The quest to play the best golf courses in the world mandates a stop in Tennessee. My friends from overseas are scratching their heads about now. Tennessee? Yes, friends, Tennessee. You know, the home of Graceland, Opryland and Jack Daniels.
The Honors Course (ranked # 96 in the world) opened in 1983 and is located in the town of Ooltewah, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ooltewah is a Cherokee name that means "resting place".
The Honors Course ranks right up there in the 'most difficult to find' category of courses. At least Chicago Golf Club has a small sign out front. To find Muirfield, you can look for the Greywalls Hotel next door. Morfontaine, near Paris, is genuinely difficult to find, as is The Honors Course. The course is located at 9603 Lee Highway. You can type the address into Mapquest and it will map out a route for you. Even armed with this useful information, we drove right past it. Then, retracing our route and paying close attention, we ran right by it again without the slightest inkling that it was there. Doubling back, the third time, we missed it as well. After we called the pro-shop the nice lady told us to make a left at the white propane tank, and sure enough, across from Chattanooga Propane Company there is a very small un-marked road, hidden deep in the trees.
The Honors Course ranks right up there in the 'most difficult to find' category of courses. At least Chicago Golf Club has a small sign out front. To find Muirfield, you can look for the Greywalls Hotel next door. Morfontaine, near Paris, is genuinely difficult to find, as is The Honors Course. The course is located at 9603 Lee Highway. You can type the address into Mapquest and it will map out a route for you. Even armed with this useful information, we drove right past it. Then, retracing our route and paying close attention, we ran right by it again without the slightest inkling that it was there. Doubling back, the third time, we missed it as well. After we called the pro-shop the nice lady told us to make a left at the white propane tank, and sure enough, across from Chattanooga Propane Company there is a very small un-marked road, hidden deep in the trees.
The discrete entrance to The Honors Course
The Honors Course is one of a small genre of destination courses that attracts members from well beyond its local geographical area. Much more than a golf course, the Honors Course is a little enclave and has a series of lodges that allow for visiting players to stay for a day or two on-site. Pine Valley and Augusta are the most established destination courses. Sand Hills is the best known of the modern destination courses. The Honors Course was the idea of "Jack" Lupton, who was a friend of Bobby Jones. Lupton is a member of both Seminole and Augusta, and the latter course was his inspiration for this course. His idea was to honor amateur golf and Tennessee golfers, thus the name of the course. The Honors Course is a private affair with a membership of 325, most of who were personally selected by Lupton. Like at Pine Valley and Oakmont, Lupton follows the benevolent dictator model, and it has worked very well.
Just like at Yeamans Hall, you know that you have arrived somewhere special the moment you manage to find the turn off the highway. Once beyond the gate, there is a long winding driveway that takes you up to the discreet, small clubhouse and pro shop. It's always the little things that make a big difference, and at The Honors, they get them all right. They not only take your bags out the car, but valet park it for you. They anticipate when you are going to leave and have your car pulled up and ready to go when you are. The caddy program is outstanding, the food is great (I recommend the Shrimp Po'Boy Sandwich), the grill area is cozy and the service is super. Around various tee boxes on the course are three tasteful and unobtrusive wooden barrels - one filled with chilled water bottles, one filled with chilled soda bottles and one filled with chilled beer. Elvis has left the building, ladies and gentleman!
Although the course is relatively young, it has hosted the 1991 U.S. Amateur, won by Mitch Voges and the 1996 NCAA championship won by a young Eldrick Woods.
The Golf Course
The course was designed by Pete Dye. In the past, I've had a hard time getting excited about Pete Dye courses. I like Harbour Town and The Ocean Course at Kiawah and Casa de Campo has nine great holes. I despise the TPC at Sawgrass and couldn't find inspiration to write about Whistling Straits. The Honors Course, though, made a big impression on me. I was especially impressed with how Dye was able to vary the routing here to create an exceptional balance between easy and difficult holes, long par fours and short par fours, and a difficult course that is also playable for a mortal. Although the slope rating is 145, the course doesn't wear you out like an Oakmont or Bethpage Black.
I was especially impressed with two short par fours, which are great risk-reward holes. The par four 9th hole is only 355 yards long. You probably won't see your tee shot land, as the landing area is semi-blind. The second shot is a wedge to a green protected in front and on the left by water. Dye has said about the 9th at The Honors, "every course needs a #9 - one of my rare forced carries to a par four green". His execution of the hole here is very well done; the design is subtle and really penalizes a mis-hit shot.
Just like at Yeamans Hall, you know that you have arrived somewhere special the moment you manage to find the turn off the highway. Once beyond the gate, there is a long winding driveway that takes you up to the discreet, small clubhouse and pro shop. It's always the little things that make a big difference, and at The Honors, they get them all right. They not only take your bags out the car, but valet park it for you. They anticipate when you are going to leave and have your car pulled up and ready to go when you are. The caddy program is outstanding, the food is great (I recommend the Shrimp Po'Boy Sandwich), the grill area is cozy and the service is super. Around various tee boxes on the course are three tasteful and unobtrusive wooden barrels - one filled with chilled water bottles, one filled with chilled soda bottles and one filled with chilled beer. Elvis has left the building, ladies and gentleman!
Although the course is relatively young, it has hosted the 1991 U.S. Amateur, won by Mitch Voges and the 1996 NCAA championship won by a young Eldrick Woods.
The Golf Course
The course was designed by Pete Dye. In the past, I've had a hard time getting excited about Pete Dye courses. I like Harbour Town and The Ocean Course at Kiawah and Casa de Campo has nine great holes. I despise the TPC at Sawgrass and couldn't find inspiration to write about Whistling Straits. The Honors Course, though, made a big impression on me. I was especially impressed with how Dye was able to vary the routing here to create an exceptional balance between easy and difficult holes, long par fours and short par fours, and a difficult course that is also playable for a mortal. Although the slope rating is 145, the course doesn't wear you out like an Oakmont or Bethpage Black.
I was especially impressed with two short par fours, which are great risk-reward holes. The par four 9th hole is only 355 yards long. You probably won't see your tee shot land, as the landing area is semi-blind. The second shot is a wedge to a green protected in front and on the left by water. Dye has said about the 9th at The Honors, "every course needs a #9 - one of my rare forced carries to a par four green". His execution of the hole here is very well done; the design is subtle and really penalizes a mis-hit shot.
The other great risk-reward hole is #12, a 355 yard par four with a small fairway and a huge tree blocking the green on the right side. Being able to place the ball on the left side of the fairway is of paramount importance off the tee. Doing so, however, does not assure a birdie or par. Again, like #9, even though you are hitting in a very short iron, the green is narrow and well protected. As Dye correctly says about his pot bunker in front of the green, "This bunker can spell disaster for even the most accomplished player."
Tree blocking the approach to the 12th green
The course is built on a huge expanse of land on 400 acres and meanders around the property in an artful fashion. Usual Dye features are present at The Honors Course such as the mounding and grass bunkers seen here on the second hole, below:
Bandon Dunes is fast becoming the North American golf mecca. Recently, I had an opportunity to take a Bandon Dunes golf vacation with some good golf buddies. I have already written about my off-the-course experiences. Here are my thoughts and tips on how to prepare for the golf at Bandon Dunes:
True British Open-style links courses in the U.S.!
Bandon Dunes is three-course golf resort situated on an isolated part of the rugged southern Oregon coastline. Re-creation of the traditional links courses of Scotland and Ireland is the name of the game here. In my 10+ years of playing golf, I have never played a true links course. So what I found at Bandon was golf unlike anything that I've ever played in my life. Natural contours from seaside dunes meant that there was rarely a flat lie. Fairways were very firm with tightly mown grass. Carts and cart paths were non-existent. On the course, about the only man-made structures that will come into view is the Lodge/clubhouse. The courses are isolated from civilization and you definitely feel it!
Rain and Wind are Par for the Course
One of the things that I hate is playing golf in the rain and/or cold. As a spoiled southern California golfer, I've become accustomed to dry and warm weather. Usually, if there's any chance of rain or the mercury dropping below 60, I don't even bother driving to the golf course. There are just too many sunny days here to have to play in those conditions! But I knew that rain, wind and cold are all considered the norm at Bandon Dunes. In fact, such playing conditions were the only apprehension that I felt when I booked my trip. Eventually I figured what the hell, this is a once-in-a-lifetime golf trip! I just have to man up and be strong mentally. But the biggest dilemma was how to prepare for the rain...
Get Wind and Waterproof!
Before my Bandon trip, I owned no rain equipment. Unfortunately, high quality golf rain gear is expensive. A good rain suit is well over $300! Would it be worth spending so much money on equipment that I may just use on one trip? I concluded it wasn't. Instead of a heavy-duty rain suit, I opted for a light-packable rain suit for around $50. Sure enough, during our first round it rained and it rained hard. While my rain suit kept me dry, it didn't fit well at all. It was bulky and adversely affected my swing. I was definitely second-guessing my penny-pinching decision. It rained again during our next round, but luckily not again for the rest of the trip! It turned out that being a cheap-skate didn't bite me back too badly. But if it rained any more than it did, I would think that a high-quality rain suit would have been worth it. Not only is it important that a rain suit keep you dry, but it should allow you to swing as freely as possible. Other essential golf rain gear that you must pack:
Links courses and their associated weather conditions require certain adjustments to play them well. The biggest adjustment for me was hitting off of the firm and unyielding sand-based fairways. I'm used to fairways with supportive turf that sits the ball up off of the ground beneath. However, the grass and ground seem to be one and the same on a links fairway. As a result, it is unforgiving to less than perfect ball-striking. Even simple chipping and pitching is maddeningly more difficult on a links fairway. Hit the ball just a fraction fat and you'll flub it. I must have averaged 4 chunky chili dips per round with my wedges until I just gave up and putted them instead! There's a good chance that putting is your best option for anything on the fairway within 30 yards of the green. Watch this week's British Open to see how it's done. If you are lucky enough to play Bandon, be sure to check out their practice facility to get used to that pesky turf.
Stay tuned for Bandon Dunes Vacation Trip Tips: Part III, On the Course!
The 3rd hole at Mid Ocean
View from the 18th tee at Mid Ocean
* My two proof readers (in their 20s, like many of my tech saavy readers) didn't recognize Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn from the 1953 classic Roman Holiday. Their loss.
Grass mounds on the 2nd fairway
Tree guarding the 4th green
The well protected 6th green
The #1 and #2 handicap holes surround a man-made pond and both require heroic shots over water to secure a good score. Holes #7 and #15 are mirror images of each other on opposite sides of the pond. Remember, I said Dye mixed in long and short par fours. This is the part of the program that features the long fours. These two gems are 410 and 420 yards and require both your first and second shots to be both long and accurate.
The eleventh hole is a 545 yard par five that features a generous driving area off an elevated tee. The elevated green seen below has mammoth bunkers in front, guarding the green. The mounds on this hole were created by piling up the tree stumps and logs from the construction of the course.
The beautiful approach to the 11th, a par five
Local 'Bar-B-Que' joint in Ooltewah
Wild Turkeys at The Honors
Dye also has a nasty habit of leaving trees in the line of play to create a preferred side to approach from, as seen here on the fourth hole. Also notice that this green has no greenside bunkers. None are necessary as there are closely shaved areas on three sides of this elevated green.
Tree guarding the 4th green
Hole number six, a par five with an elevated green also has no greenside bunkers and another pesky tree lurking near the green.
The well protected 6th green
The #1 and #2 handicap holes surround a man-made pond and both require heroic shots over water to secure a good score. Holes #7 and #15 are mirror images of each other on opposite sides of the pond. Remember, I said Dye mixed in long and short par fours. This is the part of the program that features the long fours. These two gems are 410 and 420 yards and require both your first and second shots to be both long and accurate.
seventh green
The par three 14th, below, shows off the diversity of holes Dye designed at The Honors Course. You won't see a lot of railroad ties here. You will see a variety of hole styles, doglegs and elevation changes. In hindsight, I'm not a raving fan of Pete Dye because his courses often have a manufactured look to them. I like The Honors Course best of all his work because it has a natural look and a sense of polish to it, without being forced, unlike many of his other courses.
The 14th, a par three
The eleventh hole is a 545 yard par five that features a generous driving area off an elevated tee. The elevated green seen below has mammoth bunkers in front, guarding the green. The mounds on this hole were created by piling up the tree stumps and logs from the construction of the course.
The beautiful approach to the 11th, a par five
Tennessee
Playing The Honors course was a bit of a homecoming for me. My first round of golf ever was played in Tennessee nineteen years ago. It felt good to be back in Tennessee!
My last name ends in a vowel, and it's clear to anyone south of the Mason-Dixon line that I'm not from around here. As my readers know, however, I'm a big fan of the Southern way of life and Tennessee is no exception. I appreciate a distinctive accent and I particularly like their brand down here. They don't drive cars here, they drive vee-hickles. Appropriately, they ask if you need dye-rections to get back to the airport. Many locals are genuinely fascinated to finally meet an eye-talian in person since they didn't realize there were so many different types of Yankees and there are not too many paesanos down here. I also like the distinctive feel of little Southern towns, the local barbecue and the generally slower way of life.
Playing The Honors course was a bit of a homecoming for me. My first round of golf ever was played in Tennessee nineteen years ago. It felt good to be back in Tennessee!
My last name ends in a vowel, and it's clear to anyone south of the Mason-Dixon line that I'm not from around here. As my readers know, however, I'm a big fan of the Southern way of life and Tennessee is no exception. I appreciate a distinctive accent and I particularly like their brand down here. They don't drive cars here, they drive vee-hickles. Appropriately, they ask if you need dye-rections to get back to the airport. Many locals are genuinely fascinated to finally meet an eye-talian in person since they didn't realize there were so many different types of Yankees and there are not too many paesanos down here. I also like the distinctive feel of little Southern towns, the local barbecue and the generally slower way of life.
Local 'Bar-B-Que' joint in Ooltewah
Among the notable animals I have played alongside in my travels are pheasant at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas and monkeys at Durban in South Africa. The Honors Course has wild turkeys running through it, which adds to the distinctive feel of the place.
I understand that the club founder and President Mr. Lupton is in ill health and only rarely gets out to the course nowadays. My best wishes to him. He did good here. He created a modern day Yeamans Hall in Tennessee, which is intended as high praise for a Southerner. The club manages a feeling of gentility that so few others ever do. With so many fools like Donald Trump trying to create magic by putting in asinine features like waterfalls and other trickery, Dye and Lupton have managed to pull off an extremely difficult feat at The Honors - being true to the spirit of the game, building a world-class golf course and having the understated nature of the club shine through.
I strongly disagree with Tom Doak's assessment of The Honors in his Confidential Guide where he states, "there aren't many notable holes: only the par-4 7th, a neat solution to putting a hole along the dike of an irrigation pond, but otherwise one of the most gimmicky-looking hole Pete Dye ever built". Doak continues, "I must admit, though, that much of my disdain for the course is due to the attitude the club presents. It's one thing to aspire to Augusta, but you can't create tradition overnight, and you certainly shouldn't be complaining about rival new courses being less traditional than your own. I don't think you ought to be able to have it both ways, seeking high rankings and national tournaments while trying to remain extremely exclusive at the same time."
Tom got it completely wrong. The opposite is true.
I strongly disagree with Tom Doak's assessment of The Honors in his Confidential Guide where he states, "there aren't many notable holes: only the par-4 7th, a neat solution to putting a hole along the dike of an irrigation pond, but otherwise one of the most gimmicky-looking hole Pete Dye ever built". Doak continues, "I must admit, though, that much of my disdain for the course is due to the attitude the club presents. It's one thing to aspire to Augusta, but you can't create tradition overnight, and you certainly shouldn't be complaining about rival new courses being less traditional than your own. I don't think you ought to be able to have it both ways, seeking high rankings and national tournaments while trying to remain extremely exclusive at the same time."
Tom got it completely wrong. The opposite is true.
Senin, 01 September 2008
Golf Tips - "Hit Up on the Ball" With the Driver!
In the January 2008 issue of Golf Magazine, Charlie King wrote an instructional article titled, "The Easy Way to Add 20 Yards." What caught my eye was a table of data that showed driving distances of varying clubhead speeds and angles of attack with the driver:
At all clubhead speeds, the maximum driving distance was achieved with a positive angle of attack. In other words, hitting up with the driver produced the longest drives! This is contrary to the proper technique to hit irons and fairway woods where the clubhead should impact the ball with a descending blow or "Hit Down on the Ball".
According to Fredrik Tuxen, the inventor of the TrackMan launch monitor system:
At all clubhead speeds, the maximum driving distance was achieved with a positive angle of attack. In other words, hitting up with the driver produced the longest drives! This is contrary to the proper technique to hit irons and fairway woods where the clubhead should impact the ball with a descending blow or "Hit Down on the Ball".
According to Fredrik Tuxen, the inventor of the TrackMan launch monitor system:
Optimizing driving distance is a question of high ball speed, high launch angle and low spin rate. But you can, in general, not increase your launch angle without also increasing the spin rate. So the fundamental question was: What determines what spin rate/launch angle combination can be obtained? It turns out that for a well hit shot, attack angle is the primary parameter dictating what combinations of launch angle /spin rate are obtainable for a given player.
Attack angle is the primary parameter telling you why you obtain certain combinations of launch angle and spin rate – it is even more important than the club head speed! Also, the attack angle is related almost solely to your golf swing and not equipment related, which means it is something you, as a golfer, can change – it is pure technique!
Players like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Charles Howell III are all players who often swing with significant, negative attack angles. However, common for this group of players is their very high club and ball speeds, so they fly the ball pretty far despite their negative attack angle – they do not really have a distance problem! However, if they increased their attack angle they could hit the ball 30-40 yards further. But apparently they have deliberately chosen not to do this.
Minggu, 03 Agustus 2008
SwingVision - Where Are the Close-ups?
The always witty David Feherty recently proclaimed CBS' SwingVision a "weapon of mass instruction." A brilliant pun, it is a great summary of the slow motion technology. It has been an invaluable tool in my never-ending quest to understand this perpetually perplexing game!
Over the years, SwingVision has evolved with advances in technology. It added color to the close-up camera, upgraded the resolution to high definition (HD) and added a mobile camera to evaluate live swings. However, I think that SwingVision has taken two steps forward and one step back. For some reason they have abandoned the close-up camera from their arsenal. Once featured every time, it is now only utilized once in a blue moon. This is highly unfortunate because it was my favorite feature. There's so much that you can learn by seeing a close-up of club-to-ball impact at 12,500 frames per second!
Here's an old SwingVision of Tiger hitting iron off the tee that shows you what I mean:
C'mon CBS, please bring back the SwingVision close-up cam!
Over the years, SwingVision has evolved with advances in technology. It added color to the close-up camera, upgraded the resolution to high definition (HD) and added a mobile camera to evaluate live swings. However, I think that SwingVision has taken two steps forward and one step back. For some reason they have abandoned the close-up camera from their arsenal. Once featured every time, it is now only utilized once in a blue moon. This is highly unfortunate because it was my favorite feature. There's so much that you can learn by seeing a close-up of club-to-ball impact at 12,500 frames per second!
Here's an old SwingVision of Tiger hitting iron off the tee that shows you what I mean:
C'mon CBS, please bring back the SwingVision close-up cam!
Kamis, 17 Juli 2008
Bandon Dunes Vacation Trip Tips: Part II, Be Prepared!
Bandon Dunes is fast becoming the North American golf mecca. Recently, I had an opportunity to take a Bandon Dunes golf vacation with some good golf buddies. I have already written about my off-the-course experiences. Here are my thoughts and tips on how to prepare for the golf at Bandon Dunes:True British Open-style links courses in the U.S.!
Bandon Dunes is three-course golf resort situated on an isolated part of the rugged southern Oregon coastline. Re-creation of the traditional links courses of Scotland and Ireland is the name of the game here. In my 10+ years of playing golf, I have never played a true links course. So what I found at Bandon was golf unlike anything that I've ever played in my life. Natural contours from seaside dunes meant that there was rarely a flat lie. Fairways were very firm with tightly mown grass. Carts and cart paths were non-existent. On the course, about the only man-made structures that will come into view is the Lodge/clubhouse. The courses are isolated from civilization and you definitely feel it!
Rain and Wind are Par for the Course
One of the things that I hate is playing golf in the rain and/or cold. As a spoiled southern California golfer, I've become accustomed to dry and warm weather. Usually, if there's any chance of rain or the mercury dropping below 60, I don't even bother driving to the golf course. There are just too many sunny days here to have to play in those conditions! But I knew that rain, wind and cold are all considered the norm at Bandon Dunes. In fact, such playing conditions were the only apprehension that I felt when I booked my trip. Eventually I figured what the hell, this is a once-in-a-lifetime golf trip! I just have to man up and be strong mentally. But the biggest dilemma was how to prepare for the rain...
Get Wind and Waterproof!
Before my Bandon trip, I owned no rain equipment. Unfortunately, high quality golf rain gear is expensive. A good rain suit is well over $300! Would it be worth spending so much money on equipment that I may just use on one trip? I concluded it wasn't. Instead of a heavy-duty rain suit, I opted for a light-packable rain suit for around $50. Sure enough, during our first round it rained and it rained hard. While my rain suit kept me dry, it didn't fit well at all. It was bulky and adversely affected my swing. I was definitely second-guessing my penny-pinching decision. It rained again during our next round, but luckily not again for the rest of the trip! It turned out that being a cheap-skate didn't bite me back too badly. But if it rained any more than it did, I would think that a high-quality rain suit would have been worth it. Not only is it important that a rain suit keep you dry, but it should allow you to swing as freely as possible. Other essential golf rain gear that you must pack:
- Shoes: Nothing is worse than water getting into your shoes. I really never quite understood that concept until it happened to me on my Bandon trip! My socks got wet and my feet started to swim in my shoes. That caused blisters to form!
I just assumed that my shoes were waterproof because it came with a 2-year waterproof warranty. Unfortunately, I have been using them well past the warranty period and they must have lost their waterproofing ability. Don't make my mistake! Be sure to use waterproof golf shoes and make sure that they are still within the warranty period. It's also a good idea to bring another pair of shoes to rotate amongst and allow proper drying between rounds. Remember to stuff 'em with newspaper after the round to dry them properly! - Headwear: The wind chill at Bandon can be brutal. In such conditions, you lose much of your heat (30% or more) through your head and neck! That's why it is so important to preserve warmth by donning a winter hat. Choose hats made of wool, polyester or acrylic knits that stay warm when wet. Also, look for non-itch materials or linings for comfort. I choose a high-quality beanie hat made for mountain climbing. It was made of Polartec for warmth and had a Windstopper lining to prevent wind and water penetration. It was a little more expensive, but well worth it!
- Gloves: Golf rain gloves allow you to grip wet grips. Unfortunately, they don't keep your hands warm in the cold!
Links courses and their associated weather conditions require certain adjustments to play them well. The biggest adjustment for me was hitting off of the firm and unyielding sand-based fairways. I'm used to fairways with supportive turf that sits the ball up off of the ground beneath. However, the grass and ground seem to be one and the same on a links fairway. As a result, it is unforgiving to less than perfect ball-striking. Even simple chipping and pitching is maddeningly more difficult on a links fairway. Hit the ball just a fraction fat and you'll flub it. I must have averaged 4 chunky chili dips per round with my wedges until I just gave up and putted them instead! There's a good chance that putting is your best option for anything on the fairway within 30 yards of the green. Watch this week's British Open to see how it's done. If you are lucky enough to play Bandon, be sure to check out their practice facility to get used to that pesky turf.
Stay tuned for Bandon Dunes Vacation Trip Tips: Part III, On the Course!
Senin, 14 Juli 2008
Summer Holiday
I will be taking a short break from posting to enjoy the remainder of the summer. I will resume posting around the Ryder Cup with an exciting lineup of courses.
As my regular readers know, I have been trying to arrange a trip to play in Japan, home of three top 100 courses. On the good news front, I have a trip arranged for the Fall and will be providing a blow-by-blow account of my Asian trip while there, with plenty of pictures.
As my regular readers know, I have been trying to arrange a trip to play in Japan, home of three top 100 courses. On the good news front, I have a trip arranged for the Fall and will be providing a blow-by-blow account of my Asian trip while there, with plenty of pictures.
As I mentioned in my writeup of Friar's Head last year, the party looked like it was about to stop. The excess display of wealth that their grandiose clubhouse represented signaled to me that there was trouble ahead. Trees don't grow to the sky and excessively extravagent golf courses can't be built forever. Not only is Loch Lomond being put into receivership, but tales of woe abound in the high-end golf circuit about Wall Streeters having to put their $3 million Hamptons home on the market at fire sale prices and having to ditch the kids private tennis coach. A recent apres-round Southside at Maidstone confirmed a sense of schadenfreude among the Social Register crowd. I can attest that they are feeling no pain at this WASP bastion and a pullback among the masses puts them squarely back at the top of the heap. Their grand-parents made money the old-fashioned way, unlike these upstarts, so it can be satisfying to see the arrogant new money types get their comeuppance.
The mortgage meltdown and bear market are inflicting pain on many of us, your faithful blogger included. The small indignities I have had to suffer include doing my own laundry to save on dry cleaning and taking the subway instead of a black sedan. Worst of all, I will be doing the fourteen and a half hour direct flight to Tokyo in coach. I can hear the sympathy cries going out now. Thank you for your support. These are in fact, tough times.
The mortgage meltdown and bear market are inflicting pain on many of us, your faithful blogger included. The small indignities I have had to suffer include doing my own laundry to save on dry cleaning and taking the subway instead of a black sedan. Worst of all, I will be doing the fourteen and a half hour direct flight to Tokyo in coach. I can hear the sympathy cries going out now. Thank you for your support. These are in fact, tough times.
I must say that I hope our own Gilded Age is not at and end. I am pulling for the new-money types to make a comeback. They have been a good source for me to gain access to some of these high-end private clubs.
Below are two pictures from the Charles Blair Macdonald gem in Bermuda, The Mid Ocean Club, taken during more prosperous times. Have a safe and enjoyable summer!
Below are two pictures from the Charles Blair Macdonald gem in Bermuda, The Mid Ocean Club, taken during more prosperous times. Have a safe and enjoyable summer!
The 3rd hole at Mid Ocean
View from the 18th tee at Mid Ocean* My two proof readers (in their 20s, like many of my tech saavy readers) didn't recognize Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn from the 1953 classic Roman Holiday. Their loss.
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