Best Golf Experience You've Had?

[langesc88 27]

I am intrigued as well. I'll hit the zone usually on the back 9 and sometimes will string 5-6 pars together to finish out a round. If I could figure out how to do it early, I'd actually have a shot at breaking 80.

Here is what I am talking about. Will be using the focus band next month in Vegas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pArG0CJI2h0

[Txstcatman 88]

This is gonna sound like a man-crush/bromance as well as a shout out to one of our own here at MGS for the first. A shout out to more members in the second.

 

Two years ago I decided to "volunteer" at the Valero Texas Open and had the good fortune of getting my first choice assignment in the practice facility. I met Hula there and we very quickly became friends and playing partners soon after. Before him the one person I'd ever played golf consistently with was my dad. Being several hours away from him makes it hard to get even one round in during the year, especially when he doesn't always feel great. It's been awesome being able to talk golf with Hula, from club-hoing addictions to the joys of early fatherhood. Guy is a class act on and off the course, so props to him.

 

Second would be the MGS Texas Open last year. A bunch of us Texas boys met in Huntsville and played at least two rounds at the SHSU home course. It was great having the chance to meet several people from this site, play golf, and not feel like I was the outsider in a group of people on the course. I've never experienced more laughs and support from a group of people other than my workplace, and that's a pretty great comparison in my opinion. I think Chinese buffet should be the official lunch of the MGS TO and that Sriracha should sponsor the event.

[langesc88 27]

This is gonna sound like a man-crush/bromance as well as a shout out to one of our own here at MGS for the first. A shout out to more members in the second.

 

Two years ago I decided to "volunteer" at the Valero Texas Open and had the good fortune of getting my first choice assignment in the practice facility. I met Hula there and we very quickly became friends and playing partners soon after. Before him the one person I'd ever played golf consistently with was my dad. Being several hours away from him makes it hard to get even one round in during the year, especially when he doesn't always feel great. It's been awesome being able to talk golf with Hula, from club-hoing addictions to the joys of early fatherhood. Guy is a class act on and off the course, so props to him.

 

Second would be the MGS Texas Open last year. A bunch of us Texas boys met in Huntsville and played at least two rounds at the SHSU home course. It was great having the chance to meet several people from this site, play golf, and not feel like I was the outsider in a group of people on the course. I've never experienced more laughs and support from a group of people other than my workplace, and that's a pretty great comparison in my opinion. I think Chinese buffet should be the official lunch of the MGS TO and that Sriracha should sponsor the event.

Sounds like a blast!

[jaskanski 1,279]

Playing along with my son when he made his first hole-in-one. With a set of clubs I built. 

[Bogey in The Woods 428]

For me, taking my wife to Wolfdancer at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort. It was her birthday and I reserved us a "couples lesson" with the club pro. Pulling up, we were met by an attendant who unloaded our bags and had a cart set up for us.

 

The pro came out and met us. Made sure we had everything we needed or wanted. He handed us a few bags of balls and gave us directions to the practice facility.

 

Now mind you, I play in central Texas, and not normally on really expensive courses. As well all know you get what you pay for. So I am use to light green/ tan/ brown driving ranges. Normally the courses I play have semi tended tee boxes and greens that look cared for. So the only green I see on the course are the tee boxes and greens. (And the pretty pictures of Augusta or St Andrews that normally adorn the clubhouse or pro shop walls)

 

Getting to the practice facility I have only one word: GREEN. I don't mean nice lawn green. I don't mean luck of the Irish green. I mean Augusta green on a perfect day! I've yet to go to another course that impressed me the way this one did.

 

After getting over the sensory overload, the wife and I began hitting. When I saw the pro pull up in his cart, I went over to meet him. I told him this is my wife's birthday and wanted the whole lesson to be hers. He understood, gave me some bags of balls and we rejoined my wife.

 

We booked a 90 minute lesson. He spent 2 hours and 15 minutes with us/her. During that time, they worked a lot on her three wood. (She hates it because she hurt her arm puting a pothole in a course one day ) he even ran into the clubhouse and got her a club he wanted her to hit.

 

At the end of the lesson, he asked if we were hungry. Took us to the clubhouse and got us a wonderful lunch. When we tried to get the check, we were told the pro had I taken care of. As we got up, as if on cue, the pro returned and said we had a tee time in 20 minutes.

 

This was great!!!!! Now keep in mind, I booked a couples lesson for 90 minutes and $175.

We got much more time than we booked. We were treated to lunch that would have probably paid half of my truck note. And we were now being given a round at a course that would have cost me more than the other half of my truck note!

 

He escorted us to the starter shed/snack bar. The cooler on our cart was filled with water and Gatorade. He showed my wife how to use the GPS in the cart, and away we went.

 

Now if the driving range impressed me , the course blew me away!!!! In the middle of a Texas summer with next to no rainfall, there was not a bit of tee box, fairway, or green that wasn't perfect and green. If you went into the tall stuff, it was dryer and brown/tan. There was actual sand in the bunkers. Not the hard pack pseudo-sand at the normal places I play.

 

We had the best time ever together on a golfcourse. We were treated like tour players instead of the tourists we were playing like. My wife even out drove me on a few holes. (Yes she hit from the reds. Even though she leaves that fact out when telling our friends)

 

Next to playing at any of the legendary courses, I can't think of anything that would beat this.

[Kenny B 25,635]

Sounds like a great experience Bogey... Congratulations!   Don't get used to it.  

 

This reminds me of when a very good friend of mine from Waverly OH (VP of Goodyear and a single-digit hcp) invited a mutual friend to a golf outing at the Firestone Country Club in Akron.  The friend is a 20 hcp and thought this was going to be one of the great rounds of his life.  Firestone is immaculate (as you've no doubt seen on TV).  It was one of his WORST rounds ever. Not only was the course more difficult than anything he had ever played, but he said that the course was so beautiful that he was afraid to take a divot!!  A recipe for a bad round.

[jpcgolf 109]

I love competition, and every time I play match play in the summer tournaments, I get so fired up it is awesome.  My favorite match was my first of two matches so far in my life that have gone to 18 holes.  This was the first round of the bobby bowers tournament I qualified the day before, and I was the 8 seed, playing the 9 seed, who earlier in the year beat me in a 5 hole play off for the junior club championship win.  Anyway, I started the round off down, and I was 3 down going into hole 9, and I thought to myself, there is no possible way that I am losing this round.  I was much longer than the kid I was playing, and I knew if I could put one in play, I had the holes 9 and 10 in the bag.  I did win those two holes, and I kept on fighting back, and I never led in the match until it was all square going into hole 18.  I was so pumped from adrenaline, I hit the drive of my life and bombed one over the trees.  I had a pitching wedge in and I put it to about 15-20 feet.  I was so nervous, I whacked the put 5 feet by, leaving myself a downhill slider.  I thought I was screwed for sure, but he struggled around the green too.  He flubbed a little chip, and then missed the par putt, and then I was back in control.  I drained that downhill slider and won the match.

[HighFade 1,237]

My best/favorite would probably be the first time I played Wild Horse in Gothenburg, NE.

 

We had an 8:00 am tee time and it was thick fog on a links style course. Really set the mood.

 

The greens were like concrete and somehow I managed to shoot 1 over on the front nine.

 

Of course after I woke up at the end of 18 that had ballooned to a 7 over total, but I was still breaking 80!

I've played the west a couple times. Gothenberg is always a must play. Best golf in the state without question. Stimp? My guess is about 14. No lie

[Sluggo42 6,113]

Getting an eagle 2 on the #1 handicap hole last week.

Got a solid drive around 270, then two hop dunked a six iron from about 170.

 

Unfortunately I was playing alone, back nine deserted, so I pumped my arms into the air and looked around. Not a soul besides myself saw it happen...

[Hula Rock 700]

Getting an eagle 2 on the #1 handicap hole last week.

Got a solid drive around 270, then two hop dunked a six iron from about 170.

 

Unfortunately I was playing alone, back nine deserted, so I pumped my arms into the air and looked around. Not a soul besides myself saw it happen...

 

You mean the Grounds keeper that rolled around the corner did not see it....... like the commercial.....  

[mr_divots 247]

I can't travel easily with my health, so I have a couple fun experiences near home anyway.

One, I was sent to Hazeltine National by Ping for a full bag fitting. Yes, very cool. No, I don't belong on any such course or grounds at my income! lol!

 

The other was going up north to play 3 courses in Northern MN. Two at Giants Ridge in Biwabik (The Legend, and The Quarry) and then a little further north to Tower for the Wilderness at Fortune Bay Casino. Three really fun courses, and where else can you get eaten by a bear playing golf? Sadly, no longer amigos with the guy I went with.

[PlaidJacket 7,727]

For me so far it's been Bandon Dunes. I've had many others but this one was the most unique and dramatic. Me and three other guys flew to Portland and met up with one of the guys brother. It was my first and only experience playing golf in the Pacific Northwest. We went in late May 3 years ago and the weather was perfect at Bandon. By that I mean no rain-outs or winds. Temps were cool to warm. I've got to tell you; and anyone else who has been there will probably say the same. Bandon is truly a man's golf destination from start to finish and everything in between. It's expensive. I think each round cost about $300 including the caddie. The caddies double bag. If I had played Bandon's courses a few times I might skip a caddie. But trust me... you'll want one the first time for sure. My caddie knew the courses forward and backward and his green reading skills were dead on. I don't think I ever read a putt correctly. We played Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Old McDonald and Bandon Preserve; the 13 hole par three course. My favorite of the 18-hole courses was Pacific Dunes. Each of the 18-hole courses were challenging and fair. Advise: wear comfortable shoes. The turf is hard and fast.

 

We stayed in the Chrome Lake units. There are 21 of them and each one has an upstairs 2BR apt and the same downstairs. We rented two upstairs units and each man had his own king bed and bath. It was heaven. And the view and surroundings were gorgeous. These units were $600/night. 

 

Each course has it's own Pro Shop and dining facilities. (or something nearby) There are also other places I recall. Each restaurant-bar-pub at Bandon is awesome. You will not find a bad meal. The menus are are moderately priced I thought but you can drop some bucks on a fancy evening one night or two. The food in general has man grub written all over it. It's good. Everywhere. Trust me. There is also a good selection of beers, wines, etc. You won't go dry.

 

Everyone that worked at Bandon was friendly and helpful. What more can I say. Great golf, great food, great drink, great accommodations. Once we drove onto the property we never left until we had to at the end.Treat yourself one day and go. Plan to drop some serious bucks and enjoy yourself. Life's too short.

[Kenny B 25,635]

For me so far it's been Bandon Dunes. I've had many others but this one was the most unique and dramatic. Me and three other guys flew to Portland and met up with one of the guys brother. It was my first and only experience playing golf in the Pacific Northwest. We went in late May 3 years ago and the weather was perfect at Bandon. By that I mean no rain-outs or winds. Temps were cool to warm. I've got to tell you; and anyone else who has been there will probably say the same. Bandon is truly a man's golf destination from start to finish and everything in between. It's expensive. I think each round cost about $300 including the caddie. The caddies double bag. If I had played Bandon's courses a few times I might skip a caddie. But trust me... you'll want one the first time for sure. My caddie knew the courses forward and backward and his green reading skills were dead on. I don't think I ever read a putt correctly. We played Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Old McDonald and Bandon Preserve; the 13 hole par three course. My favorite of the 18-hole courses was Pacific Dunes. Each of the 18-hole courses were challenging and fair. Advise: wear comfortable shoes. The turf is hard and fast.

 

We stayed in the Chrome Lake units. There are 21 of them and each one has an upstairs 2BR apt and the same downstairs. We rented two upstairs units and each man had his own king bed and bath. It was heaven. And the view and surroundings were gorgeous. These units were $600/night. 

 

Each course has it's own Pro Shop and dining facilities. (or something nearby) There are also other places I recall. Each restaurant-bar-pub at Bandon is awesome. You will not find a bad meal. The menus are are moderately priced I thought but you can drop some bucks on a fancy evening one night or two. The food in general has man grub written all over it. It's good. Everywhere. Trust me. There is also a good selection of beers, wines, etc. You won't go dry.

 

Everyone that worked at Bandon was friendly and helpful. What more can I say. Great golf, great food, great drink, great accommodations. Once we drove onto the property we never left until we had to at the end.Treat yourself one day and go. Plan to drop some serious bucks and enjoy yourself. Life's too short.

It is a really great experience. My wife and I stayed at the lodge at the Bandon Dunes course overlooking the ocean and 1st tee. When we arrived at 3pm it was pouring rain and 20 mph wind. It rained all night, the rain beating on our windows. When we got up in the morning, it was still raining. Had breakfast in the dining room looking out over the ocean when the sun came out. It was beautiful the rest of the day. Yes, the caddies double bag, but it was the same price as two caddies and I wanted my own. Actually, my wife wanted to bring hers home!! Yes, it is expensive, but it is a real experience. I'll go back.

[Mike Z 261]

Last year, as a whole, was my best golf experience.  Truly, a bucket list year.  In May we had a foursome go to Ireland.  Warm up round at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club and then Waterville, Ballybunion and Lahinch.  Two months later I got a chance to play Oakland Hills CC (and even though I am from the area I never before had the chance to play it).  Then in December I played a round at Torrey Pines.  Somehow on a Saturday I got out off the tee by myself.  It was so awesome to take in that place at my own pace.  Only had to worry about keeping pace of play between a threesome ahead and four behind.  Plenty of time to take it all in.  Toward the end of the round, the threesome ahead finally asked me to join them - great guys all in from Denver to see the Broncos play.  Had a couple of cocktails with them after the round.  Turns out they were all from Cherry Hill.  If I ever get to Denver, I might have a chance to play there.

 

That is a year that will be tough to beat.  I am very grateful that I had all those opportunities.