[JakaB]

I have never in my life seen a group of people who seem to have a phobia of being stuck at the same course for two days in a row.   Every thread that invites or touts people to a new course is immediately followed up by request on what else to play in town or nearby.   Isn't the so called architectural student confused when he thinks he gets more bang for his architectural buck by hop skipping and jumping from course to course.   Am I missing something here...

[Jim_Coleman]

    Do you go to the same restaurant two nights in a row when you visit a new town?  And if you do, do you order the same meal? If you answer yes to either of these questions, let alone both, I suspect your life could be more interesting.

[Mike Hendren]

John,

You'll be delighted to know that The Other Senior Tour will play 72 holes this coming weekend at a single course - Limestone Springs in Oneonta, Alabama.  Hopefully, we'll suffer through somehow.  

Nonethless, do you have any contacts at Shoal Creek?

Mike
FOB
BGGWR

[Brent Hutto]

I'm with you on this one, John. I love playing new and different courses and that's why I end up splitting my vacation trips over too many different ones. But to really know anything about a course takes me at least two or three rounds, especially given that my game is going to produce a couple holes a round where I don't hit a single shot that's results in the "normal" play of the hole.

I wouldn't claim any real insight into a golf course's design or quality until I've played it on two different day, preferably with different wind or weather. In addition, 36 holes on one of those day is great because you get two looks at exactly the same course with the same hole locations and you can try two different "strategies" or at least two different club selection if you like.

I'm pretty sure when I make my pilgrammage to Scotland one of these days I'll settle in for several rounds at one of the great courses like Dornoch. I just don't think you'd perceive 1% of the true nature of a course like that by playing it once around and snapping a few photos.

[JakaB]

   Do you go to the same restaurant two nights in a row when you visit a new town?  And if you do, do you order the same meal? If you answer yes to either of these questions, let alone both, I suspect your life could be more interesting.

At my end of the year golf trip in St. Louis I played three rounds at one course and one round at another....staying by myself in Clayton I went to Morton's the first night and ate in the bar....The bartender was so kind and they made me feel so unusually comfortable for a guy eating alone that I did indeed go back again the second night....had a different steak but did have the same wrapped scallop appetizer and beefsteak tomatoe salad....even drank the same brand of beer.   The third night I ate at a new fashionable steakhouse that had just opened....I didn't fit in with the hip crowd but it was as you say interesting....I hope to go back to Morton's very soon.

[Tyler Kearns]

John,

From a golf and architecture standpoint, I agree, I'd rather play the same course twice. Over a second tour around the course, it will reveal itself further. You'll notice more architectural details and feel more comfortable playing the course due to previous knowledge gained from the first round.

However, with so much to see, and so little time to travel, I'd be inclined to play two different courses as a means of expanding the scope of golf courses and architectural features seen.

TK

[Brian_Gracely]

I can't speak to those other threads, but for the Dixie Cup II, my original intention was just to play Tobacco Road.  On its own merits, it's a course that really needs to be played several times to gain perspective on what's out beyond the edge of the tee-box.  But since it's considered a GCA event, and local to Ran, he insisted that at least a portion of it be played at Pine Needles.  

I'm hoping that some of the guys that haven't played TR before will get out there on Friday as well.  I pushed the folks at Pine Needles to allow us to play 36 holes on Saturday, but they pushed back that they'd prefer we play 18 each at Pine Needles and Mid Pines.

I have not yet seen the "where else should I play?" smokescreen requests for DCII yet, but to hopefully avoid that thread, here's the list for trophy hunters....

Pinehurst #2, 4, 7, 8 - local
CCNC (Dogwood, Cardinal) - local
Forest Creek (North, South) - local
National Golf Club - local
Old North State  - 1hr west
Quail Hollow - 2hrs west
Charlotte CC - 2hrs west
Starmount Forest - 1.5hr north

[JakaB]

However, with so much to see, and so little time to travel, I'd be inclined to play two different courses as a means of expanding the scope of golf courses and architectural features seen.

TK

Slow down and smell the roses my young friend...look at architectural features in books if that is what you want but when out in the field why not really just sit back and soak it all in....don't fall into the trap that you possess an eye that can see it all on one trip because that only exists only in an artifical architectural model created by people who are forced to play a course only once because of their jobs.....I don't blame them because they have family's to feed and their publishers don't pay them to lolly gag around.

[Mike_Sweeney]

 Am I missing something here...

I don't think you are missing anything. How many rounds of golf on how many different courses did you play on your Florida trip?  

[Pete Buczkowski]

JBK,

I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode where George is the "opposite of every man you will ever meet".  I am heading to MN next month and have 2 rounds scheduled at each of 3 courses.  Sad thing is I can't tell if this goes against your theory...does it help if they are all from the same architect...my guess is that hurts my cause in your world...

[ForkaB]

Good one, John

I think it is a matter of preference, and depends on age and experience as well as psychological makeup.  For some of us, "Once is Not Enough," while for others of us "Variety is the Spice of Life."

I was on the latter end of the spectrum when I was young and foolish, but now I am more fond of depth rather than breadth.  I'm tired of the golfing trips of the "If it's Tuesday it must be Pine Valley" variety.  Give me a home where the buffalo roam, but the golfers stay for more time than to grab a logoed hat and have a sip of the turtle soup.

I'd rather again re-read Shakespeare than try to complement my understanding of the bard by reading Marlowe.  But that's just me......

[Jason Topp]

I agree with you John.  I like to repeat play the best courses on a trip.  You get to know the course better and it is alot less work to play 36 in a day.

[JakaB]

 Am I missing something here...

I don't think you are missing anything. How many rounds of golf on how many different courses did you play on your Florida trip?  

When you are in town and people ask you to play their course you need to either play or tell them they are no longer your friend....I played, and very gladly I might add, exactly where I was invited and when.  If you had invited me to spend three days at Mountain Lake with you and your fine friend I would have blown off the GCSAA convention in a heartbeat.   I too am a trophy seeking golf slut...I just don't pretend to be anything but..

[JakaB]

JBK,

I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode where George is the "opposite of every man you will ever meet".  I am heading to MN next month and have 2 rounds scheduled at each of 3 courses.  Sad thing is I can't tell if this goes against your theory...does it help if they are all from the same architect...my guess is that hurts my cause in your world...

Pete,

Same architect sounds kinda cool...gotta give you a pass on that one.

[George Pazin]

At last something I can agree entirely with the inimitable JakaB on. I don't generally get involved with planning outings and get togethers, but if I were, I'd much rather play one course several times (unless it's a penal desert course - they're all the same so it doesn't really matter either way ).

I'm hoping to make it overseas one of these days, and when I do, I plan on spending a week in one area, playing predominantly one course, maybe even only one course. I have my dream course in Tasmania, another one in the Scottish Highlands, and another tucked away down in the corner of England that I'm looking forward to getting to know intimately.

 

[Doug Wright]

Jaka,

Variety is the spice of life! However, for me it depends on whether I expect to back in the region anytime soon. If I do expect to be back sometime I'll use the potpourri approach, play as many different courses as I can looking for the courses I really want to get to know and then focus on/return to them the next time; if I don't expect to be back anytime soon, I'll narrow the field and stick to a course or courses I'd like to know more about.

[Mike_Cirba]

John,

For me, I love the variety of courses available to all of us.

If you can't "get" a place in one visit, you're worrying too much about your game and not enough about the course.

[Jim_Coleman]

   I suppose it depends on your choices.  If you're in southwest Scotland for two or three days, do you play Troon or Turnbury four times, or do you play Toon, Prestwick, Western Gailes and Turnbury?  I'd try to play them all.  I'll trade perfect architectural appreciation for the experence.  If I'm in the Dominican Republic can play Teeth of the Dog multiple times and skip The Links, I'd do that.  Not that the Links is bad. but it's not good enough, given the choice.  But I'd try Dye Fore to see it and make my own decision.  Likewise, if my choice is Morton's or McDonalds, I'd eat every meal at Morton's.  But if there are four good rstaurans to choose from, I'll try all four.

[Jim_Kennedy]

John,
If your only going to see an area once, maybe twice in your golfing lifetime, then you might want to get out and take the nickel tour. As you said, you won't be able to take in all there is to see, architecturally, but you will have a better idea of what everyone is talking about, good or bad.        

[ForkaB]

John,

For me, I love the variety of courses available to all of us.

If you can't "get" a place in one visit, you're worrying too much about your game and not enough about the course.

Can't give you a free pass on that one, Mike.  So, does this mean that if you "get" that a course you have just played is better than any course you have ever played before, do you skip the opportunity to play it again tomorrow, just because there is "variety" available at some (likely) dog track down the road?

If so, you are some man.......!

[JakaB]

If you can't "get" a place in one visit, you're worrying too much about your game and not enough about the course.

That is an unadulterated lie...if it were true why play at all.  I think you could see three times as many courses if you just jumped in a cart and drove around the places...so why not do that if the "game" doesn't matter.

[Wayne Freeman]

The two Jims above have put it all into perspective. If you're in an area for the first time, get it all in and form the big picture-  flood your senses with all you can.  Then if you have the opportunity to come back, pick off the courses you want to savor.  When I went to Scotland, I played 15 courses in 13 days.  Yes it was a little hectic, but by sticking in one area several days at a time, things are not totally out of control.  Certainly at an end resort like Bandon, 36 a day and multiple plays is fairly easy.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

John,
Does this mean you will be playing Yale or The Creek two or more days in a row?  

There are no Morton's near any of those courses. At least that I know of.

[Mike_Cirba]

Rich,

If the next course I play is better than any course I've ever played, I'll try to do 36.  

John;

What course have you ever played where your initial impression was so far off course based on something you learned on subsequent visits or playings to completley alter your original opinion?  

I'd venture that if you can't see 90% of what's there the first time around then you're not looking.

Why play at all then?  

Because playing helps to validate what the mind's eye sees.  

[Pete Buczkowski]

JBK,

The problem I see with this query is that the lesser known courses will never get their due if the traveling golfer plays multiple rounds at the "trophy clubs".  And let's face it -- an architecture enthusiast is not going to travel to a place for a single visit and not hit up the best courses, so what are we left with?  

I hope there is a provision to encourage people to play additional courses if they are not well known.  Personally I like to play courses twice.  If I haven't been to an area before, I would be hardpressed to play a course more than twice if there are worthwhile courses in the area.

To take this to the other extreme...how many people go to Bandon and play each course only once?  How many would go there just to play Pacific Dunes or just Bandon Trails (not on a pre-opening VIP visit)?

Pete

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