What gives a course its "soul"?

[A_Clay_Man]

Does the collection of 18 great holes make a great course or a great soul?
I'd have to say not neccesarily.
Then, is it possible that each hole has a soul? And then the perfect mixing of those souls makes for a sum greater than the parts?

[Forrest Richardson]

You've got it! And I had no idea those in New Mexico were so insightful!

[Jeff_Brauer]

I apologize for not reading and/or remembering every response in detail, but I would add that "soul" is a function of human reaction, not inanimate objects.

Thus, in my case, the soul train arrives playing a course with history, weather matching my ideal for the course, companionship.  Its not hard to imagine others would include "best score" events as soulful.

Lastly, its common for a personal investment in a course.  Your lifetime of membership, or even a lifetime of waiting for a tee time with friends at the local muni - build that personal investment, and invariably, that course speaks to you.

[Norbert P]

 Soul value is a reflection of parallax positions of individuals bridled through osmosistic norms of society.

  If you give your woman a zircon ring, she will deem you soulless - not the ring.  If you give her a diamond ring, she will heap great praise upon you in front of her friends and family, thus engorging your great inner soulfulness through association of thoughtfulness and generosity.  

  A golf course must have the substance phlogiston to have soul, so, a golf course needs gorse and dryer grass to have soul.  
  

[Scott_Burroughs]

Slag, does that soul valuation quote/definition need citing or did you actually come up with that?

Regardless, I don't speak that language.  

[A_Clay_Man]

Forrest- You are mostly correct.

[TEPaul]

Slag:

Who the hell do you think you are--Max Behr? It gives me an inferiority complex when I think I might have to reach for my dictionary when I'm reading a post.

Forrest:

Soulmeter?! Fabulous! Put that one right into your new "golf-term" dictionary.

Jeff Brauer;

You architects, you and Forrest have got a great sense of humor--Thank God---"soulmeter", the "soul" train?!

Humor is good. Humor in architecture is very good! Now the both of you do me a big favor and start drinking to excess occasionally while on site. You won't believe the creative and imaginative things that will spring forth freely without a second thought or care in the world! And if it actually passes muster when sober the next day it'll probably be remarkably good or high quirk for the ages!

[Forrest Richardson]

Tom -- On one occasion I needed a good, stiff drink when working on The Hideout in Utah. Only to discover the State liquor store closed early and the only beer in town was 8%! Anyway, I survived...and the sixth green came out good regardless.

[TEPaul]

My God man--you can't depend on a state liquor store when the creative need arises. Give me your mailing address, I'll send you a flask. Last time MacKenzie did that he created an 8 hole nine.

[Forrest Richardson]

Maybe that's the problem -- We wound up with 19.5 holes at The Hideout! Perhaps it's different at 7,000-ft than at sea level. Monticello, the truth be told, is actually quite a pleasant place, despite its lack of pubs.