Wilmington (South) - Delaware - USA

The best thing I can say about the Robert Trent Jones, Sr. layout is that the South Course is simply dull. The architecture style Jones used is more of the same he carried out at so many other courses during his long career. Immense greens with big bunkers dotting the landscape. The issue is simple. That style of architecture is quite simply a thing of the past. The new stars in architecture today emulate the classic design era superstars.

It's been said -- that great courses are ones where the details of the today are etched in your memory. The South succeeds in creating an impenetrable mindless fogbank. The hole blend together to the point where it's simply Jones following his predictable formulaic style. How Golf Digest had this layout in its top 100 at one time boggles the mind. If people see the South as being top tier design -- then frankly they need to play much more golf to see what it is they are missing.

by M. James Ward

Howdy had many Palmer tales to tell. The best story was about the day Arnie shot a hole-in-one with him at Wilmington Country Club; Howdy told it as we stood on the 13th tee where it happened. (It is one of 17 holes-in-one that Palmer has had in his career.)

As you might guess, Howdy is a big Howdy Doody fan, and a few years ago he played a round with Buffalo Bob Smith, who led every show with, “Hey kids! What time is it? It’s Howdy Doody time!” Howdy visited Bob’s house and had his picture taken with the original Howdy Doody puppet. I don’t think he met Clarabell though.

My golf game was still on vacation, and I did my best not to let it get me down. So my round at Wilmington was all about relationships and being the most entertaining guest I could be. Telling my Top 100 stories and listening to Howdy’s Arnie stories was so much fun that I can barely remember the golf course. Larry Berle.