Mike, I also sometimes have felt that a long trip to a great course was sometimes daunting if I don't play up to my best (which isn't all that to begin with)

But, now I just feel that I'll be thrilled to shoot mid 80s at one of these good courses, and if I blow up worse, well it isn't like I'm in a toon-a-mint.  I'm there to explore and experience that particular course.  I may not be able to hit all the shots, but I can see them, try them, and get lucky every once in a while.   Or, my playing companion might make the shot I miss, and you still get the thrill of seeing a particular aspect of the design attacked well.

I shall give a great amen also.

 

I've related my story re the extreme of this before:  Dornoch - playing awful - actually threw the whole bag into the high rough off of the 9th tee after yet another awful shot.  Reality then hit me - what the hell am I doing obsessing over shot quality on one of the world's great courses like that?  It was a valuable lesson and JOY has been my mantra as well at great and not so great courses ever since.

Oh, one does still want to play well... and less than standard golf still does become a chore if it goes on too long... But particularly at the great courses, man if one let's his quality of play determine his joy level, he is really missing the point.

Glad to hear you found that joy out east, Mike.  I had a similar experience a few years ago.

 

TH

ps - Bob's defense of the relevance of par in that NGLA thread is excellent indeed; unfortunately, he's arguing a point that is already conceded and understood.  Hopefully he gets that...

Amen also!!!

I got up at 5:30AM on Monday when I was in Boston earlier this week. To get a first thing in the AM round at a public course that I wanted to see as I had heard very good things about.

They clubhouse was almost an hour late in opening and they we're punching the fairways on a few holes. Along w/ that I played like dog poop. Drove it poorly and putted even poorer.

When I left later that morning I was thrilled to see what I saw, understand a little more about the whole concept of architecture and take a walk w/ a stick & a ball.

Mike/Bogey

I am by human nature a perfectionist and hard on myself with work and all things for the most part.  For most of my playing time as well as practice, I always want to do the very best I can and many times this has resulted in a great loss of what should have been a peaceful and relaxing occasion.  To a fault, I have been guilty at times of not taking the time to simply enjoy the pure experience and joy of this wonderful game excluding all architectural thoughts which is something I can't seem to get away from.

Thank you for the inspiration.  I have only played two rounds this season...don't ask, but the second was last Sunday where I opened with a 40 not bad for the start of the second round, and closed with a 45, not so good, but in the 45 I had three pars, an eagle and a stellar birdie.  Those moments of greatness, for me anyway, keep me going, but now I shall have to learn how to gracefully accept the two snowmen and "others" as well who accompanied me on my long journey back to the clubhouse.

Bob,

You're never the bad guy here.

We're just trying to explain that we can look at and largely disregard our lowly efforts measured against par and still have fun just looking and seeing the golf course in the interim.

(Did I ever tell you about the summer I was sixteen and used to meet a girl under a magnolia next to the 13th green after we got off lifeguarding....?)

Not that I remember. Do tell!

(On that particular "course," what was the "par"?)

Bob,

You couldn't be a bad guy if you tried.  Even when the game is just a walk with a stick and a ball, every par is precious and the rare birdie is treasured.  

I'm content with bogey, but satisfied by par.

Mike

Bob,

You couldn't be a bad guy if you tried.

Don't tell that to the girl under the magnolia tree!

Tom -

I accept your use of "score". It is hereby substituted wherever I used the word "par" above.

Dan -

The girl under the magnolia was at least as bad as I was. So it was perfect.

Bob

The girl under the magnolia was at least as bad as I was. So it was perfect.

Hopefully you two at least had the courtesy to start at a beginner's course.  After all, poor play is not an excuse for slow play...er...ahhh

I'd better quit.

At that age, I'd think poor play would generally be quick play -- particularly among those obsessed with scoring.

Yeah, Dan...that's where I was going with it...that's why I figured I'd better quit.  

Why does reading this make me want to get up two groups at some great course, then get in the group AHEAD of BillV, and spend the whole round regaling my partners with stories, being regaled by them, trying all sorts of practice shots, taking 200 pictures, and generally having a grand ole time taking 6 hours to finish?

I never have seen a fit of apoplexy.