The more I consider this, the more I'm convinced it is a non-trivial subject.
John,
When learning to play a song on guitar, it seems like i used to listen to a record groove by groove and even slow it up to pick out the notes in a phrasing properly, but even after 102 & 103 Music Theory classes, in the end, R&R and such genre is about emotion, so forget the sterile technicalities, stay in key and play on. I'd say golf is only somewhat analogous to music, the nuances explored and exploited may come and go with an appreciation only registering a smile or maybe a laugh or shout out, but memorable none-the-less. One good shot can bring you back, so I'll grow old on a great or not so great course, doesn't really matter as long as I keep playing. I don't think it ever gets old.
Hi Steve,
The two activities, listening to music and playing golf, both evoke pleasure and emotion for the participant. Other than that, the two aren't related. I used my experience of listening to music because I can assign some numbers to it.
If you get bored playing a course, then I would say that defines why it is NOT "great".
A truly "great" course should be one that you could play everyday without ever getting bored.
I would not want to Play, as an example, Pumpkin Ridge every day. But I could play (one of) SF Golf, Chicago Golf, Fishers' Island, the National, etc. every day happily.
You are setting the bar high. Surely more than a few thousand fortunate and/or gifted people can enjoy their daily game of golf.
A good working definition of happiness is to be a) happy with what you have, and b) not unhappy with what you don't have. Having a feeling of gratitude and appreciation for the privilege of playing a regular round of golf goes a long way to making the experience "never get old".
In order of importance, I want a golf course that:
1. Is on the Pacific Coast of the United States, or maybe Canada.
2. With pleasant, familiar playing partners...
3. And a pleasant walk through an environment rich with plant and animal life.
a. With close green to tee walks.
b. Some elevation change. The walk is the "career extender", and I want my heart, lungs and legs to be challenged.
3. The course itself should offer some level of excitement each round, though much of the experience of playing golf at the home course is very similar from day to day.
a. Overall, medium difficult (slope in the 130s) is best for me; I am a medium good player.
b. A few very difficult shots each round that demand great care and execution.
c. A couple of "rare play" shots each round, such as awkward lies or non-standard bunker shots.
d. A couple/few short game shots with significant break, that require the player to play away from the hole.
4. As one ages, the requirements for walking demands and golf shots will change.
There's a scene in the movie "Up In The Air", where the main characters (one young, two older) are discussing what they want in a mate, and how their requirements diminish with age. "Somebody with a nice smile would be nice."
At the end of the day, I want nice friends who play about the same as me, and a pretty park to walk in. Everything else is gravy. I could never play every day, but three rounds a week at Pasatiempo, Stanford, The Valley Club, Riviera and Waverly would exceed all requirements. The weather at Bandon Dunes is too volatile. Pumpkin Ridge is home now, and the walk through the native environment might be best of all.