July Golf trip 7/12-7/16

Heading to Spokane area to visit some old college classmates. I hardly ever go on a trip without making sure there are a few quality courses to play. Here are my minimum plans:

1. Circling Raven GC
2. Alta Lake GC
3. Gamble Sands

**Slideshow Link Update**

I am told that if you:

1.highlight the Links I have posted for the previous 5 courses
2.copy
3.then paste
You can view the most recent photos. All Photo's before #850 can be viewed by clicking on the Slideshow header above. Sorry for the issues I have with tech.

#854-Pine Needles Lodge and GC 6/24/21

The final round of my six course Carolina tour ended with the weeks best weather and an enjoyble foursome to play with. Pine Needles will host the 2022 US Womens Open, having previously had it in 1996, 2001, and 2007. Donald Ross designed the course in 1927, with restoration in 2005 and 2018. It is ranked #11 in NC and the #63 Public in the US. With the Open coming in a year the USGA has already got it in top shape. Generous FW's with undulating Ross greens made for a great day of golf. I have stayed at many nice golf resorts (Slieve Donard at RCD, Spanish Bay at Pebble) but the room (#154) I had overlooking the Pine Needles range is one of the nicest ever. In 1953 the Peggy Kirk Bell family, Frank Cosgrove , and Julius Boros purchased the course. Julius was the Pro across the street at Mid Pines starting in 1950. Julius won 3 majors(2 US Opens and PGA at age 47 in 1968) plus 18 times on tour. He won the Buick Open in 1963 and 1967. In the early 60's he would come to the Montgomery Ward's garden shop in the South Flint Plaza and I just happened to be riding my bike by that day and got to watch his chipping exhibition into a range basket. He was the first pro that I ever met and how lucky I was to follow his career and try to emulate his smooth, effortless, swing. He had the best tempo on tour and never wasted any time over a shot or putt. "Swing easy, hit Hard" was his motto. When people compliment me on my swing and not standing over a shot more than a few seconds, I tell them about the great HOF golfer Juluis Boros. Blue+ rated

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PTDWnN6HHNDo3v35A

Until I figure out how to link these recent courses here please go to my Twitter account to view the slideshows or copy and paste link.**

#853-The Cradle (9) & Thistle Dhu Putting Course at Pinehurst 6/23/21

I've played many Short and Putting courses around the world but none as busy as this 2017 Gil Hanse design. You got 8somes of players relaxing after the days round and families with the kids having fun listening to the music. This is a wonderful use of this parcel and an excellent way to grow the game of golf. The Cradle costs $50 for an all day pass. If your are ambitious you could get in 432 holes, like the daily record holder. It took me about 45 minutes to get around so you could play 144 holes easy if you had nothing else to do. I had already played 18 so one walking loop was all my foot could tolerate. The Thistle Dhu was lots of fun with some of the most impossible pin placements. The only way to get some putts close was to make it, if not you ended up a long ways away. If in the Pinehurst area and have a few hours stop by and tour the history in the clubhouse, play The Cradle, and sharpen your putting game on Thistle Dhu. GOLD rated.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/euKTEKXWVYSMAzPt8

To view these Photo's please go to my Twitter account or copy and paste the link **

#852-Tobacco Road GC 6/22/2021

Mike Strantz's, 1998 design, at Tobacco Road is the wildest layout of all his courses I've now played (5 out of 7). It is rated as high as #52 in Public Courses in the US, #8 in NC. It would be a golf supt nightmare to maintain it with all the sand and bunkers. If you love blindshots, risk/reward, heroic shots, massive greens with lots of undulations, and the genius of Strantz who puts so much detail into each hole, this is your nirvana. I've played several FUN courses,(Cruden Bay, NBerwick, Prestwick, Greywalls) but this tops all of them. Don't expect to shoot low here, just enjoy the experience and excitement. Every hole was unique and memorable with #1,5,6,9,11,13,14,16,18 exceptional. A course when you walk off you are already planning the next time you can play it. God willing I will be back again. Black++ rating.
I misplaced my camera and had to use my old phone for these pictures. So coupled with the cloudy day the quality of pictures are lacking.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PFQg4aC4kDgFdbWw8

Go to TWITTER@inpursuitof1000 to see the above photo's or copy and paste the link.

#851-True Blue GC 6/21/21

True Blue GC was designed in 1998 by Mike Strantz and is located across the street from Caledonia on Pawleys Island. It rained about 5" overnight and when we arrived at the first tee the starter elicted the three words I despise "Cart path only". I was dealing with a foot injury and had to decide if I wanted to just aim for the cart paths or drop near them instead of hitting The Big Dog. Unfortunately, The Big Dog has become a puppy and presently isn't flying very far. Strantz came out of the box at True Blue with many interesting holes, lots of risk/reward doglegs, and a bolder design than next door. It is only ranked #28 in SC by Top100golfcourses.com , which I feel is way underated. He always pays lots of attention to his par 3 designs and #14 is one of his best. With all the expansive sand on this hole , I found the tiny pot bunker. As usual Strantz finishes with a strong #18, right in front of the clubhouse so everyone can admire or chuckle at your apporaoch over water. It is a toss up of which Strantz course I would want to play first here, probably True Blue. Blue rated.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jLmWJ5wFWGFxT8V69

Please go to my Twitter account to view the slideshow or copy and paste link.**

#850-Caledonia Golf & Fish Club 6/20/21

My first golf trip in several months takes me to Pawleys Island and the Pinehurst area for six rounds. I dodged a TS for the first three days and got to enjoy three more Mike Strantz courses. This 1994 Strantz design on Pawleys Isalnd, was his first, and is more sedate and traditional due to the low country flat terrain than his other top courses. No blind shots at Caledonia but after the opening three holes a challenging test with generous fairways. I shot my lowest score of the trip here. 9th ranked in SC and #65 in US public courses. Blue

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MfSyDWLT66kB6cdC6

To see the slideshow please go to my Twitter account or copy and paste link.**

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. To find your gift is happiness."- Terry Pratchett

Google Blog changes

Google has made internal changes that my low tech mind has no comprehension of how to deal with. Until I can find a tech person to explain it (probably not for a few months) I am going to make a couple of changes.

Why are they always changing things that work perfectly?? All courses played before this date (#850) can still be viewed by clicking on the Slideshow header.

From this point forward everytime I play a new course and photograph it, I will post the pictures link right here on the main page not on SLIDESHOWS header. All the other spots I added that course like (Recent Course Photo's) on the blog in the past will not be used.
Please go to my TWITTER@inpusuitof1000 account and follow me to see the latest Course Photo's or COPY and PASTE the attached link.

Best viewed on larger monitors, not smart phones.