Thanks, gents - really good posts.
The psychology -- both personal/individual and in relationship with the architecture -- is fascinating. The more I think of it, the more aspects come to mind. 1) The fact that I felt vaguely guilty about playing that Par 5 the way I did; the architect went to all the trouble of putting a fairway bunker on the left side about 240 yards out, and there I was taking it completely out of play by hitting an iron off the tee. Where will that kind of madness madness end? I mean, if the architect cleverly creates a very short Par 4 that's driveable even for me but that has a green dangerously surrounded by deep bunkers, it would be like I was spitting in the architect's face if I played it 9 iron-9 iron, two putts. 2) On the other hand, if I could bunt my way around a course in 75-80 strokes, always taking less club off the tee, I would be absolutely thrilled, and I'd win many a match and my back and shoulders would hurt less; and yet, something inside me is determined not play like a 70 year old retiree until I'm actually 70 years old and retired!
Maybe I should only play rounds of golf while wagering much more than my mates and I could possible afford -- this would certainly clarify things, and it sure would make the choices easier, i.e. I'd be playing everything hole like I did that par 5!! Ah, yes -- but then, what would become of my soul!!