How Many Courses Have You Played?

[Rich Goodale (Guest)]

George

My list is a pitiful 237 and falling as "senior moments" increasingly surpass opporunities for new play.  Living in California, the land of the free to play as much golf as you want to just as long as you were clever or venal enough to cash in your options before the dot.com market crashed and the home of the brave enough to play with Callaway ERCII's and not give a flying f**k who cares, I do not have a club.  I depend on the charity of GCAer's and others for my meager play.  I am thinking of returning to "work."

Cheers

Rich

[Mike_Cirba]

George,

As a firm opponent of course monogamy..er..monotony, I don't belong to a club.  

Seriously, I might think about that avenue someday, but it hasn't made sense for a lot of reasons to date.  It would certainly be enjoyable to think about slowing down and just sitting on a club veranda somewhere, drinking Scotch and watching play progress.  Until then, however, I haven't lost my zest and enthusiasm for checking out new courses, both great, mediocre, and admittedly awful.  Maybe I just need a good woman, because divorce is really conducive to golf, I've found (perhaps answering your third question).

As far as which I'd rather, play a favorite or seek out a new course, the answer is a very definite YES.  

[Matt_Ward]

George:

I don't belong to any club and as a result when I rate courses I don't have any conflict of interest -- real or perceived.

My genesis comes from the public course tracks and although I have had the opportunity / pleasure to play many, many first rate and well known courses I always enjoy public golf because it has advanced so far and so fast during my lifetime in terms of overall quality. Granted, a good number of these upscale layouts require a Master Card or Visa to play.

Like Mike Cirba if I hear of a course that's worth a trek I'll get there one way or the other. Just like the Costner movie said, "build it and they shall come." That's a truism for me because great golf, whether it be a complete 18-hole wonder like Pacific Dunes, or a muni like Dyker Beach, there's always something to see when playing.

You just have to keep your eyes and mind open.

[Craig_Rokke]

About 175. Many more from the "bottom 100" than the "top 100". But I usually find things I like in every course, whether
it's a $9 Mom and Pop 9-holer, or something at the other end of the spectrum. Best new course played in the last year would have to be the Ocean Course.

[Peter Galea]

Right around 150, most in California.
I'm feeling a little inadequate right now.
I think I'm suffering from "course envy."
On the other hand, I'll betcha I totaled more strokes than the rest of you.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Rich,
    You and I are "tied" at 237 apiece (not that it's a race or anything).  But for me, only about 10 top 100 courses, and all 237 are in the U.S.  I was THIS close to chalking up #238 tomorrow, and it was a doozy, but, alas, it wasn't meant to be.  30% of my 237 are in North Carolina, and about 80% are open to the public.

[eshortz (Guest)]

The number has grown to 563 -- the great opportunities of being a student and falling in love with architecture early are the primary reasons. Sure to grow considerably more slowly now that work beckons.