Introduction

I don’t know about you, but I’m big into setting goals. Always have been. I find that they keep me focused and drive me to complete tasks that I otherwise would never get around to. Back in 1999, I created a lifelong golf goal:

To play every course that has ever hosted a US Major golf championship!

When I started the goal, I had played exactly one course that would qualify – the Dallas municipal course, Cedar Crest Golf Club. If you’ve ever been to Dallas to play golf, you would NOT choose to play Cedar Crest. When Dallas Parks and Rec allocate money for golf course maintenance, Cedar Crest is always left wanting…and the course conditions prove it. Most fairways have some green in the middle with hardpan lining the sides. The greens are bricks in the summer; impossible to hold, no matter how high your approach shot is. However, it is an A. W. Tillinghast design, which is to say, a great layout. And it hosted the 1927 PGA Championship, won by Walter Hagen. The course shows the tell tale signs of its architect – small greens, long par 3’s, drivable par 4’s and all around interesting routing. I enjoyed playing there and am thrilled that this experience started my quest.

Back in 1999, I was more of a hack than I am now. I think my handicap hovered right around 21. I set out to identify and then play each of the 104 courses of this elite group. Goals give me focus and a purpose to improve. My objective is to play at least 3 courses per year until I’m 50 (2018) and then 4 per year after that. Ideally, I’ll complete my Major Bucket list when I turn 60.

After playing in Minnesota last year, I was honored to be interviewed for a local sports radio show. I think the interview will provide a pretty good feel for this quest.

Since it started, I’ve played 51 courses across 19 states, from California to New York and from Florida to Minnesota. Now that I’m almost halfway there, I thought a blog would be a great way to keep up with this journey.

I’m planning to provide stories and anecdotes from the quest as they happen. I hope you’ll enjoy tracking the last half of this trip with me.

Thanks for reading.

Todd Elliott