amount of research, but with how many great public options there are, I figured I’d ask here for some help prioritizing.

Right now, it seems like Keller and Braemar are two of the top municipal options. I’ve also heard great things about Chaska Town Course, Rush Creek, Baker National, Legends, and Stoneridge.

If you had one afternoon and could only pick one, what would you prioritize and why?

May 17, 2026
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