To all the courses I've played before...

With some of the ramblings about how many golf courses people have played, I decided to make a list. It is mostly complete with a few exceptions of courses I have long forgotten. Hopefully it will be out of date this coming weekend while I get out before US Open coverage starts. Looking for a new 

victim… (And yes, I before you wonder what got into me with a 2nd blog posting in the same week, I'm making an effort to get some of the blog topics I have rattling around in this head of mine out to the world...as if you care.  Now back to your regularly scheduled blog)

As for my favorites, I like the Links at Lighthouse Sound in Ocean City MD which is an interesting mix of a coastal links esque front 9 and a parkland back 9. A Donald Ross course circa 1898, Shennecossett near my home town in Connecticut is a course that is near and dear to my heart. With views of the French Alps on one side and of the Mediterranean Sea on the other, the Monte Carlo Golf Club above Monaco (the course is technically in France) was probably the most scenic course I’ve played.

Maybe I’d add some more indepth course reviews later of certain courses- with a “homeless spin” of course.

Without further ado, here is the homeless golf list:

USA

California:
Penmar
Rancho Park (9 and 18 hole courses)
Trump National LA
Los Verdes Golf Course
The Links @ Terrannea
Griffth Park (Wilson Course)
Malibu Country Club
Balboa Park
Chester L Washington Golf Course
Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club
Mission Bay Golf Club
Coranado Golf Course
Carlton Oaks Country Club

Connecticut:
Shennecossett Golf Course
Birch Plain Golf Course
Goose Creek Golf Club
Oak Hill Park Golf Course
E. Brennan Gaynor Golf Course
Pequot Golf Club
Norwich Golf Course
Fox Hopyard Golf Club
Fenwick Golf Course
Elmridge Golf Course

Delaware:
Ed "Porky" Oliver Golf Club
Delcastle Golf Course
Delaware National Country Club
Old Landing Golf Club
Midway Speedway
The Rookery

DC:
Haines Point (White and Blue)
Rock Creek Golf Course

Florida:
University of Florida Golf Course
St. John's County Golf Course
The King & Bear (World Golf Village)
Ponce de Leon Golf Course (RIP)
Ironwood Golf Course
West End Golf Club
DubsDread Golf Course

Maryland:
Bethesda Country Club
Timbers at Troy
Renditions Golf Club
Indian Spring Country Club (RIP)
Falls Road Golf Course
University of Maryland Golf Course
Queenstown Harbor (River Course)
Mountain Branch Golf Club
The Links at Lighthouse Sound
Andrews AFB (South & East Courses)
Country Club @ Woodmore

Massachusetts:
Granite Links Golf Club
Waverly Oaks

New York:
Kutshers Golf Course

North Carolina:
River Run Country Club

Pennsylvania:
Penn State University (Blue & White Courses)

Rhode Island:
Newport National
Winnapaug Country Club
Richmond Country Club

Virginia:
Reston National
Herndon Centennal Golf Course
Lansdowne Resort (Norman Course)
Beacon Hill Golf Club (RIP)
Pleasant Valley Golf Club
Penderbrook Golf Club
Westfields Golf Club
Fairfax National
Bull Run Golf Club
Prince William Golf Club
Bristow Manor Golf Course
The Ospreys @ Belmont Bay
Pinecrest Golf Course
Hilltop Golf Club
Fort Belvoir Golf Course
Greendale Golf Course
Fair Oaks Golf Course (RIP)
Broad Run Golf

International

Austria:
Golf Platz Montfort Rankweil

Germany:
Golf Club Konstanz

France:
Monte Carlo Golf Club (Monaco)

Netherlands:
Spaarnwoud Golfbaan

Spain:
Golf Club Sant Cugat

Switzerland:
Golfpark Waldkirsch
Golf Club Bad Ragaz
Golf Club Appenzell
Erlen Golf & Country Club
Golf Club Heidiland
Lugano Golf Club
Montreux Golf Club

Apropos of Nothing.... LPGA Style.

Ok. Just because I’m the Homeless Golfer doesn’t mean I don’t have stuff going on. Or perhaps I’m just lazy. Maybe a combination of the two.

Since the LPGA is back in New Jersey (fist pump!!!), I though I’d get off my butt and finish up my notes from the Sybase Match play. So, without further ado….

1. Angela Stanford had a “tin cup” moment on the 18^th hole in her match against Amanda Blumenhurst. Hitting what looked like a 3-wood on her 2^nd shot (par 5), a gust of wind blew in once her ball was in flight. It hit the front of the green, by the pin, then rolled back off the green. If there was water there, well, splash. Don’t think she would have dropped from the spot and made a 14 though. Immortality or not.

2. It is interesting to see who planned on staying around for the weekend after they were eliminated. Either they can’t change their flight, or they thought they were going deeper in the tourney…

3. Anytime you see a women with a laminated badge turned around so you can’t see the name/picture… that usually means you are a PRO. Just like at the PGA Show, turning it around draws more attention to you than telling people who you are. Most of them wouldn’t know who you were anyway…

4. Stephanie Sparks = cougar. If cougars liked their own kind…so I hear. Not that there is anything wrong with that…

5. Middle aged men getting autographs = weird. Seriously. If I’m getting an autograph from a woman my age (or socially acceptably younger) that doesn’t include a phone number, what’s really the point? Really.

6. Many residents from the island of lesbos on hand to witness the action.

7. You could bring in anything here.  Cell Phones, food, water, beer, thermonuclear weapons, etc….

8. One woman on Saturday was seen walking around with a set of clubs… WTF? It’s not like bringing a glove to a baseball game lady.

9. Sandra Gal really likes really short shorts. If you got it, flaunt it eh?

10. I forgot how ridiculous “Jersey Sporty” is. Wow. Like a Soprano’s extra’s holding area..

11. Bo Wie sporting a CVS shopping bag. They a tour sponsor?

12. An established “golf media” member (I think I recognized him) pulled a “Don’t you KNOW who I am” routine with a volunteer displaying his credential in the poor volunteer’s face. Seriously. No one reads your crappy articles anyway. So, no. They don’t know who you are. Jackass.

13. It looked like Angela Stanford was carrying a dip can in her back pocket on Saturday. She is from Texas and likes baseball…but…

14. TONS of white on the course. Where the PGA prefers black slacks, the LPGA prefers white…everything. Pants, skirts, those “skort” things, etc.

15. Michelle Wie out drives her competitors by almost 50 yards every hole. Yet isn’t dominating… perhaps that’s why she is seeking out Dave Pelz’s help?

16. I saw a bunch of middle aged dudes giving “commentary” on every shot. I’m talking about golf commentary, not the other kind. After listening for about 20 seconds, no wonder they are still living at home.

17. Kudos to those who got the Derek Flint reference in #6.

18. Lots of stereotypical “Jersey” types here. (Other than “sporty”) Make sure you stay to windward of them.

19. This course (Hamilton Farms) isn’t  very spectator friendly. Not many good viewing points.

20. Speaking of, one of the best points is behind the 16^th green, which has a panorama of the 18^th.  They actually let people stand on the fringe up against the collar. Good thing the ladies aren’t missing the green…

21. Dude. Seriously. I saw a credentialed “media” member with more hair coming out of his nostrils and ears than I have on my head. No, I’m not bald.

22. One of the weirdest sights of the tournament for me (and there were a few) was some overweight white guy in is 50’s parading around with a Korean flag. He didn’t have a stick so he held it up to make it fly. WTF?

23. I would not like to come across a pissed off Catriona Matthew in a dark alley.

24. Nor Karrie Webb for that matter.

25. Christina Kim standing on her golf cart and acting as a marshal for Michelle Wie for her 2^nd shot on #10 during her match vs the aforementioned Ms. Matthew. Lucky I didn’t get run over by her. Besides, I was at the spot first.

26. Speaking of marshals, 90% of them didn’t really know their jobs. One lady was frantically waving some someone 30 yards away to stop and wait until a player putted. The marshal was standing on the fringe of the green right in front of the player.  Um yeah. Not distracting. Not one bit.

27. I though it was weird when I saw matching couples. You know when the bf and gf wear matching outfits.  When they are both gf’s… much weirder.

28. Sandra Gal is the Vijay Singh of the LPGA. She hit balls for HOURS on Saturday. I’m thinking at least 5 hours.  I’m struggling to get through a large bucket… damn.

29. Speaking of practicing, Azahara Munoz was on the putting green for at least two hours before hitting balls for another couple of hours. Good to see the work ethic.

30. Heard there was a potential stalker situation with Bea Recardi on Friday. Might explain the state trooper walking along with the group. Plenty of candidates to choose from…