It’s time for the 2022 Year in Review (Golf Edition). If you’re newer to the site, here is the link to the 2021 version.
2022 was a chance to get back to some travel. I’m still trying to be careful since there is still a pandemic going on.
While I didn’t knock off a ton of courses from my quest, I was able to see a good number from my extended list of courses to see. The best part of that was the new people I got to meet along the way. I hope some of you are reading because you added to the joy in my golf year.
New Courses Played
I played 34 new golf courses in 2022, which happens to be the exact same number as the prior year. I’ve listed them all below. Some have links to the posts that have already gone up on the site. Look out for others in the coming weeks!
Of these courses, five are from my quest.
- East Lake Golf Club
- The Golf Club of Amelia Island
- Calusa Pines Golf Club
- Charleston Municipal Golf Course
- Quixote Club
- Charlotte Country Club
- The Olde Farm Golf Club
- The Virginian Golf Club
- Mount Vintage Golf Club (Chester/Vintage)
- Whitinsville Golf Club
- Falmouth Country Club
- Prouts Neck Country Club
- Essex County Club
- The Quechee Club (Highland Course)
- Winchester Country Club
- Ravisloe Country Club
- The General at Eagle Ridge
- The Sand Box
- Mammoth Dunes
- Sand Valley
- The Golf Courses of Lawsonia (Links)
- Hawk’s Ridge Golf Club
- Country Club of Salisbury
- Keney Park Golf Course
- The Hotchkiss School Golf Course
- Fox Hopyard Golf Club
- Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club
- The Course at Yale
- The Grove Park Inn
- Peachtree Golf Club
- Greystone Golf & Country Club (Legacy)
- Treyburn Country Club
- Sedgefield Country Club
- Chechessee Creek Club
Tally of New People Met
I played with 78 new people for the year. As mentioned above, this was a big source of happiness for the year.
This group included a corporate CEO, a purveyor of a traveling mint julep bucket, a decorated amateur player, a man with PGA Tour connections, a man known as the “mayor” in one of my golf chats, and some very interesting caddies. I was also able to meet some “internet friends” in real life, which is always a thrill.
In addition to these new folks, I played with 26 repeat people. Some are old friends and some were part of the new tally from last year.
Highlight Experiences
There are so many, but here we go.
- The caddies we had at East Lake were a riot. Absolutely hilarious stories and great attitudes. I won’t share too much to protect their identities!
- Playing the Sandbox in a tee shirt with a Sunday bag and some beers with Dustin, Matt, and Brad.
- My solo round at Essex with my caddie Matthew was one of the best days of the year. We had been in a group chat for a while and we got along great in person.
- Making my first albatross with a seven wood from about 205 yards. I was in the trees and had to manufacture something.
- Hitting pitching wedge to about 2 feet at Charleston Muni while the wind was howling.
- Making back-to-back 30+ foot birdie putts at Mammoth Dunes.
- Getting to play with some new friends multiple times. I don’t want to leave anyone but you know who you are.
- Turning “internet friends” into real friends. We are more online than ever and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. I do know, however, that the golfers I’ve met have all been wonderful.
Favorite New Course Played
Has to be Peachtree Golf Club. Just a spectacular setting and golf course. Coupled with a great weather day, wonderful caddies, and outstanding conditions, I was blown away.
Best Surprise
This was the hardest category to pick. The reason is that many places surprised me. I’m going to go with Prouts Neck Country Club here. The course is incredibly charming and plenty challenging (especially with a breeze). I went in this direction because I didn’t know much at all going in and walked away delighted.
Best Revisit
Could go a lot of ways here. I thought about Palmetto Golf Club but ultimately decided the newly restored Southern Pines Golf Club should take down this honor. The course has been transformed and now lives up to the good bones it always possessed.
Golf Stats
I continued keeping stats for the year and have detailed those below. I’m weighing whether or not I will keep that up.
Some numbers from the year…
- 18-Hole Rounds – 63
- 9-Hole Rounds – 1
- Total Birdies – 64
- Total Eagles – 1 (but it was an Albatross)
- Lowest Score – 73
- 18-Hole Scoring Average – 80.536
- 9-Hole Scoring Average – 36.000
- Par 3 Scoring Average – 3.515
- Par 4 Scoring Average – 4.523
- Par 5 Scoring Average – 5.315
- Fairways Hit – 57.63%
- Greens in Regulation – 41.57%
- Putts per 18 – 31.46
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating…the people I play with and meet along the way add a richness to this quest that is hard to articulate. Simply put, it wouldn’t be the same without all of you. For that, I am thankful. Hopefully, I see you at the next great golf course.