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Josh Tarble

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Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« on: August 13, 2013, 09:42:04 AM »
Based on Michael Hendren's terrific thread about scoring (http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,56486.0.html)....what are the key factors in your enjoyment of a course.

1.  Score
2.  Hitting unusual/quirky/fun shots
3.  Facing shots that challenge your skill level
4.  Shots that make you think
5.  Your playing partners
6.  Conditioning of course
7.  Peripherals (Food, view, service, weather, etc.)
8.  Other _________ (write in)

Josh Tarble

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2013, 09:45:40 AM »
And I'll go first:

1.  Shots that make you think
2.  Hitting unusual/quirky/fun shots
3.  Facing shots that challenge your skill level
4.  Your playing partners
5.  Score
6.  Conditioning of course
7.  Peripherals

The only reason playing partners isn't first, is that I can play a truly fun course by myself and have a great time...otherwise, company is the most important.

In hindsight, decision making shots probably factors into both 2. and 3. for me, but typically because I don't think as much as I should, I face unusual or challenging shots!

Brad Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2013, 09:58:34 AM »
1.  Shots that make you think.
2.  Challenge my skill level.
3.  Unusual/quirky/fun shots.
4.  Score
5.  Playing Partners
6.  Conditioning
7.  Peripherals

The above would basically reflect playing a course for the first time.  Once I get familiar with a course, I think score goes up further, maybe even #1 some days.
So I jump ship in Hong Kong....

Adam Clayman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2013, 10:02:57 AM »
1. When the maintenance is integrated with the design.
2. Recovery opportunities abound
3. Wind and it's potential to change both velocity and direction.
4. Thoughtful transitions and/or green exit strategies.
« Last Edit: August 13, 2013, 10:11:25 AM by Adam Clayman »
"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Jason Topp

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2013, 10:03:49 AM »
A nice day and good company. 

Patrick_Mucci

Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2013, 10:14:31 AM »
WIDTH

Steve Kline

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2013, 10:18:03 AM »
I would add maintenance meld and wind.

Crail without wind = not that enjoyable

Crail with 20-25 mph = some of the most fun golf I have ever played

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2013, 11:22:33 AM »
1.  Score is not irrelevant to my enjoyment but I don't need to shoot 72 anymore to enjoy a course.
2.  Hitting unusual/quirky/fun shots I love courses that call for imagination.  That means some blind shots and the demand to use creative shots around the greens.
3.  Facing shots that challenge your skill level I enjoy needing to hit a ball that curves.  I'd rather hit it right to left but love a shot into a green that demands turning it one way or another to get it close to a pin.  I don't hit it as high anymore so I have to be more creative.
4.  Shots that make you think

5.  Your playing partners Need to play with a guy who just hits and keeps moving.  I don't want a whiner or a slowpoke.
6.  Conditioning of course  It does make a difference to my enjoyment. My conditioning requirements change depending on location of course.  I am not crazy about dormant Bermuda or slow greens.  I like the fairways to run but don't need uniform rough or perfectly manicured bunkers.
7.  Peripherals (Food, view, service, weather, etc.) Nice views always are nice but don't necessarily add to my enjoyment.  The older I get weather does make a difference.  I really don't like to play when it is over 90 degrees since I tend to walk and carry.  Neither do i play when it is in the 30s.  Rain does not deter me.
8.  Other _________ (write in)
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Matthew Petersen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2013, 06:17:02 PM »
All matter to some extent, except playing partners. I played with a boor of a man on Sunday who swore loudly, threw clubs, and whipped golf balls deep into the ground. This man was my father's age. A complete embarrassment of a man.

But his antics are no reflection upon the course in my mind. I suppose if repeated visits to a course or club found you often paired with that sort of partner then you might get the sense the behavior was tolerated and/or common there for some reason.

As to the other factors, like anyone I am happy when I play well, but old enough now to understand the difference between the rare course where the architecture is so bad it precludes any reasonable chance of scoring, vs, me just having a bad day.

Shots that make me think are the key thing, and there are so many ways to do that--it doesn't have to be all about split fairways or centerline bunkers (not that such things are bad), but a good course using an interesting piece of land and giving you various options for how to approach any given shot on a hole. Maybe more importantly, that the course itself has a variety. The redan concept is great, but you'd get tired of having 5 shots of that type within a given 18. To that extent, and mostly only to that extent, conditions matter. If conditions at the course conspire to take options off the table, that's not a good thing. As a desert dweller, I'm sensitive to those many courses that overwater in the summer to keep everything green. Sure, it looks nice, I guess, but I had three imbedded balls during my Sunday round. Two of which came off the driver! That's just absurd, and it goes without saying that bouncing a shot in or using a sideslope is off the table in such conditions.

Michael Goldstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2013, 07:04:16 PM »
Some thoughts to add.  .

- Interaction with the environment
- turf quality and the natural landforms
- Requirement to think
- Ability to hit genuinely fun shots and use imagination without forcing the issue
- Routing (interaction with others, loops, walkable etc)

Non architecture
- pace of play
- views

---- or none of the above but good company!
@Pure_Golf

Tim_Weiman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #10 on: August 13, 2013, 07:10:47 PM »
The #1 factor for enjoyment of a golf course would have to be the people I played with and nowhere have I enjoyed more rounds than with friends at Ballybunion.
Tim Weiman

Mac Plumart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #11 on: August 13, 2013, 07:12:34 PM »
1. Your playing partners
2. Shots that make you think
2.  Hitting unusual/quirky/fun shots
3.  Facing shots that challenge your skill level
4.  Score
6.  Conditioning of course
7.  Peripherals (Food, view, service, weather, etc.)
Sportsman/Adventure loving golfer.

JLahrman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #12 on: August 13, 2013, 09:31:12 PM »
T1 Cost
T1 Pace of play at the top of the list. In my current situation in life, I'd rather hoof it around a cheap dogtrack than pay $$$ for a long round.
3.  Shots that make you think
4.  Facing shots that challenge your skill level
5.  Hitting unusual/quirky/fun shots
6.  Conditioning
7.  Your playing partners
8.  Score
9.  Peripherals (Food, view, service, weather, etc.)


Patrick_Mucci

Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #13 on: August 13, 2013, 11:30:59 PM »

I would add maintenance meld and wind.

Crail without wind = not that enjoyable

Crail with 20-25 mph = some of the most fun golf I have ever played

Steve,

I'd agree that.
WIND is another key factor.

William_G

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #14 on: August 14, 2013, 12:08:06 AM »
should be a special place with special people
It's all about the golf!

Greg Gilson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #15 on: August 14, 2013, 12:32:15 AM »
Not quite the answer to the question but here's the criteria I use when doing my own rankings/ratings:

My Criteria:

   -based on “the experience” I had on my round(s) at each course
   -“Experience” =
      -50% - Quality of the course architecture (especially variety, challenge & quirk)
      -25% - Quality of atmosphere, history, conditions, clubhouse
      -25% - How much fun I had, desire to return, “if I had 1 last round”

Richard Choi

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #16 on: August 14, 2013, 01:31:24 AM »
If I end up with the ball I started with, I know I had a pretty good time that day.

Michael Goldstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #17 on: August 14, 2013, 05:27:18 AM »
Nobody else mentions the environment? To me golf is about getting some fresh air and being amongst nature. It's a substitute for an evening stroll where you can watch the birds, the sun going down etc.  

Compare an experience on the links as the sun is going down with say, a midday round at a bustling manufactured metropolis course.
@Pure_Golf

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #18 on: August 14, 2013, 05:47:49 AM »
Playing partners is an odd one because I don't really play golf with guys I don't like.  It is very rare (can't remember the last time) I came across a disagreeable chap on the course.

1. Shots that make me think
2. Hitting unusual/quirky/fun shots
3. Peripherals (if beauty and house are included)
4. Cost
5. Playing partners
6. Conditioning
7. Challenge level (doesn't 1 and 2 cover this?)
8. Score

Ciao
« Last Edit: August 14, 2013, 06:00:10 AM by Sean_A »
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #19 on: August 14, 2013, 07:57:29 AM »
If we replaced "score" with "how well you played" more people would put it first instead of last. Playing well is a great buzz.
Brian

Score certainly helps to enjoy the day, but it doesn't do anything for me in terms of enjoying the course.

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Jud_T

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #20 on: August 14, 2013, 08:09:04 AM »
If I end up with the ball I started with, I know I had a pretty good time that day.

+1
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #21 on: August 14, 2013, 08:10:21 AM »
If we replaced "score" with "how well you played" more people would put it first instead of last. Playing well is a great buzz.
Brian

Score certainly helps to enjoy the day, but it doesn't do anything for me in terms of enjoying the course.

Ciao

So...you're piping it down the centre of the fairway and seeing the holes properly and the course as it should ideally be played versus thrashing around in the rough and picking up / losing your ball - your stride is unimpeded by crap and you have tight grass underneath your feet - are you sure you are enjoying the course equally in those two scenarios? I know I'm not.

Brian

Your stark dichotomy of choices is not something I am familiar with.  I would normally like being in the fairway, but I rarely encounter courses which accommodate my unpredictable game.  Hence, I usually play from the hay so if the hay is forgiving and I can find my ball quickly I can very much enjoy the course. If the hay is not forgiving it can lead to a long day.  

Ciao

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

cary lichtenstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #22 on: August 14, 2013, 08:13:38 AM »
The course must make you think, be creative, visually stimulating. If you take the tee shots at Pebble Beach on 7, and the recovery shots from those bunkers and the 2nd shot on 8, standing behind the giant cliff and watching the ball soar. That gets my heart pounding. Quirk is great that's why I always liked very creative green complexes.

Very tight tree lined courses generally bore me as do courses with overly high rough where if you miss the fairway, you have to wedge out. I'd rather have a more generous width so I could hit full length shots into greens then wedge/wedge.

But quirk is pretty high on my list as it allows you to shape all kinds of shots, really use your full bag of skills, or at least try.
Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

Dave Doxey

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #23 on: August 14, 2013, 08:48:42 AM »
Main factors:
Shots that make you think
Attitude of the staff
Conditioning of course
Range & practice facilities (greens, bunkers, pitching, etc.  No range mats!)
Playing partners
Value (Price / Quality of the experience)
Weather
Score (only as a measure of the way I played)

Secondary factors:
View/setting
Facing shots that challenge your skill level
Hitting unusual/quirky/fun shots

Not important:
Food
Beverage cart
Club drop / club cleaner etc. attendants
Clubhouse / locker room

Patrick_Mucci

Re: Key Factors in YOUR Enjoyment of a Course
« Reply #24 on: August 14, 2013, 10:03:38 AM »
I'm curious.

What kind of shot doesn't make you think ?

I never played a shot in my life that didn't make me think, so I''d like to know the holes/courses where you find shots that don't require thinking.
« Last Edit: August 14, 2013, 10:05:10 AM by Patrick_Mucci »