[Eric Smith]

IS that Porthcawl Eric? Playing there Friday...

Indeed it is and I am anxious to hear of your weekend when you return!

[Steve Strasheim]

Golf is a great experience, even when it's just at the local muni.

However, my favorite so far has to be when my 10 year old son and I played at Kingarrock with old fashioned clubs and attitudes. It was the absolute happiest I've ever seen him on the golf course. Loads of fun would be an understatement when describing that experience.

[Mike Demetriou]

I love this thread and really cannot pin it down to one experience, but I will suggest that playing Bocce after 36 at Ballyneal with good friends was one of the cooler experiences of my life.

[Michael George]

Playing up 18 at Winged Foot West with V. Kmetz on the bag telling me how much of an ass I am 

In all seriousness:

(1) Playing #16 at Bandon Dunes on a perfect day with the sun setting.
(2) Sitting on chairs at Arcadia Bluffs after the round and watching the sun setting over Lake Michigan with beers and good friends.
(3) Being one of the only groups on Pete Dye GC on a perfect day and playing till it got dark - hitting drive and approach on #18 with the lights of the clubhouse behind it guiding the way.
(4) Having dinner on the patio at Oakmont and looking over the practice putting green and #1, #9, #10, #11, #12, #14, #15 and #18 and realizing the history of the place.

And the winner:

(5) Walking over the hill on #3 at Old Macdonald for the first time and seeing the entire course laid out in front of you on a perfect morning.  I stopped for over a minute - did not want to leave the spot. 

Notice none of them have anything to do with hitting a good shot.  That is the magic of golf.

[Terry Lavin]

The Top 5

1.  Flying a G-4 to North Platte, NE and driving to Sand Hills, with dozens and dozens of golf courses on either side of the road the last 20 miles, except, there are no golf courses.  Then there is the golf course, which still rates as the best I've ever played and then there is the camaraderie in the clubhouse during a four-hour thunderstorm at night, with the lightning chasing across the sky and the bottles of Stag's Leap going down like Aquafina! 

2.  Each and every one of my five trips to Bandon Dunes (next one coming up in two weeks), but particularly the one in which I played Pacific Dunes in a group right behind Mike Keiser and Tom Doak.  It was Keiser's and my birthday.  Picture perfect day, shot 82, with three birdies on par 3 holes, one a three-inch tap-in.

3.  Playing Pebble Spyglass and Cypress in a tournament one year.  Indescribable.

4.  Playing Shoreacres with Freddy Couples and Tom Purtzer in a charity event with a friend of mine who died six weeks later of cancer.  He shot 76 and the night before he died, he was looking at video of his swing from the round and told his son that his hands were too high on the backswing.  What a game this is!

5.  Every LA trip.  The ultimate combo platter for me is the Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel, LACC, the Riv, Bel-Air and last, but not least, Wilshire.  The complete opposite of Bandon, but really, really good.

 

[Matthew Sander]

It was a lesson in both love and self-confidence.  I was particularly impressed with the way she acquired a welcome at VN; she has none of what one would call 'connections'.  But she does have a great deal of grace, and she accomplished with a few phone calls to strangers what would have caused me no small degree of hand-wringing and self-doubt had I decided to try something similar for her.

You have to love a wife who 'gets' you - even if she doesn't 'get' all this.

Yep, it is safe to say the Sander boys have out-kicked our coverage.

[Terry Lavin]

It was a lesson in both love and self-confidence.  I was particularly impressed with the way she acquired a welcome at VN; she has none of what one would call 'connections'.  But she does have a great deal of grace, and she accomplished with a few phone calls to strangers what would have caused me no small degree of hand-wringing and self-doubt had I decided to try something similar for her.

You have to love a wife who 'gets' you - even if she doesn't 'get' all this.

Yep, it is safe to say the Sander boys have out-kicked our coverage.

As for the rest of us, the wives have us in punt formation!

[Tommy Williamsen]

When my Dad was about 85, it occurred to me that we had never taken a golf trip together. Dad only played gold because I did.  He enjoyed it and shot in the mid 80's when he played, but never had the same affection for the game that I do.  One early October I told him we were going to go on a two day golf trip.  My Dad lived in Muskegon, MI so I set up golf at Crystal Downs and Kingsley. I will always be grateful for the time we spent together those two days. 

[Kevin Lynch]

This whole thread is exactly what I think of when I tell people that score means very little to me.  Score is just a measure, but the "experience" is the real thing (and being lucky enough to recognize what you have in those moments).

I've had many over the years, but I'll share the most recent from my Pinehurst trip last week.

15th Green, Southern Pines, Last Tuesday

I took up hickory several weeks ago, and am already an admitted addict.  Prior to the trip, my intention was to play just one round with the hickories during our afternoon at Southern Pines.  We invited Ran to join us, which he did for the back 9.

Meeting the "Most Beloved Figure in Golf" was great enough, but Southern Pines is such a peaceful setting, it only amplified our enjoyment.  One of our group was hesitant to try hickories (consistent lGCA urker Bill Bittman), but was quickly becoming a convert.  Bill recorded his first hickory birdie on the 14th and was floating.  As we reached the 15th green, time seemed to stand still and I noticed the uncluttered sound of the birds, the low sun coloring the fairways to perfection, and the peaceful feeling that was over me.  All I said was:

“Ran, I’m having such an experience right now.  It doesn’t get any better.”

But, it actually did. Ran opened his house to our group for beers and snacks, at which time I was able to meet our resident Pinehurst expert, Chris Buie.  I didn’t want to be too much of a fan-boy, but I needed to capture some tangible reminder of the day.


(L-R: Chris DeNigris, Brian Finn, Chris Buie, Me, TMBFiG)

We enjoyed the hickory experience so much, we broke out the hickories again for our round at Dormie Club the next morning.  With GCAer Cory Lewis  & Dormie Caddy Legend Jimmy G on our bags, our hickory newbie went out and posted a 77 at TDC, less than 18 hours after reluctantly swinging hickory for the first time.  An experience I’ll savor for years.

[Matthew Sander]

As for the rest of us, the wives have us in punt formation!

Your Honor,

I was going to retort with something about encroachment, but alas, it has to end some time.

[Shane Wright]

Yes, Ronald, I do understand baseball in the slightest. But thanks for the condescension!

To use golf parlance, Humber shot 59, but the Yanks were six-down after six holes and won 4&2. The latter is more impressive to me every time, especially in a team game.

Scott, a no-hitter, I would give it to you.  But their comeback doesn't touch a perfect game.  There are probably around a dozen type comebacks each year. This one is only more publicized because of the teams involved.  But MLB can go several years without a perfect game.  Momentum with the Yankees lineup in Fenway is also not that hard to achieve.  You can just about "kick" a ball out to left and down the right field line.  This is not to take anything away from the Yankees incredible victory.  But allowing zero people on base for 9 innings in a MLB game is beyond incredible.  And I would argue that a perfect game is more of a team effort than a 9 run comeback. 

They both were amazing.

[Scott Warren]

Fair enough Shane. I was only half serious and the other half was excitement that the comeback won me $20 from John Lyon, who for reasons best known to himself is a Red Sox fan.

With some time to reflect, I probably agree that the perfect game is more impressive, but cuss me that was some comeback -- down by nine and won by six!

[Mac Plumart]

Playing up 18 at Winged Foot West with V. Kmetz on the bag telling me how much of an ass I am 


 


ROTFLMFAO

[hick]

The whole Bandon Scene is a must for anyone on this site. Can't wait to go back again next year.

Tim Martin, Wes welker gave me some money to buy you a lobster roll. No comeback by the Yankees will dampen my joy from the 2004 ALCS. It's not like they came back against  Bard and Papelbon.

[Tim Martin]

The whole Bandon Scene is a must for anyone on this site. Can't wait to go back again next year.

Tim Martin, Wes welker gave me some money to buy you a lobster roll. No comeback by the Yankees will dampen my joy from the 2004 ALCS. It's not like they came back against  Bard and Papelbon.

Mat-You are a gentlemen despite your allegiances. I will say that I still feel a shooting pain when I harken back to 2004. That said Saturday`s game will linger sweetly for some time to come. I got a double or nothing bet on the lobster roll that says Bobby Valentine won`t be in Beantown for opening day in 2013. What say you?

[PThomas]

1. everything about playing Cypress Point

2. everything about my 2 days at Sand Hills, 54 a day

3. going off by myself, the first one on the course that day, on a gorgeous day at Bandon Trails

4. the Sheep Ranch

5. showing up for my round at Plainfield and being told I was being paired with another Chicagoan named Dave Schmidt aka Shivas....then surprising the hell out of him in the grill....Dave is a great fun playing partner and Plainfield is such a good golf course

6. getting ready on the first tee at Riviera ...but first having my name announced by the starter like they do for the pros!   Despite my nerves i managed to still poke a decent one off the tee..

7. Merion - the course, the history, the memorobilia

8. seeing Arnie at Bay Hill before I teed off

9.  The awesome collection of Jones memorobilia at East Lake

10.a few visits each to Pinehurst and Bandon Dunes - they both reek of golf indifferent ways..Blackwolf Run and W Straits also, to a lesser extent

11. The Preserve in CA - the drive in and a pretty good golf course

11. playing NGLA, probably the best course I've had the privelege to play

[Mike Hendren]

There is a step beyond "enjoying the experience" and it's having your spirit lifted.  I am still relishing the latter from the weekend past. 

For the 15th year I spent three days with 7 dear friends.  We played 72 holes of cart-ball (Melvyn, you can kiss my a*s)  at FarmLinks in the middle of nowhere, Alabama.  Aggregate foursome scores pushed 400 and no bets were placed.  One man was down-sized last year and now owns a liquor store.  We drank cold beer and great red wines with an unofficial tasting for one guy's daughter's wedding in a few weeks.  We wore Preds towels on our heads to rally our boys to clinch the first round against Sean's Red Wings.  We recounted the same old priceless stories from 14 previous trips and laughed harder than ever.  We said grace then downed steaks the size of a shoe-box.  We delighted in the occasional birdie on a scorecard that totaled 96.  We didn't give a damn who we were paired with but made sure that everybody played with everybody.    Mostly importantly we caught up on each other's kids, the youngest being high school seniors, and their plans.  We toasted our wives when we weren't bitching about them.  We lamented the aging of our parents with one dad and one step-dad in deteriorating health.  We dropped the occaisonal F-bomb and told a few off-color jokes.  We took genuine interest in each others' jobs and what we could learn from each other.  We listend to the songs of our youth in the cars. 

I've been blessed to have out-of-this-world experiences on some of golf's greatest venues, primarily through the kindness of several men on this site.  Not to diminish them at all, but this weekend was something higher altogether. I believe there's a line in Golf In The Kingdom where someone says that golf is just an opportunity for men to love each other.  I couldn't agree more.  I feel like a new man and it's already mid-morning on Tuesday.   

[Eric Smith]

Steaks the size of shoe boxes, eh? Thanks for posting that Bogey. You are always good at lifting spirits around here, well mine anyway. I can't wait to tee it up with you this summer.

Signed,

Hungry

[John Kirk]

John: this one?

Yes, that one.  Great golf hole, now that the landing area is a proper size for a downwind tee shot.  A great drive can make it near the front edge of the green.  Some can even drive it past the green, and have an upwind second into the prevailing summer wind.  Otherwise it's a short crosswind shot into the flattish green.  It's one of the windiest places on the property, too.  What's not to like?

[Tim Martin]

Steaks the size of shoe boxes, eh? Thanks for posting that Bogey. You are always good at lifting spirits around here, well mine anyway. I can't wait to tee it up with you this summer.

Signed,

Hungry

Mike- Eric put it perfectly. I envy you and am awful glad you had a great time. Golf certainly is a vehicle for a lot of good stuff!

[PThomas]

and how did I forget :  Garden City:  like walking back in time...cool memorobilia and a terrific golf course too

[PThomas]

There is a step beyond "enjoying the experience" and it's having your spirit lifted.  I am still relishing the latter from the weekend past. 

For the 15th year I spent three days with 7 dear friends.  We played 72 holes of cart-ball (Melvyn, you can kiss my a*s)  at FarmLinks in the middle of nowhere, Alabama.  Aggregate foursome scores pushed 400 and no bets were placed.  One man was down-sized last year and now owns a liquor store.  We drank cold beer and great red wines with an unofficial tasting for one guy's daughter's wedding in a few weeks.  We wore Preds towels on our heads to rally our boys to clinch the first round against Sean's Red Wings.  We recounted the same old priceless stories from 14 previous trips and laughed harder than ever.  We said grace then downed steaks the size of a shoe-box.  We delighted in the occasional birdie on a scorecard that totaled 96.  We didn't give a damn who we were paired with but made sure that everybody played with everybody.    Mostly importantly we caught up on each other's kids, the youngest being high school seniors, and their plans.  We toasted our wives when we weren't bitching about them.  We lamented the aging of our parents with one dad and one step-dad in deteriorating health.  We dropped the occaisonal F-bomb and told a few off-color jokes.  We took genuine interest in each others' jobs and what we could learn from each other.  We listend to the songs of our youth in the cars. 

I've been blessed to have out-of-this-world experiences on some of golf's greatest venues, primarily through the kindness of several men on this site.  Not to diminish them at all, but this weekend was something higher altogether. I believe there's a line in Golf In The Kingdom where someone says that golf is just an opportunity for men to love each other.  I couldn't agree more.  I feel like a new man and it's already mid-morning on Tuesday.   

nice Bogey

I've had the great pleasure of playing with many great GCAers like Tommy W., Mac P, and so many others.......doesnt really matter what you shoot during those rounds...

[Sean_A]

Its difficult for me to recall great experiences in golf unless other people are involved.  A few years back a group of us (I have no memory of life without one in the group and a few others are among my most valued mates) went to Portrush for an annual trip to play for the Torda Cup (so named for an Hungarian lawyer who refused to join the Communist Party and was thusly banished to menial labour for the remainder of his woking days).  While playing the 14th a loud sound bellowed from the 15th tee.  As it happens, Sarge, who only really plays a few rounds a year and in our company, happened to hole out from the tee for a 1.  Yes, it was incredible and very funny as well only because the guy can at best be considered a 50 capper. 

Well, it so happens that our group entered the open competition being held by Rathmore GC (they play over the Valley Links) that was on that day.  Such is the hospitality of the Irish  that the club didn't mind collecting a smaller green fee from a visiting party so long as we joined in.  Very fine. After the game we are sitting in the humble house enjoying a pint when a man dressed in a club blazer approached us.  He was a kind gent earnestly attempting to get a handle on Sarge's card.  We assured the the gentleman, who as it turned out was the Club Captain, that yes, the card is accurate. 

Shortly there after, the Captain took the stage to make an announcement.  He made every attempt to conceal a cheeky grin, but failed, despite his rather large mustache giving him a distinct advantage in doing so.  He began his quick speech with "I have a very interesting card in my hand recorded by a visting American player.  There are quite a few kisses on the card to say the least, but one hole in particular stands out - the 15th.  As it happens Mr Sargent had a hole in one and this score beats all the birdies of the day.  That means rather unusually, that Mr Sargent's 1 is the winner of the 2s."  With that said, the Captain handed over £75 quid to Sarge.  It was obvious he didn't really know what was going on as he never really pays attention to the competitive side of the game, but he certainly got the gist of things when the cash was handed over. 

I wish I had a copy of the card.  I think he scored 8 points on the day with the 1 being worth 6 Stableford points!  I think there were 15 kisses on the card.  It couldn't have happened to nicer chap.

Ciao   

[Dan Kelly]

What are your favorite golf "experiences"?

Sutton Bay, through the years. 362 pieces of evidence at http://tinyurl.com/pics-sutton-bay.

[Chris Buie]

Kevin Lynch, the pleasure was ours. Your whole group were really good guys all around. I enjoyed meeting all of them. And it was nice to catch up with Cory. Cory is quite a player - he was a +1 earlier this year.
To the chaps who are members at some of those fabulous private clubs - especially in New York, I would encourage you invite Kevin and his hickories to your place. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

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