"A Course That I Could Play Every Day"

[John Kavanaugh]

The ball issue is a false flag created by people trying to destroy the game.

At one point while we were building Cape Kidnappers, Julian Robertson told me [and Bruce Hepner] that "you guys spend too much time worrying about people losing their balls."


I asked him to put that in writing for me so I could send it back to him later.  He decided not to; which was too bad, because it would have come in very handy the first time he played the full 18 holes

Back when I played in an environment that people would ask what I shot every answer came with a caveat of how many balls I lost. As in OB or water or such, even If I was able to recover the balls. Something like I shot 80 with three OB, sort of a fake 74. This is why I still don't feel that losing balls is so much about the balls as it is about ego. In a reverse sort of way how many balls you lose during a round borders on a form of bragging. Golfers love and often embrace a good excuse.

[Peter Pallotta]

It's true.
As AG once pointed out, the built-in excuse is probably the main reason I still play with persimmon.
I'm upset that there's not *more* water on my home course; my 88s or 92s come with no lost balls, and thus with nary an excuse!
 

[John Kavanaugh]

I love Richard Choi, always have. This quote from him about a visit to a course and losing balls is my favorite of all time: "I played 27 holes and lost 18 balls (I was going to play 36, but ran out of balls)."

[JJShanley]

Plenty of opportunity to lose balls at North Berwick West Links, but wouldn't stop me retiring to East Lothian if I played there.

[Carl Rogers]

If I lived did not live 4.5 hours away, and was quite quite well off to afford the $190 a round, then the Cascades (Homestead) would do it.

[Sean_A]

Plenty of opportunity to lose balls at North Berwick West Links, but wouldn't stop me retiring to East Lothian if I played there.

I refused to give up on two balls I hit on the beach at 2 & 13 on Sunday. Got it up n down on 13.


Ciao

[John Kavanaugh]

Plenty of opportunity to lose balls at North Berwick West Links, but wouldn't stop me retiring to East Lothian if I played there.

I refused to give up on two balls I hit on the beach at 2 & 13 on Sunday. Got it up n down on 13.


Ciao

On 2 I took one look at the fall control cage on the ladder down to the beach and was convinced I'd get stuck. Do Scottish firemen even rescue fat Irishmen?

[JJShanley]

Plenty of opportunity to lose balls at North Berwick West Links, but wouldn't stop me retiring to East Lothian if I played there.

I refused to give up on two balls I hit on the beach at 2 & 13 on Sunday. Got it up n down on 13.


Ciao

On 2 I took one look at the fall control cage on the ladder down to the beach and was convinced I'd get stuck. Do Scottish firemen even rescue fat Irishmen?

I refused to give up on a ball I spanked onto the beach on 14, because I'd hit that ball to five feet into a stiff wind, missing the putt, the previous hole.

[Matt Elliot]

The ball issue is a false flag created by people trying to destroy the game.

At one point while we were building Cape Kidnappers, Julian Robertson told me [and Bruce Hepner] that "you guys spend too much time worrying about people losing their balls."


I asked him to put that in writing for me so I could send it back to him later.  He decided not to; which was too bad, because it would have come in very handy the first time he played the full 18 holes

Back when I played in an environment that people would ask what I shot every answer came with a caveat of how many balls I lost. As in OB or water or such, even If I was able to recover the balls. Something like I shot 80 with three OB, sort of a fake 74. This is why I still don't feel that losing balls is so much about the balls as it is about ego. In a reverse sort of way how many balls you lose during a round borders on a form of bragging. Golfers love and often embrace a good excuse.

Well said John. The "fake" score always seems to be brought up in the clubhouse after the round. "I would have shot 77 if it wasn't for the lost ball on 15" discussion. I have a guy I play with that always says if we had 1,000 spotters per hole like the guys on tour have then we wouldn't loose a ball. I always respond with the same thing. We don't play on the tour! Lost balls are more about damaging the ego above all else!