Sounds like I would have plenty of long but not-so-straight company from the back tees with GCA folks, we could tag team the dogs in backyards to get back our Titleists!
Michael W,
Your question about what the different sets of tees are for gets to the heart of it, and I think the answer must be different for different architects. Tom Doak has the right attitude, and if I can have an enjoyable and challenging round playing his courses a set or two up, then its truly an admirable job! That has to come from great green complexes (second shot courses) rather than the "get over this corner/bunker/uneven ground and you win an easy approach" attitude that is unfortunately all too common.
I really liked your comment about trying to not let score control whether you have a good time or not. I know I am guilty of that too often, and it'd make a good belated New Year's resolution.
Its funny, because I actually got out on Jan 2nd -- not too common here in Iowa, but it was nearly 60 degrees. My dad and I played a little cow pasture nine holer in town, and I had that attitude without really thinking about it. I was just happy to be able to play in a time of year when I normally wouldn't (and won't, now there is 6" of snow outside) and knew the course was sort of mucky, lumpy due to freeze/thaw cycles and the greens which are shaggy during the best of times were especially shaggy. Even though I was entitled to winter rules, it being winter and all, I figured it'd be more fun to play it as it lies, even extending to playing my ball with the gigantic globs of mud it was acquiring. I did clean it on the greens, not that it helped on those greens. I knew any putt longer than 3' would be just luck if it went in, so I wasn't worried about it. Despite all the obstacles I shot 37, which is probably better than I would have done if I went out with my goal to shoot a low score and took every advantage I had at my disposal to make that happen.