Two Toms (I and IV)
You have only seen me goofing around on golf courses, having fun enjoying whacking the ball amongst the company and the scenery. I rarely let friends see my competition game, which is excruciatingly stuffy and far less entertaining.
Nor have you seen my competition game, nor has either of us seen Tom Paul's. You'd be shocked how quiet I get. That's not the point. And remember what I said above about you:
"Obviously the "care" taken playing a hole increases in competition..."
"Obviously Rich (and those who take this approach) would temper this in real competition..."
but most importantly,
"... Of course given his nature in these dialogues he's as likely to agree with this as I am to shoot 59 this weekend (I don't think he'll like being pigeonholed
)"
It's good to see I was correct on all three accounts!
The point here, Rich, is that from everything you've ever posted on this board and elsewhere, and the various conversations we've had playing golf and otherwise, I get the idea that the playing of the game is the main thing for you, and the venue doesn't matter nearly as much as the hitting of the shots. You said basically that in a great post once regarding Cypress, NGLA, etc. - that you had been to the alleged nirvana and found that the hitting of the shots there was not much different than the hitting of the shots anywhere else. Do I have this wrong?
And if that is your approach to the game, then it is wholly understandable why you find no "match play courses" and "stroke play courses", because it's all about just hitting the shots... Obviously this is taking things to an extreme, and you do like some courses more than others, but not to any extent where the course itself will effect what makes the game fun for you, which is the hitting of the shots.
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this... hell, I am this way myself a lot, although as you know I do enjoy feeling awed at courses I find to be great.
This isn't meant as any form of analysis of you or your personality. It's just very interesting to me because I have had this exact same conversation with several other friends... There's one low 'capper who is a very competitive player, and for him the course is just a "track" no matter where or what it is - that is, a vehicle for his use to obtain competitive glory. I also have another friend who does just always play in this "balls out" manner TEP described way above... and again, the course doesn't matter, he's gonna go for every shot regardless of potential outcome.
I don't see you being on either of those extremes, Rich.
But I do see the hitting of the shots mattering to you more than the venue, be it screwing around with us, playing for skins in Scotland, match play or stroke play wherever.
I know you don't like to be pigeonholed, hell I don't either.
But this would just explain your thoughts in this thread, anyway... wouldn't it?
TH