Of course I know exactly what Adam speaks of as I was his guest just a few weeks ago, and know that you could literally walk from his ranchette to the local mom and pop which happens to be owned and run by someone I might call the dean of superintendents in Nebraska. That 'mom and pop' literally owned and operated by a family which starts with help from grandpa, son (the super and do all be all club manager), and assistance of his wife and now even younger children, is the place one goes to be real. To be a real golfer, socialize with other community golfers, and have many more aspects beyond just teeing up the little white ball and playing just golf. It is a focal point of socialization. The fact that it is run by a man who has maintained the so-called 6th best course in the world, is but a co-incidental benefit along with the more central issue, that you are among your community of friends that share a common recreational and social pursuit that happens to take place at this non-descript, never will rank architecturally, golf venue. You just get a nice golf place to play due to the knowledge of the owner/operator, and more importantly, a place to be. (The course is called West Winds in Ogallala run by Cory Crandall, BTW)
I think like Adam's situation, one must seperate golf into at least two distinct categories. One is the passionate pursuit most everyone on GCA.com shares of experiencing great golf design/architecture, and intensely critiquing and discussing all the minutia that comes with a pursuit that is in my view somewhat priveleged and elete. Not many can belong to a BallyNeal. Yet, if you are fortunate enough to play or belong, it is a higher sort of calling to pursue, and we would all seek such out if we possibly could. There is no doubt that for the sake of golf course design appreciation, spending your time and money to experience such is part of the passionate pursuit and investigation of the finer and greater points of GCA.
It takes some financial means and connections to go travelling in these high brow, golf architecture cirlces and then come on GCA.com and write comments to show your GCA accumen. Yet, you can still be a 'real golfer' and ply your game at the local M&P.
Perhaps, the soul of the game and the spirit that truly warms your heart and makes you thankful to declare "I am a golfer" is to play, compete, and socialise at the modest places where ALL golfers of every economic strata can go to celebrate the shear joy of playing, competing, and loving the life that goes with that sort of atmosphere. That occurs most often at mom and pops.
I think that the golf scene is local, just as they say... all politics are local. There are varying balances of muni-mom and pop- private and semi private club structures and accessibility, depending on your geographic location.
Personally, I am first and foremost a municipal golf course patron. But, my circumstance may be so unique due to the tradition and what has developed in my area of Green Bay Wisconsin, with the incredibly great muni we have, that it may not be quite the same balance as other folks in other areas. But, what might be similar, is the falling back to the 'mom and pops' once the muni is closed for the year or before it opens in spring.
Ironically, I played my last rounds of the year today on my beloved muni, which in the last two weeks since the lines were blown, and with the rich dewey nights has yeilded course conditions as good as I have ever experienced anywhere... Today was the last day, and I played from morning until dark and felt I have never played anywhere better (and I've seen a few).
Now it is over as we have reached the date of official close today. Yet, there is good weather coming. Now is the time for the local "mom and pops". One of our local M&Ps banks on this 'shoulder' or pre-post season time when the premier affordable muni course closes, and the fanatics will come to take advantage of the M&Ps spring or fall offers. We will play and drink and socialise afterwords and hopefully help them get over the hump (if they really have a hump). They do good business all year anyway. But, the balance that is struck here locally has evolved to a very happy medium. Everyone in the golf course management and ownership game seems to have enough time to all get their beaks wet.
Yet, I know full well, our local situation is ideal, and many of you don't have quite as good of a situation.
So, as Joe said, you need to get out there and have some pure unpretentious fun at M&Ps. Forget rankings, status, expectations of top turf conditions, and look for the little things that still allow you to feel the joy. Most M&Ps strive to do something different in the way of a local touch, ammenity, etc. Those opportunities are out there if you seek them out.
If you have a M&P, go see if there is something that drives their dream to work the long hours, and probably not make the big bucks, yet keep them in the game to continue to run their operation in lieu of the big sell-out. They have their golf dreams, just like you.
