Playing the Same Course All the Time

[mantan]

[quote name='Petethreeput' timestamp='1443401149' post='12375772']
Interesting bc my wife already says, "you're game doesn't travel well." But... As others have said I pay dues to play a course. I feel it is the best and most challenging course in my area. And why would I pay more to play somewhere else?

If you have a good game (I have a couple of weekly money games), and play with good people, and the course is a challenge then I think it's OK.
[/quote]

I've probably played 200 rounds with a WRXer I met about 10 years ago. He used to belong to a private club up until about six years ago. I played with him there many times and it was a really tough track. His game traveled really well. Though I'm not sure if it was because his track was so tough...or because he played a lot more golf when he could play/practice several days a week.

The biggest difference was that a lot of public courses seemed a lot more forgiving to him.

[RSinSG]

When I lived in Palm Springs there were 130+ courses nearby (there may be more now.) Between my wife's contacts and mine there weren't too many that I couldn't get an invite to, and we used to play a lot of different ones. Now that I retired and moved to St. George I've settled into a routine where I pretty much play three courses every week. Two different leagues and my home course where I play and practice. It is very comfortable and I like the fact that I occasionally go low - something I rarely do when I play other courses. Typically my first round away from home is pretty good, followed up by increasingly higher scores.

BTW - I'm at that age when I go out to eat I usually order the same thing. I always thought my parents were weird for doing that - now I know why.

[thug the bunny]

Sean, it just occurred to me one could substitute the word 'course' in your OP for 'wife'.

[Shambles]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443392451' post='12375064']
I play the same course about 99.7% of the time (membership fee includes unlimited green fees, unlimited range balls, and use of all the practice facilities). It is a short course. However, it is LITTERED with hazards. Essentially, you put the ball in the fairway or the ball is either OB or in a hazard. Actually, you can put the ball in the fairway and still end up in a hazard (for example...just a bit too much draw, or fade and if you catch the left center or right center of the fairway on a few holes and good-bye). There is very little rough to speak of. No trees to punch out from. And certainly no other fairways to hit from.

On the one hand I feel like I put myself at a disadvantage since I play the same course all the time, on the other hand, when I do go to another course the fairways seem a mile wide, and if a shot does go a little awry it is usually still playable unlike my course. However, at my course I play the same clubs all the time, unlike other courses where I have to mix it up a little bit. That, and it is nice to see some different scenery from time to time.

What about you folks? Do you find yourself playing a variety of courses, or do you pretty much play the same course all the time?
[/quote]

That's a course I like, but for the learning more than the course it self. I very much like good practice facilities and unlimited green fees, something I also get from my current home course. I only try to play fairway golf when I'm entertaining or shooting for a score. Most practice times I look for the most likely problem areas and shoot for them. From there I try to solve the problem and save par. I learned this extra game from a competitive friend whom I hosted. He shot at every hazard he was most likely to hit with his most common swing errors and tried to save the score after, for 18 holes. It was just the two of us on a lazy afternoon and we were playing the tips. As he subsequently explained, fairway golf is a grind and does not teach you much except how to grind. Problem golf, on the other hand, forces you to include the shots that almost never comes up. The kind of shots we watch Tiger create so often. It's not a show off thing, it's a learning experience done quietly. Takes a bit more time, so you do this on reasonably empty fairways, which is usually the least popular hours of the day. That friend ended the day 2 over for the round. I've never managed that even playing fairway golf. I'm thinking of taking him off my friends list.



Shambles

[deadsolid...shank]

I probably play about 75% of my rounds at my home course. A big part of that is it's private and we can pretty much fly around it. Makes it good for when you're sneaking out from work in the middle of the day. It's close enough to the office that I can leave work, warm up, play, go inside and settle the bets, and be back at work in about 3 1/2 hours. It's the most difficult course in the area, but that's not saying much as the overall difficulty of the entire area's courses is not much. We do mix the tees a bit, normal group plays the tips at just under 7,100 but when we're playing with more than one group we play the men's at 6,500, so we do get a bit of variety.

Sean, what are the numbers at your course? Length, rating, slope. I would think the slope would be extremely high. Probably makes for a lot of lower handicaps there?

[Imp]

Variety is the spice of life. Right? Get out there and play some different courses.

--kC

[Tcann32]

I seem to start out the year playing at the same course for the first month or so, then tapering off to playing it a little less often, then going back to it at the end of the season, mainly because of proximity to my home and the loss of day light.

The one I played most often in the beginning of the year sounds allot like yours Sean. Lots of trouble, and it's a links course with farm fields surrounding it for miles, so any amount of wind seems to be amplified. The fairways aren't generally that wide, and you can hit through many of them. A straight forward tee shot is rare, and thankfully I never try to hit the ball straight lol. The greens are tough as well. You really need to position yourself or you can end up with some very difficult putts. There's one green where the play is 10 yards right and short of the green or you won't be holding the green.

Playing this course makes some courses seem easier. There's another local course that would probably destroy my game if I played most of my rounds at it. It's possible to have a bad round there, but if you play half decent, it's pretty simple and easy to shoot below your cap, and you really wouldn't learn much if you only played there.

[Hot Rod 71]

I play the same course 99% of the time. I started working there part-time about 8 years ago. When I got the job my wife asked "aren't you going to get bored playing the same course all the time?". After 8 years I can confidently say "no".

Its nice to play a course where I know everyone and can find a game almost anytime I show up. There are tons of great people there and the course is always in good shape. Its also only 4 miles from my house.

I am also a member at a club in the area where a grew up (about 80 miles away). A few other guys at my course are also members there so we road trip occasionally for some different scenery.

We also have reciprocals with several other local courses and we play them occasionally as well. Nothing better than free golf at nice courses!

[Argonne69]

I'm a Traveling Wilbury. I've played 82 rounds this year on close to 60 different courses. Nearly 40 of them have been first visits. Last year was basically the same. I played my 300th different course this past August. In the Chicago area, I've played close to 120 different courses.

I can't fathom playing the same course week in and week out. My course management has gotten quite good, as one has to play conservatively on unfamiliar terrain.

[Sean2]

[quote name='vbb' timestamp='1443398840' post='12375562']
I'm a member at a semi-private par 72 track that tips out at around 7100yds. I play probably 70% of my rounds at this course, mostly from the 6500yd tees but occasionally from the 6000yd tees, especially in the winter. It is wide and doesn't have a lot of OB. Defenses are the greens and undulation of the course (it's hard to get a flat lie). That said, it gets a lot of play and it is not that close to my office making it inconvenient to get that "quick 9" in.

I'm joining my first full private course next month actually and am not going to re-up my membership at the semi-private course at least for next year. The private course I'm joining is much closer to both my office and my home (sitting almost halfway in between my 11 mile commute to work). It's considerably shorter at 5750yds and a par 70. That said, it's pretty, and definitely requires more precision. I figure I'll play greater than 80% of my rounds there for the next year.
[/quote]

You may get more golf in as well since it is closer to home. :-)

[quote name='Jdaws012' timestamp='1443400449' post='12375698']
This is a perfect course to have. Like you said, every course you go on will seem wide open.
[/quote]

Yes, but I just need to get to those courses!

[Sean2]

[quote name='Petethreeput' timestamp='1443401149' post='12375772']
Interesting bc my wife already says, "you're game doesn't travel well." But... As others have said I pay dues to play a course. I feel it is the best and most challenging course in my area. And why would I pay more to play somewhere else?

If you have a good game (I have a couple of weekly money games), and play with good people, and the course is a challenge then I think it's OK.
[/quote]

Yes to the latter. I have some good friends I play golf with there and we have fun.

[Sean2]

[quote name='raynorfan1' timestamp='1443402005' post='12375854']
I've played a little more than 90% of my rounds the last two years on he same course. The odd thing I've found is that I've slowly adapted my bag to the course. I've got specific clubs for certain sets of shots that I know will come up, but it wouldn't occur to me to play those shots anywhere else.
[/quote]

I know what you mean. I have thought of doing that, but haven't reached that point yet.

[quote name='red soxx' timestamp='1443402242' post='12375870']
Sean I know what your saying there is no better deal south of boston than harmon I play there 5 times a week and I feel the same way you do you want to play Tuesday tomorrow there is an outing it does get like Groundhog Day
[/quote]

Sure! I am supposed to meet up with a friend of mine after I drop my son off at the "T". I should get there somewhere around 9ish or maybe a bit before. I'll meet you on the range. I have a black GolfWRX bag, I am tall, with a big nose.

How would I be able to identify you?

[Sean2]

[quote name='LUMA' timestamp='1443402298' post='12375872']
Same here, Sean. Gainesville is terrible with the number of courses... at least "good" courses.

I play at the UF golf course 95% of the time. Public course and always in perfect shape. The only other choices we have is Ironwood which is a beautiful public course with terribly slow greens and fairways consisting of mostly short cut weed type grass, West End which is another public course that has 4/10 conditions and is very short, Haile which is private and GCC which is private. I used to have the hookup at Haile because I was friends with the head pro but he took another job in Tampa so I'm back to UF.

I don't have much of a choice. Gainesville is lacking BIG TIME with a good selection of good condition championship style courses. I'm not driving to Ocala to overpay to play courses over there. I love the UF course but yeah, I get sick and need some new challenges. I'm tired of playing the same clubs. I play the ladies tees sometimes because its drastic enough distance wise to make the course play totally different.
[/quote]

They aren't the ladies tees...they are the forward tees. :-)

For me, my course is convenient, I've already paid the greens fees, and I know I can get on. Once in a blue moon I go to a municipal not too far away. It's inexpensive and not in too bad of shape, and you have to make a serious effort to lose a golf ball.

There is a nice course that is quite close to my home, but it's pricey, another municipal nearby, but it's very slow. So I pretty much stick with my home course.

[Sean2]

[quote name='unhewn log' timestamp='1443416261' post='12376784']
Sean, it just occurred to me one could substitute the word 'course' in your OP for 'wife'.
[/quote]

Ha!

[quote name='RSinSG' timestamp='1443409320' post='12376460']
When I lived in Palm Springs there were 130+ courses nearby (there may be more now.) Between my wife's contacts and mine there weren't too many that I couldn't get an invite to, and we used to play a lot of different ones. Now that I retired and moved to St. George I've settled into a routine where I pretty much play three courses every week. Two different leagues and my home course where I play and practice. It is very comfortable and I like the fact that I occasionally go low - something I rarely do when I play other courses. Typically my first round away from home is pretty good, followed up by increasingly higher scores.

BTW - I'm at that age when I go out to eat I usually order the same thing. I always thought my parents were weird for doing that - now I know why.
[/quote]

Three courses is a nice rotations though.

[Sean2]

[quote name='Shambles' timestamp='1443418654' post='12376822']
[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443392451' post='12375064']
I play the same course about 99.7% of the time (membership fee includes unlimited green fees, unlimited range balls, and use of all the practice facilities). It is a short course. However, it is LITTERED with hazards. Essentially, you put the ball in the fairway or the ball is either OB or in a hazard. Actually, you can put the ball in the fairway and still end up in a hazard (for example...just a bit too much draw, or fade and if you catch the left center or right center of the fairway on a few holes and good-bye). There is very little rough to speak of. No trees to punch out from. And certainly no other fairways to hit from.

On the one hand I feel like I put myself at a disadvantage since I play the same course all the time, on the other hand, when I do go to another course the fairways seem a mile wide, and if a shot does go a little awry it is usually still playable unlike my course. However, at my course I play the same clubs all the time, unlike other courses where I have to mix it up a little bit. That, and it is nice to see some different scenery from time to time.

What about you folks? Do you find yourself playing a variety of courses, or do you pretty much play the same course all the time?
[/quote]

That's a course I like, but for the learning more than the course it self. I very much like good practice facilities and unlimited green fees, something I also get from my current home course. I only try to play fairway golf when I'm entertaining or shooting for a score. Most practice times I look for the most likely problem areas and shoot for them. From there I try to solve the problem and save par. I learned this extra game from a competitive friend whom I hosted. He shot at every hazard he was most likely to hit with his most common swing errors and tried to save the score after, for 18 holes. It was just the two of us on a lazy afternoon and we were playing the tips. As he subsequently explained, fairway golf is a grind and does not teach you much except how to grind. Problem golf, on the other hand, forces you to include the shots that almost never comes up. The kind of shots we watch Tiger create so often. It's not a show off thing, it's a learning experience done quietly. Takes a bit more time, so you do this on reasonably empty fairways, which is usually the least popular hours of the day. That friend ended the day 2 over for the round. I've never managed that even playing fairway golf. I'm thinking of taking him off my friends list.



Shambles
[/quote]

Shambles, I aspire to play boring golf. I want to be bored out of my mind when I play. I want to keep the ball in play, hit my approach on, or around the green, you know, stuff like that. Right now, I do a lot of grinding. :-)

[Sean2]

[quote name='deadsolid...shank' timestamp='1443440965' post='12377168']
I probably play about 75% of my rounds at my home course. A big part of that is it's private and we can pretty much fly around it. Makes it good for when you're sneaking out from work in the middle of the day. It's close enough to the office that I can leave work, warm up, play, go inside and settle the bets, and be back at work in about 3 1/2 hours. It's the most difficult course in the area, but that's not saying much as the overall difficulty of the entire area's courses is not much. We do mix the tees a bit, normal group plays the tips at just under 7,100 but when we're playing with more than one group we play the men's at 6,500, so we do get a bit of variety.

Sean, what are the numbers at your course? Length, rating, slope. I would think the slope would be extremely high. Probably makes for a lot of lower handicaps there?
[/quote]

Black / 6016 / 70.6 / 127
Black|Yellow / 5746 / 69.2 / 125
Yellow|Yellow/ 5476 / 67.8 / 124

What is amusing is some people who have never played the course look at the score card and think they are going to take apart the course. After a few holes, and a few lost balls, they are no longer amused. By the end of the round, some people are not very happy campers.

ps: and during the tournaments the pins are placed in positively evil locations, which really makes it difficult.

[quote name='Imp' timestamp='1443443535' post='12377306']
Variety is the spice of life. Right? Get out there and play some different courses.

--kC
[/quote]

Every year I tell myself that is exactly what I am going to do. And every year that is exactly what I don't do.

[Sean2]

[quote name='Tcann32' timestamp='1443443931' post='12377324']
I seem to start out the year playing at the same course for the first month or so, then tapering off to playing it a little less often, then going back to it at the end of the season, mainly because of proximity to my home and the loss of day light.

The one I played most often in the beginning of the year sounds allot like yours Sean. Lots of trouble, and it's a links course with farm fields surrounding it for miles, so any amount of wind seems to be amplified. The fairways aren't generally that wide, and you can hit through many of them. A straight forward tee shot is rare, and thankfully I never try to hit the ball straight lol. The greens are tough as well. You really need to position yourself or you can end up with some very difficult putts. There's one green where the play is 10 yards right and short of the green or you won't be holding the green.

Playing this course makes some courses seem easier. There's another local course that would probably destroy my game if I played most of my rounds at it. It's possible to have a bad round there, but if you play half decent, it's pretty simple and easy to shoot below your cap, and you really wouldn't learn much if you only played there.
[/quote]

T, many of us wonder what are handicaps would be if we played some of the courses in our area instead of the one we play. Most of us agree it would be lower. For example, there is one municipal I play once in a while. I keep track of shots that would be OB or in a hazard on my home course, but are just fine on this course. It's usually anywhere from 4 to 6 shots.

[Sean2]

[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1443445343' post='12377428']
I play the same course 99% of the time. I started working there part-time about 8 years ago. When I got the job my wife asked "aren't you going to get bored playing the same course all the time?". After 8 years I can confidently say "no".

Its nice to play a course where I know everyone and can find a game almost anytime I show up. There are tons of great people there and the course is always in good shape. Its also only 4 miles from my house.

I am also a member at a club in the area where a grew up (about 80 miles away). A few other guys at my course are also members there so we road trip occasionally for some different scenery.

We also have reciprocals with several other local courses and we play them occasionally as well. Nothing better than free golf at nice courses!
[/quote]

Reciprocity is a nice thing Hot Rod! Within 10 minutes of my home is the most beautiful course I have ever seen. I have walked it a number of times watching my best friend's daughter play a few tournaments there, but it would be easier to get an audience with the pope than play this course: The Boston Golf Club. Each hole is unique. Each hole is work of art.

[Imp]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443453047' post='12378112'][quote name='Imp' timestamp='1443443535' post='12377306']
Variety is the spice of life. Right? Get out there and play some different courses.

--kC
[/quote]

Every year I tell myself that is exactly what I am going to do. And every year that is exactly what I don't do.
[/quote]Do you need someone to hold your hand and whisper "it'll be all right"?

--kC

[Sean2]

[quote name='mantan' timestamp='1443403212' post='12375968']
[quote name='Petethreeput' timestamp='1443401149' post='12375772']
Interesting bc my wife already says, "you're game doesn't travel well." But... As others have said I pay dues to play a course. I feel it is the best and most challenging course in my area. And why would I pay more to play somewhere else?

If you have a good game (I have a couple of weekly money games), and play with good people, and the course is a challenge then I think it's OK.
[/quote]

I've probably played 200 rounds with a WRXer I met about 10 years ago. He used to belong to a private club up until about six years ago. I played with him there many times and it was a really tough track. His game traveled really well. Though I'm not sure if it was because his track was so tough...or because he played a lot more golf when he could play/practice several days a week.

The biggest difference was that a lot of public courses seemed a lot more forgiving to him.
[/quote]

Ours is a practice facility. You go there to learn the game. I always wondered why they made the course so bloody difficult.

[quote name='Imp' timestamp='1443453479' post='12378160']
[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443453047' post='12378112'][quote name='Imp' timestamp='1443443535' post='12377306']
Variety is the spice of life. Right? Get out there and play some different courses.

--kC
[/quote]

Every year I tell myself that is exactly what I am going to do. And every year that is exactly what I don't do.
[/quote]Do you need someone to hold your hand and whisper "it'll be all right"?

--kC
[/quote]

Only is she is a knock out.

[duffer987]

[quote name='teejaywhy' timestamp='1443394314' post='12375190']
[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443392451' post='12375064']
I play the same course about 99.7% of the time ... it is LITTERED with hazards. Essentially, you put the ball in the fairway or the ball is either OB or in a hazard. Actually, you can put the ball in the fairway and still end up in a hazard (for example...just a bit too much draw, or fade and if you catch the left center or right center of the fairway on a few holes and good-bye).
[/quote]

Does not sound like the type of course at which I would want to play 99.7% of my rounds.

But that's just me.
[/quote]

The worst of it, is that it's only 9 holes, so you get to loop back around and do it all over. I'd be bored of it, inside of a month.

TBH a course that hovers around an even par rating, mid 120s slope, and that you can take an iron/hybrid off the tee on 7/9 holes isn't going to be the Merion-esque challenge the OP seems to want to make it. Of course playing the same course 99.7% of the time can skewer your POV and lead someone to want to make more of something than it actually is.

http://www.oobgolf.com/courses/scorecard.php?id=17229

[Tcann32]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443453283' post='12378140'][quote name='Tcann32' timestamp='1443443931' post='12377324']
I seem to start out the year playing at the same course for the first month or so, then tapering off to playing it a little less often, then going back to it at the end of the season, mainly because of proximity to my home and the loss of day light.

The one I played most often in the beginning of the year sounds allot like yours Sean. Lots of trouble, and it's a links course with farm fields surrounding it for miles, so any amount of wind seems to be amplified. The fairways aren't generally that wide, and you can hit through many of them. A straight forward tee shot is rare, and thankfully I never try to hit the ball straight lol. The greens are tough as well. You really need to position yourself or you can end up with some very difficult putts. There's one green where the play is 10 yards right and short of the green or you won't be holding the green.

Playing this course makes some courses seem easier. There's another local course that would probably destroy my game if I played most of my rounds at it. It's possible to have a bad round there, but if you play half decent, it's pretty simple and easy to shoot below your cap, and you really wouldn't learn much if you only played there.
[/quote]

T, many of us wonder what are handicaps would be if we played some of the courses in our area instead of the one we play. Most of us agree it would be lower. For example, there is one municipal I play once in a while. I keep track of shots that would be OB or in a hazard on my home course, but are just fine on this course. It's usually anywhere from 4 to 6 shots.[/quote]

I would prefer to play a more difficult course most of the time honestly. It's nice to almost feel trained on a more difficult course, then when you get someplace with flatter greens and wider fairways, you can just swing away. Sometimes I laugh to myself at a bad shot on an easier course as I can't believe I got away with the swing when I know that anything like that would've been long gone on a normal day at the home track.

My lowest scores this year have been at courses I've only played once or twice.

I can see how it would be advantageous to play some courses more frequently, and how it would hurt your game to primarily play at others.

[cbbaron]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443453283' post='12378140']
[quote name='Tcann32' timestamp='1443443931' post='12377324']
I seem to start out the year playing at the same course for the first month or so, then tapering off to playing it a little less often, then going back to it at the end of the season, mainly because of proximity to my home and the loss of day light.

The one I played most often in the beginning of the year sounds allot like yours Sean. Lots of trouble, and it's a links course with farm fields surrounding it for miles, so any amount of wind seems to be amplified. The fairways aren't generally that wide, and you can hit through many of them. A straight forward tee shot is rare, and thankfully I never try to hit the ball straight lol. The greens are tough as well. You really need to position yourself or you can end up with some very difficult putts. There's one green where the play is 10 yards right and short of the green or you won't be holding the green.

Playing this course makes some courses seem easier. There's another local course that would probably destroy my game if I played most of my rounds at it. It's possible to have a bad round there, but if you play half decent, it's pretty simple and easy to shoot below your cap, and you really wouldn't learn much if you only played there.
[/quote]

T, many of us wonder what are handicaps would be if we played some of the courses in our area instead of the one we play. Most of us agree it would be lower. For example, there is one municipal I play once in a while. I keep track of shots that would be OB or in a hazard on my home course, but are just fine on this course. It's usually anywhere from 4 to 6 shots.
[/quote]One guess Braintree

[raynorfan1]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443453283' post='12378140']
T, many of us wonder what are handicaps would be if we played some of the courses in our area instead of the one we play. Most of us agree it would be lower. For example, there is one municipal I play once in a while. I keep track of shots that would be OB or in a hazard on my home course, but are just fine on this course. It's usually anywhere from 4 to 6 shots.
[/quote]

Then sort of by definition, the course is under-rated / under-sloped. The course I mostly play is tough - I've never really sniffed breaking 80 from the blues - but when I go to a local muni, the same score is within reach. The rating system is such that it does a reasonable job of adjusting.

[WiscoGolfAddict]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1443392451' post='12375064']
I play the same course about 99.7% of the time (membership fee includes unlimited green fees, unlimited range balls, and use of all the practice facilities). It is a short course. However, it is LITTERED with hazards. Essentially, you put the ball in the fairway or the ball is either OB or in a hazard. Actually, you can put the ball in the fairway and still end up in a hazard (for example...just a bit too much draw, or fade and if you catch the left center or right center of the fairway on a few holes and good-bye). There is very little rough to speak of. No trees to punch out from. And certainly no other fairways to hit from.

On the one hand I feel like I put myself at a disadvantage since I play the same course all the time, on the other hand, when I do go to another course the fairways seem a mile wide, and if a shot does go a little awry it is usually still playable unlike my course. However, at my course I play the same clubs all the time, unlike other courses where I have to mix it up a little bit. That, and it is nice to see some different scenery from time to time.

What about you folks? Do you find yourself playing a variety of courses, or do you pretty much play the same course all the time?
[/quote]


The year before I joined a country club, I played 126 rounds at 52 different golf courses, and was worried I would get sick of playing the same course all the time. It's been 3 years and I still sneak out to my club every chance I can, and miss it when I'm not there. Now I only play other courses if it's on a trip or a new course that I want/need to review for my site.

What I've found, and I've talked with several other younger guys at my club about this, is that if you play a really well manicured course regularly - and especially one that's tree-lined (or has other hazards) and puts an emphasis on accurate tee shots and tough approaches - it makes you so much better of a player at other courses that are not as restrictive off the tee. Links courses, especially (other than Erin Hills, or others where the fescue might as well be water), where I can spray my tee shots a little I've started scoring awesome on! I think it's great.

[hdr_ric]

95% of my rounds at least at home course(s). It a private club with 36 holes and no slow rounds - hard to justify paying to play elsewhere. I don't get bored, the two courses are different styles, layouts, and grasses.

I do play maybe 5-10 "away" rounds a year when on vacation, at another area club, or at a public course with my "non-golfing" buddies.

[jloveless]

I was a member at one course in the Atlanta area for more than 2 years. It is a very challenging course, long with excellent greens. I played well and was improving but the same old grind was began to wear on me.

This year, I joined a Club Corp course that gave me access to many other courses in the Atlanta area. Some I had played before and others I had wanted to play. I have enjoyed playing 5+ different courses each month with about 60% of my rounds on my home course. The variety of course designers (Dye, Nicklaus, Watson, Fazio, Love, Hills) has been challenging. I have mostly played on bent grass my entire life and this year has allowed me to play a few more bermuda green courses. My game has been solid at all courses. My home course is slow with deep bermuda rough. One of the courses has zoysia grass that stays in better condition during cooler time of the year.

I look forward to keep mixing it up and staying away from the same old grind.

Joel

[ryu123]

like Sean2 I play over 90% of my non-vacation rounds at one course.

The primary reason I enjoy doing so is because the winds change daily (sometimes hourly) and so the holes play differently from one round to the next. (Apparently Hogan said at one time that if he had to pick one course for the rest of his life, it would be Seminole, because of the changing winds.)

The other reasons are the greens are fairly large and can accommodate significantly different hole locations, and also the fairways stay dry all year.

Finally there are three distinct sets of tees I can play, if I want a change. The tees are mostly staggered and not 'landing strip' tees, so there are different playing angles into the fairways.

[Sean2]

[quote name='Argonne69' timestamp='1443447849' post='12377628']
I'm a Traveling Wilbury. I've played 82 rounds this year on close to 60 different courses. Nearly 40 of them have been first visits. Last year was basically the same. I played my 300th different course this past August. In the Chicago area, I've played close to 120 different courses.

I can't fathom playing the same course week in and week out. My course management has gotten quite good, as one has to play conservatively on unfamiliar terrain.
[/quote]

Yikes! That is most impressive! I have probably played 20 different courses, if that, in the 10 years I have been playing golf.

[mantan]

[quote name='jloveless' timestamp='1443469200' post='12379696']
I was a member at one course in the Atlanta area for more than 2 years. It is a very challenging course, long with excellent greens. I played well and was improving but the same old grind was began to wear on me.

This year, I joined a Club Corp course that gave me access to many other courses in the Atlanta area. Some I had played before and others I had wanted to play. I have enjoyed playing 5+ different courses each month with about 60% of my rounds on my home course. The variety of course designers (Dye, Nicklaus, Watson, Fazio, Love, Hills) has been challenging. I have mostly played on bent grass my entire life and this year has allowed me to play a few more bermuda green courses. My game has been solid at all courses. My home course is slow with deep bermuda rough. One of the courses has zoysia grass that stays in better condition during cooler time of the year.

I look forward to keep mixing it up and staying away from the same old grind.

Joel
[/quote]

ClubCorp really does have a good system. For a brief time I considered joining a country club right by my office. The biggest draw is that I could play any of the ClubCorp facilities in the metroplex. Plus I could play member courses when I traveled for work. (a huge bonus). The biggest reason I resisted going private was the lack of variety...and that would take care of it.

If there was a ClubCorp course closer to my house, I'd be all over it.