Say you got to play a top 5 course in the world. What would you do?

[ben w]

Speaking hypothetically, if you got to play one of the best courses in the world, and take your camera, what sort of things would you try and do? Obviously you'll be playing a round of golf and seeing the sights, but what are some things you wouldn't want to miss?

[Kwward11]

My biggest one would be skipping a ball across the pond at Augusta.

[MtlJeff]

I honestly don't know if there's anything special i'd do other then take a few pics. I'd love to play Oakmont more then anything, just to take the beating...but just playing it for the story would be enough

[Sean2]

I'd like to play the Boston Golf Club. I've walked the course during tournaments. The most unique, well-designed course I've ever seen. Each hole is a work of art and singularly beautiful. I would simply savor the experience.

[Gbyeball]

Make sure I got there real early. Have a nice breakfast in the club house, spend an hour on the range and putting green. Just really try to experience as much of the complete facility as I could. If possible I would want to play it with my son, my best friend and his son.

[jmvargas]

Augusta.....from the whites---except for the 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th!

[jnradioactive]

After I finished at Augusta I'd change my shoes in the parking lot (and of course bang them together to get the grass off) just to see the looks I would get...

[butch33611]

[quote name='jnradioactive' timestamp='1383996971' post='8122944']
After I finished at Augusta I'd change my shoes in the parking lot (and of course bang them together to get the grass off) just to see the looks I would get...
[/quote]

After you finished playing, Well played sir. I expect the reaction would be. I told you this was a bad idea. We'er not doing this again.

[GWD]

I was invited to play the Olympic Club in San Francisco by a friend who had won an auction. I arrived 2 hours before our tee time and toured the whole facility. Magnificently elegant clubhouse, good pro shop, and all-in-all a first class facility. Lots of time was spent on the range and putting green. It is not often a "low-life" like me can get to be in the 1% atmosphere.

I hadn't played for 12, or so, years so the on-course golfing experience was pathetic but beautiful.

[ND2005]

Most of all I'd try to just enjoy the round.

When I played the old course, it was my first time touching a golf club in 8 months, and I let myself get frustrated at my poor play (was much younger/less mature at the time). I still enjoyed it and it was a once in a lifetime trip, but I just wish I'd laid back and had some more fun and worried less about my score.

[xThor]

Well, i'd definitely start out by shanking my first tee shot...

But seriously, Some pictures of me at the Old Course at St Andrews would be incredible. Walking over the bridge. Deep in a bunker.
Also seeing the azaleas in full bloom at Augusta would be pretty cool.

[Petethreeput]

What wouldn't I want to miss? The experience, and the camera only would capture this. A couple of photos of "the" sights. I have photos of me teeing off on the Road Hole with the Hotel in front of me. I have a picture of us on the Postage Stamp tee box. I also have a picture of us on the Swilcan Bridge. No photos though while playing. In fact, very few photos at all.

I believe trying to take in an experience through a lens actually means I miss the experience. So a couple of well timed, meaningful pics is more important than taking it all in with the camera.

Played with a guy on the Old Course who had his wife take a photo of every shot he took. Not only was he slow (though the caddies started to get on him), but he also got irritated with his play. Miserable SOB, and it just got worse and worse. He was probably the best golfer of the 4some, but his anxiety about "capturing" every moment ruined it for him, in my opinion.

[JWells]

I would play?

[FutureOfTheTour]

i would try to hit the most spectacular shots I could think of!! I might have a lot of bogeys or doubles but the few birdies and eagles would be worth it to have the story!!

[TheMackDaddy]

I would wear a Go-Pro and capture every step while playing Augusta!

[mikpga]

I'm not sure if I'd take the camera...

I'd want to experience the round from 1tee to the 18th hole...

I'd consider hiring someone to take pictures of me playing, but they must remain hidden from my sight...

[col902]

make sure i got a legendary caddy who would tell me about the course and some awesome stories

[TexMex36]

[quote name='TheMackDaddy' timestamp='1384018304' post='8123956']
I would wear a Go-Pro and capture every step while playing Augusta!
[/quote]

Way to think out of the box.

[11under]

Tee off on the first tee and finish on the 18th. Probably shoot somewhere in the 80's. Maybe take a few pictures throughout the round. Then finish it off with a meal at the end.

Edit: This would be at Augusta.

[jmvargas]

BTW i started playing golf in 1958 when i was 12 and probably saw all the Masters tournaments since that year either on delayed tape or live TV so it's not surprising i will choose Augusta...

it is also the only major played on the same venue since the beginning so most of us are familiar with most if not all the holes but most certainly the whole back-9..

when the 15th was still at 500-yd i had friends who were at the Masters(1991) call me and say they were sure i could reach it in 2!!

[knockdstiff]

What would I do?

Man, I would totally go...and...enjoy it a lot. Hopefully I'd play decently.

I don't think photos really enhance the experience outside of being able to show people where you were. The HD pixel resolution of my memories is unbelievable.

That being said I would still need to skip a ball across the pond at Augusta. I would not demand that someone record me at the time, but I do know that if I had a video of me doing this I would force everyone I know to watch it. A handful of people I know would appreciate it, but I would be so thrilled that it wouldn't matter and I would show everyone.

[agray94]

I would pack a lot of golf balls. Attempt to survive and not embarrass myself..at least not when anyone is watching. Finally try to not appear to in awe of the situation..

[SilverBullets]

I had the chance to play at Cypress and it was incredible. It rained so hard the first 7 or so holes that we didn't even bring the camera and we couldn't even keep score (all of our score cards literally fell apart). Played from the tips on 16, it was about 50* and very windy due to the storm. I hit driver 3 times and only 1 found land. While the weather didn't cooperate, for the back 9 it stopped raining and was windy. We did go in the clubhouse and spend a fortune on hats, shirts, etc. lol.

[cardoustie]

We took 3 or 4 good shots at the Old Course. Also wandered 17 and 18 the night before and got some great pics at the Swilcan Bridge and road hole bunker

Saw a wild St Andrew's video this summer. Guys hammered in the bridge. One guy strips down to his ginch and belly flops off the bridge into the burn. I think the girl showing me the vid said he lost 2 or 3 teeth and needed 15 stitches on the head as well. I guess he overestimated the depth of the water

Getting there early is a good idea. I got to Muirfield Village a good 3 hrs in advance and practiced with Chris Perry. Had the time to tour the shop and facilities in advance as well. Did the same thing at TPC Sawgrass and Royal Melbourne

Not quite as early as arriving at 1am and getting 5:50 am at Bethpage Black, that was fun

[ben w]

awesome ideas and suggestions. camera is charged and has multiple batteries, and I bought a dozen balls yesterday. thank you everyone!

[Colby327]

[quote name='ben w' timestamp='1384186500' post='8131448']
awesome ideas and suggestions. camera is charged and has multiple batteries, and I bought a dozen balls yesterday. thank you everyone!
[/quote]

So the million dollar question is: Which course are you playing?

[CincyCreech]

I'd play the South Course at Firestone Country Club. I'd love to bring my brother and a couple buddies take a few pictures and just really soak it in. Truly my favorite type of golf course... Old School Tree Lined type of golf course.

[SilverBullets]

[quote name='cardoustie' timestamp='1384185544' post='8131356']
We took 3 or 4 good shots at the Old Course. Also wandered 17 and 18 the night before and got some great pics at the Swilcan Bridge and road hole bunker

Saw a wild St Andrew's video this summer. Guys hammered in the bridge. One guy strips down to his ginch and belly flops off the bridge into the burn. I think the girl showing me the vid said he lost 2 or 3 teeth and needed 15 stitches on the head as well. I guess he overestimated the depth of the water

Getting there early is a good idea. I got to Muirfield Village a good 3 hrs in advance and practiced with Chris Perry. Had the time to tour the shop and facilities in advance as well. Did the same thing at TPC Sawgrass and Royal Melbourne

Not quite as early as arriving at 1am and getting 5:50 am at Bethpage Black, that was fun
[/quote]

haha the Chris Perry thing really cracks me up. During a couple of summers I caddied out at Village. Chris Perry was there constantly. Except, ironically enough, the year's that I was there Perry wasn't a member. I remember standing outside of the caddy shack while the head caddy master blew a gasket when he saw Perry's bag show up. A couple of the clubhouse guys came out and made him leave. Next day, Perry shows up again.

I am not sure if Perry had previously been a member but was not a member anymore at the time or if he simply thought since he played on tour he could use the practice facilities of tour course, but, either way that day stood out in my mind.

[LittleLeftToRight]

I am a photographer, so my advice if you want video would be to put a GoPro on the caddy if you have one since he is going to be watching you all day. (GoPros are pretty cheap) Otherwise, just enjoy the experience. Maybe take a couple pictures with your friends as a remembrance on the signature holes. Pictures are better since the stories you and your friends have can grow to epic proportions as time goes by.... which is half the fun.

[ND2005]

The last time I went to a nice course, my fiancee rode along in the cart. She turned all sound off on our digital camera and quietly snapped a ton of pics without interfering with pace of play at all. Gave her something to do aside from drive the cart and drink a gin and tonic...