A Case For Why Golf Needs More 12-Hole Courses

May 05, 2021 by Sean Melia in Golf

In golf’s case, the 9 hole and 18 hole rounds are etched in stone as “proper golf.” A nice neat package of holes. When I poked around the Internet for people’s thoughts on 12 hole golf courses, a lot of what I found was written either in the late 2000s (when golf courses were hurting for money and needed to sell off land) or from 2019/2020 as the game has exploded and courses fill with golfers looking for a safe way to socialize and exercise.

The Joy of Playing with a Half-Set

November 18, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf

There’s nothing like walking a golf course. The clubs clanging off each other, the blood pumping, the mind clearing. Like a mountain climber, the golf walker must consider what they wish to carry on a given round. Beers (or… soda…) provide a weighty start and a light finish at the summit. A pessimist might stash away too many golf balls, the optimist, too few. In the fall, an extra layer or winter hat might require space in the bag, too.

What Makes a Great First Hole

August 24, 2020 by Sean Melia in Golf in Mass, Golf

The first hole of any golf course is an important one. I prefer the gentle handshake approach taken by the likes of Donald Ross, however, some courses don't want to let you ease into your round, like Bethpage Black and Bethpage Red.