Well, since ya asked...
This fall, I met another GCAer for a round at Eagle Creek (Pete Dye/Tim Liddy) in Indianapolis. As is my fashion, I raced out there right from work - failing to rememeber that I had pulled my clubs out of the trunk one day prior.
All I had was a fresh sleeve and an out-of-favor 5 iron, but fortunately, the terrain is severe and unkempt.
96 strokes later, I can say with absolute confidence that I'm now somewhat proficient in all sorts of otherwise utterly useless shots:
-The 5i from a greenside bunker
-The 86 yard 5i to the pond-guarded front pin
-The 125 yard 5i from the downhill lie to an elevated green
-The hooded 5i off the tee of a wide-open 550 yarder.
That said, it was an absolute blast and it definitely re-acquainted me with a bunch of shots I used to love but of late had left untouched in the quiver, where they go dull and rust.
I was also reminded of something I've long believed but had forgotten: if you can divorce yourself from the notion that "better" is always better, you can find all sorts of fun on a golf course. Specifically, I smile MUCH wider watching a 100-yard 5-iron trundle, scurry and bounce to 15 feet from the flag than I do watching a wedge fly and stick to 14 feet. One feels like success and the other like failure.
Makes absolutely no sense, but there you have it...