LIVES IN BALANCE

Three men’s connection to the Onwentsia Club, and their shared path to excellence in golf and life Deep in the hearts of many men and women is the desire to do great things, and perhaps even leave a legacy. The obvious path to achievement is characterized by singleness of purpose and the willingness to trudgeContinue reading “LIVES IN BALANCE”

EMBRACING MACDONALD’S LEGACY AT SLEEPY HOLLOW

An in-depth look at the evolution of the C.B. Macdonald-designed and Gil Hanse retrovated Sleepy Hollow Country Club “From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered glen has long been known by the name of Sleepy Hollow…A drowsy, dreamyContinue reading “EMBRACING MACDONALD’S LEGACY AT SLEEPY HOLLOW”

COASTAL BIASES – ST. LOUIS C.C.

A look at how C.B. Macdonald unleashed his creativity across the rolling hills of St. Louis Country Club Charles Blair Macdonald was not lacking in self-assurance. He expressed his supreme confidence through action and proclamation. The action was to create a portfolio of golf courses, topped by National Golf Links of America, that would revolutionizeContinue reading “COASTAL BIASES – ST. LOUIS C.C.”

TIMELESS IDEALS AT NATIONAL GOLF LINKS

An in-depth profile of C.B. Macdonald’s National Golf Links of America and the design ideals it embodies. The National. Two words that, especially for devotees of classic architecture, hold so much meaning. These words are not just shorthand for the club named National Golf Links of America, they carry the weight of one man’s incrediblyContinue reading “TIMELESS IDEALS AT NATIONAL GOLF LINKS”

MY FAVORITE TEMPLATE

An in-depth look at Macdonald’s Leven template with Brett Hochstein and Jon Cavalier When it comes to golf course architecture, it doesn’t get much geekier than MacRaynor templates.  It should come s no surprise that I love the templates, and the one I love most of all is the Leven.  In an age when lengthContinue reading “MY FAVORITE TEMPLATE”

LinksGems Birthday Tribute to C.B. Macdonald

A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO CHARLES BLAIR MACDONALD Happy 162nd birthday to the Godfather of American Golf, Charles Blair Macdonald. On November 14, 1855, Charles Blair Macdonald was born in Ontario.  After growing up in Chicago, he attended St. Andrews University, where he learned golf from Old Tom Morris.  In 1874, he returned to Chicago butContinue reading “LinksGems Birthday Tribute to C.B. Macdonald”

Sleepy Hollow Course Tour by Jon Cavalier

SLEEPY HOLLOW COUNTRY CLUB – A COURSE TOUR & APPRECIATION Scarborough-on-Hudson, NY – C.B. Macdonald, Seth Raynor, A.W. Tillinghast Full disclosure: I love this place.  Sleepy Hollow is, quite simply, one of my favorite places in the country to play golf.  Exceptional golden age architecture, spectacular views, exciting shots, fabulous conditions — Sleepy Hollow hasContinue reading “Sleepy Hollow Course Tour by Jon Cavalier”

National Golf Links of America Tour by Jon Cavalier

NATIONAL GOLF LINKS OF AMERICA – A COURSE TOUR & APPRECIATION Southampton, NY – Charles Blair Macdonald “There are no more beautiful golfing vistas in all the world than those from the National Golf Club . . .” – C.B. Macdonald For me, this is sacred ground. As a devout member of the church ofContinue reading “National Golf Links of America Tour by Jon Cavalier”

GEEKED ON GOLF VIDEO ARCHIVE

A comprehensive collection of links to golf course architecture and history videos It is exciting to see increased discussion of golf course architecture on Golf Channel and other televised golf coverage, with Matt Ginella and Geoff Shackelford leading the way.  Perhaps some day, we will see the GCA show I argued for in this previous postContinue reading “GEEKED ON GOLF VIDEO ARCHIVE”

Discovering Golf’s Birthplace in America

In 2013, I took my first golf buddies trip.  Unlike conventional trips to resorts like Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, or Bandon Dunes, we headed out to Long Island, NY.  We are fortunate enough to be able to leg out access to private clubs through our personal and professional networks.  This is the birthplace of golf inContinue reading “Discovering Golf’s Birthplace in America”