The best course you could have played but didn't...

[Michael Moore]

Friar's Head

Last year I arrived for a Memorial Day match with the pro and perhaps the owner, and it was a flat out monsoon. I walked the course by myself.

It was kind of a  cool way to see it.

And I did get a raincheck.

[John_Cullum]

Wayne
I will acknowledge that your wife had a much more important role than the writers of baywatch. And from my little bit of watching, your wife did do excellent work.

[Doug Wright]

The Old Course, March 1990, my only trip thus far to the Auld Sod. Alas, they were "resting" the course in March for the British Open to be held there that year. We did walk the course, though, which by itself was special.  

Last year the aforementioned Sand Hills invite with Brad Swanson...

I also regret a missed opportunity to play a round with Annika Sorenstam back when she was at ASU. A client invited me to play with them at CC of Castle Pines; I'd heard of Annika, knew she was a very good college player, had to cancel due to some other client commitment. In hindsight a real missed opportunity.

This year I'm afraid it'll be Banff.

All The Best,

[Mike_Golden]

Here I was feeling really guilty about not having my own story and realized that about 4 years ago I could have played Quaker Ridge through one of my now ex-wife's cousins' connections.  The only problem was I needed to stay married, at least until after playing there

In all honesty, as much as I'd like to play Quaker Ridge, I'm far, far better off being divorced

[TEPaul]

MikeG:

I know where you were playing today because I'm Kanac the Magnificient and I'm glad you did or that may've turned out to be the best course you could've played but didn't. Maybe I'm wrong about that but I am sure you can't beat the company.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Painswick...

[Brian Phillips]

Mike,

I have to agree, Painswick..

Brian

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

You guys are something else. Brian, I guess I could try to go to Augusta during a new moon. Huck obviously has a handle that I have not earned nor am I likely to with a queezy stomach that cannot jump a small creek like this one.

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Bump.

There must have been some tough luck stories in the past 2 1/2 years.

I've learned from my past mistakes/experiences.  I played Kapalua Plantation in a severe rainstorm early last year that was so bad the starter came up to me and stressed there were no refunds once I teed off.  I told her I didn't travel half-way around the world, pay to stay at the Ritz Carlton and not play the golf course.  My determination was rewarded with a fun round, an all-world par from the back tee on #18 and a week-long head cold.  It was totally worth it.

[Lloyd_Cole]

Capilano. Canadian customs held us up for 3 or 4 hours. I missed my tee time. Absolutely beautiful day. Man, I was furious.

[David Sneddon]

Had to pass up a round at Prestwick a few years ago - didn't have my clubs along on that trip to Scotland, and time was a factor.

In 2004 had an invite to play Loch Lomond but passed again - I  was flying home to Canada that day.  It was also after a 12 day Links Extravaganza comprising of 16 rounds of golf, and man, I was beat!!!

[Tommy Williamsen]

I love my Dad and I needed to be in MI for his surgery but it meant not playing Liberty National, Bayonne, and Sebonic. Oh well I'm not dead yet and there is next year.

[Craig Van Egmond]

Both courses I listed on this thread (Prairie Dunes and Sand Hills), I now have gotten to play. Life is good.

 

[Ian Andrew]

Does it count if I was standing on the 1st tee at the Old Course when they decided to close the course?

It was 80 degrees with a light wind and clear.

[Scott Stearns]

tie between 3 days at Sand Hills in a private plane

and blowing off dinner with an R & A member

 

[John Kavanaugh]

I could have played Pebble Beach if I had qualified for the 2000 US AM...instead I got a letter asking me to never try again.

[Geoffrey Childs]

Mine is more wishful thinking then actually turning down an invitation.

About five to six years ago I was invited to give a lecture at a symposium on New technologies and Advances in Genetics and Personalized Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia (Augusta). They offered my expenses and a generous $1000 honorarium.

I accepted their offer to speak but I said that I would be very happy to forego the honorarium if they knew someone who could play The Augusta National with me. After a bit of time where they said they looked into it with former patients and staff, I got the following reply -

Geoff - "We tried our best but we have concluded that we can sooner get you into heaven then we can a round of golf at The Augusta National"

My talk was well accepted and I had a wonderful time at the symposium.  I have no idea what happened to my $1000 but I know I would have remembered the round of golf.

[Gary Slatter]

Pine Valley.  Buddy "Moresco" was PV Captain and invited my wife and I to play at noon on a Sunday in June 2003. We were in the middle of a round at Wilmington CC when someone from the Pro Shop brought us the message "Good news and bad news, what do you want first?"  I asked for the bad news and it was Buddy can't make it. The good news was we played Congressional instead.
The same trip we were supposed to play Atlantic and our host was rushed to the hospital the night before, so we played Maidstone again. I prefer Maidstone anyway, so it was only good news.

[Geoffrey Childs]

Pine Valley.  Buddy "Moresco" was PV Captain and invited my wife and I to play at noon on a Sunday in June 2003. We were in the middle of a round at Wilmington CC when someone from the Pro Shop brought us the message "Good news and bad news, what do you want first?"  I asked for the bad news and it was Buddy can't make it. The good news was we played Congressional instead.
The same trip we were supposed to play Atlantic and our host was rushed to the hospital the night before, so we played Maidstone again. I prefer Maidstone anyway, so it was only good news.

Hey Gary - If Buddy couldn't make it because he had to go to the emergency room then remind me never to invite you to play golf  

[John Foley]

Naples National, Crystal Downs & Kittansett.

All three came when I had familly obligations I could not get out of.

A few locals also, but those will come back again.

I hope!

[RichMacafee]

I was invited to play in the Crump Cup at Pine Valley in 2004 or 2005. Work committments (I'm in Australia) didn't allow me to go in 2004, and when I emailed my contact to confirm the 2005 invitation it all became too hard for him unfortunately.

I will always regret not taking up that initial invitation to play Pine Valley in tournament conditions If I had thought the offer was for 2004 only I'm sure I would have found a way to get there. Always grab an opportunity when it presents itself first time!

[Jeff Doerr]

Some years back I was in Louisville and missed Valhalla by a day. As in a lot of things in life - it's not what you know, but who you know...  I met my now good friend Charles a day late to fill out the Valhalla foursome.

[Jesse Jones]

A buddy of mine and his business partner meet a member of Winged Foot.
The WF member offers my friend and his partner an invitation to play the course.
The next time my friend is in NY he calls the member..The game is set for the next day..He says bring a friend..
At the same time, 300 miles a away, I'm in one of those conversations with my wife.
Some of you know the type..
She says..
You play too much golf..You spend too much time away playing golf..You spend too much money playing golf..
I say..
You're right(She was at the time).
Ten minuets later my cellphone phone rings..

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Royal St. Georges twice

[Phil McDade]

The Old Course.

Arrived in St. Andrews on a late Sat. afternoon (after walking Carnoustie at the '99 Open), walked the course on Sunday when it was closed, and -- on a lark -- went to the starter Monday morning to see if I could get on as a single. He told me the only slot he had available was at the same time as my pre-arranged tee time that afternoon at nearby Crail (and I was leaving for Wisconsin the next morning). I kept my tee time at Crail, and enjoyed a wonderful round with a pastor from Orange County (who knew the head pro at Crail, invited me up to the clubhouse for drinks afterwards, and the two of them spent a couple of hours scheming about how the pastor could get on to Muirfield). A memorable day, but still a few regrets about not playing TOC.