Conference 7.286::golf

       Why do people form different opinions about the same thing? 
    Just diversity in tastes, likes, dislikes, etc.  It's what makes
    us interesting and it's why inviduals can get rich by inventing 
    and selling things like hula-hoops, pet rocks and Zebra putters.

       What makes a course interesting to me?   I basically agree with
    Peter.  Long, tight holes with well-defined landing areas.  I tend 
    to lose concentration on the wide open holes and get careless.  A 
    fairway bordered by ponds/trees, traps etc. gives me a better target. 
    I'll concentrate better, play better, and enjoy the round more.  I
    like playing courses where I can use every club in the bag.  I enjoy 
    courses that are well-manicured and ones that have fast greens. When 
    I used to have the yips ;^)   , they appeared less frequently on the 
    fast greens.  By not liking wide open courses, doesn't mean I'd turn 
    down an offer to play a links course in Great Britain, however!  Links 
    courses offer other "challenges" that would be enjoyable.

-rick

	This is an interesting topic.  I too like courses where you have to hit
every club in the bag.  (Driver, wedge is boring)  But I like courses that
offer choices, take a chance and get rewarded with eagle or bird or scramble
for par or bogey.  Or take the prudent way (coward's way?) and make par, maybe
make a putt for bird.  I like defined fairways, (trees/water) but I also want a place
to bail out in case I chicken out.  Fast greens, the need for different types of shots
(not that I can hit them on demand but it's nice to try).  Like the song says 'these are a
few of my favorite things'.


						KO

    1. Great Course: interesting by one's personal standards, and in
    excellent condition.
    2. Good Course: not so interesting, but in excellent condition.
    3. Mediocre course: not interesting, poor condition.
    4. The pits: ugly, dull, and in terrible shape.
    
    Personally, I like these California courses that have a fine variety
    of gorgeous trees, views of the ocean, and fast, wierd greens. 
    Like Spyglass Hill, Bodega Bay and Half Moon Bay.  
    
    Joel
    

I agree with Kevin (.2) on many of the attributes that he likes in a golf
course.  Additionally I feel a good course should:

1. Most of all make you think.  Club selection & strategy are important.

2. Make you use all the clubs in your bag.  (If all you want to hit all
   day is Driver/Wedge, why not head to the range?)

3. You should be penalized for hitting mediocre shots.  Birdies should be
   hard to make, par requires good consistent play.

4. Good courses aren't penal.  If you keep the ball in play you should
   be able to shot a reasonable score.

5. The should appear to be natural, not contrived.

6. All the greens on a good course putt smooth & true.  Fast/slow then
   becomes a matter of your & the greenskeeper's preferance.

7. Have small greens, or smaller "greens within greens".

8. If you miss a green you should be forced to hit a variety of different
   pitch/chip shots.

Other personal preferences include:

1. The course should have some water hazards.

2. Near the ocean or through woodlands.  Few if any parallel fairways.

3. At resorts the condos are back, tucked away in the trees or across the
   pond.  Only the wildest shot would put them in play.

4. Have more short par threes than long par threes.  

Of course it goes without saying.  The course should be in good condition.
The ideal course is never crowded, the golfer play quickly, know the game,
and the price is reasonable.

To paraphrase a supreme court justice.  "I can't define a good course,
but I know it when I see it." ;-)

Larry

       Random thoughts:
       
       I second much of what's been said in the previous notes (though
       I'm not sure that I agree with Rick's suggestion that links
       courses are wide open).  
       
       The people who play the course and their attitude toward it and
       their fellow golfers are also important to me.  When the
       overwhelming majority of the golfers show the course some respect
       by repairing ball marks and divots (even if they were made by
       someone else), keeping carts in the proper areas, and generally
       maintaining a decorum that's appropriate, then it improves the
       quality of the course for me. 
       
       --Mr Topaz

    
       re.  Links courses   
    
           What I meant is that generally, they don't have any trees
         giving the impression that they are wide open.  The other challenges
         that they offer are the deep pot bunkers, very few flat lies,
         thistle rough and lots of wind (usually).  
         
      -rick

    
    I have been trying to determine what kind of course I like the best and 
    have come to the conclusion I like most courses but:
    
    An open course: I think an open course needs to have two things. One is
    deep rough and the other is length. This makes the course a challenge
    even if it is open. Well i guess there is a third and that is fairway
    bunkers. If you play an open course with no penalty for hitting off the
    fairway then I don't feel it's much of a challenge. Open courses do
    present there own unique problems one being the wind and if they are
    long you have your work cut out for you to score well. 
    
    Tree lined course: I think the real challenge on a tree lined course is
    off the tee. After you hit your tee shot into the fairway it really
    shouldn't matter how many tree's are on the course unless they are
    growing on the green. I do think though a tree lined course is the
    tougher of the two. 
    
    If a course is open or tight there are some things I really like.
    
    A. elevated tees
    b. well defined fairways and landing zones
    c. accurate 150 markers
    d. level and well maintained tee boxes
    e. fast consistent greens
    f. me playing on them
    
    Pete
    e.