Rounds of Golf - Pick Three

[StuM]

Good Company, Pace of Play & Good conditions

I had a hard time narrowing to three & priority.  “Value” was easily last, not that I do not mind getting a good value but when I think of my “Memories” it never has to do with getting a good deal.  I really like good architecture and wanted to select that but since bad company, bad conditions & bad pace could make even a magnificent architecture a miserable round I dropped it.

The 3 selected are all equally important but I settled on Good Company as #1 since that can at least make slow pace & bad conditions a little tolerable.  Slow Pace is miserable to me and can ruin a round even on a great course.

for “Conditions” i am thinking only if the condition of the course, not weather.  If I play a poorly maintained course I will likely never return.

[Ty_Webb]

Difficult question - I went with good conditions, good architecture and good pace of play. I got to play at Merion 25 years ago and they had just punched the greens the day before we played. Still bugs me now, so I have to go with good conditions. I don't want to play in a field that someone has cut some greens on, so good architecture is important to me. And I hate slow play (less so now than I used to - public golf in the US means getting used to slow play). 

I viewed good company as not vital - it's definitely nice when that happens, but I'm also pretty happy with my own company, so I'll just keep my distance if I don't like them. Good value certainly helps, but I'd definitely pay more to play better designed and better conditioned courses, so again doesn't make the cut.

[phan52]

Condition/pace/group.

Golf is an expensive game, but I don't mind paying for it as long as those three things are in play. I do appreciate courses with classic architecture, and I have been lucky to play a lot of classic courses in the US and abroad, but I will play the local muni as long as it is good shape. 

[mdl]

All of these dimensions have a line over which they overwhelm the others. Like, I wouldn't play an 8 hour round at the old course. In answering I assumed that all of them were in the not great to awesome range, with none in OMG this is horrible territory. Given that...

Condition/architecture/company

My main struggle was architecture versus pace. I made the call by thinking about the fact that I don't have any notable golf memories of blah courses with great pace. But I do have ones with excellent to world class architecture and some waits for fairways and greens to clear.

[woodzie264]

Conditions and pace of play make or break the round when grading it as being enjoyable. 
The Company makes it memorable.  Great company can also help make up for a less than desirable pace or set of conditions. 

[DaveP043]

  On 1/4/2024 at 9:21 PM, mdl said:

I wouldn't play an 8 hour round at the old course.

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You're right, you wouldn't, you'd be removed from the course long before that.  I know its just an example, but of all the places I've played, that's one where the staff (along with the caddies) makes sure that you move along at a reasonable pace.

[TourSpoon]

1. Good company - luckily I have a lot of people to play golf with and its not that hard to find. But nothing is worse than playing with bad company. 

2. Pace of play - This can really get me if its too slow. I don't necessarily rush, but an average 4some at my club can play their matches in 3:45-4:00. Occasionally we do 3somes in 3:30 or less, but the 4 hour mark makes for the pace not to be an issue especially at a resort course. 

3. Conditions - I like decent greens. I can accept some other places being unkept, but the greens really can make or break it for me. 

[mdl]

  On 1/5/2024 at 1:43 PM, DaveP043 said:

You're right, you wouldn't, you'd be removed from the course long before that.  I know its just an example, but of all the places I've played, that's one where the staff (along with the caddies) makes sure that you move along at a reasonable pace.

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Ha. Well that's good to hear I just meant, if pace of play were at 8 hours I wouldn't play even like a lifetime dream course like the old course!

  On 1/5/2024 at 2:21 PM, TourSpoon said:

1. Good company - luckily I have a lot of people to play golf with and its not that hard to find. But nothing is worse than playing with bad company. 

2. Pace of play - This can really get me if its too slow. I don't necessarily rush, but an average 4some at my club can play their matches in 3:45-4:00. Occasionally we do 3somes in 3:30 or less, but the 4 hour mark makes for the pace not to be an issue especially at a resort course. 

3. Conditions - I like decent greens. I can accept some other places being unkept, but the greens really can make or break it for me. 

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Heartily agree on #3. I can have a great time with a lot of compromise on conditions off the green, but shitty greens ruin a round.

[jsgolfer]

1. Company is the most important to me, 

2. Pace of play is next, although I can live with a longer pace of play if the company is great.

3. Conditions are next

I'm a member at a Country Club, so true value is whatever is in the eye of the beholder. But being a member at a country club is a luxury.

Finally architecture I can do with or without, Royal New Kent, which so many people here love, I can't stand, same with Tobacco Road.  Weird holes, for the sake of weird holes, doesn't do it for me. 

Edited January 5, 2024 by jsgolfer

[mdl]

  On 1/5/2024 at 7:00 PM, jsgolfer said:

Finally architecture I can do with or without, Royal New Kent, which so many people here love, I can't stand, same with Tobacco Road.  Weird holes, for the sake of weird holes, doesn't do it for me. 

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I'd argue weird holes for the sake of weird holes is bad architecture. So if anything this is evidence you do care about architecture 😁

[jsgolfer]

  On 1/8/2024 at 7:17 PM, mdl said:

I'd argue weird holes for the sake of weird holes is bad architecture. So if anything this is evidence you do care about architecture 😁

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I do like architecture, just not top 3, although would probably be 3b. 😎