[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.

But not embarrassed enough not to mention.

Tim:

Fair point, but there's a difference (at least for me) in stating the obvious fact that I play a lot of golf as compared to admitting to the cold, hard, numbers.

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!  😍

Judge:

You've gotta get to Philly in 2016. We'll make it worth your while!

[MCirba]

As someone who just played my 1000th different course this past month, I'm definitely a run-around type of guy but have to admit I'm slowing down just a bit over time.

During 2015 I've played 30 new courses, 7 of them in 4 days at the end of October with some great folks from GCA in England and Scotland.   I do tend to play in bunches when I can find the time, usually on vacation.   I think my high for one year was 72 new courses but that's madness. 

I also played 15 courses that I had played previously in 2015, a few of those multiple times.

Strangely, I've yet to play the course I consider my home course, Cobb's Creek GC in Philly during 2015.   

[Ryan Coles]

If you would have asked me on Monday afternoon after sitting in the Sunningdale Clubhouse staring into dense fog for six hours, I'd have probably told you I was never leaving the house again.


Playing new and different courses is a joy. I can never understand people who spend thousands on golf clubs, but won't travel more than 30 mins for a decent course.


I'm surprised at Sean's pessimism as well. No enthusiasm for a C&C in Scotland? How many C&C have you seen?


I haven't played Trump, but that along with Castle Stuart, Kingsbarns, I don't think can be fairly described as "more of the same", and C&C and the owner seem to have a track record in producing something pretty special. I can understand the lack of enthusiasm for exorbitant greenfees, but not for the actual courses.

[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.

Tim:

Fair point, but there's a difference (at least for me) in stating the obvious fact that I play a lot of golf as compared to admitting to the cold, hard, numbers.

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!  😍

Judge:

You've gotta get to Philly in 2016. We'll make it worth your while!

Thanks for the clarification Jon. To be honest I don't have a clue what you are referring to when you reference the "cold hard numbers". I mean these are golf courses we are talking about right?

[Dan Moore]

Definitely in the running around category this year, my first year as a full time professional amateur golfer. 


Currently at 93 rounds on 51 courses 25 of which were 1st timers. 

[Tom Ferrell]

You're sick of hangin' around and you'd like to travel
You're tired of travelin', you want to settle down
I guess they can't revoke your soul for tryin'
Get out of the door, light out and look all around


What a long, strange trip indeed!


Personally, I love to travel and explore and see new places, people and things.  There are times when I've been fortunate enough to indulge that and times when I couldn't.  But I've played golf - and had my life enriched by it - at ALL times.   

[BCowan]

You're sick of hangin' around and you'd like to travel
You're tired of travelin', you want to settle down
I guess they can't revoke your soul for tryin'
Get out of the door, light out and look all around


What a long, strange trip indeed!


Personally, I love to travel and explore and see new places, people and things.  There are times when I've been fortunate enough to indulge that and times when I couldn't.  But I've played golf - and had my life enriched by it - at ALL times.

+1.  Livin on reds, vitamin c, and golf......

[Joe Bausch]

Strangely, I've yet to play the course I consider my home course, Cobb's Creek GC in Philly during 2015.

Why don't we play there Sunday?  And maybe a couple of GCA guys will come out and join us.  Or any lurkers that are reading this message.

[Thomas Dai]

An appropriate time to listen to -


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mckg0


&

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8


And even re-read a certain book by Mr J Kerouac?


Atb

[Joe Bausch]

What about the longest car trip you've made in a single day for a round of golf?


A handful of years ago me and Cirba did a day trip out of Philly to play Kinloch in Virginia.


Certifiable, I know.   

[Matt Frey, PGA]

Strangely, I've yet to play the course I consider my home course, Cobb's Creek GC in Philly during 2015.

Why don't we play there Sunday?  And maybe a couple of GCA guys will come out and join us.  Or any lurkers that are reading this message.

I haven't played there in 2015 yet either. If it happens on Sunday, count me in.

[BHoover]

What about the longest car trip you've made in a single day for a round of golf?


A handful of years ago me and Cirba did a day trip out of Philly to play Kinloch in Virginia.


Certifiable, I know.   

Columbus to Detroit

[MCirba]

Why don't we play there Sunday?  And maybe a couple of GCA guys will come out and join us.  Or any lurkers that are reading this message.

Joe (and Matt),

I'm clearly up for Cobb's Creek this Sunday.   Who wants to join us?

[MCirba]

What about the longest car trip you've made in a single day for a round of golf?


A handful of years ago me and Cirba did a day trip out of Philly to play Kinloch in Virginia.


Certifiable, I know.   

Joe didn't mention that I live 1.5 hours north of him, and thus had a 3 hour longer round trip.

The good news is that I still have my orange Kinloch shirt, having to buy one first thing upon arrival after I spilled my 3:00am coffee  down the front of my white shirt when the lid came off en route.   

[Dan Moore]

I'm in for Cobb's Creek but not until the Sunday after Thanksgiving!!

[Tim Gallant]

What about the longest car trip you've made in a single day for a round of golf?


A handful of years ago me and Cirba did a day trip out of Philly to play Kinloch in Virginia.


Certifiable, I know.   

I trained it up to play Trump and CB in one day this Summer - 2.5 hours both ways. It was a long day

[David Davis]

Jason,


It's a thought process I ponder often. I just love golf and could play or practice daily. I think starting late in life helped that. What I can tell you for certain is that I'm about 70/30 with regards to being a traveling man. Our round at Kingsley Club was certainly one of the best times I've had on a golf course this year. However, I'd certainly have to say that all my favorite rounds of the year were played on the road meeting and befriending some really wonderful people, many of which were GCA'ers.


I played one round alone this year and it was wonderful on a very windy day at Eastward Ho, I was even totally alone on the course, didn't see another soul outside of a few maintenance guys.


I'm over 100 rounds this year personally, but there are a lot of 36 hole days in there and 10+ round weeks. Of course a lot of rounds at my home course as well, but I really miss the US or UK culture at my home course. People are so friendly and the golf culture is just a lot different there than it is here in my opinion.


So here's to golf on the road, I'm perfectly happy if just stay home Jason, same with the rest of you. I'll just come your way at some point.

[Jon Cavalier]

What about the longest car trip you've made in a single day for a round of golf?


A handful of years ago me and Cirba did a day trip out of Philly to play Kinloch in Virginia.


Certifiable, I know.   

I have made that Kinloch day trip. In Feburary. Had to be in court at 9am for a speeding ticket from a few months before. I think I played Mattiponi that day too.

Here's mine:

12:00am: Depart Philadephia by car
7:00am: arrive Pinehurst
7:30am: Tee time on No. 2
12:00pm: lunch
12:30pm: Tee time on No. 4
5:00pm: Depart Pinehurst for Philly
12:00am: arrive Philly

1004 miles, 36 holes, 24 hours

And before anyone asks the obvious question, the answer is: "because it was cold here, and we're stupid."

[Doug Bolls]

I like running around.  Like a few on here (Congrats Mike Cirba), one of my goals is to play 1000 different courses before I move on to another life.  I've got 180 to go, but I have to travel to get them.  Played everything within an hour of here (DFW) and almost 250 in TX alone. 
I love the wonder of something new - before I play a new course I find out everything I can about it.  Who designed it - what's the topography - a look at the scorecard, etc.
I have a rota of about 20 courses I play here, but there is nothing like the anticipation of another road trip.

[MCirba]

Thanks Doug.

Have you picked out a course you're targeting for your 1000th?

[Jason Way]

I like running around.  Like a few on here (Congrats Mike Cirba), one of my goals is to play 1000 different courses before I move on to another life.  I've got 180 to go, but I have to travel to get them.  Played everything within an hour of here (DFW) and almost 250 in TX alone. 
I love the wonder of something new - before I play a new course I find out everything I can about it.  Who designed it - what's the topography - a look at the scorecard, etc.
I have a rota of about 20 courses I play here, but there is nothing like the anticipation of another road trip.

A summer home in the Hamptons and a commitment to access whoring would really make the last 100 fun to check off.

[Steve Lang]

   Running around ... channeling Satchel Paige "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

Maybe some of the UK folks can relate to...  Lygon Arms in Broadway, Worcestershire, to Ganton GC in Yorkshire, via cab at 0500 Hr, trains never ridden before, and about 45 minutes car ride from York with my host.


... nearly 6 hours one-way... and missing the last return train from York... seeing it pull away from the station, oh well, lots worse places than spending the evening in York, and dinner in Monk's Gate area...

[JJShanley]

As I lead a transient lifestyle for the remainder of my graduate student career, I take my sticks with me on as many trips as I can.  As much as I enjoy Warren in of itself, I appreciate more having played more widely in the U.S.  That might change as and when I settle down somewhere more permanently.  I view this stage as a comprehensive/general exam study period of my GCA education, a process that should continue for as long as my day ticket on the links gives me.

[Doug Bolls]

Jason - Great comment!  I am not so good at access whoring, but a summer house in the Hamptons would be a wonderful way to spend the year.
Mike - Sorry I took a few days to get back on your question about #1000 - I have been thinking about that since you asked.  I'll give you a couple of stories before I answer.  I have tried to plan well enough so the courses ending in "00" are special.

I first went to St Andrews in 1987.  I worked it out so I had played 99 courses before flying to Gatwick and taking the train to Luchars.  After checking into the B&B, I walked over to TOC starter and told him I wanted his course to be my 100th.  It was about 5:30 after an all night flight and all day train ride.  He said something to the effect of "Aye laddie - Wait here for a little while and I'll get you out."  I still have a picture of me on the Swilcan Bridge with the clock on the clubhouse showing 9:30PM - and plenty time to play a few more holes.

#500 was Muirfield.  I planned a trip for 8 of us in 2000 that included the St Andrews courses and Muirfield.  I remember how helpful Mrs. McCarthy was with the Muirfield part of the trip - I planned it out so #500 would be there.

#700 was Sawgrass - I had played PGA West Stadium, but had missed Sawgrass.  Flew to Jacksonville, took in the World Golf Hall of Fame and their 2 courses and Sawgrass as #700.  I didn't birdie # 17, but I played with a guy who did.  I think that Sawgrass and Bethpage Black are the two toughest courses I have played.

Ever since I played Tobacco Road Mike Strantz is one of my favorite GCA's.  I just love standing on a tee box and thinking "what is he trying to tell me to do here".  I have found Strantz's courses to be one wonderful surprise after another.  Last summer 8 of us went to Myrtle and either True Blue or Caledonia would by my #800 - Caledonia won.

So, #1000?  A tough question, but Jason is right.  Pine Valley?  I walked it during a Crump Cup 2 years ago - I don't have the game for it and would have a frustrating day.
ANGC?  I have been there for practice rounds and walked it.  I don't lust for it like some of my friends do.
I lean to Long Island for the ultimate golf experience.  Shinnecock, Sebonack and NGLA.  #998, 999 and 1000.
And a house in the Hampton's.

[Jason Hines]

Admittedly and shamefully, I only played one new course this year and that was played with a fellow GCA Kansan on a course that we didn’t even realize was still open.  I did play at least once a week at my home course that I am blessed to play and got chills every time I teed it up so I was not completely deprived.

The above was very different from the past, job, life, children, etc. have caused a hiatus in my free time.  I have not had a true “golf trip” in several years and have grown tired of trying to put together a guys trip, couples trip and or solo trip to the UK.


However, will be joining a destination course soon to take my 8 and 10 year old sons along before everything in life takes them away from me...

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