TEPaul,
Remember, every shot makes either the golfer or their opponent happy.
The joy you speak of comes when the shot is exeucted by the golfer as the architect intended, when the features are used to their maximum effectiveness.
Conversely, the golfer who ignores the features or the golfer that fails to execute the required shot will be horrified as he watches his shot hurdling toward a dire fate, to the joy of his opponent.
So John's premise works well, exceptionally well, in the context of competition, irrespective of whether it's match or medal play.
However, there are exceptions, or extra-competitive perspectives.
I recall one such, disturbing example.
I was playing in the Singles at NGLA.
I was standing on the 2nd tee waiting due to a back up.
The hole on the 1st green was cut in that impossible position, the back left bowl.
I watched in awe and horror as some idiot, playing the 1st hole hit this horrible looking shot that took all kinds of bounces and rolls and ended up about 3 feet from the hole.
The fellows I was playing with were shocked that an approach shot could actually get to, and stay in that bowl.
One fellow said, "that has to be the luckiest shot I've ever seen, that guy just picked up two shots on the field, what a lucky A**H***.
As the golfer came up onto the green, I turned to my fellow competitor and said, " I know that lucky A**H***, it's TEPaul.
So, sometimes joy, sorrow and disbelief extend beyond your immediate group, and perhaps, that's the appeal of TV.