I was avoiding specifics but I note that Matt Ward is on this string so I'll thank him for getting me out to #381 and #382. I traveled about 70 miles to play #515 with astavrides (also here!).
One of my better days started in Memphis. That day, I played Northcreek in Mississippi and still had enough time to drive back to Tennessee to play Davy Crockett and since there was still plenty of daylight, I headed across the Mississippi to play in Arkansas for 18 at Meadowbrook. Three courses, 54 holes, in three different states, in one day! I'm holding since my 539th course back on December 30 (Tamarack East) but we are snowed in... I get antsy...
To get that many courses, you need to be:
1. Pretty old.
2. Willing to play in some weather that's less than ideal unless you live and play exclusively in Southern California.
3. Well traveled.
4. Single or married to a woman who is very understanding.
5. More than a bit of a golf nut.
Getting to 1000, probably requires another 12 gallons of sunscreen, a chiropractor on retainer, and a job as a golf writer.
Getting to 2000, means you don't need to be employed, you have frequent flyer miles from your days as an astronaut, and you probably started your quest with a Bounding Billy and a brand new Schenectady putter.
I like to say that I collect courses the way I used to collect baseball cards. The major difference is that I might trade a baseball card but I'd never trade away the good times that I've taken from any of my courses.