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Guy Nicholson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Best course you didn't play
« on: November 17, 2008, 12:33:10 AM »
The Cape Kidnappers thread made me think of the time I was travelling through that part of New Zealand and unable to break away to play, due in part to pneumonia. I was also in St. Andrews once, passing through with a non-golfing friend (and during a snowstorm).

I know, poor health and weather are flimsy excuses. But what's your most heartbreaking "didn't play it" experience?

Matthew Mollica

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2008, 04:24:43 AM »
Had the rug pulled from under me by a hastily planned polo tournament on the grounds of Ellerston which precluded visitors to the golf course.

Decided against Kingsbarns because I'd played every course at St Andrews twice in the week. Also, the aussie dollar was 1/3 the pound, and I thought, I'm not paying 100+ quid to play something other than TOC while in St. Andrews.

Drove in to The Valley Club  cap park and thought - I should have organised to play here when planning my trip last month!

I'm sure there's more but I've repressed the memories!

MM
"The truth about golf courses has a slightly different expression for every golfer. Which of them, one might ask, is without the most definitive convictions concerning the merits or deficiencies of the links he plays over? Freedom of criticism is one of the last privileges he is likely to forgo."

Phil_the_Author

Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2008, 04:40:33 AM »
I had an opportunity to play Augusta that I had to forego...

Philippe Binette

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2008, 07:26:45 AM »
I walked Lytham and St. Annes... man, I wish I played that course...

Anthony Gray

Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2008, 09:00:26 AM »


  I went to Northern Ireland and was unable to play Ardglass and Royal Portrush because of my back. I did play the front 9 at Royal County Down before stopping.

      Anthony


CJ Carder

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2008, 09:05:19 AM »
I had an opportunity to play Augusta that I had to forego...

Ouch, I hope you either have had or will have another opportunity.

Ed Oden

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2008, 09:32:50 AM »
Not once but twice this summer, I had to cancel rounds at Merion (as well as Aronimink and Gulph Mills).  On the other hand, I have been very fortunate to play more than my fair share of great golf courses.  So I feel much more appreciation for the opportunities that have come my way than regret over the few that have slipped away.

Ed

Eric Morrison

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2008, 10:17:06 AM »
Was in the pro shop at Torrey Pines...didn't play. Walked Lahinch but couldn't play because it was closed for the off season...damn.
It is what it is.

Tim Bert

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2008, 10:24:43 AM »
I played Pine Hill in NJ and couldn't figure out the hype.
Tough course? Check.
Sandy waste areas? Check.

Dramatic carries? Check.

Dense forest? Check.
But #1 course in the world???

When I got home my buddy told me I was thinking of Pine Valley. Doh!  No woner they let me schedule a tee time without any questions.

Pat Burke

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2008, 10:28:01 AM »
Grew up with the ability to play virtually every course in the NJ/NY area
Played a ton of them, but only walked Pine Valley.  I say "only" walked it because I would love to actually play it.  Walking it however, even at my young age (16 or 17) taught me a pretty good lesson
for tournament preparation.  I saw (and learned of) much more of the course than I would have had I played it

tlavin

Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2008, 10:32:00 AM »
Seminole.  It was raining like hell and we waited for a couple hours and called it off.  I left town the next day and never made it back.

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #11 on: November 17, 2008, 11:15:38 AM »
NGLA. I stayed overnight in the clubhouse as the guest of a member, but didn't have the opportunity to play it. I walked it, however.

Shinnecock Hills. Though staying at NGLA and having had a lot of amicable correspondence with the club for past revisions of World Atlas of Golf, they wouldn't even agree to my driving up to the clubhouse for a look.

Sebonac. I saw a little of it from NGLA as I walked the course, but it was still under construction. Tom Doak had advised me to take a look, so I wandered over a few holes there, too.

Kyle Henderson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #12 on: November 17, 2008, 12:07:38 PM »
How would I know which one was the best if I didn't play it? ;)
"I always knew terrorists hated us for our freedom. Now they love us for our bondage." -- Stephen T. Colbert discusses the popularity of '50 Shades of Grey' at Gitmo

Tyler Kearns

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #13 on: November 17, 2008, 12:21:30 PM »
After specifically asking about the aeration schedule when making my booking (2 wks. prior), I arrived at the Links of ND only to find 9 holes closed and the remaining 9 punched that morning. Pretty disheartening after the long (6+ hrs.) drive to Ray, ND.  Angry, I decided not to play for free, which was offered due to the length of my trip, and headed off to Bismarck to play Hawktree.

TK 

Anthony Gray

Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #14 on: November 17, 2008, 12:29:05 PM »


  I met a girl on a trip to Pebble Beach. She told me she could get me on Cypress Point so I married her. I waited for two years and it never happened. So I divorced her.

                    Anthony


Ash Towe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #15 on: November 17, 2008, 01:10:41 PM »
Pebble Beach.  I could not bring myself to pay the green fee, especially when it was converted into $NZ.

Jim Nugent

Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #16 on: November 17, 2008, 01:31:10 PM »
I had a most generous offer to play Cypress Point.  The logistics didn't work out, and I had to turn it down.  Agghhhh!!!!!

Also had a chance to play Olympic Lake, through a business associate.  Didn't take him up -- wanted to get my game in shape -- and then when the business association ended, so did my offer to play OL.


Mark Pritchett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #17 on: November 17, 2008, 01:35:40 PM »
My wife and stayed at Half Moon Bay on our Honeymoon and I planned to drive down and play Pasatiempo, but my wife got sick and so I opted to stay close and play an early morning round at the HMB Ocean Course (Hills) instead.  I hope to get back to CA and visit Pasatiempo.  

I was also invited to play Shoal Creek with some friends but could not work it in my schedule, however, I did get to play SC earlier this year.


Ken Moum

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #18 on: November 17, 2008, 02:00:21 PM »
I was flying into San Francisco for to a meeting in NorCal and had an invitation to Olympic Club.

But had to pass because of logistics involving one of the people I was travelling with.

Ken
Over time, the guy in the ideal position derives an advantage, and delivering him further  advantage is not worth making the rest of the players suffer at the expense of fun, variety, and ultimately cost -- Jeff Warne, 12-08-2010

Kalen Braley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #19 on: November 17, 2008, 03:11:41 PM »
Not a best course, but a best resort.

I was driving from WA state back to the bay area in California via Hwy 101.  So I decided to take a quick peak at the Bandon Resort on the way down.  I was blown away by what I saw and so bummed that I had neither the time, nor the resources at the time to at least play one of them.  Been back since to play Pacific Dunes, but need to get back again to take in all the rest of them.
« Last Edit: November 18, 2008, 11:11:10 AM by Kalen Braley »

Chris Kane

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #20 on: November 17, 2008, 03:15:15 PM »
I lived in St Andrews for a year, and had two separate invites from members to take me to Muirfield.  For some reason I kept putting it off until it was too late.  Hopefully both members are still alive when I get back there!

Patrick Glynn

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #21 on: November 17, 2008, 03:27:09 PM »
Carnoustie. While on a trip to TOC we took a drive up north. It was the the spring after the Open so the course only had ~ 12 holes in play but I was blown away by the quality of it. We walked the entire (proper) course front to back, then back to front. Not the same as playing but I will get there eventually.

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #22 on: November 17, 2008, 03:38:17 PM »
Pebble Beach...but I passed it up for CPC.
H.P.S.

Tim Leahy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #23 on: November 17, 2008, 05:05:20 PM »
I got sick before a college tourney at SFCC and couldn't make the trip. I haven 't and probably won't ever get the chance to play there again.

Also I got bumped from the King's Putter tourney from playing MPCC because I lived too close. :o :'(
I love golf, the fightin irish, and beautiful women depending on the season and availability.

Anthony Gray

Re: Best course you didn't play
« Reply #24 on: November 17, 2008, 05:08:00 PM »
Pebble Beach...but I passed it up for CPC.

  Pat,

   I hope you don't have regrets. Congratulations.

          Anthony


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