[Jeff Doerr]

JC's thread on Crystal Downs got me thinking about this.

How do you prepare to play that "dream come true" or "once in a life time" course?

Once you are there, how do you take it in? How do you treasure the experience?

[A.G._Crockett]

Try really hard not to be particularly interested in my score; SEE the whole place (as opposed to the just the portion of each hole that I happen to be playing), 'cause I may never get the opportunity to pass that way again.

[JC Jones]

That is my plan.  Research as much as I can, see as many pictures and get as much advice as possible so I know what I am looking at and I know what to look for.  Not sure if this is the right method because this is my first rodeo on this type of course (PacDunes is public so its a bit different).

Maybe someone can comment, is it taboo to take a lot of pictures?  Does that upset the member or the membership?

[Mark Manuel]

I think what is nice about JC's thread is the excitement that comes through.  Typically when I get the chance to play a great course I read whatever is available including Ran's reviews.  That is how I found this site, headed out to play the Ocean Course and did a web search.

One thing I try to do is take in every hole.  Stand on the tee and try to see why the hole(s) flow the way they do.  I always want to walk because you don't get the same sense of a layout from a cart.  I like to look back from the green and think about where a shot should have come from in the fairway to make the hole easier in case I get the chance to play again.

Finally, I try to appreciate the experience whether I shoot 76 or 96.  I don't get paid to play so it should always be fun.

Crystal is a great experience and the first tee alone is worth the price of admission.

[Tom Birkert]

The course that got me the most excited was definitely Cypress Point earlier this year. I’d been looking forward to the trip for ages anyway and once we’d confirmed that we were playing there the expectation went up a notch.

It was our first morning there, so we were still jet lagged. We did manage to practice on the range at Spyglass before so we were loose, and we took caddies (one thing I recommend if available). More to the point, I was determined to enjoy it however I played and to take in as much of the scenery and the course as possible. The caddies really helped us feel at ease and because I was playing with friends it probably made it seem more like a “normal” round. We played for our normal stakes, off our normal handicaps. It was just the course which changed.

I think the otherwise normality of the situation helped, and I ended up shooting 78 which was to my handicap which I was pleased about.

The key things for me would be as follows:

Don’t be late!
Loosen up before hand
Take a caddie
Treat it as normally as you can

[ChipRoyce]

Back when I wasn't playing so much I would go and do the following:

1) Buy a box of new balls, ones I didn't normally play and were over my budget (best deserves the best, right?)
2) Press my best golf shirt
3) Talk up my game like no tomorrow
4) Hit balls for days in a row, make sure the back is nice and tight!
5) Listen way too much to the caddies.

When I arrived at the course, I'd be so tight and worked up, I usually shot +10 over my handicap.

Fortunately, I've been able to put that behind me - in many cases, I just do what I normally do (focus on practicing putts and short shots when I get to the course - take the pressure off my driving and iron game). Also, I tend to manage my caddies better (tell them how I like to hit shots, what options I feel comfortable with, and understand my putting speed). Iin the worst case, I'm able to shoot within 2-4 strokes of my handicap.

[Jason Topp]

Here is my approach:

1.  Plan on making sure you have fun, even if you play horribly and especially if you are playing with a host.  I think the most important job of a guest is to have fun, which can sometimes be difficult when you are excited about a course. lose control of your swing and shoot a million.  

    On my recent trip to Bandon Dunes I think a full 25% of the people I played with were miserable during the round because they played poorly.  Relax - you probably spent a lot of money and you probably are not that good, so why try and make enjoyment of the course dependent on your game?

2.  Read what you can about the course - Finnegan's books if in GBI, writeups on this site and search the archives for past discussions of the course.  The course website.

3.  Go on Google maps and look at an aerial of the course.

4.  Play - using whatever approach will be most enjoyable for you.  Get permission if you will be taking pictures of a private club and purchase something from the proshop if you are getting a special deal fromt the course for some reason.

5.  After the round, Go back and read the stuff you read before.  It will make more sense.

6.  Send a thank you note if you were hosted.  I think getting it out quickly is more important than getting the words or the writing perfect.  An email or IM is fine in my view.

7.  If it is appropriate given your host and the situation with the course or club, post pictures and commentary here.  I really like to here about people's opportunities to play great courses and enjoy the debates about particular points, even if I have never been there.

[Jerry Kluger]

This is one time where I would suggest that you don't keep score.  You really need to focus on the course as if it were a practice round even though you may never play it again.  Look at each hole and appreciate what it's challenges are and look at the green complexes and understand what types of recovery shots can be faced.  Then check out the green and see the contours and the difficulty of a putt from the wrong side of the green as well as the correct side of the green.  The toughest part is being a good guest.  Don't keep fawning all over your host and telling him what a great course it is - he knows it and probably has heard it all before.  The best way to show your appreciation is a note afterwards thanking him for his hospitality and offering to reciprocate in whatever fashion you are able to such as a dinner, etc., where you can talk about your love of the game.

[John Kavanaugh]

The member should never see a camera in your hand.  Go early as possible and ask an assistant to take a picture of you standing at a prime location and then put the camera away.

[SB]

Since I'm usually not invited, I:

1)  Wear a large straw hat, so you can't be recognized from a distance.
2)  Be sure to stretch so you can run if necessary.
3)  Use the lightest bag you have, and keep it loaded to a minimum for similar reasons.  I find it easier to run with the double strap variety.
4)  Park in front of a house near the second tee or in the maintenance yard.
5)  Hit some practice balls at a nearby range you so are on your game and don't hook one into another fairway where you'll be spotted.
6)  Map out your escape route.  Google Earth is especially helpful for this, but it's hard to see fences and other obstacles, so visit the night before (wear black) to make sure you can get back to the car from the 17th green.

Preparation is everything!

[Peter Pallotta]

Jeff
I think that I'd try to make sure to give myself 'time' and 'space' before the big day. So, 2 days before playing, I'd fulfill every conceivable duty and obligation I have: to work, family, friends, that oil change on the car, etc. I don't want to have any bit of guilt marring the special day. Then, 1 day before playing, I'd hang around a golf course, any golf course, and just think about golf...well, actually, think about nothing much at all. Hit a few putts, stretch out my back, read about the course I'll be playing, but casually, letting it all wash over me.

In short, I'd just try to make sure that, on the big day, I'd have the presence and peace of mind to pay attention.

Peter

[cary lichtenstein]

Get there on time and have a good time.

[Craig Sweet]

I have never played a Doak's 9.5 or 10...but this is my approach to new courses...

I never read up on a course other than making sure I have directions and can arrive on time....I want the course to show me it's secrets and uniqueness in its own time or as I stumble upon them...

I never try to take in too much at once....after all, I'm there to play golf, not take in all the "scenery" and architectural features to the point that I forget to swing...and if the course is fun, I'll be back again...

I look at how they maintain the course...after all, that is what I do for a living....

I have fun and enjoy my round...

[Mark Bourgeois]

loading dose of lomotil, bolus of diazepam

[John Mayhugh]

The member should never see a camera in your hand.  Go early as possible and ask an assistant to take a picture of you standing at a prime location and then put the camera away.

I've never really considered it rude to take pictures on a course, assuming it's just to help out my own memory.  Obviously you don't bring a tripod and disrupt/distract play, but otherwise why is this an issue?

I would never dream of taking pictures in the clubhouse or something like that, but always thought the course was not a problem.  I haven't played too many world class clubs as a guest of a member so maybe I don't understand what's appropriate.

[Brad Swanson]

Plenty of good advice here.  I would recommend that you make sure you have the financial arrangements (who is paying for what as far as guest fees) and extent of access (are certain parts of the clubhouse off limits to guests) squared away before you arrive.  I've only played a few 9-10s and each of them was very different regarding the extent of access to the clubhouse.  Striving to be a gracious guest, I personally don't want to have to be wondering/worrying about these things the day of my round.  It also increases the chances that you will be asked back for future rounds IMHO.

As far as the golf goes, just relax and enjoy yourself and try to have fun.

Cheers,
Brad

[John Kavanaugh]

In a foresome it is impossible to take a picture without distracting play.  It is no different than walking along listening to voicemails except worse in that you can't walk and take pics...note: Do not bring a rangefinder and if you have to ask permission to do something, just don't do it.

[Ed Tilley]

Do not, under any circumstances, count score. Matchplay is acceptable. Two examples:

1. I spoke to a friend who had just played Royal County Down (this was before I had played it). When I asked what it was like he said 'I didn't really look at the course, I was concentrating on my score'. At that moment I vowed never to count (on a first visit) at a great course.

2. I played Royal St.Georges, after my vow to never count, last year. At the 4th, an absolutely magnificent hole, I nailed my drive down the middle. My wedge second covered the flag all the way and looked perfect. It just rolled over the green, no more than 15 feet from the flag, into an unbelievably bad lie near the sprinkler head. Hack out about an inch, chip lips out but runs 3 feet past, putt horeshoes round the hole. Double bogey 6, despite not hitting a bad shot. If I had been counting this would have soured my recollections of RSG somewhat, particularly the 4th. However, I wasn't so it didn't bother me at all - and the experience was fantastic.

Some pics of the 4th:

[Steve Pozaric]

The biggest suggestion I could make would be not to get too overly excited.  Visually, many courses don't blow you away at first glance and what makes them great can be more subtle, especially on the first tee (there are some obvious exceptions).  Probably too early in the day for this kind of an analogy, but think of more as a glass of fine wine to be savored than a shot of jaegermeister.

I have fallen into that trap of being too overly excited and have been a little disappointed until I reflected on the course some more.

[Rich Goodale]

My strategy has always been to go with as little information and as great a sense of adventure and camaraderie as possible.  If you are obsessed with what other people have said about the course you are far less likely to enjoy either the course or your playing companions (and vice versa).

[Tom Huckaby]

Before we played Cypress (within a few weeks of each other) Rich chided me about all the reading about the course I did... for the reasons he just stated.

And in the end, he makes a good point.  It is pretty darn fun to discover things about any new course... it's REALLY fun to discover things you didn't know about a great course.

The hard part is that for us normal joes anyway, it's pretty easy to get excited and want to daydream as the days leading up to the big round approach.  So it takes pretty darn good discipline NOT to do some advance reading.

But I will say this:  I went into Sand Hills without doing much in the way of advance reading other than what's on this site... and back then it wasn't much... Ran hadn't done the huge and great review that's on there now.  At the time there really wasn't much available anywhere else about the course either.

So I did go in more "blind"....

And it really was fun.

So in the end, as much as it pains me to say this, I think Rich is right.  

The hard part remains avoiding advance information!

TH

[Tom_Doak]

I've got to agree with John K on the camera thing.  You aren't going to get any great pictures of a golf course while trying to play, and you aren't going to play well while trying to take pictures (and neither is anyone else).  Don't be a Wang.  There are plenty of great resources for pictures of the course which you can buy if you want to.

A handful of clubs expressly forbid cameras on the course -- Seminole, San Francisco Golf Club, and CC of Detroit are a few of them.  (No tens, but a couple of nines in there.)  Of course it hasn't stopped a few people from taking lots of pictures there, but it limits the distractions.

[Brad Swanson]

As much as it pains my inner photographer to admit it (and it pains me to agree with JakaB ), I would forget about photodocumenting your entire round.  It does interrupt the flow and enjoyment of your round IMHO.  I used to be a madsnapper, but realized lately that most of the shots I wind up taking while playing don't turn out very well and it is time away from making mental snapshots that will last a lifetime.  

Cheers,
Brad

[Richard Boult]

In just over a week I leave for Bandon - my 1st-ever experience at a world class course/resort. I'm a top-100 virgin! I do however, have a few top-1000 courses under my belt

I've read Dream Golf, Ran's reviews and related GCA threads. I've drooled over paintings by Josh Smith and photos by Joann Dost. I've even checked out the course on Google Earth and measured a few tee to bunker distances. Of course, I've been practicing my short game too.

Although it's obvious I'm excited to play, I plan to just show up and just take it all in, listen to the surf, feel the wind, smell the ocean and forest, and enjoy the experience regardless of how I play. I never have a bad time playing golf!

But thanks to each of you, I'll now "Look at each hole and appreciate what it's challenges are and look at the green complexes and understand what types of recovery shots can be faced.  Then check out the green and see the contours and the difficulty of a putt from the wrong side of the green as well as the correct side of the green." (Jerry Klugar).  

I'll also "make sure to give myself 'time' and 'space' before the big day." (Peter Pallotta).

Most importantly, "I want the course to show me it's secrets and uniqueness in its own time or as I stumble upon them." (Craig Sweet)

And, of course, I'll wear a straw hat!

Thanks for the great advice!

[JC Jones]

I've got to agree with John K on the camera thing.  You aren't going to get any great pictures of a golf course while trying to play, and you aren't going to play well while trying to take pictures (and neither is anyone else).  Don't be a Wang.  There are plenty of great resources for pictures of the course which you can buy if you want to.

A handful of clubs expressly forbid cameras on the course -- Seminole, San Francisco Golf Club, and CC of Detroit are a few of them.  (No tens, but a couple of nines in there.)  Of course it hasn't stopped a few people from taking lots of pictures there, but it limits the distractions.

Tom D -

I'll take that as a no so subtle hint that you dont want to see me on your course running around with a camera in my hands...

In all seriousness, that was my assumption.  I had the opportunity to play Kingsley as a guest this summer and did not take a camera and while it was not expressed, I could tell it was appreciated that I was there to play the course and nothing else.

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