Sankt Ingbert I have a new monthly column in Golf Digest, called The Muny Life, beginning with the March issue, which is on newsstands now. For the inaugural column, I played the three courses in Griffith Park, in Los Angeles: Wilson, Harding, and Roosevelt, all named after presidents. The wildlife was almost as interesting as the people:
Wilson Golf Course, Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
The woman in the photo above, who was playing with her husband, had to tee off over the head of that coyote:
She didn’t hit the ball very far, and she was barely taller than her driver, but she played fast and you would not beat her in a match. Her husband used to be a member at Riviera.
Roosevelt Golf Course, Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
I didn’t see any rattlesnakes, but there were deer everywhere, including the threesome in the photo below, at Roosevelt. The second one from the left, you’ll notice, is taking a whiz:
Roosevelt Golf Course, Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
The guy in the photo above is Francis, who is a service manager at a car dealership. It rained hard while we played, and we were literally the only golfers on the course, but, as he said, “I can only watch so many reruns of ‘Law and Order.'” His hat says “Playboy Golf.” He got it from a friend of a former girlfriend—a woman who works at Playboy Mansion West. He’s divorced, but he and his ex-wife took golf lessons together, in the hope of getting their son interested in the game. He once took three women to a concert—three women who, unbeknownst to them, he was dating simultaneously—partly to see what would happen. The evening turned out better than you might think. He invited me to join him and some friends at another public golf course the next day, but I couldn’t go because I had to play golf—with, as it turned out, these two guys:
Harding Golf Course, Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
I’m not sure where the Pine Valley hat came from. (His English wasn’t great.) Nice day, though. And when it was over I drove up to the Griffith Observatory, which you can see from several holes on Roosevelt:
The observatory, which was built in the 1930s, is beautiful, and so is the view of the city:
It’ll be great to see you playing some of the courses that we mere humans play. GD always seems a little too “upper class” (and I’m talking about that Mr. Style and his $100 belts, especially) to me. I hope you’ll get to check out some of the fine muni’s in the Boston area. When you think about it, would you rather play some over-designed “daily-fee country club” for $150 or a muny that may be somewhat rough around the edges which has been in business in one form or another for 75-100 years? I guess that if I made a mint, I’d join Charles River or Brae Burn (as if they’d have me) but, like most of us, I don’t, so it’s a season ticket at Newton Commonwealth for me. Hey, Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb played a match at my home course. Can any of those TPC places make that claim?
George Wright muni in Boston is a must play. Franklin Park has some cool holes as well…Bobby Jones used to practice there.
Thank you both for these suggestions. I’ve added them to my list.
If you come to Boston come on up to Cape Ann GC in Essex Mass, rough and ready 9holer with great views of the Essex River and marsh. Good fun.
Some of my happiest childhood memories are from Rockport, Anisquam, Gloucester, and Bass Rocks, where my grandmother used to go in the summer. I’ll be there!
Winners buy fried clams and beer at Woodmans!
Love the pics. and story. Many fond memories from Wilson and Harding.
This post is so much better than the magazine article, partly because your photos do so much of the work. And it’s a great idea for a series. Continue on, dude.
Great column. I like the fact that Roosevelt is an executive course (par 33). Being an avid player of Par 3 and executive courses, the more of these courses can be reviewed the merrier !