[petermo]

I've only played 4 courses in the US - 3 of them private clubs and one in a housing estate. I didn't even realise that Maidstone on Long Island was as exclusive at it is even when my host, a pretty laid back guy, was fairly casual as we passed Shinnecock Hills saying "Oh, that's Shinnecock". I've also been fortunate enough to have been hosted at Philadelphia Cricket Club which was great, it's a former site of the US Open and in Chicago I played Crystal Lake which was also beautiful although it was April 1 and cold as charity. The other course I played was Blue Bell Country Club, an Arnold Palmer design, near Philly which was still quite new - it was also freezing in mid-April.

I'll be visiting my American family in September to see the new grand daughter and with a bit of luck might even get in a game or two although eating crab cakes (not Hoagies!!) is a priority.

My Dad played Pine Valley in about 1952 and it's been a life's ambition to do so too but unfortunately I don't know any members.