Arg's Travel Log

[Argonne69]

No big plans the rest of the day. Enjoying a tasty Victory Golden Monkey sitting inside. Going to climb on Bessie's roof to perform my quarterly inspection of the mounting hardware on the roof vent covers. Can't have those flying off. It's rather hot and humid, so after working up a sweat I'm going for a dip in the pool before settling down to watch the John Deere. I've played that course a couple of times, and it's one of the best values in the TPC stables. 

 

[Argonne69]

Played my 28th course in Virginia yesterday. I'll be teeing it up in West Virginia tomorrow, and I might have a round or two in VA when I'm in DC in two weeks. I don't think many of us think about Virginia when it comes to golf, but I've been mildly impressed. 

 

The state has three courses on Golf Digest's Top 100 Public list. In addition you have numerous other quality tracks, e.g. Royal New Kent, Kingsmill River, Mattaponi Springs, Pete Dye River, Potomac Shores, Old Course at The Omni Homestead, Poplar Grove, and Rock Harbor Boulder. I was looking at my ratings, and the courses averages 6 cows. Not bad. 

 

I think one could string together a fun trip if one was willing to drive a few hours between cities. 

 

[buckI]

3 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Played my 28th course in Virginia yesterday. I'll be teeing it up in West Virginia tomorrow, and I might have a round or two in VA when I'm in DC in two weeks. I don't think many of us think about Virginia when it comes to golf, but I've been mildly impressed. 

 

The state has three courses on Golf Digest's Top 100 Public list. In addition you have numerous other quality tracks, e.g. Royal New Kent, Kingsmill River, Mattaponi Springs, Pete Dye River, Potomac Shores, Old Course at The Omni Homestead, Poplar Grove, and Rock Harbor Boulder. I was looking at my ratings, and the courses averages 6 cows. Not bad. 

 

I think one could string together a fun trip if one was willing to drive a few hours between cities. 

 

Lived in Richmond for 12 years.   Summer heat and particularly the humidity was awful.   Some good courses in the area from Charlottesville down through Williamsburg.   Spring and particularly fall was a great time to play.

[Argonne69]

9 hours ago, buckI said:

Lived in Richmond for 12 years.   Summer heat and particularly the humidity was awful.   Some good courses in the area from Charlottesville down through Williamsburg.   Spring and particularly fall was a great time to play.

 

I bet the fall colors are wonderful.

 

[dcmidnight]

18 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

I've been to over a dozen national parks, and unfortunately this one ranks near the bottom. Lovely views from the lookouts along Skyline Drive, but there's just not a lot of variety. Seems most of the trails are in the forests until one reaches an outlook with the same views as the outlooks along the drive.

 

Well its definitely a foresty NP and nothing like you'll find out West. Props to you for even doing some of these hikes the last couple days though, the humidity has been absolutely brutal.

[cassel191919]

On 7/2/2025 at 1:54 PM, Argonne69 said:

The Cascades at Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, VA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ljcrw3jazgebwaz9wf0jc/AD0yxi6Q6lOjIyTNsqqF3vk?rlkey=r3robsehgg7j6y19568p45nj3&st=49gxntk1&dl=0

 

$315, what in the world are we doing. It looks nice, but that is robbery.

[buckI]

3 hours ago, cassel191919 said:

$315, what in the world are we doing. It looks nice, but that is robbery.

Resort golf in peak season.   Even if we all think it is robbery it is supply and demand.   If you or your company can get that price then charge it.   If demand drops then price will also.

[Double Mocha Man]

4 hours ago, cassel191919 said:

$315, what in the world are we doing. It looks nice, but that is robbery.

 

$675 to play Pebble Beach today and the tee sheet is practically full. 

 

@cassel191919, what is the most expensive course you've ever paid to play? Would you pay more for history, tradition, beauty, location? Does that stuff interest you? Or is a golf course just a golf course, give me 18 holes. Are you a purist, an aficionado?  Or a guy who just wants to whack it around a nice green field?

[Argonne69]

"I can't complain, but sometimes I still do" - Joe Walsh 

 

 Mostly pleasant day. Drove 30 miles north into the West Virginia eastern panhandle. Cloudy for a few holes, but then mostly sunny. Unfortunately there was zero breeze to offset the oppressive humidity, and the lack of wind allowed the bugs to go on the offensive. Couldn't address the ball without bugs in the eyes, ears, and mouth. Got out as a single behind the lead twosome and finished in 2:45. 

 

Cacapon Resort State Park today. The Robert Trent Jones Sr designed muni sits inside the state park. Very nice looking layout sitting in a low valley without a home on sight. The lodge/resort sits on the ridge overlooking the 1st green. Felt like a RTJ course with the bunkering, but unfortunately he didn't have a lot to work with here. The two nines basically go out and back in the valley perpendicular to the slopes, so almost every hole plays the same. The par 3 15th's teebox is up on slope, so at least one hole played downhill. The 1st's and 10th's teebox is also elevated next to the clubhouse perched above the course. Otherwise it was fairly flat. 

 

Fairway bunkering looked light, but they were well positioned. Greenside was good. Water in play on just four holes. Six holes with left/right movement, but only one dogleg. 

 

Pretty easy off the tee with one short forced carry. A couple of holes had trees pinching the right side. Minor misses would catch the thick rough. Big misses were a coin flip. The perimeter holes had thick native areas under the trees, and finding a ball would have slim chances. The interior holes had plenty of adjacent fairways, but the trees between them also had dense native areas. The bigger the miss the better I'd say. 

 

Approaches were fairly straightforward for the most part. Greens were moderate in size and quite receptive. A handful had front bunkers, but most were open in front with only a couple elevated. Greens had some slope, but gentle contouring. Pretty boring actually. Putting didn't elevate the blood pressure. Up and downs were mixed. Short misses generally left an easy chip. Left or right misses typically left a high pitch over a bunker from the thick rough. 

 

Par 3s were forgettable. The 4th shared a green with the 8th, and were the best two. Variety of length was poor playing 5i to FW. Par 5s were poor. Nothing reachable and very little trouble. No short 4s. 

 

Other than the bunkers, conditions weren't bad for an inexpensive muni. Fairways had a few iffy patches, but were generally good. Rough was thick. Bunkers were a mess. Very little sand and a few with small ponds. There was one bunker that had fresh sand. Greens looked fine, but the dew had them rolling quite slow. Maybe 9. 

 

Played a Blue/White combo at 6490 yds (70.8/126). Very good day with the long stick. Irons were decent, but hung a couple approaches out to the right. Wedges were meh. Putter was cold on the sluggish greens. Four bogies. Shot of the day was probably the choked down 6h on the par 3 15th. Had flag written all over it, but it raced past the hole before settling a foot behind the green in the rough. Highlight of the day was enjoying a nice walk in a quiet state park, although I could have used without the bugs. My polo was soaked through from the humidity. Felt like I'd fallen in a pond. 

 

5 cows. Nice looking, but underwhelming from a design standpoint. Just not a lot to work with here. Greens cert needed more contouring, and maybe a couple of ponds on the par 5s would have added a bit of danger. The $15 military walking rate was crazy. Almost felt guilty paying that. A playable muni that beats looking at backyards, but I'd stick to Rock Harbor for most of my local rounds. 

 

Edited July 7 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Cacapon Resort State Park, Berkeley Springs, WV

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actual sand! Lol. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o3oehmqfp8i8ywdbz5oe9/AK7PW9MKNkW0NQpn-DQqFAM?rlkey=bxispblp1f085li2wcjfbipyq&st=w51cxxuq&dl=0

 

Edited July 7 by Argonne69

[ZephyrS4]

Looks great! $15……take that all week long!

[buckI]

edited)

"I can't complain, but sometimes I still do" - Joe Walsh 

 

Should it read “ I can complain and do” - Arg 😂😂😂

[Argonne69]

Off to Harpers Ferry tomorrow. Short drive. Got a few things done this afternoon. 

 

Booked an RV park an hour or so west of Philadelphia in Downingtown for the end of July. Couldn't get 7 nights, but luckily I managed six. 

 

Booked four rounds of golf for this week near Frederick, MD. Should be a solid lineup. Musket Ridge, Whiskey Creek, Worthington Manor, and PB Dye.

 

It should be dry Wednesday morning, but the rest of the week looks bleak with heavy t-storms. Hopefully they're afternoon storms. 

 

Gotta start scoping out courses north of DC in Maryland. 

 

[dcmidnight]

Really good lineup there.

 

I'd put the Frederick MD "area" up against just about any city in the country in terms of great publics that are available. Theres also PB Dye, Maryland National and Clustered Spires.

 

Blue Mash, Little Bennett, Needwood and Northwest a little south of there. Just some really great golf on that stretch.

[Argonne69]

10 minutes ago, dcmidnight said:

Really good lineup there.

 

I'd put the Frederick MD "area" up against just about any city in the country in terms of great publics that are available. Theres also PB Dye, Maryland National and Clustered Spires.

 

Blue Mash, Little Bennett, Needwood and Northwest a little south of there. Just some really great golf on that stretch.

 

I was looking at Needwood and Northwest for next week. Blue Mash looks good, but it's nearly an hour from my RV park in College Park even though it's only 19 miles away. Love traffic. 

 

[dcmidnight]

3 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I was looking at Needwood and Northwest for next week. Blue Mash looks good, but it's nearly an hour from my RV park in College Park even though it's only 19 miles away. Love traffic. 

 

 

Yeah nothing you can do about the traffic in this area LOL.

 

I dont know what kind of shape the UMD course is in these days but that used to be a fun track.

Same with Lake Presidential - I always thought that course had good bones but the conditioning has been awful the last few times I've been there.

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, dcmidnight said:

 

Yeah nothing you can do about the traffic in this area LOL.

 

I dont know what kind of shape the UMD course is in these days but that used to be a fun track.

Same with Lake Presidential - I always thought that course had good bones but the conditioning has been awful the last few times I've been there.

 

I played University of Maryland and Lake Presidential in May '22 during my first swing through DC. 

 

[cubuffs]

15 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Off to Harpers Ferry tomorrow. Short drive. Got a few things done this afternoon. 

 

Booked an RV park an hour or so west of Philadelphia in Downingtown for the end of July. Couldn't get 7 nights, but luckily I managed six. 

 

Booked four rounds of golf for this week near Frederick, MD. Should be a solid lineup. Musket Ridge, Whiskey Creek, Worthington Manor, and PB Dye.

 

It should be dry Wednesday morning, but the rest of the week looks bleak with heavy t-storms. Hopefully they're afternoon storms. 

 

Gotta start scoping out courses north of DC in Maryland. 

 

where are you playing in the Downingtown area - lived there for 10+ years and there is lots of good public golf.

[Argonne69]

15 minutes ago, cubuffs said:

where are you playing in the Downingtown area - lived there for 10+ years and there is lots of good public golf.

 

Nothing definitive at this point, but I was looking at Honeybrook, Broad Run, Pickering Valley, Kimberton, and Spring Hollow. 

 

'Always open to suggestions. The plan is to hit Allentown after that, so there will likely be some overlap on the list.

 

[cubuffs]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Nothing definitive at this point, but I was looking at Honeybrook, Broad Run, Pickering Valley, Kimberton, and Spring Hollow. 

 

'Always open to suggestions. The plan is to hit Allentown after that, so there will likely be some overlap on the list.

 

 

Used to frequent Honeybrook and Broad Run.  Just a few others to consider:

 

On the pricier side - Wyncote and the Golf Course at Glen Mills

 

One that would be about an hour west but very interesting track:  Iron Valley

[Jose c.]

20 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

"I can't complain, but sometimes I still do" - Joe Walsh 

 

 I bet "BESSIE" can't do 185. but imagine life's been good to you so far!

 

 

[Argonne69]

57 minutes ago, cubuffs said:

 

Used to frequent Honeybrook and Broad Run.  Just a few others to consider:

 

On the pricier side - Wyncote and the Golf Course at Glen Mills

 

One that would be about an hour west but very interesting track:  Iron Valley

 

Thanks. Somehow I got Wyncote on my Allentown list. I'll try to play it when I'm in Downingtown. 

 

I played Glen Mills three years ago during my first visit to Philly. 

 

[cubuffs]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Thanks. Somehow I got Wyncote on my Allentown list. I'll try to play it when I'm in Downingtown. 

 

I played Glen Mills three years ago during my first visit to Philly. 

 

 

Wyncote is about 45 minutes SW of Downingtown and would be ~2.5 hours away from Allentown.  That is one of the better courses in the area that if you haven't played, you should.

[Argonne69]

Short, fairly pleasant drive to Harpers Ferry this morning. You never know what you're going to get with a state highway. WV-51 had smooth pavement, but no shoulder and anything but level. I don't mind a few ups and downs, but the side to side dips are dicey. Catch a few and get the rig oscillating and you feel like you're going to roll over. 

 

Decent KOA a couple of miles west of town near the national park. Luckily my spot was open, so I was able to arrive early. Not quite level gravel site. Bessie's front right wheel is an inch off the ground. At least there are no trees blocking the satellite. 

 

 

It's so hot and humid here. I was thinking about heading into town to watch a few trains coming through the Maryland Heights Tunnel and crossing the B&O Railroad Bridge over the Potomac River, but I don't know if I can handle the heat. Lol. 

 

 

Early tee time at Musket Ridge tomorrow. 

 

[stevopagolf]

4 hours ago, cubuffs said:

 

Used to frequent Honeybrook and Broad Run.  Just a few others to consider:

 

On the pricier side - Wyncote and the Golf Course at Glen Mills

 

One that would be about an hour west but very interesting track:  Iron Valley

Wyncote and Honeybrook are always in pretty good shape.  I would skip Pickering Valley.  Look at Pilgrim's Oak not too far west of Downingtown.  I believe you played Iron Valley last trip.  Inniscrone used to be private, its a Gil Hanse design.  Used to be a very good layout   Might check recent reviews

[bcjim]

The view from the bluff overlooking town and the rivers is fantastic but it's a bit of a hike up and this probably not the day for it. 🥵

[rooski]

On 7/7/2025 at 4:46 AM, dcmidnight said:

Well its definitely a foresty NP and nothing like you'll find out West.

 

Gotta disagree with ya here, that is basically what the entirety of Southern Oregon looks like.

 

However if you mean specifically National Parks then yeah we're in agreement

 

Example photo from a mountain bike ride a while back (even if my framing is not as good as Arg's lol)

 

Edited July 8 by rooski

[tw422]

22 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Off to Harpers Ferry tomorrow. Short drive. Got a few things done this afternoon. 

 

Booked an RV park an hour or so west of Philadelphia in Downingtown for the end of July. Couldn't get 7 nights, but luckily I managed six. 

 

Booked four rounds of golf for this week near Frederick, MD. Should be a solid lineup. Musket Ridge, Whiskey Creek, Worthington Manor, and PB Dye.

 

It should be dry Wednesday morning, but the rest of the week looks bleak with heavy t-storms. Hopefully they're afternoon storms. 

 

Gotta start scoping out courses north of DC in Maryland. 

 

Downingtown CC is worth playing.  I always found it to be in great condition.  Honeybrook and Broad Run (I think you played last time through PHL area?) are also worth playing.  Check out Inniscrone CC.  Used to be private and is a tough track. 

[Argonne69]

3 minutes ago, tw422 said:

Downingtown CC is worth playing.  I always found it to be in great condition.  Honeybrook and Broad Run (I think you played last time through PHL area?) are also worth playing.  Check out Inniscrone CC.  Used to be private and is a tough track. 

 

I didn't play BR during my last visit to PHL. 'Played Glen Mills, Scotland Run, and Jeffersonville before heading to Atlantic City.

 

[stevopagolf]

9 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

I didn't play BR during my last visit to PHL. 'Played Glen Mills, Scotland Run, and Jeffersonville before heading to Atlantic City.

 

Broad Run is a good option.  I think it is a Rees Jones design.  Was called Tattersall previously I think?