[Thomas Dai]

Playing (and being behind a cars steering wheel) when tired is best avoided. Build some rest/chill and time to experience the location your visiting into your schedule.
atb

[John Kavanaugh]

Last night my wife walked past me and said "Don't say anything you'll regret."  I only cost myself a Confidential Guide. Who would have thought Jason would get around so much without a golden ticket. Congrats to him.

[Charles Lund]

So much depends on lifestyle constraints, such as work, family etc.

Running around AND staying home can be an option.

I split time between the Seattle and San Diego area.  I retired seven years ago and have been doing a lot of overseas travel.  I have played over 140 different courses outside or North America in that time.  I've also traveled a lot in this country and played a lot courses in the Pacific Northwest, California, and Arizona and done some trips to North and South Carolina, Georgia and Wisconsin. 

For many trips I traveled and moved from destination to destination and been all over Scotland, Ireland, Australia,  New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, and a few places in Asia. 

Interestingly enough, as I was starting to run out of places and courses I wanted to travel to, I found myself dealing with an issue not unlike what you are discussing.  What happened for me was I started asking the question of where I wanted to go back to over and over and how can I do that? 

I started booking holiday rentals in areas I liked to go to and liked the golf courses as well as some of the amenities of the destination and what the Irish call "craic."  The past two years I have been doing to multiple trips to Ireland and Australia and pretty much returning to the same areas and courses again and again.  The plus side is that driving is minimized, I can cook for myself part of the time, and I have made friends in the areas I have traveled to.

[Eric Smith]

I played probably fewer rounds (21) this year than any of the previous ten, yet I feel stuffed (not even room for one more wafer-thin mint). Lots of good times with good friends on some incredible golf courses. The rub is my friends don't live nearby, so traveling to play is the norm for now.

We're in the midst of planning a boondoggle to Scotland next summer and it is looking more and more like I'll match this year's output on that trip alone!

But for now, my clubs are somewhere down in the basement gathering dust until summoned for a mid-winter road trip to GCA World Headquarters to battle Golf's Most Beloved 11 Handicap and get him to autograph my copy of Volume 2.

[Peter Pallotta]

Reading this thread, the question came to me: maybe many travel to play golf not in spite of the travel but because of it? You know, because of the "permission" that travel gives -- and that some of us have a hard time giving to ourselves otherwise -- to check out and get off the grid of family responsibilities and work obligations, and just immerse oneself in the classic road trip.
Peter

[Buck Wolter]

So much depends on lifestyle constraints, such as work, family etc.

Running around AND staying home can be an option.

I split time between the Seattle and San Diego area.  I retired seven years ago and have been doing a lot of overseas travel.  I have played over 140 different courses outside or North America in that time.  I've also traveled a lot in this country and played a lot courses in the Pacific Northwest, California, and Arizona and done some trips to North and South Carolina, Georgia and Wisconsin. 

For many trips I traveled and moved from destination to destination and been all over Scotland, Ireland, Australia,  New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, and a few places in Asia. 

Interestingly enough, as I was starting to run out of places and courses I wanted to travel to, I found myself dealing with an issue not unlike what you are discussing.  What happened for me was I started asking the question of where I wanted to go back to over and over and how can I do that? 

I started booking holiday rentals in areas I liked to go to and liked the golf courses as well as some of the amenities of the destination and what the Irish call "craic."  The past two years I have been doing to multiple trips to Ireland and Australia and pretty much returning to the same areas and courses again and again.  The plus side is that driving is minimized, I can cook for myself part of the time, and I have made friends in the areas I have traveled to.

Charles -- that sounds like the dream to me. I've been daydreaming about doing that with Askernish when I have a chance.

[Carl Rogers]

I traded the George Cup for the The Dixie Cup this year as the 4 courses were new to me and I would have no opportunity to ever play them again.  I have never played a Raynor-Banks course before. 


Sellable for wife because she was able to visit high school friends in Knoxville and Chattanooga at the same time. 


Holston Hills was a real treat.

[Paul Gray]

With all due respect to Charles, I simply don't believe that anyone who travels to Britain for golf can possibly run out of options. There are just so many courses in England alone which are worth playing that there's always somewhere else. Tom Doak must be about the most travelled individual on this discussion board and even he hasn't seen all the worthwhile courses over here.

[David Amarnek]

With the year fast coming to a close, I've played around 80 rounds of golf with no new courses for the first time in a long time.
I split my time between St. Louis (where I live) and Philly (where I used to live), with no other golf trips this year.  Very unusual.


No complaints however, as I get to play Westwood (my home course @ home), St. Louis, Bellerive, Old Warson and Boone Valley and Gulph Mills, Merion East and West, Aronimink and Pine Valley multiple times.


I do miss the golf trips outside STL and PHL and hope to remedy that next year (Bandon and Seminole are in the planning stage).

[Mac Plumart]

Either way is good, IMO. And is totally dependent on what you want to do. If there is a course you want to see, run around to see it. If you want to relax with friends at your home clubs, stay there.

Golf for me is pure entertainment. So, if I feel the desire for a trip...I do it. If it seems like a hassle or a bother, I stay home.

[Cory Lewis]

I happily do both but circumstances are important(I don't have any kids).  I've played 58 new courses so far this year and have plans for around 20 more before the year is out.  I've also logged around 35 rounds at my home club with many more than that planned for next year.  I love my home course and will play there as much as possible but I still enjoy going out and seeking new courses and experiences.  My wife is also a golfer so our yearly trip always involves golf and I'm good for at least 2 solo trips every year as well.  I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

[jeffwarne]

With all due respect to Charles, I simply don't believe that anyone who travels to Britain for golf can possibly run out of options. There are just so many courses in England alone which are worth playing that there's always somewhere else. Tom Doak must be about the most travelled individual on this discussion board and even he hasn't seen all the worthwhile courses over here.

+1
Throw in Ireland and it's a lifetime of choice

[Mark Chaplin]

Only played 5 new courses this year but played Sand Hills 4 times and Ballyneal 3 so you leave actually knowing and understanding the courses a little. Cannot stand the tick listers who play, "rate" and run without any understanding of the course they've played. A good example is the 12th at Ballyneal, three times down the left and it was only the final round where I went right and ended up still on the fairway with a totally blind uphill shot over the trap.

[cary lichtenstein]

I did both, more running than staying put but let me give u these words of wisdom: Everyones body ages differently and injuries and limitations accumulate, so get it all in when you're young.

[Chris DeToro]

This is a great post as I was reflecting on my past year as well and wondering the same thing.  I spent most of my golf season on the road with over half of my rounds (50 to date) away from my home course which likely negatively impacted my scores, but led to some great times.  For me, a lot of my golf travel is with my dad and/or friends who live all over the country, so I'm not sure I would change anything.  Plus it gives me an excuse to visit places I would never even think of going to otherwise.  I love my home course, but love traveling and playing too.  Not sure what 2016 will bring, but likely a mix of both yet again

[John Kavanaugh]

I played one new course this year.  I'm going down to Alabama this weekend for a little football game and can't think of a single course that I haven't played that I would enjoy seeing.  It's gotta have something to do with getting older.

[Eric Smith]

I played one new course this year.  I'm going down to Alabama this weekend for a little football game and can't think of a single course that I haven't played that I would enjoy seeing.  It's gotta have something to do with getting older.

Not likely to be the case next year old man!

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

I feel like I ran around a lot this year but in reality only traveled to about 4 new locations and 6 courses. But one was a 48 hour turnaround trip to Dismal River for a Hundred Hole Hike.  That alone felt like a years worth of golf!

And good joining up with you Jason on one of your rounds...

[Tom_Doak]

Traveling alone and playing solitary golf provides plenty of time to ponder many things.  However, I more or less concluded that my golf education was about as good as it was ever going to get and that, for me, golf is basically better if shared with friends.  Also, that if I had practical reasons to apply what I learned (I do every day), such as building, maintaining, renovating, and running a golf course, that too is a collaborative activity that involves as many good and talented people as you can find and afford.  In other words, no matter how much you know, you still need good people to pull it off. 

Amen to the latter.  However, re: the former, I have mixed feelings.  One or two of my favorite rounds this year were solo games on unexpectedly good courses.  It was just so nice to enjoy them and not have anyone asking me what I thought!  I'd much rather play first and discuss later, as you've seen.

[Daniel Jones]

While I did make a few short trips, including a memorable day with some GCAers at Seminole, I found quite a bit of joy in Staying Home this year. I'm nearing completion of a book on the history of my home course, and as I've peeled away the layers to the story, I'm finding the allure of this special place (special to me, at least) is stronger than ever. I hope that 2016 holds a little bit more adventure, but I've thoroughly enjoyed the journey that Home has given me this year.

[Jon Cavalier]

As Jason knows well, I fall firmly in the "running around" camp.

I'm embarrassed to say how many different/new courses I've played over the past few years, but I'm fortunate in that my wife (though she doesn't play) also loves to travel for her races, so a few times a year, she picks a race and I'll play the courses in the area. I also travel a fair bit for work, and often I can tack a day or two on either end of the trip for golf. Add in a buddy trip here and there and it adds up quickly.

The bottom line for me is that as much as I enjoy my regular game at home, I truly relish seeing new courses and old friends, and meeting new people with whom I share a love of the game.

[Tim Martin]

As Jason knows well, I fall firmly in the "running around" camp.

I'm embarrassed to say how many different/new courses I've played over the past few years, but I'm fortunate in that my wife (though she doesn't play) also loves to travel for her races, so a few times a year, she picks a race and I'll play the courses in the area. I also travel a fair bit for work, and often I can tack a day or two on either end of the trip for golf. Add in a buddy trip here and there and it adds up quickly.

The bottom line for me is that as much as I enjoy my regular game at home, I truly relish seeing new courses and old friends, and meeting new people with whom I share a love of the game.

But not embarrassed enough not to mention.

[Dave McCollum]

Amen to the latter.  However, re: the former, I have mixed feelings.  One or two of my favorite rounds this year were solo games on unexpectedly good courses.  It was just so nice to enjoy them and not have anyone asking me what I thought!  I'd much rather play first and discuss later, as you've seen.

Yes, I have.  I tried not to pester you and just let you play and see the courses.  The only problem is that after you left, everyone wanted to know what you thought.  I could only say "I didn't ask."  Waiting a year until the next CG seems like an eternity. 

[Matthew Petersen]

I'm in the "running around" camp, not that I have any particular "home" to stay at.


I'm not a member of a club and play the vast majority of my golf on local, public courses. Earlier this year, based on some discussions with friends, I made a list of all the courses I'd played in Arizona as well as the courses I have not (at least around the metro Phoenix area). I've played 30 times this year, but have only played 2 courses twice (and one of those had undergone renovations). In all, I played 11 courses that I had never played previously and several others that I hadn't played in many years.


The thing of it is, even before this, I'd already played the vast majority of courses here in the Valley that I have much interest in playing--and my new experiences bore that out, for the most part. But I still really enjoyed seeing all the places I had not seen before.


Maybe that's just due to the relative quality of where I might have been playing otherwise. Again, no "home" course and good as Talking Stick or WeKoPa might be, for several reasons, it's not feasible that the majority of my rounds would be there if I hadn't been seeking out the never-before-seen's instead. Maybe that would color my thinking. I suppose if I could play Desert Forest every day, playing some housing development track in Mesa would be considerably less appealing. (But I might still do it.) Then again, Jason's original question is on the other end--running around the world playing great courses, or playing great courses at home.


I love seeing new golf courses. I don't have the resources to travel as much as I would like or play really great places every year, but I think the urge is the same--I love to see something new.

[Terry Lavin]

I played one new course this year.  I'm going down to Alabama this weekend for a little football game and can't think of a single course that I haven't played that I would enjoy seeing.  It's gotta have something to do with getting older.

My story is similar. I'll try to get to Philly and Long Island next year but that's what I said last year. Millennial Envy ain't pretty!  😍

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