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The event took place over two days at Somerset Hills Country Club in the pastoral countryside of Northern New Jersey. The course, built on the site of a former racetrack by A.W.Tillinghast in 1917, features a layout that contrasts open expanses with rolling woodlands, and has often been described as charming. As a spectator it's a delightful stroll, but after 41 holes yesterday, nutmegger Tommy McDonagh was clearly glad to see the 493-yard ninth in his rear view mirror. You see, the Norwalk, CT native has been playing an awful lot of golf lately; just prior to his battle at Somerset Hills McDonagh had played in the grueling Connecticut Amateur Championship… and won it!
The Ike Championship had been on my calendar for months, and I'd been looking forward to getting back to Somerset Hills having fallen in love with the place several years ago when I was there for a fund raiser. In the end, life got in the way and I wasn't able to swing it... but fortunately, the Metropolitian Golf Association has a stellar social media team and they did an amazing job with ultra-timely updates on Facebook, and Twitter, daily photos and videos, and even an exciting live chat animated by the with the always engaging Billy Condon. It was the next best thing to being there.
Somerset Hills is a great course. The way they've been able to update it while preserving the historical character is admirable.
ReplyDeleteWow. You are taking me decades long gone. Not sure what year (I'm thinking 1981) I went to the Ike when it was held at North Hills here on Long Island. I'll have to double-check all that. Bob Hope was there and did a bit of stand-up. Then he played 5 or 6 holes with former NYS governor Hugh Carey. Had a chance to chat briefly with both of them. Meeting Bob and chatting a bit about his his departed buddy, Bing, was quite a thrill.
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a number of great courses in NJ, some of the best in the country and the best in the world, yet the state is still more closely associated with Power Plants and Snooki :\
ReplyDeleteYou're right LisaS..!! Baltusrol..! :)
ReplyDeleteMuch more memorable than Snooki!