What is your GCA guilty pleasure?

[jeffwarne]

I enjoy watching Torrey Pines on TV-
and I'd like to play it once.
I've seen parts of it from the clubhouse and out by the beach on the cliffs-looks like fun.
Looking forward to this weekend.


I usually have zero desire to play Tour courses except Riviera, Pebble (which I've played and don't need to go back to)
Would like to play Old White and Monterrey Penninsula CC (still regret not having taken up Sir Bob on his many invites)but those aren't guilty pleasures.

[BHoover]

My guilty pleasure is playing and really enjoying courses like Hazeltine, Firestone, Muirfield Village, Canterbury, Scioto, and Oakland Hills. Actually that’s not entirely true because I have zero guilt in enjoying these courses, they are excellent.

[Peter Pallotta]

I'd like to be a member at Plainfield -- but with only 100 members in total and just a two-story, wood sided century building as the club-house, and with a very large (edit: but very discrete) maintenance crew, and one of the Harmon brothers as the Head Pro.
There's several things to feel guilty about right there.
But now that I'm at it: steak and eggs would be the signature/all day dish.
We'd get rid of the back tees and the front tees, and only have one set - at 6850 yards. Only a total par of 72 for modern equipment; par of 80 for the frequent persimmon and blade days.
The only time outside play would be allowed was during the once-a-year Member-Guest-Guest tournament; gross scores only.
Totally selfish of me, in almost every way. I'm kind of glad it can never be more than a guilty fantasy -- but only 'kind of' glad!

[Conley Hurst]

Fun thread. I'm glad y'all revisited it.


I tend to really like the occasional tall, overhanging tree near a green (i.e. 2 and 14 at Winged Foot West, 11 at Harbour Town, several holes at Firestone). They really get into better players' heads and force them to work the ball to get to certain pins. But for lesser players who keep the ball low along the ground, they rarely come into play.


On the other hand, I HATE trees that severely overhang fairways and block shots outright from certain angles. No fun to be had there.   

[Kalen Braley]

Conley totally agreed,


This hole is total dog meat!! 

[Conley Hurst]

Conley totally agreed,


This hole is total dog meat!! 

Didn't think of that one, Kalen 


Still, something irks me about the idea of being in the fairway and being entirely blocked out by trees, even on an otherwise great hole. Just my two cents....

[jeffwarne]

I'm a tree hugger
but
if you built the 17th at CPC today, you'd be panned as a "waster of a great site for a hole"

[Cal Seifert]

I actually really enjoy playing the 18th at Yale 

[Kalen Braley]

I'm a tree hugger
but
if you built the 17th at CPC today, you'd be panned as a "waster of a great site for a hole"

Jeff,  I'm curious why.  Its a good hole, just needs a couple of center line bunkers instead of trees to restore what i'm guessing was the original design intent. I'll have to bust out my CPC book, and refresh my memory on that...

[Tim Martin]

I actually really enjoy playing the 18th at Yale 

Cal-I'm with you and tend to think that most people's opinion at least the first couple of trips around is reflected in the score they made. As far as a card wrecker goes the hole can deliver in spades and is one of the wildest finishers in golf with no shortage of options or outcomes. It can also work in reverse whereby a par or better on 18 can lift the spirits considerably if there wasn't much magic in the first 17. I think its an epic finish on a remarkable golf course.

[jeffwarne]

I'm a tree hugger
but
if you built the 17th at CPC today, you'd be panned as a "waster of a great site for a hole"

Jeff,  I'm curious why.  Its a good hole, just needs a couple of center line bunkers instead of trees to restore what i'm guessing was the original design intent. I'll have to bust out my CPC book, and refresh my memory on that...

As I said Kalen,
I like the hole.I like trees used as strategy.
That said it just seems like at least a couple could come out to make the right side more of a viable option or add recovery options for those who drive near the centerline or left.


But if Doak had left some of those pines that populated the property as the primary feature on an ocean hugging hole at Tara Iti, he'd hear about it.
If an amateur did it he'd hear about it, and if Fazio or Jones did, they'd be ripped on this website

[Kalen Braley]

Jeff,


Completely agreed here.  I think the trees would be "tolerable if there was just 1 or 2.  I'm in the office today, but when I get home I'll have to see if I can find any original pics of the hole.


P.S.  Of course if Fazio did it he'd be ripped.  He can make toast for breakfast and a handful of GCA peeps would protest!! 

[Quinn Thompson]

...would a guilty pleasure be taking mushrooms 30 minute prior to every tee-time ?


Dare I say "imagine"...mundane munis becoming Elysian fields, mow lines rippling like waves in the wind, trees holding their branches behind their back as you address the ball, squirrels helping you dig out an errant drive in the woods, sand traps that pulsate with every breath you take, a 6 inch gap through the trees illuminates as you play the ball in the back of your stance with a 4 iron that now shines like a sword, greens that are drawn with pastels with chalky arrows showing the way, walking through the wispy rough with a 1-wood held high, guiding the sheep back to their home behind the 18th green...whoa.


After all, was it not Tim Leary who instructed us to "Turn on, tune in, and 'putt' out"...

[jeffwarne]

...would a guilty pleasure be taking mushrooms 30 minute prior to every tee-time ?


Dare I say "imagine"...mundane munis becoming Elysian fields, mow lines rippling like waves in the wind, trees holding their branches behind their back as you address the ball, squirrels helping you dig out an errant drive in the woods, sand traps that pulsate with every breath you take, a 6 inch gap through the trees illuminates as you play the ball in the back of your stance with a 4 iron that now shines like a sword, greens that are drawn with pastels with chalky arrows showing the way, walking through the wispy rough with a 1-wood held high, guiding the sheep back to their home behind the 18th green...whoa.

Hmmmm... perhaps Goat Hill isn't all that....

[Peter Pallotta]

There are many neat things that might spin out from Quinn's post, including one heck of a different Top 100! Augusta would plummet down the list, becoming overwhelmingly vibrant; and so too might Cypress and Pacific, as no one ever turns in any ratings because no one ever finishes a round - opting instead to to camp out by the water and watch the waves roll in. Of course, they'd still be thinking "Man - that Tommy D is a freaking genius"... 

[Rick Lane]

...would a guilty pleasure be taking mushrooms 30 minute prior to every tee-time ?


Dare I say "imagine"...mundane munis becoming Elysian fields, mow lines rippling like waves in the wind, trees holding their branches behind their back as you address the ball, squirrels helping you dig out an errant drive in the woods, sand traps that pulsate with every breath you take, a 6 inch gap through the trees illuminates as you play the ball in the back of your stance with a 4 iron that now shines like a sword, greens that are drawn with pastels with chalky arrows showing the way, walking through the wispy rough with a 1-wood held high, guiding the sheep back to their home behind the 18th green...whoa.


After all, was it not Tim Leary who instructed us to "Turn on, tune in, and 'putt' out"...

....best post of 2018.   Thanks for the lol.......

[Ian Andrew]

The Redan ... still can't play enough of them ... I'm made to feel guilt for that.

[jeffwarne]

Enjoying Torrey Pines on TV right now.
Parkland golf with a view.
Leaves not on many of the trees make it look like a northeast spring.


2 1/2 months to The Masters...
guilty

[Kalen Braley]

I'm curious.


Rooting for Tiger back in the day was a Guilty Pleasure of sorts, given he was always the favorite and all, it was always more interesting to root for challengers taking him on...


Is it still so now?  He's been thru so much shit, it'd be fun to see him put some Sunday scare into his fellow golfers again....

[MCirba]

...would a guilty pleasure be taking mushrooms 30 minute prior to every tee-time ?


Dare I say "imagine"...mundane munis becoming Elysian fields, mow lines rippling like waves in the wind, trees holding their branches behind their back as you address the ball, squirrels helping you dig out an errant drive in the woods, sand traps that pulsate with every breath you take, a 6 inch gap through the trees illuminates as you play the ball in the back of your stance with a 4 iron that now shines like a sword, greens that are drawn with pastels with chalky arrows showing the way, walking through the wispy rough with a 1-wood held high, guiding the sheep back to their home behind the 18th green...whoa.


After all, was it not Tim Leary who instructed us to "Turn on, tune in, and 'putt' out"...

I want to play there.

[Tim Martin]

...would a guilty pleasure be taking mushrooms 30 minute prior to every tee-time ?


Dare I say "imagine"...mundane munis becoming Elysian fields, mow lines rippling like waves in the wind, trees holding their branches behind their back as you address the ball, squirrels helping you dig out an errant drive in the woods, sand traps that pulsate with every breath you take, a 6 inch gap through the trees illuminates as you play the ball in the back of your stance with a 4 iron that now shines like a sword, greens that are drawn with pastels with chalky arrows showing the way, walking through the wispy rough with a 1-wood held high, guiding the sheep back to their home behind the 18th green...whoa.


After all, was it not Tim Leary who instructed us to "Turn on, tune in, and 'putt' out"...

....best post of 2018.   Thanks for the lol.......

+1

[jeffwarne]

Enjoying Torrey Pines on TV right now.
Parkland golf with a view.
Leaves not on many of the trees make it look like a northeast spring.


2 1/2 months to The Masters...
guilty

The bunkers at Torrey, while not overly attractive in a natural sort've way.(But befitting of the era the course was designed)
Seem to present an actual hazard where great skill is required to hit a quality shot from varied lies.
It seems the teeth on the rakes are quite wide leaving slight furrows and I see the ball sitting down quite often.
Not like the Nicklaus experiment years ago and probably not on purpose...
but I like it

[Tim Martin]

I like when the practice putting green is tied in or abuts the first tee. There is something about the atmosphere of guys on deck watching the action and getting ready to play that adds a bit of excitement to the ensuing round. Atlantic City CC and Fishers Island are two that come to mind.