Holy Grails of Golf

[ed_getka]

Tom,
 Most of my grails have some personal connection, in addition to the greatness of the course. Everyone I've talked to regarding Rye has had a twinkle in their eye when talking about the experience. I don't know first hand about access issues, but I've never heard of it being a write a letter type club.

TOC is not a grail, it is a mecca, it is accessible to all and is a journey you make in your golfing life. I hold it in high enough esteem, that when I do get over there I will plan on playing on Monday, so I can spend ALL day on Sunday walking the holes to get some sense of the course before I actually play it.

Dornoch is another mecca course for me purely from what Herb Wind wrote about it years ago, and everything I've learned subsequently from you guys just confirms that in my mind.

[THuckaby2]

Ed:  Mecca is a much better way to put it re TOC, I'm just shying away from mentioning anything having to do with Islam these days.  But yes, that is a pilgrimage all golfers need to make.  Can't see as I'd spend a day walking it and not playing unless I was over there for a LONG time - I'd play Kingsbarns or Crail or any of several others nearby before I'd just walk TOC - but I get ya re the importance.  If I had the time available I'd spend a day walking it also - it is that cool and that "important."

Re Rye, gotcha.  Personal connections do add to this most definitely - that's why I mentioned shivas!  I still do think one can get on with a letter and with the proper help... in any case it's not like Augusta, Cypress or Pine Valley in this respect, is it?  The guy who sets up my UK tours said he could get us on no problem... not that this makes it any less great - hell, I too do want to see it - it just slightly lessens the "must go NOW if invited" quality.

In any case this is great stuff, I love to talk about it, thanks for the banter!

TH

[ed_getka]

Tom,
 You just single-handedly demoted Rye from grail to mecca since a tour guy could set it up no problem. Thanks for bursting my bubble . I hope you are not serious about the mecca/Islam thing.

[THuckaby2]

I was very serious about the Mecca/Islam thing.  The way the world is these days, any mention of it does seem to be misconstrued.

That's the last comment of a political nature you will ever hear from me on here.  I come here to talk golf.  That's my point.

Re Rye, it can be done... just call Bill Hogan at Wide World of Golf, in Carmel, CA!

TH

[Des_Douglas]

Those last few posts on Rye just reconfirm that this is all about access!

[THuckaby2]

Des, you are on heck of a terrier.

Go back about 75 posts.  Access is a large part of this, confirmed.  Check.  Right.  Yes.  True.  Absolutely.  You betcha.  Damn right.

It's just not ALL of what makes this....

TH

[ed_getka]

Tom,
 I have no political point to make or axe to grind. I am simply using a term that bests describes what I'm trying to say.

[THuckaby2]

Ed:

I absolutely believe that from you - I think I know you well enough to know that.

I just avoid any terms having anything to do with what's going on in the middle east these days, at least on here.  This is a respite from such things.

No biggie, you just asked if I was serious.  I am.

TH

[Des_Douglas]

I challenge anyone to name a single course that has easy access (not including the TOC) that you would drop everything to play tomorrow!

[THuckaby2]

Well Des, you just excepted out the best example.  How fair is that?

So ok, it's quite possible none such exist.  It's also quite possible that many people have several, which are very personal to them, and which depend on other circumstances... IE I'd drop everything right now to play the rankest muni with my Dad if he could make it up here.  Money would be no object, nor would any other conflicts.

The point is this is all very emotional and each golfer will have a different way of looking at it.

I still don't get what your axe to grind here is, but hey, you too have you're way of looking at golf, I'm sure, so be healthy, happy and enjoy the game.

TH