But what does knowing about your disappointment teach me about anything?
To say you're playing these courses and you're disappointed is like saying "I found myself in bed with Maria Sharapova, and was *disappointed* to find she's not a natural blond."
Give me a break....
Eric:
Great quote and I agree that viewpoints should be backed up with reasoning.
However, to the extent you are suggesting that one's disappointment or pleasant surprise is irrelevant I stongly disagree.
First - I think subjective experience is important in and of itself. One could reasonably argue that any opinion on the quality of a golf course is entirely subjective and that disappointment means that a course did not deliver what was promised to the player.
Second - I think disappointment is a good indicator of quality - to the extent it exists. the fact that someone expects Pinhurst No. 2 to be a great golf course and did not think it measures up upon playing it is the best indicator of quality I know. It is certainly an imperfect yardstick, particularly with limited exposure to the course, but an indicator nonetheless.
Third - I think people are more likely to be candid when saying that they are disappointed in a course rather than to say a course is a bad course. I would hesitate to offend my hosts at a prestigous course by proclaming thereafter on the internet that the course stunk. I might say I was disappointed for one reason or another.
Finally - talking of disappointment allows for analysis of courses that are excellent, but have some flaws. My description of Pasatiempo in post 1 reflects that viewpoint. It is the course that really got me interested in architecture. Nonetheless, I built it up so highly on my first visit that return visits have never quite lived up to that first impression for the reasons I discussed.
So . . . I think this is worthwhile.