NEW: PGA.com Names RI Golf Course in Top 10
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Rhode Island's Newport National Golf Club has been named by editors at PGA.com as one of the Top 9 (get it?) links-style courses in the US.
"I was delighted to see Newport National make the list," writes PGA.com Interactive Producer TJ Auclair, who states "in the interest of full disclosure" that he's a native Rhode Islander.
There isn't a bad hole out there
"I've played there a handful of times and it is unlike anything else around here -- an absolute delight to play. There isn't a bad hole out there. Each time I arrive at NN after a 30-minute drive from my home, the look and feel makes me believe I should have traveled several thousand miles to get there. What a treat."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"Newport National is one of the finest public courses I have ever played anywhere in the world," Auclair told GoLocal. "Having been fortunate enough to cover professional golf for the last several years, I've traveled throughout the U.S., Canada, parts of Europe and the Caribbean. I've played countless golf courses. There's just something about Newport National that makes me smile whenever I think about it. I get butterflies when I know I'm going to play there because it's just such a treat. I feel like I'm off to Scotland for a round of golf, minus the jet-lag and the rain!"
Auclair credit Matt Adams, president of the facility, for much of its appeal. "Matt has traveled to courses in Ireland and Scotland for years and he knows precisely what's needed to put Newport National on par with those great links courses," Auclear said. "Let's put it this way -- of all the places I've been, Newport National is one of the few I could play each and every day and never get tired of it."
Newport National was the only New England course to make the top 10, and one of three Eastern seaboard venues. It beat out legendary Pebble Beach (take that, California), and bowed to its fellow Top 9 links-style courses: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (NY), The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island (SC), Chambers Bay (WA), Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (OR), Erin Hills (WI), Whistling Straits (WI), and number one Nags Head Golf Links (NC).
Auclair (a journalism graduate from none other than URI), extolls the virtues of links golf as exemplified in play overseas. "Everything about the golf is different. Instead of the majestic, towering shots we're accustomed to seeing the pros hit on most of the courses they play in the US that spin back 15-20 feet, on the other side of the pond they're required to take into account the wind, fairways cut almost as short as the greens, uneven fairways, etc. It's a game of chess, really."
And what better place to play that game, than in our own back yard?
For the whole article on PGA.com, go here.
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