Photos from around the world
Here is 18th hole at Shady Lawn Golf Course in Beecher, Illinois. This was Greg's first "home" course, and while it's not on any Top 100 list, it's where he learned to play the game.
Greg's current "home" course in Chicagoland is Flossmoor Golf Club in Flossmoor, Illinois. It was founded in 1899 and the great Bobby Jones held its course record for 53 years! FGC has also hosted six major championships including both the men's and women's US Amateur as well as the PGA Championship won by World Golf Hall of Fame Jock Hutchison.
The home of the Open Championship, Prestwick Golf Club was the first course Greg played overseas. He realized that hitting a jet lagged five-iron left of the railroad tracks was harder than it looks!
World #1, Pine Valley Golf Club, is an unbelievable collection of 18 unique golf holes. Greg says he has never seen any other track that has as much variety and creativity. Given it was built by George Crump, a one-time architect, makes it even more amazing.
A founding member of the USGA, Shinnecock Golf Links has an iconic clubhouse that sits high above their spectacular golf course. A cold beverage on the veranda after golf is a great way to end a day.
National Golf Links of America, Shinnecock's neighbor, is a throw-back to courses from across the pond. The template holes built here by C.B. Macdonald, with an assist by Seth Raynor, are some of the best in the world. A 36-hole day between NGLA and its neighbor would be epic.
Considered by many to be the best opening tee shot in the game, Machrihanish Golf Club in Scotland is an absolute gem. Deciding how much of the sea to cut off is the first challenge. The second are the hidden pot bunkers down the right side of the fairway should you not take on enough!
Some say that the best 36-hole complex in the world is at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. While fans of Sunningdale Golf Club outside of London might disagree, a full day at Royal Melbourne is hard to beat.
Some courses were just a bit harder to get to than others. Shanqin Bay Golf Club on Hainan Island, China is one fo those. This fantastic Coore/Crenshaw course, though, makes all the travel and planning well worth the effort.
One of Greg's greatest days on the golf course was playing Piping Rock Club with their superintendent Rick Spear and his lovable pup, Cody. Unfortunately, both succumbed to untimely deaths, but Greg says he will always remember them.
Greg's adventure was about far more than playing the US and World Top 100 lists. Finding special places along the way was just as enjoyable, and sometimes even more so. Playing Brora Golf Club in Brora, Scotland with his white fluffy friends is always a treat. Just make sure you step fully over the electric fences that surround their greens!
Everybody who chases a list or two tends to collect something from each course. Greg's souvenir of choice was a logo ball. Here is the Golf Magazine World Top 100 from 2011.