Arg's Travel Log

[Argonne69]

Nice to be back on the "regular" schedule. Stopped at Grill Life Barbecue on the way back to the RV park. The food truck isn't much to look at, but the Q is excellent. The brisket was a tad lean, but still plenty tender and juicy. Ribs could have used a little more meat, but were also tender and juicy. Unfortunately they don't serve hot links on Wednesdays. The beans and mac and cheese were both very good. The sweet sauce and Texas tangy were both excellent. I found a small park a few miles away with a picnic table in the shade so I was able to enjoy the tasty Q in the shade with a nice breeze. It doesn't climb into the top 10, but it's definitely worth a stop in the Allentown area. 

 

 

 

[caniac6]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

No, I hear you. The entire section of the country from Kansas to South Carolina is being brutalized with a massive heat dome. Stay safe. 

 

I have pretty much given up walking for the summer. The combination of heat and humidity has really intensified the last few years here in N.C.

[Double Mocha Man]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

The entire section of the country from Kansas to South Carolina is being brutalized with a massive heat dome. Stay safe. 

 

You could barbeque up some brisket on the pavement.

[StoutKing]

Haven't really needed my AC in SoCal this summer.  Very nice with low humidity every day

[Argonne69]

1 minute ago, StoutKing said:

Haven't really needed my AC in SoCal this summer.  Very nice with low humidity every day

 

Is your driveway big enough to park an RV? Lol.

 

[mshills]

3 hours ago, caniac6 said:

I have pretty much given up walking for the summer. The combination of heat and humidity has really intensified the last few years here in N.C.

Same. Walking 18 is something of a doable challenge for me even when conditions are good. I don’t need the hero stuff, and I’m happy to ride until it cools off a bit. Golf is supposed to be fun, and walking my place when it’s 92F and 72% ain’t fun. 

[mci711]

3 hours ago, caniac6 said:

I have pretty much given up walking for the summer. The combination of heat and humidity has really intensified the last few years here in N.C.

 

I am in St Louis and have basically given up on golf in July and August; I play more in November and December now. This is the least amount of golf I've played in 10+ years, I prefer to walk and it just isn't worth it. I ran 10 miles in 107 index yesterday (training for Chicago Marathon) and I'd take that over lugging a bag around for 2.5-3.5 hours. It is so uncomfortable carrying, swinging a club, getting your glove off and on when everything is soaked in sweat. 

 

Man, I am getting old.  

Edited July 30 by mci711

[Argonne69]

Wound up booking Allentown Municipal for Sunday morning. Tee times are tough to come by. I looked at Burkleigh and Olde Homestead, but neither allow singles to book. Must be nice to have so much business that singles can be ignored.

 

If the vast majority of courses didn't allow singles to book, I guess I'd just reluctantly accept that it's part of the game. However, given that almost all courses allow singles to book in some fashion, I just don't understand why there are a handful of holdouts. 

 

[Bonneville85308]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

Wound up booking Allentown Municipal for Sunday morning. Tee times are tough to come by. I looked at Burkleigh and Olde Homestead, but neither allow singles to book. Must be nice to have so much business that singles can be ignored.

 

If the vast majority of courses didn't allow singles to book, I guess I'd just reluctantly accept that it's part of the game. However, given that almost all courses allow singles to book in some fashion, I just don't understand why there are a handful of holdouts. 

 

 

Olde Homestead has been screwy when it comes to singles even pre-covid. Berkleigh didn't use to be like that until recently.

[Chanceman]

On 7/28/2025 at 4:59 AM, Argonne69 said:

Final stop on Train Day was at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Very nice indoor collection of steam engines, diesel locomotives, passenger cars, rolling stock, MOW vehicles, and model trains. Unfortunately the outdoor train yard was closed as it's being prepped for renovation. Bummer. From the highway it looked like it had a number of interesting pieces. Most of the collection is from the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR). 

 

Highlight was probably the rare electric streamlined GG1 that used to pull freight and passengers on the elecrified northeast corridor and Harrisburg branch.

 

 

The EMD E9 was pretty sweet. It probably led the Broadway Limited from New York's Penn Station to Chicago's Union Station for decades.

 

 

The EMD GP30 in Conrail colors looked to be in great condition. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/uth01pya7mpro9nnj8b9s/AGn3DdcDGCdOuy3pn-EoKvE?rlkey=685fwu65dqp19m8uw06itjlc0&st=a9rw5n7d&dl=0

 

Makes me think of that Willie Nelson song City of New Orleans.

[StoutKing]

6 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Is your driveway big enough to park an RV? Lol.

 

The HOA won't be happy Arg, but I'm willing to fight them.

[Argonne69]

11 hours ago, mci711 said:

 

I am in St Louis and have basically given up on golf in July and August; I play more in November and December now. This is the least amount of golf I've played in 10+ years, I prefer to walk and it just isn't worth it. I ran 10 miles in 107 index yesterday (training for Chicago Marathon) and I'd take that over lugging a bag around for 2.5-3.5 hours. It is so uncomfortable carrying, swinging a club, getting your glove off and on when everything is soaked in sweat. 

 

Man, I am getting old.  

 

The heat and humidity lately is no joke. I know I'm a nut walking and carrying in it, but I can certainly understand why one would ride or skip playing. I try to get out early, stay hydrated, and walk in the shade when I can. 

 

This was the projected heat dome from yesterday afternoon.

 

 

Image: National Weather Service/ESRI

 

[Argonne69]

Oh, the joys of getting old. In addition to golfer's elbow, a sprained wrist, plantars, bad ankles, bad knees, bad back, and a torn rotator cuff, it appears that I have developed bursitis in my hips. Woke up at 2 am with a burning pain near my right hip just above the thigh and on the outside of the leg. 'Felt like I was being branded. 

 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

In my experience, the further East you go, the more single golfers are pretty much ignored. Very frustrating for sure.

[Argonne69]

Well, I guess you could call that enjoyable. Lol. The clouds provided some relief from the sun, but when the dew point is a few degrees below the air temperature, it's a slog. Another round where every piece of clothing and three towels were soaked after the final hole. No drinking water on the course didn't help. Got out very early this morning to beat the approaching rain. Headed out as a single, and played through a foursome on my 4th hole. Pleasantly surprised to get the wave up on the par 3. It's a dying art. 

 

Golden Oaks GC today. Pleasant looking parkland layout with a few minor elevation changes. Had a couple of uneven lies in the fairways. Fairly ho hum design, though. Fairway bunkering was very light. Greenside was a wee bit better, but it's no Whistling Straits. Water in play on five holes. Six holes with left/right movement including one that would be a stretch to call it a dogleg. 

 

Fairly easy off the tee with few bunkers to worry about, no forced carries, and no water in play. The trees did pinch a couple of holes. Minor misses were no issue. Rough was being cut, and sat at a good height. One of a few courses recently that didn't beat you up if you were wild off the tee. Plenty of adjacent fairways, and the turf under the trees lining the holes was cut low. Little risk of a lost ball. 

 

Approaches were a little tougher primarily because the greens weren't overly large. A handful did have good front bunkering, but most could be played short. Greens were snoozers. Gentle contouring and slope. Didn't sweat a putt all round. Up and downs were mixed. Plenty of greens had dropoffs left or right, leaving pitches from uneven lies if you were pin high. Short misses generally left straightforward chips. 

 

Par 3s were mixed. The 4th and 9th were tough holes with forced carries over ponds. The other two were meh. Variety of length was poor playing 8i to 5i. Par 5s were OK. The short 5th was reachable, but I wouldn't classify it as risk/reward given the lack of PA near the green. Decent greenside bunkering, though. The 18th was pretty good with a pond left coming into play on the layup and 3rd. The pair of short 4s were toothless. 

 

Conditions were playable, but a tad scruffy. Fairways had some thin patches, but were otherwise decent. Rough was being cut, and was a good height. Bunkers needed more sand. Greens were very nice. Looked good and had way fewer unrepaired ballmarks compared to Architects. Speed was at least 10. 

 

Played a Championship/Middle (Gold/Black) combo at 6425 yds (70.0/125). Lol. What a difference a day makes. Driver didn't get in any trouble, but struggled to find the short grass. Only managed two fairways on my opening nine before getting it together. Irons were spotty. Actually shanked a 7i on my 11th hole. Ouch. Wedges were anything but golden. Putter was lukewarm. One birdie and seven bogies. No real shots of the day. Hit a solid choked down 6h on the par 3 4th and 9th to the fat of the green. Highlight of the morning was simply being out on another empty course. Place was pretty empty. 

 

Sad to give the course just 5 cows. Nice looking piece of parkland property, but it underwhelmed from a design standpoint. Needs more bunkering, more contouring on the greens, a short and long par 3, and some fangs on the short 4s. The $46 walking rate was a bargain, though. If I was a local I'd be here regularly, but it's one that can be skipped. 

 

Edited July 31 by Argonne69

[Argonne69]

Golden Oaks Golf Club, Fleetwood, PA (#10 Start) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full photo set: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/za7mdw0u89i9y8g8kz2w2/ANTdw285iyRpBAoBC3LcyD8?rlkey=koa60l0h80fhsw0o3j6n5stp3&st=k1jvozs5&dl=0

 

Edited July 31 by Argonne69

[stevopagolf]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

Well, I guess you could call that enjoyable. Lol. The clouds provided some relief from the sun, but when the dew point is a few degrees below the air temperature, it's a slog. Another round where every piece of clothing and three towels were soaked after the final hole. No drinking water on the course didn't help. Got out very early this morning to beat the approaching rain. Headed out as a single, and played through a foursome on my 4th hole. Pleasantly surprised to get the wave up on the par 3. It's a dying art. 

 

Golden Oaks GC today. Pleasant looking parkland layout with a few minor elevation changes. Had a couple of uneven lies in the fairways. Fairly ho hum design, though. Fairway bunkering was very light. Greenside was a wee bit better, but it's no Whistling Straits. Water in play on five holes. Six holes with left/right movement including one that would be a stretch to call it a dogleg. 

 

Fairly easy off the tee with few bunkers to worry about, no forced carries, and no water in play. The trees did pinch a couple of holes. Minor misses were no issue. Rough was being cut, and sat at a good height. One of a few courses recently that didn't beat you up if you were wild off the tee. Plenty of adjacent fairways, and the turf under the trees lining the holes was cut low. Little risk of a lost ball. 

 

Approaches were a little tougher primarily because the greens weren't overly large. A handful did have good front bunkering, but most could be played short. Greens were snoozers. Gentle contouring and slope. Didn't sweat a putt all round. Up and downs were mixed. Plenty of greens had dropoffs left or right, leaving pitches from uneven lies if you were pin high. Short misses generally left straightforward chips. 

 

Par 3s were mixed. The 4th and 9th were tough holes with forced carries over ponds. The other two were meh. Variety of length was poor playing 8i to 5i. Par 5s were OK. The short 5th was reachable, but I wouldn't classify it as risk/reward given the lack of PA near the green. Decent greenside bunkering, though. The 18th was pretty good with a pond left coming into play on the layup and 3rd. The pair of short 4s were toothless. 

 

Conditions were playable, but a tad scruffy. Fairways had some thin patches, but were otherwise decent. Rough was being cut, and was a good height. Bunkers needed more sand. Greens were very nice. Looked good and had way fewer unrepaired ballmarks compared to Architects. Speed was at least 10. 

 

Played a Championship/Middle (Gold/Black) combo at 6425 yds (70.0/125). Lol. What a difference a day makes. Driver didn't get in any trouble, but struggled to find the short grass. Only managed two fairways on my opening nine before getting it together. Irons were spotty. Actually shanked a 7i on my 11th hole. Ouch. Wedges were anything but golden. Putter was lukewarm. One birdie and seven bogies. No real shots of the day. Hit a solid choked down 6h on the par 3 4th and 9th to the fat of the green. Highlight of the morning was simply being out on another empty course. Place was pretty empty. 

 

Sad to give the course just 5 cows. Nice looking piece of parkland property, but it underwhelmed from a design standpoint. Needs more bunkering, more contouring on the greens, a short and long par 3, and some fangs on the short 4s. The $46 walking rate was a bargain, though. If I was a local I'd be here regularly, but it's one that can be skipped. 

 

That used to be a course always in pristine condition.  Sad to hear that it was a bit scruffy.  also looks like the trees have taken over in spots....

[Argonne69]

Sure glad I got out early. It's coming down in buckets for the next hour or so. 

 

 

[Argonne69]

Something quite different today. Going to abuse my body with a few coasters at Dorney Park. Lol. The weather really changed after the rains passed through last night. Woke up this morning and had to turn on the heat. 

 

 

 

Edited August 1 by Argonne69

[StoutKing]

2 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

Something quite different today. Going to abuse my body with a few coasters at Dorney Park. Lol. The weather really changed after the rains passed through last night. Woke up this morning and had to turn on the heat. 

 

 

 

Interested in your course, er, coasters review