What is your GCA guilty pleasure?

[Richard Choi]

I, like many others on this forum, prefer minimalist, natural architecture that looks like the mother nature created, with firm and fast conditions.

However, somethings you just can't resist even though you should...

There is a copy of the island green from TPC Sawgrass (17th hole) at a nearby course (Echo Falls) that brings a big smile to my face whenever I play it (and a REALLY big BOOYAH when I hit the green).

I know an island green is an abomination that goes against nature and I feel the shame mentioning this fact around here, but it is a guilty pleasure that I just cannot resist.

Are there any other guilty pleasure that you may not want to admit, but deep down you cannot help but to love it?

[Charlie Goerges]

I don't feel too guilty, but I like trees on the course. Not to the point where they make the course un-fun. But off to the sides with the occasional tree right in play; that's the stuff.


(this thread is starting to sound like that "25 random things" deal on facebook, that's all about guilty pleasures)

[Pat Howard]

I love blind shots! I wish more modern courses would incorporate them into their design instead of purposely trying to avoid them. Tee shot, approach shot, par 3's, 4's or 5's, I love em all! I realize I'm in the minority on this one...

I also like the occasional misplaced tree. (ie. 18 @ Cypress)

[astavrides]

I love blind shots! I wish more modern courses would incorporate them into their design instead of purposely trying to avoid them. Tee shot, approach shot, par 3's, 4's or 5's, I love em all! I realize I'm in the minority on this one...

I also like the occasional misplaced tree. (ie. 18 @ Cypress)

I may be wrong, but I think blind shots are GCA kool-aid, rather than guilty pleasure.  count me out for blind shots though.  Maybe an occasional one.

I think there was a thread like this recently.  Maybe it focused more on guilty pleasure courses.  Again I may be wrong. 

[Neil_Crafter]

eating chocolate while designing.................

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Pretending that reading posts on GCA is work.

[Scott Warren]

Reciting things I read here, so people I talk to will think I am smarter than I am

[Ted Kramer]

While I'm not sure I feel "guilty" about them . . .
Uphill par 3's
and
Skyline greens.

-Ted

[Peter Nomm]

Desert Courses

[Anthony Gray]

  Water. I like a course that uses creeks, lakes, ponds, ocean and sea to its fullest. AND I love views from the tee.

  Anthony

[Philippe Binette]

A liitle course that would on purpose set up 28 yards wide fairways and 3 inches rough

[Peter Pallotta]

A short Par 5 opener that's wide open except for the very helpful containment mounding...

Peter

[Phil McDade]

9-hole courses.

I often find them more naturalistic, because the architect doesn't feel compelled to come up w/ 18 original variations on a theme. They are more compact, often forcing the designer to be less inventive with his design schemes. They take less time to play, allow for decent examination of one's game, and rarely became the slog that 18 holes sometimes do.

[Scott Sander]

Several times a season I happily cave in to my craving for courses that build a player's self-esteem.

F'rinsance: Engh's Red Hawk Ridge in Colorado.
  
Fire your ball down the slope, watch it bounce around for a while, and smile when it ends up where you hoped it would.
Hike up to the next tee, then do it again.

It's like a pachinko machine where all the slots are Jackpots.

It doesn't do much to finely-hone your skills long-term, but it's a heckuva place to relax a bit, reach a couple of par 5's, and enjoy the sights.

[Joe Hancock]

My GCA guilty pleasure was enjoying posts by former members of this group.

 

[Lloyd_Cole]

I've had far more fun than expected on the RTJ courses I've played.

[PCCraig]

Tom Fazio and R. Jones.

I'll admit their courses are not the best all the time, but for the most part I never leave one of their courses going "man that was AWFUL!"

And in many cases I very much enjoy their designs...including Forest Creek North and South in Pinehurst and Briar's Creek in SC.

[Joel Zuckerman]

My GCA guilty pleasure was enjoying posts by former members of this group.

 

I agree with Joe--and thought that was the intention of the title post--the voyeurism on this discussion group board.  Frankly, it absolutely amazed me when I first started reading things here about 6 months ago--the amount of vitriol that was bandied about between certain parties.  It would make me shake my head...and often chuckle out loud!

[Matthew Rose]

I like water and trees as well. I'll admit that I find both extremely appealing from a superficial standpoint, when done right. In the case of water, I certainly prefer natural looking ponds and streams though.

I feel this site has taught me to appreciate all the examples of when overkill on both accounts is a detriment.

[PCCraig]

My GCA guilty pleasure was enjoying posts by former members of this group.

 

I agree with Joe--and thought that was the intention of the title post--the voyeurism on this discussion group board.  Frankly, it absolutely amazed me when I first started reading things here about 6 months ago--the amount of vitriol that was bandied about between certain parties.  It would make me shake my head...and often chuckle out loud!

There was never any pleasure and far too much guilt involved with some (some not all) of the old posters.

[jeffwarne]

Trees and carts

[Sean_A]

Hey Jeff

The last guilty pleasure I had was forcing an on the course anti-shank lesson from you.  I was desperate and you helped.  Cheers!

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

Sean,
Nothing more scary  than the socket
I've had them creep in a few times on windy overseas junkets.
Even when you don't shank, you lose all feel on shorter shots as the focus shifts from target to hosel prevention.
In which case the putter comes in handy

How'd we get to shanking on a guilty pleasure thread?

[Joe Hancock]

My GCA guilty pleasure was enjoying posts by former members of this group.

 

I agree with Joe--and thought that was the intention of the title post--the voyeurism on this discussion group board.  Frankly, it absolutely amazed me when I first started reading things here about 6 months ago--the amount of vitriol that was bandied about between certain parties.  It would make me shake my head...and often chuckle out loud!

There was never any pleasure and far too much guilt involved with some (some not all) of the old posters.

Nothing brings on guilt any quicker than being in the minority. That I actually derived pleasure from some of those old combatants just makes the taboo aspect of it even greater.

As for on course guilt, I would say ridiculously fast greens bring on a strange kind of fun even though I find it utterly stupid and harmful to the game.

Guilty as charged,

Joe

[K. Krahenbuhl]

Tees that are very elevated.  I love watching the ball fly.