What is your golfing utopia?

[Ken Moum]

Ally & Ken,

You beauties! I have never felt the "jolly golf" aura anywhere else that I feel when I'm on Brora. It isn't the grandest, toughest or best course by a long shot, but there is something about the golf there, the sum of its parts... that can't be beat. The locals are as friendly and engaging as any Scots I've had the pleasure of meeting. Special spot that Brora!

Cheers,
Kris

I almost hate to admit this, but one of the things about it that endears it to me the most is the effect the sheep have on the rough. While that effect has at times been bashed by those who think it takes the bite out of the course, I love a place where errant shots aren't an automatic penalty stroke.

FWIW, I think that every links I've played would be better--and more fun--if there were some sheep around to keep the rough a bit more playable.

[Jay Flemma]

I've had days where I've felt the touch of the Golf Gods - where it felt like the rest of the world had melted away - at Bulls Bay, MPCC Shore Course, NGLA, and Pasatiempo.  I also felt it the day I played with my dad when he played golf for the first time after he recovered from quadruple bypass at the age of 78.

I also felt the touch of the Golf Gods the day Phil fell out of the sky with an Almighty Crash at Winged Foot, but in a much different way.  That's the most awful thing I've seen in golf.

[George Pazin]

Pretty sure mine will be Wolf Point, once I make it down there. Hopefully won't be too much longer.

[Scott Stearns]

The Golf Club.  May not be near an ocean, but nothing can intrude on an afternoon of golf there.

[Charlie Visconsi]

NGLA.  Southsides on the porch.  Dinner to follow. Staying in the clubhouse and hanging out late night in the library with the picture of MacDonald looking down at you. 

[Tim Bert]

First out and last off the course at any of my favorites.

[Jud_T]

Pretty much any round with my 12 year old son...

[JWL]

As long as I am dreaming.......how about Augusta National late on a Sunday afternoon in perfect sunshine and long shadows hearing the roars of the crowd from inside the ropes, in my head......I can only imagine.

[Scott Szabo]

I am going to show my ignorance here.
I have been to Sand Hills twice, but am unaware of the "church nine"..description..please explain.
As Sand Hills in the waning sun would certainly be amongst my utopia's, perhaps this will aid me in deciding which is actually my Utopia?

Amongst similar time of day at Ballyneal, early morning at Western Gailes, playing through a misty morning at Merion, anytime of day at Cypress.....simply too many to choose just one.

You described it perfectly.  It's the final nine of day, just yourself and the golf course, with the waning sun and shadows flowing across the terrain.  It's almost surreal.

[Tim Martin]

Pretty much any round with my 12 year old son...

Jud-Right on the money. Every time I play with my 15 year old son Jack is beyond special.

[Garland Bayley]

To be able to play without pain.

[John Kavanaugh]

I like golf.

[Tim Martin]

I found my golfing utopia just this Sunday afternoon at Mass.  As always we arrive fashionable late and enter the church with my family leading the way.  Oddly enough, I have stunning offspring and a spouse who I still enjoy walking behind as she chooses a proper pew for our weekly worship.  For those not familiar, a solely American ritual of the Catholic Church is to kneel and say a small prayer at the beginning of Mass.  Enter the Devil.  Off to my left, not three rows forward, kneels two thighs attached to the finest ass every created by our Holy Trinity.  I think they may have brought in a consultant on this one.  God's little wonder sits 60 degrees off port directly in line with my wife as she entered the pew first.  As is how the Devil does, he only presents a situation and lets us choose our course.  My course was the 18 holes I had played that morning.  A utopic distraction starting at the first tee.  Soon I was back in the field of play reliving shot after shot with Christ as my caddy whispering in my ear to keep my head down and don't go, uh look, left.  I often find my most enjoyable moments on the course are days like these when memories of golf get me through difficult times.

John-After a post like that I believe that when you rise up the almighty may give you another glance or better at his creation of which you so artfully described. It`s commentary like that that makes a Monday a tad easier.

[Howard Riefs]

My now annual golf trip with my dad in Florida. The memories and laughs (17th hole at Sawgrass last year) trump the golf.

[Mark McKeever]

"The greatest game ever played"   

Mark

[Joe Bausch]

"The greatest game ever played"   

Mark

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