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

[Martin Del Vecchio]

The Country Club (Brookline).

A work friend of mine gave me an open invitation to play whenever I wanted, since her dad was a member.

I refused on principle, because at the time I didn't believe in private clubs.  They exist strictly to discriminate, keep out the unwanted, etc.

And besides, when Jim Rice tried to join, they rejected him; it was all over the papers.

Now that I'm 40, I have a slightly better understanding of the world.  I even belong to a private club myself, and of course they/we don't discriminate at all.

[Jerry Kluger]

My two lost oppotunities were Prarie Dunes and ANGC.

PD was scheduled in coordination with a business trip but my wife went into early labor with our older son and I had to cancel - she didn't actually deliver for 5 weeks so I am still convinced she did it on purpose.

ANGC: At one time I owned an art gallery and we represented Leroy Neiman and I had him do a painting at ANGC that many of you probably have seen which I titled "April in Augusta," which features JN with Nick Faldo in the background.  Anyway, in making arrangements for him to attend the Masters I spoke with one of the few local members who liked Leroy's work and helped with hotel accommodations, limo, etc., and I am sure would have worked with me so I could have played the course.  Stupidly, I never followed up on the chance to play ANGC.

[Matt MacIver]

Torrential downpours kept me off both Lahinch and Bulls Bay.  Not even the locals played Lahinch that day, and Bulls Bay was closed for three straight days from standing water.  And thinking that a golf course was just a golf course, I turned down several opportunities to play Caves Valley; it wasn't until I moved away that I realized that was a mistake.  

[Jason Topp]

Merion:

I was in New York for the summer and was invited to take the train to Philadelphia my last weekend in town.

My girlfriend was flying out to New York to spend the weekend.  Probably the ultimate test of my fondness for her.

I made the right choice.  We have been married for 14 years.    

[Marty Bonnar]

Swinley Forest
We visited on our field trip to Surrey. Only for a wander round - not to play - so no clubs in cars.
Somebody mentioned to the greenkeeper something like: "Not many members out today, eh? (MASSIVE understatement - the place is always deserted). Maybe we could have played. Haha"
He replied along the lines: "Well, we know you now, so it wouldn't be a problem".
Unfortunately, no other free time that week to go back. Dag nab it, Musky!

FBD.

[Paul Jones]

Royal Troon, it was raining so hard that they had standing water on the green and still regret not playing.

[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,

I forgot when this thread came up a couple years ago that I had a tee time at Olympic a few years back that I couldn't keep. That hurt...

[Joel_Stewart]

In the mid 70's I was in college at USC and a dorm freind from NY and a member at Winged Foot asks if I want to go to the Masters and stay with the pro at Winged Foot during the tournament.  He said we could play Augusta on Monday after the tournament.  I had no money at all and had to say no.  As it turns out, it was Claude Harmon and they did play ANGC the next day.  

[JESII]

In the mid 70's I was in college at USC and a dorm freind from NY and a member at Winged Foot asks if I want to go to the Masters and stay with the pro at Winged Foot during the tournament.  He said we could play Augusta on Monday after the tournament.  I had no money at all and had to say no.  As it turns out, it was Claude Harmon and they did play ANGC the next day.  

And the winner is...

[Gib_Papazian]

Joel,

Nothing can top that. My biggest non-golf regret was to be offered a free ticket to The Last Waltz at Winterland and not take it because I had a date with a hot chick. I cannot remember her name.

To add insult to injury, when I was at USC Film School, Vilmos Zigmund (who directed the photography) brought in the movie to show the class.

Golf regret? This is going to seem an odd one, but the Valley Course at Portrush. We could have rearranged a few things but decided to play the Dunluce again. Though I had one of my best rounds in memory the second time around, my clearest memory was looking over the precipice on #13 towards the Valley Course and wondering why I was not out there.

[Dan Kelly]

As one who never, ever passes up a chance to play a good course , I couldn't think of an answer -- till now. And not having played either of the two contenders, I still can't answer it.

Perhaps you boys can.

A friend of mine in LA offered to set me up with a friend of his at Riviera, Los Angeles CC, or Bel-Air.

I, of course, said any of the three would be dandy.

He chose the friend at Bel-Air. It was dandy.

So: I passed up LACC and Riviera.

Which one should I take, next time?

[Brian_Sleeman]

Pebble Beach

On what was going to be a golf-filled honeymoon anyway, on our first full day on the Peninsula I called Pebble Beach out of curiosity for their availability that afternoon.  They told me if I arrived within the next half hour, they could get me in the last tee time of the day at 12:30.  The timing would have been a stretch, so we decided to drive down to Big Sur instead and play our opening round at Pasatiempo the next day.  The weather was ideal for the drive down to Big Sur, and Pebble will most likely be there for a return trip somewhere down the line.

[Carlyle Rood]

When I was a teenager, the head professional at Atlanta Country Club pulled me and another buddy aside.  He said a club member had arranged it so that two junior golfers would be invited to play Augusta National the following Wednesday.  Were we interested?

I told him that I was very interested; but, I couldn't go because I had school that Wednesday.  My buddy agreed he couldn't make it either for the same reason.

I related this to my father when I got home.  My dad was incredulous.  "School?  You can go to school any Wednesday!"

I called our pro back, but he had already invited two other juniors by then.  Needless to say, but I've never been invited since then.  (As an aside, my buddy has played the course a half dozen times since then.)

[Glenn Spencer]

Augusta National- 7th grade. I am struggling with Algebra and my grandfather says that if I get an A in it, he will take me to Augusta with him. Of course, being somewhat removed from school, he did not understand that 4 weeks was not enough time to turn a D into an A.  

The National- I always knew that it was my grandfather's favorite course, but I never knew that he was a corporate member there until about 7-8 years ago. Sometimes that generation is just too quiet for their grandchildren's well-being.

Rainouts? Shinnecock. I 3-putt one and hit a sterling 3-iron on 2 and make par. I am just starting to think that things are going to take off and the skies open up and I never hit another shot on the grounds.

[Mike_Cirba]

Old Sandwich.

[Dan Kelly]

Old Sandwich.

Stewart? Chuckwagon?

Man, I'm hungry all of a sudden.

[Bob_Huntley]

.....And now the opportunity will be passing over the next few months....

Back the frickin truck up!!!  I know I have been MIA from GCA for the better part of six months but that statement reads like you are either a. dieing or b. getting married (Our friend the Armenian would say there is no difference).  Is it true?  Stettner and now yourself.  Bring me up to speed, please.

Dave and John,

I am reminded of Oscar Wilde's advice to those about to be married.........DONT.


Bob

[Dan Kelly]

.....And now the opportunity will be passing over the next few months....

Back the frickin truck up!!!  I know I have been MIA from GCA for the better part of six months but that statement reads like you are either a. dieing or b. getting married (Our friend the Armenian would say there is no difference).  Is it true?  Stettner and now yourself.  Bring me up to speed, please.

Dave and John,

I am reminded of Oscar Wilde's advice to those about to be married.........DONT.


Bob

Especially if you're the Oscar Wilde type.