Your greatest pleasure in golf

[Tommy Williamsen]

My greatest pleasure in golf is getting up and down from impossible places.
Years ago, it was hitting the drive far, but I haven't hit one far in two decades.

[Paul Jones]

Ice cold beer after my round.

[John Handley]

Playing with my friends. And making birdies.

[JLahrman]

Playing 18 holes without losing a ball. It's a nice feeling.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

Hitting a good shot.

I still remember a shot that I hit 18 years ago, for example. The wind didn't move it as much as I wanted so I didn't even hit the green (I had a 20-footer for birdie through about three feet of fairway/fringe), but the shot was perhaps the best struck shot I'd ever hit (at the time), and hit the exact window that I had pictured, and was just exactly as planned.

It's tremendously satisfying. Even if it's to the safe side of the fairway or green, Tom. 

[Tim_Weiman]

Hitting a difficult shot exactly as I intended. My most memorable example was on the 17th hole on Ballybunion’s Cashen course. I had 215 yards and a pretty good left to right wind. Aimed about 15 yards left of the green and landed in the middle.

[Ken Moum]

Since I've never been a good ballstriker, but Avery good chipper and pitcher,  those up-and-downs are my happy place.


Now, at 75, they're my only chance.


I broke my left radius by my thumb three weeks ago and have been playing one-handed.  Just yesterday I I got up and down for par by hitting a so so pitch, then chipping in.


Nobody else in my foursome parred it.

[MKrohn]

Probably not the "greatest" because it would be a bit odd however I love the bag pack and anticipation ahead of a big trip. Clubs shining, balls marked, minimising for carry weight, everything in the right place. Let's go.

[Tim Leahy]

Hitting a great drive from an elevated teebox and watching it sail down the fairway.
Also holing out from a bunker for a birdie.

[Mike_Trenham]

Playing the first 12 or 13 holes well and knowing I have a chance at a good score (for me) and feeling the pressure yet having the calmer feeling I have when playing well.  Now the question is which feeling will win out and how will I perform can I stay present and grind out a good round.


I must also say I do not consider myself a guy overly driven by what the scorecard reads but the best scores of the season or career are a big driver for me.

[archie_struthers]

 


Finishing off a stoke play round under pressure and holding up!  Whether it be winning your club championship , shooting a personal best or just breaking 100,90,80 or 70 it is so gratifying to break thru. The hardest game to "hold it together" .

[Philip Gordillo]

Great question.  I think about this all of the time.  Can't decide on one so here are three:


- Playing golf after work during the summer - usually 5 holes and solo - sometimes with hickories.


- Golf travel anywhere.


- Meeting another fellow golf sicko.

[Ira Fishman]

On the course: playing a well judged bump and run. The more contour to navigate, the better.


Off the course: sipping a drink after the round from a good vantage point overlooking the course. If it is sunset, all the better.


Ira

[Peter Sayegh]

Easy one for me.

Using my Ping Wack-E putter from ANY situation within 100 yards of the green.
New playing partners think I'm insane till they see the result. I enjoy the incredulity...and jealousy.

[Craig Sweet]

Good fitting shoes

[Jim_Coleman]

   Not making a double bogey in a round.

[David_Tepper]

While it is more a minor pleasure, I like the feel of the "thump" when using the bounce of my sand wedge on a well hit bunker shot.

[Stewart Abramson]

There are rare moments in golf for me that are sublime and transcendent. They don’t necessarily have anything to do with golf shots. They are more dependent on place and circumstances. They have occurred when I’m alone, with great friends and with strangers. They seem to occur the first time I experience a place and I’m completely in the moment knowing it is one that I’ll remember forever.  A few examples:

• Playing alone, reaching the high ground that is the 4^th teeing area at Ballyneal for the first time and soaking in the vastness beyond;
• Hitting my first tee shot ever in Scotland (at Glasgow Gailes) with three members who I had just met, but who made me feel like we were old friends;
• Loud cheers from 30+ anonymous society members all in crimson sweaters, standing between the R&A club house and 18^th green as I sunk a miraculous long putt from off the front left  of the 18^th green to end my first ever round at TOC.

[Jeff Schley]

Carrying your playing partner in a match when it is all up to you.  We aren’t pros, so competition and coming through when you need to is a great feeling.

[Greg Hohman]

Nice thread (same goes for current Worst Routing ). The variety already! Soccer (competitive participant until my early 20s and follower of the game to this day) and skiing (recreational) are my other favorites; and, no disrespect toward them intended, I am hard-pressed to list a comparable variety of pleasures.

[Jim Hoak]

Hitting greens in regulation.  Resulting birdie putt.
We all need to play shorter tees so we have more birdie putts--or we are short-changing ourselves.

[Kalen Braley]

Sticking an approach shot in tight. 

This is certainly relative to boot, hitting a 4 iron to 10-15 feet is just as thrilling if not more than hitting a wedge to 3...

As this is a fairly rare occurrence for me these days, I enjoy them that much more.

[David Cronan]

I've 3:


Walking off the 18th hole after spending 4 (hopefully not more) hours with friends.


Walking off the 18th hole after meeting 2-3 new people, getting to know them better and making new friends.


Playing alone at dusk, ear buds in and listening to either WWOZ or WWNO/Jazz. Outside of scuba diving, not sure there's a more peaceful/serene place in the world for me.

[jeffwarne]

"Greatest pleasure"?
I do have fond memories of a bit of "night putting"  [size=78%]at my local club growing up...[/size]


More recently, warming up with a Guiness overlooking the first tee of most any links course, in anticipation of a great day.
Northwest, Dunfanaghy, Cruit or Portsalon come to mind

[John Kavanaugh]

My greatest joy comes in the anticipation of pleasure.