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How can you improve upon greatness? Michael Jordan could put up a few more jumpers. Tiger could roll a few extra putts. Jeter could take extra BP. For people, improvement is always an option, regardless of performance. So how does a golf course that draws its greatness on the fact that it is purposefully imperfect and challenging, make itself better without changing the rhythm of its heart? Well, the answer is... not much. But, you can refresh it and add a twist that gives a reason for people like us to come back (as if you need one to come back to this bad boy!). It probably wasn't for all those reasons, but it sounds poetic, even if it isn't. That said, to celebrate Tobacco Road's 20th anniversary, it did bring a legend from its history to life in the form of an alternate Par-3 routing for the front nine, called El Camino. The literal translation for those who don't "habla espanol", El Camino is Spanish for... (THE Camino? -R.I.P. Chris Farley), "The Road". Chevy tried to say it was that car/truck thing. Google says it means "the way" - so we'll combine the two and call it, "A New Way to Play The Road". We can try to explain it all day long, but their website does a much better job... "The original tee locations marked only by memory of the select few who knew the way. Staff members, and regulars to The Road, were among the first groups to define the routing for our newest installation, El Camino. The once hidden loop, El Camino, created for the experience is a short course compilation of innovative angles, the character of variety, and the call for execution was developed throughout our history. El Camino, now open for all players is a dynamic routing that embodies the spirit of Strantz, and is a true test of the one-shotter." -TobaccoRoad.Com As the fates would have it, a few weeks before our trip we saw the unveiling of this new playing option. ...And since we booked our package through Tobacco Road Golf and Travel, we received a free promo for the previously hidden par-3 loop that we graciously accepted. Since we were playing Tobacco Road on our getaway day, playing more than 18 was going to be a challenge. The El Camino routing combined with the Championship layout provided a perfect blend of awesome, new and nostalgia. While we (and usually by we I mean I) tend to take a lot of pictures while we play, we have to be considerate of those around us on the course. Nothing is more annoying than someone dicking around on a course for no apparent reason. With that in mind, we played El Camino in an alternate shot format at the same time we played our own balls from the regular tees. This kept our twosome in harmony with the threesome in front of us and since there was no one behind us, you get to enjoy a preview of the 9 teeing locations for the new routing. SCORECARD | YARDAGES HOLE 1 HOLE 2 HOLE 3 HOLE 4 HOLE 5 HOLE 6 HOLE 7 HOLE 8 HOLE 9 Not that we were asked - but there were a couple other places we'd have like to have seen a tee. One feasible, others maybe not due to them being beyond the hole (example/ playing back to the 7th green from the 8th tee). Really they're just great views of a great course. Given free reign one day, we'd probably play these shots too! HOLE 2 (from 11 Tee) HOLE 5 (from near 90 degrees right of green) HOLE 6 (from top of spoil mound in waste hazard) HOLE 7 (from 8 Tee) Moral of the story here is that the more time you can spend on this property, the more you will appreciate it. I remember being awestruck by it fifteen years ago. There aren't many courses that I would plan a trip around to play every single year, but this is one of them. It's that good. Adding variety like an El Camino only adds to the experience. In the future, perhaps they'd find the real estate to build a dedicated short course or par-3 loop in honor of Strantz and his unique style (Similar to the Tom Doak short course of A.W. Tillinghast greens at The Shawnee Inn up in PA). Strantz deserved more time on this earth. We deserved to see more of his artwork painted on greens and fairways all over the world. It wasn't meant to be, but thanks to the fine folks that run this place, we're all lucky that this work will be preserved for as long as the game is played. CRUSADER COURSE RATING: 4.5 STARS (only thing keeping it from 5 is the fact it isn't a dedicated and separate course) COURSE INFO El Camino Par-3 Course at Tobacco Road Golf Club Architect: Mike Strantz Website: https://tobaccoroadgolf.com/ Address: 442 Tobacco Road, Sanford, North Carolina 27332 Phone: 877.284.3762

Dust off the tinfoil hat because we, I mean the incredible investigative efforts of Frank Giordano, have uncovered some very interesting and possibly incriminating evidence that proves Robert von Hagge and not Hubert Chesneau was the true architect of The Albatros Course at Le Golf National! Fact 1 You may have forgotten (or are currently trying to forget) that The Ryder Cup was played on The Albatros Course at Le Golf National in France this year. Chesneau alone is listed on its website as being the designer and only listing "R.Von Hagge" as a consultant. Fact 2 I played The Ridge Club in July this year, which happens to be designed by one Robert. von. Hagge. Although he designed over 200 courses, we'll call this enough of a sample size to demonstrate robust knowledge of his style and tendencies. Fact 3 I read an article. In all seriousness, Frank Giordano wrote an incredible piece for Golf Course Architecture where he lays out the story of Le Golf National and who was or wasn't properly credited with the design. If you have misplaced your July copy of Golf Course Architecture, you can read it here. Since this entire post is based upon his info, we'll wait for you to read it...maybe ten minutes...go on, read it. So now that you are up to speed, it's a pretty interesting take. Dooner and I discussed it a bit, as we discuss all scholarly endeavors. When I went through my pics of @theridgeclub to see if there were similarities to The Albatros Course, I was not disappointed. It's not an identical match but boy does it seem to be cut from the same cloth, so to speak. There's more too, check out the shape of the 18th green at The Ridge Club compared to the 15th of The Albatros Course. Look at those lines!!! They could be replica holes. And an "oh, by the way" for you - both courses opened for play in 1990. Let's say, for the sake of argument, you are not convinced and think this is all a mere coincidence. Let's say you'd like to argue that some other Pete Dye designs may feign a resemblance to the above pics since he is the godfather of railroad ties. Well I have an answer for that too. Take a look at the 9th from The Ridge Club and see if Robert von Hagge has any courses that bear a resemblance to it therefore confirming the fact that he uses similar designs and themes from course to course...maybe look at the first from Les Bordes? I rest my case...scratch that. I rest Frank Giordano's case. We'd love to hear your thoughts if you agree, disagree, don't care, etc! Leave us a comment and let us know what you think. -BMAC

By now, you have seen #TigerWoods savage yet honest assessment of who is on his Golf Mount Rushmore. If not, (where have you been?) here you go... Case closed, Tiger!!! Denzel would be proud! "My man!" However much truth this was, it undoubtedly got every golf buddy text chain in the country asking the same question... who is on your Mount Rushmore of golf? We had some answers too: BMAC - Jones, Hogan, Palmer, Woods Dooner - Jones, Jack, Tiger & Donald Ross "Interesting Pick." -BMAC The wheels got spinning. Of course, before you knew it we were arguing over who should be on the Mount Rushmore of Golf Course Architects? Without a consensus, we put it to you folks! Now listen, we couldn't put every dude with a bulldozer and 20 acres for a par 3 course on here. We tried to select some of the most well known and prosperous architects over all the different 'ages' of course design. If you want to be "that guy" that selects 'Other', then please add your thoughts on who it should be in the comment section below. Without further ado, vote by clicking on the FOUR course architects that would go on your Mount Rushmore! Thanks for voting! Check back often to see how the results change and check out the rest of the site while you're here!

Coal Country. If you've been there, driven through it, or call it home, you know there's not much out there except mines and vast wilderness everywhere you look. To find a golf course out here is rare, which is part of what makes Raven Rock Golf Course - located north of the Virginia/Kentucky state line - so unique. It uses the two most abundant things you'll find - strip mines and wilderness - and mixes them into a delightful concoction of golfing bliss. Introduction I first learned of Raven Rock way back in 2004 while traveling down US Route 23 from Huntington, WV to Atlanta. The road is a rather fun and scenic way to traverse Eastern Kentucky Coal Country. It winds through forested peaks and valleys, so it stands to reason when I saw a sign for a golf course with a pretty cool name, I made a mental note to come back to it one day. Well, 14 years later, that day finally came. Its just as remote coming from the South (about a 90 minute drive from the Tri-Cities in Tennessee), but even more fun to get to through the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia. Come to find out, the TECO Coal Company that at one time mined the land for its resources, designed and built the course as a reclamation project. It's one of three such courses spread throughout the widespread region (StoneCrest in Prestonsburg, KY and Twisted Gun in Wharncliff, WV being the others). What you get is a diverse landscape that blends manmade and natural features with long-view scenery for days and days! Course Setting Like we said, it's an old strip mine, so let your imagination run wild! The guys that designed the course basically just built what they could and fit in some goofy holes where needed, but its a real golf course to a degree. However, unless you live in the region, chances are this is a one-time - or at least a very rare play - so have fun with what it is. There are some nice houses you see on the way in and an intentional 'gateway', so right away you feel like this might exceed some of the reviews you read online. On that note - those reviews that you find on Google or Facebook are all over the map. With a course this different, you're bound to get a lot of different opinions and reviews. Then again, everyone takes their coffee the way they like it too. It's honestly what kept me from playing it for fourteen years... I didn't want to drive all that way and play some beat up goat track. Trust me, it's not that at all. It's also not a five-star course, so please don't think I'm saying that either! There's also a severe lack of a good website, social media presence and quality photos on the web. Sounds like a perfect candidate for a visit from the #GolfCrusade? Yep. Let's go... Clubhouse/ProShop/Practice Facilities I was going to make the trip up earlier this year, but saw they were building a new clubhouse. Since there is no driving range and only a small practice green or two next to the first tee, this area would have been a big 'N/A' had I not waited until they were finished with construction. The clubhouse isn't huge, but it is very nice. It fits perfectly to the brand of the course and history of the area. It looks like a hilltop cabin that has a moonshine still in the basement. And I mean that as a great compliment. It's got a little restaurant in it, though I didn't stick around to sample anything. The pro shop is small, so don't expect much in the line of merch or clubs for sale, though there are a few. In other words, come ready to play! Course Vitals It. Is. Diverse. Can't say it enough. While its surrounded by hardwood forest, long grasses and dramatic mounding gives it a distinct links feel inside the boundary. If you want to score, play small ball and put blinders on. The views WILL distract you. If you want the experience, soak it in, but play small ball anyway. A perfect example of this comes right out of the gate. The opener seems incredibly normal when you look at the hole tee to green. However, look left from the tee box and its a whole different ballgame. That's kind of how it goes on the front nine. If you wear those blinders, you're playing just about any (somewhat) normal golf course. But, if you let your eyes wander, you can get lost out here (not that that's a bad thing!). If you haven't already guessed, the views are spectacular. This isn't a complaint as much as it is an observation, but some of the prettiest views are shot with a camera and not a club. Take the second hole as an example. Here it is as you play it: It's actually a nice little hole. You've got a nice linksy look, framed nicely by hardwoods, contrast is provided by the white roof of the maintenance building, with a really nice long views of the mountains. Truth be told, I was pretty happy with both shots here (tee and photo). However, when you see this hole from 9th teeing area, its a whole new world: It's not a shot you can hit, but if you could, the third fairway would make a nice landing area for a sweet par four playing over the bunker with death beyond the approach shot. The 18th has a similar conundrum. A really nice par five finisher - always a nice sight by the way - with a more than generous landing area and a slightly uphill finish. Here's a panoramic look from behind the green on the home hole: Great segmenting on the fairway playing into a "natural" arena. Now look at the view from about the 10th tee box (more on that hole later), well above and behind the 18th green: While the green is hidden by the vegetation in the foreground, the view could be on the scorecard! While you can't see into Virginia, the state line runs along the top of the mountain in the distance and the low gap/blasted terracing into the hillside in the distance is the US 23 corridor crossing the border. This really gives you the feel for the impact the mining operation once did and the positive rehab the golf course has brought to it. If you are a frequent visitor to The Golf Crusade, you know that sometimes we like to highlight a memorable hole or stretch of holes at each course. Because each hole at Raven Rock poses its own unique challenge, it's hard to identify a 'gauntlet' you have to survive. If I were forced to pick a stretch that can break a round or make a memory, I'd have to go the 8th thru the 11th. The 8th is a beautiful par three. While the elevation is relatively flat, it's not a flat hole by any means. The view above looks pretty unassuming, but that's only because you can't see the ravine you have to carry to make to the punchbowl green area. Looking at the flipside gives you an idea of why surviving this stretch is the appropriate adjective. The 9th is a long, straight, down & up par five. An elevated tee shot with a wide landing area gives you a chance to let it rip for a change. If you take advantage, it'll set up a still challenging uphill approach to a cliffside green. Since the sun was overexposing everything on the 9th, you get a view of the 4th hole with its interesting volcano crater hazard from behind the 8th green. As we pass the clubhouse and make the turn, there had to be a transition from the ridge-riding front side to the bottom of the property where the back nine resides. Most times you see that sort of transition, you get the opportunity to create one of the memorable, fall-off-the-world holes, usually in the par three variety. Guess what??? BOOM! If you're not playing the tips, you don't have to worry about this kind of shot, all the other tees play up around 120-150 yards and its pretty tame in elevation drop. However, the black tees are a different story. They play at a whopping 245 yards into one of the smallest greens I've ever seen! As if that wasn't hard enough, those little leaves and weeds you see at the bottom of the photo above actually impact your shot. A weed-eater would fix that little problem, since the loft you have to use is so low that I clipped the weeds but somehow still made it greenside. You'll also nearly drive by the back tees if you're not careful because they are nearly invisible driving by them. Looking back at the hole from behind the green, its impossible to find the teeing area! I've highlighted the location for the back tee in the photo below since its so hard to see. The folks in the carts are pulling up to the rest of the forward tees, but what fun is it to not play the tips, even if just on this hole? If you've made it this far with any balls left in your bag - or confidence in your game - you've got one more exciting hole to go before a bit (and only a bit) of a breather comes. However, before you get to the 11th tee, you get a major wow factor (and the shit scared out of you if you take the turn too sharp!) one more time on your way to the box. Your drive on the 11th comes out of a shoot into a pretty open fairway protected by bunkers on the right. If you can carry those, you get a short but visually challenging uphill approach to a green lifted above a rock wall (cast in shadow below). A quick glimpse back on the 11th and a deep breath having not quit the game altogether. If I make the place sound difficult, its because it can be hard if you don't play the course in front of you. If you play it just once, it's tough without local knowledge. I'd like another shot at it to see what I'd do knowing where to keep the driver in the bag. I was also first one out, after 90 min in the car, taking two or three hundred photos during my round and just enjoying a day on the course by myself in perfect weather. Conclusion Again, it comes down to how you take your coffee. In my opinion, Raven Rock was better than expected. The conditions were so-so due to all the rain we had this year in this part of the country. They hadn't been able to mow rough (there's a lot of it even with the faux-fescue) in a few days and it showed. I lost some balls in the rough and others took me awhile to find. That isn't their fault. I also played like poo, but that's not their fault either. We say if you like adventure, trying new courses or enjoy the spontaneous round on the road, then pack your clubs and swing by. GolfNow will get you out almost any time of day for just $25 so what can you complain about? Visiting this place in late fall when the leaves change must be something to behold. COURSE RATING: 3.5 Stars Last Played: 2018 Enjoy some of the best of the rest of the photos harvested from Raven Rock! Website: www.ravenrockgolf.com Phone: (606) 832-2955 GPS: 586 Cs-2072, Jenkins, KY 41537

The American Legends at The Olde Farm Golf Club in Bristol, Virginia raised $56.6 million for the Mountain Mission School (Grundy, VA). The event set a single-day record for PGA Tour charitable giving, eclipsing "The Big 3" event - also held at The Olde Farm in 2010 - that featured Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. When we say legends, we mean LEGENDS! And not just the golf world either, though that's where it starts... Jack Nicklaus & Gary Player returned and were joined by fellow icon Lee Trevino, Hall of Famers Lanny Wadkins, Betsy King & Lorena Ochoa. Former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem brought his clubs, as did guys like Peyton Manning, Dan Marino and 'The Logo' himself, Jerry West. Each Legend was grouped with a foursome of donors and competed in a scramble format. CBS Sports will recap the event with a thirty minute special (air date TBD). Betsy King's team emerged victorious in the event, but the real winners were clearly the future of the Mountain Mission School and its students. Lucky for us, we were given inside-the-ropes access to shoot the event and the course. Some of these images were featured by online by the tournament, course and PGA Tour social media channels and websites. The event was held at the exclusive, private club just north of the Tennessee/Virginia border on September 10, 2018. A very special thank you goes out to the great folks at The Corporate Image for the opportunity to shoot this event. As for the photos, we hope y'all enjoy! THE OLDE FARM(Course Photos) THE AMERICAN LEGENDS (Player & Competition Photos)

Sometimes a course’s design can be so fantastic that its identity or characteristics are emulated by others. I love Pine Valley and think its premise to be the hardest course in the world is perfect. It’s been called “one big bunker with occasional patches of grass.” That statement struck a chord with me and made me wonder why everyone hasn’t tried to do the same? I understand that every course cannot be Pine Valley but why not try. If you fail and are just “good” in the process, everyone wins. It is with this intent that we started our #Crumpify campaign to improve upon some of the 'less than thrilling' tracks we know & love in honor of G.A Crump, the architect of Pine Valley. Our first #Crumpify candidate is the nine-hole East Course at Deerfield Golf & Country Club in Brockport, NY. I’ve played this course a hundred times, literally, since it was my home course in high school. It’s kind of the ugly duckling compared to the North and South sides at Deerfield. Exciting it is not. No offense to (original course architect) Mr. Pete Craig, but it will serve as the perfect place to start our new venture into course design. I colored over an aerial photo to make a comparison easier (see above). Now look at it as we #Crumpify and breathe some fun into it... While keeping the routing and greens the same, except for sharing a tee on 5 and 8, I tried to emulate Crump by turning the place into a giant bunker. I may have had a bit too much fun with the cigar-shaped features, but in doing so we're changing the name from Deerfield East to 'The Humidor'. This redo was neither asked for nor necessary, so I took a bit of artistic liberty. Let us know your thoughts, good or bad, and whether this style is something you'd play or want to see done to a track near you. And most importantly, if you think this is a terrible exercise...Dooner did it. If I were to explain the overall design theory here, I'd start by saying I wanted to force a layup off the tee. This is a shortish course, just over 3000 yards for its nine hole loop. Forcing a shorter tee ball will give some added length and difficulty, particularly holes #1 and #8. The latter being a short par 5 and by adding a pseudo 'Hell's Half Acre', it gives the hole some needed teeth. Small green-side pot bunkers are always intimidating. Having clusters of them would hopefully scare shots away making fun pin placements tucked in tight. All in all, a round would (hopefully) consist of trying to avoid waste bunkers off the tee and pot bunkers on approach, all while making the course play longer. Since most people fear sand (I know Dooner does), it seems like the right thing to do. To learn more about Deerfield Golf & Country Club and its history, click here. We hope you enjoyed our first #Crumpify project! If you have a course you'd like to see us reinvent, please drop us a line using the contact form on the 'About' tab. You can also subscribe and 'Join The Crusade' by entering your email in the page footer below. Rock on, BMAC

This Greg Norman Signature Design transverses an undulating peninsula surrounded by the Tennessee River. Managed by Troon Golf, this destination style private course exceeds expectations at every turn. The eye candy is abundant with lakes, rivers, silos and the rare stacked-sod bunkers. Enjoy a few of our favorite shots from our day on the links! (MOBILE DEVICE NOTE: Due to the large sizes and sheer quantity of photos on this page, you may experience less than ideal performance and viewing quality.) HOLE 1 HOLES 2 & 3 HOLES 4, 5 & 6 HOLE 7 HOLES 8 & 9 HOLES 10 & 11 SIGNATURE HOLE 12 HOLES 13, 15 & 16 HOLES 17 & 18 CRUSADER COURSE RANKING: 4.5 STARS Played July 2018 A special thanks goes out to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the Environmental Institute for Golf for holding the 'Rounds for Research' auction, thus making this round possible. You can learn more about both organizations by clicking their links above. To make a donation to the EIFG, you can do so here. To learn more about Tennessee National Golf Club, click here.

Pinehurst Number Two. It's hard to run into a golfer that doesn't have it on their bucket list. What many dreamers may not have is the $400+ green fee to play one round of golf. Let's say for sake of argument that the stars aligned and you had a weekend to yourself and about $400 in your wallet. That raises an interesting question... Would you rather? A) Play one round at No. 2 and sleep in your car for two nights B) Play 100 holes on a bunch of different courses - including two Top 100 tracks and stay two nights in a hotel instead of your car and still have money for gas to get home? If you chose option A, you may click the little 'X' in your browser and have a great time. We'd love to hear your story about it actually. However, if you chose Option B, or maybe you are a wee bit skeptical that it can be done for under $400, read on. EDITOR'S NOTE: This trip occurred in 2018. Dormie Club has since gone private, Southern Pines was renovated, Pinehurst Resort has a Number 10 that's actually their 11th course, etc. Also, COVID happened, golf boomed, inflation soared & high-end courses started charging more as a result. While the prices may be different now, the spirit of this story still rings true! Normally, we'd like building our own package, finding our own place to stay, cooking our own meals, etc. That's part of the fun of a buddies trip! Well, there are buddies trips (where you have a great time and also play golf) and there are golf trips (where you play as long as the sun is above the horizon). This was the latter without question. That said, we went the pre-packaged route through Tobacco Road Golf & Travel. We took an entry-level, seasonal (summer) deal that got our itinerary started (and importantly one you can sell to your non-golfing spouse). It also included the hotel, so while it wasn't the Waldorf, we knew we'd spend only a few hours sleeping there so who really cared? Not us. $269 - 3 rounds (Tobacco Road, Dormie Club, CC of Whispering Pines) and 2 nights (Best Western) You can also look up the normal greens fees for Tobacco Road and Dormie Club. This package was the steal of the century. Of course its cheap because its a seasonal deal and about 100 degrees every day, but I'm pretty sure you play the same course. We caught a break too (not the rain part Friday night and Saturday morning) as a cold front rolled in and kept things below 85 after Friday's scorcher. If you're going to an area like this, it's great to have an agent who knows the course maintenance schedule. Our rep at TRGT (thank you Kelly!) was outstanding. Without her, we'd probably have been playing on punched greens and ground under repair in a few places. Local knowledge helps, folks - and not just on the course! She also set our tee times for us and locked them in two months in advance. We set it up with 36 Saturday (Dormie/CCWP) and 18 Sunday (Tobacco Road) so we could add a round on the day we arrived. After searching around, we decided to call Kelly back and see if she had any suggestions for our time and budget restraints. She came through again... $45 - Southern Pines Golf Club - a 1906 Donald Ross design If you're keeping score at home, we're up to 4 rounds/2 nights for $314 and 72 holes. We've got a regulation tournament scheduled to be played, but over the span of 48 hours instead of 4 full days. That got the wheels spinning on the idea of trying to get to 100 holes... What else can we play? Enter the Short Course! The rebirth of the short course (or birth I guess - I can't ever remember them being all that popular before) is about the coolest thing ever for a couple of guys trying to play 1000 courses in their lifetimes. It's also great for the growth of the game. You can breeze through nine holes on a par three course in less than an hour, you can bring your kids, you don't have the pressure of people hitting into you because you're taking too long to putt out. It's relaxed, it's fun and these things should be everywhere! The latest and greatest short course is found at Pinehurst Resort. Gil Hanse was brought in to design 'The Cradle' - aptly named of course since Pinehurst is known as 'The Cradle of American Golf'. Best of all, it's open to the public. Book it! $50 - The Cradle Short Course at Pinehurst Resort Whoa, $50 for a nine hole par three course? Hold on, it's worth it, trust us. First, your $50 is good for play all day long. You can play a loop or two, go have lunch/dinner/drinks, then go back out. Second, it's a party! There is music playing everywhere. They hid speakers in trees, fake boulders and at the bar. Yes, there's a portable bar on the course! It really is golf's greatest party. It is the antithesis of what you think a stuffy resort would offer. Just play it! You can thank us later. Call the resort the day before you want to play and they'll set you up. They open at 8:00am eastern, so be on the horn or call early to leave a message for a return call (which they'll do right at 8:00) and get the time you want! That brings us up to 81 holes and $364. We've got $11 to spare and 19 holes to add to get to 100. I know what you're saying... Vegas would have long odds against us too. While The Cradle gets all the pub in the press, there are two other short tracks in/around town you need to know about. Each of the three we're highlighting are as different as they are cool as hell. If The Cradle was built for the party, then the Bottlebrush Course at Longleaf Golf & Family Club was built for the future golfer in mind. During a renovation back in 2016, Longleaf had a few acres (3.5 to be exact) of flat, unusable landlocked grass between a couple of holes. Bill Bergin turned that tract of land into six holes of golf for just about anyone. Best of all, it only costs a buck a hole to play a loop. That's right, $6 for six holes. We had it on the radar, but didn't know when we'd play it. We did a drive by Friday night after we got rained off The Cradle and saw that the pro shop closed by 6-6:30. We decided to head back Saturday between rounds and the raindrops we were supposed to incur that morning. More on this in a minute... One shorty we could book ahead of time to play was the last short course on our list, El Camino at Tobacco Road Golf Club in Sanford. We were going to be up there anyway on Sunday and wouldn't you know it, right about the time we booked our package, Tobacco Road starts publicizing a new alternative routing for the front nine. You could say it was the newest or oldest of the collection of short courses depending on your perspective of when this course actually began playing rounds. Regardless, we received an email offer to add the previously hidden loop for free - which we gladly activated! Since the tee sheet wasn't very full that morning and we were playing as a twosome, we decided to play an alternate shot format from the El Camino tees while we played our regular round. It didn't slow us down one bit, and since we had a threesome in front of us, it helped us stay in rhythm a little better. We even started with a birdie, dreaming of a course record. Yeah right. $0 - El Camino at Tobacco Road Ah, you're starting to do the math now... We're still at $364 and now we're at 90 holes. Which brings us back to Bottlebrush. After our wet Saturday morning round at CC of Whispering Pines (a pleasant surprise BTW), we decided to go grab some lunch back at Longleaf. We had scoped out the clubhouse the night before and it appeared there was a nice little pub room in there. There was (Great lunch, service and people - go with the fish & chips). The additional hope was that the rain would let up enough to allow us to spin a loop on the short course before our PM round at Dormie. It didn't. Since we knew they'd be closed long before we could finish and make it back, we stopped and asked the pro shop if we could prepay the $6 per guy and come back after they closed. Dan, the head pro, graciously gave us the nod and a signature on a scorecard to come back. Come back we did and now I want a Bottlebrush in our town! It was so much fun, we looped it twice in about 30 minutes, right before a kids night golf outing was getting ready begin. Kudos to Longleaf and the US Kids Golf Foundation for creating such an inclusive property. $6 - Bottlebrush at Longleaf (played twice) So there you have it. We spent $370 on golf and lodging, played 102 holes over seven courses - including two top 100 you can play - in just over 48 hours. And as promised, you've got $30 in your gas tank with which to go home. The whole reason for the trip was to celebrate a couple of major milestones on our journey. The Cradle was strategically selected to be the Golf Crusade's 400th course played! On the individual side, Dormie Club was BMAC's 200th course played. So, now we ask you... As a reminder, you can find all the courses we've played on a map or in a state-by-state list on the Map & Tracker tab at the top of the page. We'll feature each of the places we played on this trip in a future post, but as you can see from some of the highlights above, it was an outstanding weekend. Until then, keep playing and we hope to see you soon on a course near you! Sincerely Fores, BMAC & Dooner

With every boom, there is eventually a bust. Golf course operators are struggling and the industry has suffered from the overgrowth of courses in the late 90s and early 2000s. One of the big reasons we started this site was to provide exposure for courses that didn't have the means to do it themselves. Every time we hear of a course closing, we feel for the people that called it their home course, their job or their happy place. We've seen our share of favorites put out to pasture as well. Economics don't play favorites. Munis, resorts, semi- or high-end private - it doesn't matter if people don't show up and pay to play. Here is a look back at some of our favorites that aren't around anymore and a list of those places we've played that will always be a part of The Golf Crusade. Executive South Family Golf Center-par 3 (NY) St John Fisher Golf Course (NY) Shadow Pines Golf Course (NY) Seneca Lake Country Club (NY) Harbour Pointe Golf Course (NY) Cayuga Links (NY) Newark Country Club (NY) The Monster (NY)* While the original course may be extinct, a Jurassic Park version (same DNA but blended with the other shuttered 'International' course on property) may be coming soon to a new Catskills casino near no one. The Monster was once world famous, ranked in the top 100 courses in America and was still listed in Golf Digest's Most Difficult Courses rankings. Rees Jones is the lead on the new course project, here's hoping it's not too easy and some of the reasons people came from all over the world to play remain. Cypress Bay (SC) Marsh Harbor Golf Links (SC) Heather Glen Golf Links (SC) Old Silo (KY)* This course is a former #1 public access track in the state of Kentucky. At the time it closed, it was still ranked in the Top 10 in 2017. Then again, Notre Dame is going to be in the Top 25 to start every college football season regardless of the team they have coming back. This place is the proof that a great layout does not equal success. It's fall from grace is highlighted in a bleak review by One Bearded Golfer. It was a fun place to play while it lasted. Countryside (VA) The Meadows (VA) Virginia Oaks (VA)* This P.B. Dye quirkfest on the shores of Lake Mananas on the D.C. metro's western edge had a lot going for it. Good architect, fun course, a daily fee drop in the private course bucket. Heck - you can even see Robert Trent Jones Golf Club across the lake in the first picture below! The topography and the lake should have helped, as should have the hundreds of homes in the neighborhood that engulfed the course. It made it to voting age (1999-2017) but never got to see who won the first election it voted in. Orchard Hills (WV) Miry Run (NJ) Bear Brook (NJ)* BBGC was a great example of building an average golf course that looked pretty but was too difficult to play. I don't mind a few target golf holes here and there, but every hole? No thank you. The sad thing is that land wasn't that severe that it had to be built that way. There were some good one-shotters, but not every shot needed to be played that way. Dodgertown (FL) Dodger Pines (FL) Westview Country Club (FL) Grenelefe West Course (FL) Big Hollow Par III (TN) Nolichucky View/River Trace (TN) Buffalo Valley (TN)* The ones above were all semi-private or resort builds. This was built as a resort that never really got going before a local municipality took it over. Sadly, it didn't improve the play and the course was shuttered January 1, 2018. It did have some scenic holes, like this fall off the world par-3, but it is as secluded as you'd expect given the surroundings in the photo below. With another (and more playable) course already on the town's ledger, this course was closed in favor of a greater strain on public dollars. RedTail Mountain (TN)* (UPDATE 5/1/19 - The entire course is now closed) Nine holes (or maybe ten depending who you talk to) are still open at this mountain getaway resort. They're very nice, but they certainly lose a lot of panache with the loss of the mountain nine. Here are some of the best shots from the holes that were some of the best in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Centennial (GA) Woodbridge (NC) Wake Forest (NC) Quarry Hills (NC) The Carolina (NC) Woodlake Resort - Maples Course (NC) Woodlake Resort - Palmer/Seay Course (NC) Keith Hills - River (NC) (9 are still open as part of combined 27 holes now vs 36)

#GodBlessAmerica. What can you say about a modern American golf icon that virtually bows at the feet of THE original American icon that hasn't already been said? It's hosted FedEx Cup Playoffs tournaments and more recently, The President's Cup. Want to find out how to get on this architectural marvel? Read on... Introduction If you follow golf closely, chances are good you know that the entire site the course sits upon was once a polluted, mucky, disgusting waste dump. Enough about New Jersey though, let's talk about the golf course... HI-OOOOOO!!! Sorry couldn't resist. Full disclosure, I did live in Central Jersey for four years, so I'm allotted a certain degree of latitude with Jersey jokes. With a reported final price tag of $250 Million, the land was cleaned up, Tom Kite and Bob Cupp (designers) got paid and the golfing world was graced with this incredibly unique course. Not so much unique in that you've never seen a parkland links course, but that you've never seen one in such a mesmerizing setting, i.e. Lady Liberty watching your approach on the 13th (above) or your tee shot on the 14th (below). Course Setting Just look at the photos. They describe it better than any person could ever type. Clubhouse/Pro Shop/Practice Facilities Did we mentioned the course construction costing upwards of $250M? Well, $60M of that was the clubhouse. To say its 'non-traditional' in golf clubhouse terms is the understatement of the millennia. I mean, look at this thing sandwiched between the 18th green and Ms. Liberty sitting out in the harbor. It looks more like a modern art gallery, but it is a perfect fit for the course and surroundings. The pro shop has all the things you'd expect to find. The range has ProV1's. The locker room attendant already knows your name when you arrive downstairs. So does the valet and the check-in desk because the guy in the guard shack radioed ahead to let them know you were on the way in. It's special. Don't drive? No problem. The club has its own water taxi. Members can schedule a pickup at their closest Manhattan pier and they'll ferry them right to the clubhouse in 15 minutes. Get sea sick? They also have their own helipad. So yeah, It's special. Back in the locker room, you'll see names like Mickelson, Giuliani, Manning and Romano attached to lockers next to yours. Your attendant will let you know that a made-to-order breakfast is available upstairs or that a masseuse is available to loosen you up before you hit the range. Of course they'll make sure the shoes you wore in get shined up while you play too. Again... Special. Course Vitals How's this for vitals (from the tournament tees): Par 72, 7387 yards, a 77.7 rating and a slope of 155. In short, it's difficult. In long, it's really difficult. If you are just playing once, it's not really going to matter what you score. You'll be in such awe of your surroundings that you might not remember a single shot (I don't - good thing I brought the camera). So what kind of course are you looking at? "Parkland links" is the official proclamation the course claims on their website. There isn't a lot of land, so there are holes that run next to each other, but mounding between holes certainly provide each hole a level of privacy from their neighbor(s). You'll see plenty of fescue too, so let's run with that classification, but the scenery makes it so hard to keep your eyes down that who really cares? If you are walking, I'm sure you'll have a lovely stroll with a caddie (complete with white coveralls). The land is mostly flat, but remember this is a 100% manufactured site, so you'll have a few humps and bumps to climb to tee boxes or between holes. If you're riding, you'll be in Cadillac golf carts that ride over millions of pavers in the cart paths. Check out the $1M+ hand-laid Belgian paver stone work in the paths below! Since every hole would be considered a signature hole on most courses, it's hard to pick favorites. Per usual, I like to define a memorable three hole stretch that'll leave you with the clearest memories. Here that is a challenge since there are so many memorable holes. I also played it in a shotgun, so my natural order was a bit out of whack. During the 2017 President's Cup, the holes were reordered so that the 18th would be more in play during the match play event. That's as good a place to start as any. This hole is the east coast version of the 18th at Pebble Beach. No, there aren't waves crashing and its a different kind of scenery, but the home hole here is a looooong, uphill par four that plays along the harbor the entire way up to the clubhouse (490 yards from tips). It is a tough test, but not unfair. The fairway landing area is generous, but the seawall is intimidating. Next we'll slide back to the par three, 14th hole. This scenic one-shotter would be a great hole at any course in the world. Waves in the tall golden fescue mimic the wake ripples crashing against the shore from the massive ships navigating the harbor to the right. It's the beacon in the harbor that makes the memory though. This is the closest place you can be on the golf course to the Statue of Liberty. Again, I hope you brought your camera - this is a shot you'll want. Teeing off here is Jeremy Ito, known to college football fans as the guy who kicked Rutgers to the biggest win in school history with a field goal (and point to skycam!) to beat a highly ranked Louisville squad back in 2006. Jumping all the way back to the 4th (where we started our round) is a par-3 that scares the crap out of you with the full carry, up a club to a perched green framed by dozens of skyscrapers peeking over the large mounds behind the putting surface that separate it from the double-sided practice range. This hole played as the 18th at the President's Cup. Thanks to the USA putting boot to ass the entire event, not many matches reached the drama this hole could have provided with a point on the line. The pin placement you see below was by far the most difficult location imaginable on this severely sloping green. When attending a tournament as a spectator, one of the best vantage points is right above the flag on the ridge - giving you a shot of this entire hole, the range behind you and the following tee shot. Speaking of which, the tee shot on the 5th doesn't give you much time to gather yourself. The same water you see above that fronts the fourth extends the entire length of the following hole along the left, first as the lake you see then as a creek. Making matters more challenging are the elevated tee that allows for more hang time. I'd rather not think about playing this course with a stiff breeze. If there is a saving grace, this hole plays away from the skyline, so the eye candy isn't as toxic. You just have this to stare at instead... Your approach doesn't get much easier. The fairway narrows by 50% on the way in with the aforementioned creek left and a couple deep bunkers right. The green-side bunker is by far the better of the two. Steer clear of that cross bunker. If you can't tell, the rough is rough - your ball will just sink to the bottom. You could be looking at an extra shot just getting back to fairways. The green has a number of pin positions available. None probably less fun than back left. This putting surface has about 3 feet of fringe then its a watery grave. While the greenside bunker is better than the cross bunker, a long bunker shot to the back corner would be in danger of going off the reservation. If we started with the last, we'll finish with the first. Imagine you just ate that big omelet and got a chair massage. You probably hit some balls to get loose. Your juices are flowing and now you've actually got to focus up. This is your first test: Stripe one down the middle with water that jets out into the fairway from the right with a 3-wood or hybrid. Not so bad, right? Then you get this for your approach and you get a your first look at the things to come for the next four hours: Nothing like a nice target par four to start the day. You have to carry the 3-bunker cluster in the rough just across the creek (that shouldn't be in play), then two more that are definitely in play and definitely deep in front of the green. The green plays like a redan from this angle. From another angle, quite different... The pin placement in the front right (seen above) is easily the most accessible. I wouldn't want to see a pissed off superintendent put in the back left. Not only does it add a club or two to the approach, but it brings all the trouble into play. Again, this is just the first hole. Have a great round and enjoy the experience! Conclusion Let's be honest, this story was just an excuse to look at some pictures, right? I hope you enjoyed the spin around some of the most notable holes in the fantastic collection that Liberty National offers. If you made it this far, here's your reward - the chance to learn how to play this beauty. Other than the obvious of knowing a member, the club selects four non-member groups per year to host a fundraiser/tournament at the club. The prices will be high, but they're for a good cause and you will have a unique story to tell for the rest of your life. I'd like to personally thank Mr. Morris, Freddy Hill and the Jimmy V Foundation for the opportunity of a lifetime. CRUSADER RATING: 10 STARS Course played: 2010 Remember to follow us on Instagram and Facebook at the user name @GolfCrusade. You can also become a member of our site to comment on stories. Sign up below and #JoinTheCrusade!!! Enjoy some of the best of the rest of Liberty National and thanks for checking us out.

What do you get when you combine a Revolutionary War Battlefield and a middling resort-style layout? The Links at Stono Ferry, that’s what. Introduction There is history everywhere in the low country of South Carolina and that fact is not misrepresented when playing a round at Stono Ferry. There are signs around the course to clue you in as well as a canon on the right side of the 12th fairway. Course Setting You’ll find this course tucked out of the way along the Stono River a few miles outside of Charleston, SC. The layout meanders through a pine forest before finding its way out to the river. Some of the views available on the back nine are quite dramatic and can hold their own with just about any course in the area. The 13th may have one of the most intimidating tee shots that I’ve seen at this point in my illustrious career. Although the course is not deadpan flat, it is fairly level due to its proximity to the water, as most are in the area. They do manage to line two holes up side-by-side on the back, I went par-birdie*, but other than that each hole is flanked by trees, snakes and backyards. Clubhouse/Pro Shop/Practice Facility This is one area that Stono does right. The clubhouse is somewhat understated with a nice dark barroom looking out over the range behind. The Pro Shop seems to have a bit more to offer in terms of gear and equipment than most, which is nice considering its location out of town. Now let’s talk about the range. Stono Ferry has one of the best driving ranges I’ve seen in terms of setup and execution. The teeing ground is very flat and the range is wide and long enough to hit driver without concern of putting it through. They have a small putting green but it was in good shape and seemingly identical in condition to the rest of the course. Kudos Stono for having a facility worthy of true practice. It may help that the College of Charleston uses this course as its own but if that’s what it takes, so be it. Course Vitals A Ron Garl design, it sticks to the resort feel by chasing around in a big circle starting and ending at the clubhouse on both sides. The first hole is pretty tough with OB left and a pond in front of the green. The front spends a little more time in the woods than the back but there are glances of the marshlands the area is famous for, most notably the par three 6th. The back has three or four holes along the river, but it is the 13th & 14th that are the most dramatic. The 13th is a short par four, which I birdied*, but the term intimidating does not give the tee shot justice. There is water to the right and short and OB left. And by water, I mean the freaking river. The carry seems to be about 175 yards so as long as you hit it long and dead straight you’ll be fine. It is a pretty hole but if you are having a bad day, it is about to get much worse. The 14th is a short par three but again it is mostly carry as the tee is stuck well out into the river, kind of an island tee. The reverse TPC. The 15th has an odd tee shot; a dogleg right, but with no picture on the card or sign I could find, I had no idea how much it turned from the tee. It turned a solid 90 degrees but once it did, the remainder of the hole was very nice. Sixteen is another dogleg right and tough, again water by the green. The home hole has an interesting island green but being a very short par 4, I wasn’t a huge fan of the last (below). Conclusion This is a nice course, in nice condition and the starter was very nice. It was fairly inexpensive, but given the fact that I was walking on a summer afternoon, most places are. The water holes are fun, but I wish they had a bit more space to make them more playable, more playabler. I actually think the best holes on the course are nowhere near the water (6th and 16th). If you are in the area, it can be a fun stop or a good throw-in to a trip, but not at the top of any list I’d draw up. CRUSADER RATING: 3½ STARS Last played 2018 *greatest golfer ever Course website: http://stonoferrygolf.com/ Tee Times: https://stonoferrygolf.teesnap.net/ or call (843) 763-1817 GPS: 4812 Stono Links Drive, Hollywood, SC  29449

UPDATE: As of 1/1/2022, Bristol Harbour's owners have closed the golf course for good. We chose not to delete this post, because that's not what we're about. We played it. We enjoyed it. It's a part of The Golf Crusade! #ItsBristolBaby! No, not THAT Bristol... we're talking Bristol Harbour Lodge & Golf Club. Tucked on the slopes of Canandaigua Lake about 30 miles south of Rochester, lies one of Upstate NY's prettiest properties - that just so happens to have a golf course so we could write about it! Introduction The Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York is known for its prowess in the wine industry and natural beauty. Wineries dominate the landscape along the gentle slopes of the eleven long, thin lakes located in the 100-mile or so swath of land between Rochester and Syracuse. The scenery - with or without the local vino - can put you into sensory overload. The wine business has grown so large that the FLX has become the second largest wine-producing region in the country (Napa). However, the golf in the region has been lacking high-end options for decades. There are some fun local courses you can play between the lakes (tracks like Seneca Falls CC, Trumansburg and Silver Creek come to mind), but there is a severe lack of anything more - public or private - that you'd expect to find in such a lush and diverse landscape. This is one of the reasons Bristol Harbour has been the golfing jewel of the Finger Lakes since it was built in the early 1970s. So pop a cork, pour a glass and let's go for a ride! Course Setting Robert Trent Jones, Sr. laid out the front nine as a hilltop links while the backside plays through mature hardwoods and along the ridge of a gorge. It has been loved by many which has certainly helped it hold up over time. Their website says the front nine was restored to its links roots in 2017 (pictures are pre-restoration). That alone gives me a reason to go back. While it's near the lake, you don't see the lake all that much. What you do see of it is at a distance, but fear not, scenic views are abundant from all points on property. Clubhouse/ProShop/Practice Facilities All really nice. Worth noting is that there are ski slopes just on the other side of the ridge at Bristol Mountain, so this place is truly a Four Seasons resort. Think that rules out coming here on a golf trip during the long Upstate winters? Maybe... Harbour also has an indoor simulator with two dozen world famous courses loaded into it. It's also one of the only places in the region that offers a stay-n-play on property. You could make it a golf trip, but you're either playing all your rounds here or driving at least 20-30 minutes to get to another course, maybe more if you want to play one on par with it. Course Vitals Think of the courses you have played that have had two very distinctly different nines. You probably like one side more than the other, right? In some cases, it's probably not even close. I don't know if I've ever played a course that is this evenly split in both how different they are and how much I like each side. They're both outstanding. The front is wiiiiiiide-open. Again, that may have been tightened up with some fescue in the links restoration, so don't hate me if its more penal that it was on the last visit. There are some great driving holes mixed with some you might want to hang back and play the angles. Or sometimes, you've got to Hulk Smash from the tee and place it well. No where is this more evident on the front than on the par five 4th hole. While not overpowering at just over 500 yards, you've got a dogleg around 200, leaving a choice off the tee for the aggressive player. The bend can be cut, but the real choice is the approach. It's a ballsy shot if you go for it, as you can see with the twin bunkers and tight shoreline sandwiching the hourglass green. Two holes later, you get another choice. This is a SHORT par five. Like 446 yards short. But... ah, there's always a but... ...you don't even need a smashing drive from this elevated tee. Seriously - you can't. See the candy cane 150-stake down there? You have less than 300 to the water. If you can go 275, you should be looking at an eagle putt on this massively wide green. The reverse angle gives you an idea of the elevation change, distance to carry on your approach & green-side fortifications. The outward closer plays parallel to the 18th. Both share the same hazards, to the right side outward and to the left inbound. Below you can see the view from behind the 9th green and from the approach on the 18th. Similar holes, yet not repetitive in any way. I think this Jones guy might make a living out of this whole golf architect thing!? The back nine is really fun. There is more variety in the styles of holes and they come at you single-file vs parkland style like the front. The 10th is the last of the quartet of par 5's and gives you your best view of the lake. After that... It's time for a walk in the woods! -Rabbit (Twister '96) The three hole gauntlet you'll have to survive here is the par four 14th, the one shot 15th and the uphill par four 16th. They aren't the longest holes (though the par 3 tips out at 200+), but you probably won't use the same club twice (provided you played it in regulation). The 14th is the signature hole, a short dogleg left with a sharp grade downward to a cliff-side green complex (side note: I just learned that BMAC hates it when people say 'green complex' so I'm going to use it as much as possible from now on). It plays shorter than the 394 listed yards due to the sharp drop at the bend. It's the second shot that you'll be remembering long after you leave. The bunkers actually help save the deep ball from death in the gorge. The view is matched only by its brilliant design. After that, you're faced with a long, flat one-shotter. The green sits just over the edge of a deep gorge, so its all carry. The only thing crossing the ravine - other than hopefully your tee shot - is a unique double trussed arched bridge. It plays up as short as 121 yards from the reds. From the tips though? A cool 205 yards, but hey, no bunkers! #GoodLuck The trifecta finisher gives you an uphill tee ball to a dogleg right, then another riser to the green. If you couldn't tell, it plays much longer than the 368 yards on the card - probably a club or two on each shot. The bend is right at a generous landing area, but angles play a key role in the approach. It's probably the second or third time around until you figure out where to land it off the tee, but the green is - you guessed it - protected by a deep swell of white sand and trees that could use a trimming - or a chainsaw. Conclusion When Robert Trent Jones' parents emigrated to the United States, they settled in East Rochester (about a 45 minute drive from Bristol Harbour). I would think that anytime someone - who travels, works and becomes as globally recognized for their craft as Mr. Jones had done - comes home later in life to create a work of art would have been both nostalgic and perhaps a little intimidating. HRGC opened in 1972. Thirty-six years earlier, RTJ designed and built his first course right outside his old neighborhood (Midvale) with horse-drawn plows! I'm glad he came back and did this project when he did. While it wasn't built to host a major championship, the guy who holds the course record here has 18 them. The owners have certainly kept up the course to its original standard. It'll top out around $65 on a weekend, but a weeknight twilight will only run you $35. If you're in the area and have your sticks - this is where you want to play. COURSE RATING: 4 STARS Last Played: 2013 Website: https://www.bristolharbour.com/ Tee Times: https://www.bristolharbour.com/golf/book-a-tee-time/ GPS: 5410 Seneca Point Rd, Canandaigua, NY COURSE CLOSED PERMANENTLY