GCA Guilty Pleasures

[Kalen Braley]

Mike its OK....


Everyone breaks sooner or later!! 

[James Brown]

Courses that have holes on the ocean. 

[James Bennett]

We can't fix the tight, the hilly, the clay, or the kikuyu [except around the greens].  But we've tried to address the boundary issues and the too many trees.  Along with the greens and bunkers.

Were controlling kikuyu en Chile in two clubs. Let me know if your interested and I can pass you the program.

Randy (and Tom)

Glenelg Golf Club (Adelaide) did this over the last 20 years, successfully. Daryl Sellar has done a wonderful job at Glenelg.
Still managing a few rogue outbreaks about a square foot in size. I emphasize the 'few' aspect.

James B

[Forrest Richardson]

Bridges. The very (very) smart Wing Chao of Disney (literally in charge of everything visual and architectural at Disney parks and developments) explained once that "People need a threshold...a drawbridge of sorts...to signify they are entering a new space." At the time he was encouraging (my word) the clubhouse architect and landscape architect at a Disney golf property to push the envelope a bit on their modern — perhaps too sleek — approach to the grounds around a new course. Wing argued that as golfers left the confines of the clubhouse they "needed" to have a visual cue that they were embarking on a journey...he literally meant a bridge, but I recall him being open to other solutions, such as a landscaped threshold, or perhaps a winding path opening to the first tee. What he was asking for was a passage from one place to another. Bridge was his metaphor, but as he put it: "There really is not a better solution usually, whether you walk under one or travel across one...a bridge is part of most journeys...they have been built into our navigational instincts throughout history."

Wing won by the way   He got a nice bridge. I have always thought of this, especially since walking over the Swilcan bridge about eight times by now. It is not that I try and work in a bridge more than necessary, but it does remain on my mind.

[Marty Bonnar]

Theatrical thresholds.
I love playing, say, a little par 3 set in a secluded glade, then swinging round a corner to some grand vista.
Or
Emerging from a forest walk to a tumbling par 5 running away to a riverside green.
It's all showbiz, dah-ling!


Cheers,
F.

[Joe Bausch]

Theatrical thresholds.
I love playing, say, a little par 3 set in a secluded glade, then swinging round a corner to some grand vista.
Or
Emerging from a forest walk to a tumbling par 5 running away to a riverside green.
It's all showbiz, dah-ling!


Cheers,
F.

Early leader in the clubhouse for post of the 2018 year!

[Kalen Braley]

Theatrical thresholds.
I love playing, say, a little par 3 set in a secluded glade, then swinging round a corner to some grand vista.
Or
Emerging from a forest walk to a tumbling par 5 running away to a riverside green.
It's all showbiz, dah-ling!


Cheers,
F.

Early leader in the clubhouse for post of the 2018 year!

Joe,


I was thinking the same thing.  The best thing I like about Marty's posts are best said in the words of Forrest Gump :

"Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them."

[Marty Bonnar]

Aw, shucks!
 

[Peter Pallotta]

 
Yes - and the 'it's all showbiz, dah-ling' makes it!

Plus, it's a new way for me think about architects, ie if they could sing and dance, they'd be making Broadway musicals instead!

CBM - Once you're a Scot you're a Scot all the way, from your first Redan green till your last template days!

C&C - Isn't it rich? Aren't we a pair? You with your feet on the ground, me in Bel Air.

Happy New Year, Martin!

[Joe Bausch]

This one just hit me in the head as I'm sitting in my office post-processing some old photo albums:

I really like a course where the scorecard is filled with ads from local businesses.  It typically means a course with good support from the community and a 'golfy' atmosphere (can't wait for that version of the word golf to be criticized!).

 

[MLevesque]

The only yardage markers being bushes at 150 yards on the edges of the fairway.  Well, I don't really like it now, but when I do see them I crack a smile b/c it brings back memories of most courses I grew up on.

I'll take that guilty pleasure at set further.  A public course had a overgrown pine tree at 150 which was no more than a yard off the 18th fairway.  As legend as it, a unfortunate fellow found his drive one yard off the fairway but stymied behind that marker.  He agerly chipped out, finished his round and retreated to the the 19th hole where he clearly overindulged.  He later returned to that 18th hole under the cover of night and cut that that overgrown marker in a drunken rage. I certainly don't encourage or condone vandalism but interestingly that "modification" was well received by the playing public and the course superintendent ultimately cut down and replace the all remaining overgrown markers on the course.

[jeffwarne]

The only yardage markers being bushes at 150 yards on the edges of the fairway.  Well, I don't really like it now, but when I do see them I crack a smile b/c it brings back memories of most courses I grew up on.

Love them
and garbage cans and ballwashers on tees
and yep, ads on scorecards usually indicate a strong local following
tends to cull the "form over substance" herd (that's ever growing)

[Thomas Dai]

The only yardage markers being bushes at 150 yards on the edges of the fairway.  Well, I don't really like it now, but when I do see them I crack a smile b/c it brings back memories of most courses I grew up on.

As once overheard, and in fairness said in jest, "Can I borrow your rangefinder to check the distance to the 150 yd marker".


atb

[Kyle Harris]

The only yardage markers being bushes at 150 yards on the edges of the fairway.  Well, I don't really like it now, but when I do see them I crack a smile b/c it brings back memories of most courses I grew up on.

As once overheard, and in fairness said in jest, "Can I borrow your rangefinder to check the distance to the 150 yd marker".


atb

I'd wager good money that it was off by at least 10 yards.

[PCCraig]

I love as I'm turning 60 in 2018 being able to hit 150 yard Titleist AP3 8-irons

Well, you aren't...you are hitting a 150 yard 6-iron with an '8' stamped on it...

[Peter Pallotta]

Someone asked an 85 year old Byron Nelson how much better his 18 win season would've been if he could've used modern/today's equipment. Lord Byron answered:
'Oh, probably not much better. The centre of the club face is the same now as it was back then".
Beautiful. A man of humility - but no false modesty.

[Thomas Dai]

I love as I'm turning 60 in 2018 being able to hit 150 yard Titleist AP3 8-irons

Well, you aren't...you are hitting a 150 yard 6-iron with an '8' stamped on it...

...and using a ball that stays round and flies through the air rather than spins upwards/sideways.
atb

[Kalen Braley]

This is good guys, very cathartic and all. 


Keep em coming!!


P.S.  Another Guilty Pleasure, slow play at GCA events, cause its so much fun busting each others balls and talking about the subtle things found on the course..

[PCCraig]

P.S.  Another Guilty Pleasure, slow play at GCA events, cause its so much fun busting each others balls and talking about the subtle things found on the course..

It's never a pleasure for your host.

[Kalen Braley]

P.S.  Another Guilty Pleasure, slow play at GCA events, cause its so much fun busting each others balls and talking about the subtle things found on the course..

It's never a pleasure for your host.

I agree, that's why the thread is titled "guilty" pleasure.  I feel bad, but some of the funnest and most interesting conversations I've ever had while playing golf is with GCA degenerates...

[Dave McCollum]

Didn't read all, but at our course we have a tradition of 2 balls off the first tee, if needed.  I'd never do it at another course unless it was also an accepted practice.  Yet, after so many years of seeing players have the chance of recovering from a bad start, I think this guilty pleasure ought to be universal in recreational golf.   

[MCirba]

I love as I'm turning 60 in 2018 being able to hit 150 yard Titleist AP3 8-irons

Well, you aren't...you are hitting a 150 yard 6-iron with an '8' stamped on it...

I know.



That's ok.   

[MCirba]

Tee areas that are more hardpacked dirt than grass.


Reminds me of where I played as a kid.


Ditto furry, patchy, thatchy greens.

[Garland Bayley]

I love as I'm turning 60 in 2018 being able to hit 150 yard Titleist AP3 8-irons

Well, you aren't...you are hitting a 150 yard 6-iron with an '8' stamped on it...

I know.



That's ok.

I once saw components being sold with G1 and G2 stamped on the club head. They would replace what you used to carry as a pitching wedge, and a nine iron. Inquiring minds want to know if you carry such clubs.

[Rick Lane]

Going out after work in the summer and playing random routings, 3 holes, 5 holes, 7 holes, etc.....by jumping around between groups, enjoying the golden long shadows, hitting a couple balls where I can......joining up with other people that are doing the same, then retiring for a cocktail!