iSank

We played with two local guys who said they didn't really like the course either. Fun to play with them as they were smashing it 300 yds off the tee. We started out planning to go to AS, and on a future visit we will make it down there. Thanks for recommendation.

Aloha All, Still getting over building my house but finally have started getting out traveling with the golf clubs. We found ourselves in central NY with a few days to spare so we headed off to Crystal Springs. On the way we stopped at the Great Bear Golf Club, Stroudsburg, PA. Enjoyed the course, being a Nicholas design there were some challenging holes and a course I really enjoyed even with 88 degrees and no wind. Then over to Jersey at Crystal Springs. I love the Lodge there, beautiful wooden beams and interior. The courses that week were overrun with tournaments. Day 2, First up, Wild Turkey which I think I would have liked it more if it didn’t take 5 hours. Fortunately we were paired with pleasant NY couple. Ballyowen on day 3 had us playing our best golf and it was a nice challenge and in good shape. It attempts to be a links style course. Crystal Springs course was day 4 and I enjoyed the course, not on my best game. I have not seen much discussion here on CS, but I think this course is a bit quirky; at least there are a good variety of hole types as it opens up on the back 9. Then we were back up Rt 81 to Beautiful CNY. A few final thoughts on Crystal Springs, beyond its nice Lodge, we lost power for an hour one night, and a fire alarm evacuated everyone at 2AM. The front desk said nothing regarding either events. Then we dropped off our bag for Ship Sticks and they, SS, called me day later, asking where are my clubs? Yikes! I told them the front desk said they would bring them down to the loading dock, they said Ok and a few hours later I got email confirmation they had been picked up. I would not return or recommend this resort. We had fun but next time in NJ, the courses down by Atlantic City look a lot more interesting. We'll see you out on the course. Will

Yea Club Rat said it. I really enjoyed the Senator and the Judge, then over to Grand National where there a couple good courses plus a fun par 3. The one I do play whenever I visit there is Ross Bridge; something about this course that is just good fun. I hope to play more of the courses in the future, but tomorrow is promised to no one, so hope is the key word. Have Fun, iSank

Nice fair write up, I did not know the prices went up that high. I've played with people who paid near 3 and not sure if Maui co resident or HI but that day I paid $75. Since my first time on both courses was around 30 years ago I cannot relate there but I do know plantation #9 and #15, are work for me, and aim for a bogey on those 2, plus I stay positive with myself no matter what happens, then I enjoy the other 16. Our favorite visit is to stay at the townhouse above the 1st green on the Bay course. Outrigger rents them out and senior rate is as good as kamaaina. They have a kitchen so quick stop at Safeway or Whole foods helps. Plus, from there you can walk across the course to the restaurants in Kapalua. Then start play somewhere else (Wailea) then play Plantation, Bay, Plantation for a nice 4 day visit. I get what you are saying on the Bay #16, and they put those trees in the way. iSank

Here's a shot from Vestmannaeyjar island from 2015. The course is in this crater with Puffin's all over the place. Good thing our cruise ship had clubs we could use.

Well, we stopped at a course/ driving range west of Reykjavík, didn't play there b/c we did not have any clubs, borrowed a couple clubs, shot a bucket but time was limited. Where we did play in Iceland, was on Vestmannaeyjar island, in an old volcano and that was fun. There is a ferry that will take you there, that is maybe 30 miles east of the city. We made an 8am tee time and the check-in office was locked up. So we played, checked in on the turn, and they were fine, then we paid as we left. Some beautiful holes. Enjoy, iSank

Nice, fair comments, maybe because of the rounds I've played in the south on the RTJ trail, oh yea and that ocean, we saw the course differently.

We take the ferry over and stay a few days at Kapalua every year. I do not get over to Wailea very much and when we do we've been playing the Emerald because that's where our preferred tee times are available. It's been a long time since I played the Gold so go for, I don't think you can go wrong with either. Will

Flying instead of taking the ferry to Maui and will be joining my wife for 2 ball at Plantation, Bay, Plantation for 3 days, we got a rental right on the bay course near the new routing 18th. And that starts tomorrow. Nice break from building my house while Sheetrock guys take care of business.

Right on, had a nice office at the HHV for many years, and now if I go to Waikiki its the Halekulani; as in the nights before the Honolulu Marathon. Welcome!

He had a running board around crank level that went along the back wheel, it sat on that and it was a regular walking bag. Its a pretty small town so he travelled 5 small blocks, I walk to the course.

Taken my motorcycle many times, and ate it once rounding a corner, didn't realize how much my center of gravity changed so I set up to rest on the seat a bit and been fine ever since. Met my co-worker once at the course and he rode his e-bike and strapped it to the side in the back.

Great advice Dave Thanks! Once I get done building our house, our next overseas golf trip is planned to be this area and I never thought of arriving anywhere but Dublin, my ignorance. Mahalo!

Yea that is a whole bunch of golf in a short time. You are in Scotland, play 18 have a burger good glass of something and enjoy the day. But go for it; I would only request a caddie for the Old Course, and may I suggest you submit a ballot daily, then just change the other rounds around that? Sounds like a great trip: do tell us about it, no foto's then it never happened. Aloha, iSank

Have I used a "sick day" to play a round sure. My employer gives me 3 weeks of sick pay and 1 week of vacation so its common to use sick days for anything but the major thing is, have my work covered. If I take a day off and other people have to cover for me then its frowned upon, have it covered, no problem. Come on, I'm a 45 min boat ride from Kapalua, of course I do.