Courses where you would rather "play jolly golf" rather than competitive golf

[Mark Johnson]

Along the lines with this weekend's threads of courses where we played well/ poorly, here is another perspective.

Ben Hogan once said, "I don't play jolly golf."  In other words, if he wasn't 100% focused and grinding, he would rather not play.  I am guessing that he rarely admired any golf course architecure.  While I am as competitive as they get, there are times where I would rather not even pick up a scorecard and just enjoy the day.

Are there any courses where you would rather play a casual round, instead of really grinding it out?

For me here are the first rounds I thought of.   Mostly courses that are so in-your face there isn't a chance to breathe.

1) Dye Course at French Lick -- hardest course I have ever played period

2) Purgatory - one of the hardest tests of ball striking there is

3) Renegade at Desert Mountain-- I played the middle tees and there wasnt a breather hole to be found; some of the toughest greens i have experienced anywhere

4) Bayonnet -- plays 500 yards longer than the card;   dont think i hit the right club into the green all day

[Tommy Williamsen]

This may not be the answer you were looking for, but I can say when.  My son is 35 and lives in Minnesota while I live in Maryland.  We may only play together once or twice a year.  When he and I get together we have our own little games.  Drop a ball in the woods and make the lowest score.  mash a ball in the bunker and see who gets up and down.  Play a hole with one club, etc.  No score just fun. We will also play "regular" golf along the way, but that isn't nearly as much fun.

[Mark Johnson]

This may not be the answer you were looking for, but I can say when.  My son is 35 and lives in Minnesota while I live in Maryland.  We may only play together once or twice a year.  When he and I get together we have our own little games.  Drop a ball in the woods and make the lowest score.  mash a ball in the bunker and see who gets up and down.  Play a hole with one club, etc.  No score just fun. We will also play "regular" golf along the way, but that isn't nearly as much fun.

There is nothing wrong with that.  I probably play half my golf after bedtime (7pm) by myself.   I've done all of those plus my favorite -- the anti-scramble.   Hit two shots on every shot and take the worst ball... Try to break 40 for nine holes doing this.

[Jud_T]

Mark,

It seems to me that the quirky, match play courses with tons of rub of the green that many here favor are more conducive to "jolly" golf.  On a penal championship course with tight driving corridors is there really much to do besides try to grind out a score?

[Carl Rogers]

Mike Strantz's courses, Tobacco Road & Royal New Kent, certainly need to played with a lighter spirit.

[Doug Wright]

Old Macdonald; there's too much fun there to take it too seriously.
Runnerup:  Cruden Bay, same reason.

[Wayne Freeman]

Courses that come to mind that are just so much darn fun are:    White Bear Yacht Club, Yeamans Hall, Tobacco Road, and
  Tetherow.   They are all pretty wild rides with lots of fun shots you just don't play everyday.

[Chris_Hufnagel]

Of the courses I have been fortunate enough to play, I would nominate The Old Course and the Kingsley Club above all the others...Prestwick would come in slightly behind those, but perhaps because I have only been able to play one round there...

[Mark Johnson]

Mark,

It seems to me that the quirky, match play courses with tons of rub of the green that many here favor are more conducive to "jolly" golf.  On a penal championship course with tight driving corridors is there really much to do besides try to grind out a score?

I think it is a matter of extremes.   I've played Medinah 3, Hazeltine, and Butler and can still enjoy myself while grinding it out, probably due to the variety of holes and the occasional "breather".   Plus those courses, especially Medinah and Butler give you some strategic options off the tee, while Hazeltine, will give you lots of options on the approach.

[Mac Plumart]

This is tough because compared to Ben Hogan we all might be playing Jolly Golf or as I call it Giggle Golf (stole that from John Smoltz).

 I try to play all courses to the best of my ability, but I rarely take myself too seriously.  Courses I set out to compete the most on where/are The Old Course, The Golf Club Of Georgia and Kiawah Ocean.

And courses I just feel at home and enjoy are Rivermont, Ballyneal, and Dismal River.  

[Andy Troeger]

I like to think that all of my rounds these days are "jolly golf!" If I keep score, its usually after the fact. I pretty much never worry about score the first time around a course, but I might be more inclined to keep score on additional/local rounds.

[Adrian_Stiff]

In my mind a jolly golf course is a bad remark rather than a positive. 99% of the worlds golf is totally striving for lowest score. I dont really see the relation of jolly golf to great architecture. I can see jolly golf to quirk. Jolly golf to me would be Painswick.

[Mark Johnson]

99% of the worlds golf is totally striving for lowest score.

Completely disagree here.  For very many (arguably the majority it the us).  Playing golf is about spending  5 holes outside and enjoying oneself, especially among public folders

Even among private golf play, outside of weekend mornings and certain leagues, there is a lot of hit and giggle. Even among  those keeping score, most aren't following the rules of golf around penalties shots, preferred lies, etc.

Obviously, many more people take it serious on this board, given our passion for the game. However, at least I the us, I believe we are squarely in the minority.

[Kalen Braley]

Jolly golf to me may be a bit different that most.

To me it would be having the good fortune of playing a top notch course and just enjoying the experience.  Not being fixated on score, or critical of the small things and just enjoyng a day on a special course and enjoying the fact that your alive.  Courses that come to mind would be once in a lifetime experiences like Pine Valley, NGLA, Shinney, etc and not getting dis-spirited if your shooting a high number.  Just having a "jolly" good time!  

[Mac Plumart]

99% of the worlds golf is totally striving for lowest score.

Completely disagree here.  For very many (arguably the majority it the us).  Playing golf is about spending  5 holes outside and enjoying oneself, especially among public folders

Even among private golf play, outside of weekend mornings and certain leagues, there is a lot of hit and giggle. Even among  those keeping score, most aren't following the rules of golf around penalties shots, preferred lies, etc.

Obviously, many more people take it serious on this board, given our passion for the game. However, at least I the us, I believe we are squarely in the minority.

I don't know Mark.  I've played with quite a few GCA'ers and I wouldn't say they take it serious in a "grind it out for score" type of way.  Even at the 5th Major I only noted one team that was in a super competitive mind set.  The guys I've played with try hard, do their best to get the ball in the hole as quickly as possible...but I wouldn't say they take it (or themselves) overly seriously.  However, I do play with many non-GCA'ers who are all about score and very, very serious about their score above all else.

[Wade Whitehead]

If one seeks to meet Dr. Bob Rotella's two goals for a round (first, to concentrate on every shot and, second, to enjoy the day) both competitive and jolly golf are possible at once.

WW

[Norbert P]

 


                       Zen golf at Burning Man Fair . . . .  dude.

[Kyle Henderson]

All of them. I suck.

[Marty Bonnar]

NORTH BERWICK, BABY!

Oh man, the West Links make me smile more than ANY OTHER course. Just think about it...templates, WALLS, chasms, mad blindness, unsafe lunacy, biarritz greens, beaches IN BOUNDS, THE FREEKIN REDAN.....

There's nothing to compare.

Biased,
FBD.

[Sean_A]

This reminds me of when folks try to label courses good for match vs medal play.  I can't quite get my head around the concepts.  Golf is golf.  A course is just as suited to any game we want to play.  Whether folks admit it or not, nearly all golf is jolly golf.  Some folks may be more competitive than others, but for nearly everybody its still within the context of "it shouldn't matter too much what the outcome is".  When folks start to believe the outcome is of highest importance they are losing the plot - many find the plot again at some point in their lives and wonder how they could have been so foolish.

Ciao 

[Colin Macqueen]

Gentlemen,
I would be well advised to accept "jolly golf" from the jolly beginning.

As Sean says  ".....many find the plot again at some point in their lives and wonder how they could have been so foolish." and this generally happens to me after the second hole has been played on each outing!

But to answer the question the finest "jolly golf" I have ever played has been around the Mollymook Beachside Golf Club a 9-holer, 2100 metres, just north of Ulladulla NSW.  Holes running alongside rocky outcrops bathed in surging surf off the Tasman Sea created idyllic conditions for jolly golf.... no card was ever written in.

Cheers Colin

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Ballyneal...after all that is what it is upposed to be bulit for fun...those greens with a scorecard in the back pocket could kick your...you know what.
That been said, would equally love the club to start a good mid am invitational 4 ball...that would be cool.