Mine was playing Oakmont!! I was lucky enough to stay at the old greenskeeper's house on the site. It had the same greens on the course behind the house so the night before we played, we stayed up all night chipping and putting on the green. The house we stayed in had themed rooms named after all the past open winners...I got to stay in the Arnold Palmer room (had an extremely short shower)! The course itself was unbelievable and yes the greens are as fast as advertised. I shot a 78, which I was very pleased with and we played it as far back as the pro's (they played it as a par 71 and we played as par 72). Another thing that was really cool is that all the caligraphy boards from past major tournaments, the top 3 to 5 finishers, are displayed in the men's locker room. Just a awesome experience!!
Tar Golf...
First of all, a fellow UNC guy! Totally awesome and another ally for me. I see you live in Wilmington, which is also where Ty Webb lives, so you guys need to connect.
Love your story about Oakmont. Really cool to hear about. Experience is an interesting thing to ask about. I've had 2 that are in my mind.
Last year I got to play Medinah in a tournament and played 36 holes, 18 on number 3 and 18 on number 1. The whole deal of being in the locker room and treated like a king, eating out on the terrace, everything was crazy good. The locker room guy was a hoot and even had a long chat with me about the 2 pairs of Icons I brough t o wear, because he like the shoes so much he wanted to talk about them.
The other experience was playing at TPC Sugarloaf in Atlanta the Tuesday after the Bell South Classic back in 1998. The course was still playing with long rough and was a bear. The only bad part was that the greens had been punched immediately after the tournament, so we couldn't tell how fast they had been the week prior to the Masters. But I'll tell you what, the way Greg Norman designed that course and clubhouse was just fantastic and I enjoyed it so much! Plus there was some cool swag in that facility too.
My best golfing memory is going to Augusta last year for a practice round. What a memorable experience walking the course.
I'm still waiting for mine to happen.
OH MY GOSH,,,,,,,,WHAT WONDERFUL MEMORIES YOUR POST HAS BROUGHT BACK TO ME.
I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE I'M BRAGGING BECAUSE I AM NOT AND WAS NOT EVER BETTER THAN A 3-5 HANDICAP, BUT OH WHAT MEMORIES.
IN HIGH SCHOOL I WAS ON A TEAM THAT WON THE ST.LOUIS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP. I WAS ALSO ON THE ST.LOUIS REGIONAL CADDIE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF ALGONQUIN CC. THAT TEAM HAD THE MISSOURI STATE JR. CHAMPION AND RUNER-UP SO YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH I HELPED THAT TEAM.
I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO PLAY GOLF WITH JUDY RANKIN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE BEAT ME BADLY-I WAS 16-17 SHE WAS 9 I THINK.
I PLAYED WITH V.J. SIGNH AT REDSTONE. I MET ARNOLD PALMER WHEN I PLAYED AT BAY HILL AND BERNARD LANGER IN TAIPEI, TAIWAN.
I WON THE AMERICAN WELDNG SOCIETY ST.LOUIS REGIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT THREE TIMES AND RETIRED THE TROPHY.
I HAVE HAD TWO HOLES IN ONE.
I HAVE PLAYED AT ST.ANDREWS TWICE.
OTHER GREAT COURSES I HAVE PLAYED ARE;
ROYAL TROON
BALLYBUNNION
TURNBURY-AILSA
CARNOUSTIE-THE HARDEST COURSE I EVER PLAYED.
GLEN EAGLES-KING AND QUEEN
PEBBLE BEACH
SPYGLASS
SPANISH BAY
KIAWAH ISLAND OCEAN,TURTLE POINT,COUGAR POINT,AUSPREY POINT
CHAMPIONS-CYPRESS,JACKRABBITT
BELLERIVE
OLD WARSON
WOODLANDS-TOURNAMENT,PALMER,PLAYER
REDSTONE TOURNAMENT,MEMBERS
MEMORIAL PARK
BARTON CREEK-3 COURSES
DEERWOOD-TIN CUP
KING & THE BEAR-WORLD GOLF HOF
BAY HILL
PRESTON TRAIL
NORWOOD HILLS
NORMANDIE
GLEN ECHO
ST.LOUIS COUNTRY CLUB.
PUSAN CC-KOREA
OH SO MANY MORE.
I DON'T MEAN TO BRAG BUT TO TELL EVERYONE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHAT MY BIGGEST THRILL IS, BUT TO SAY THIS WONDERFUL GAME HAS BEEN SO MUCH A PART OF MY LIFE THAT I JUST HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE JUST 1/2 AS LUCKY AS I HAVE BEEN TO HAVE HAD SOOOOOOOOO MANY WONDERFUL THRILLS.
NO GAME IN THE WORLD LKIE IT.
IT IS A MAJOR PART OF MY LIFE.
THANKS FOR ASKING.
I'M TEARING UP.
GOSH,,A COUPLE MORE.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW (RIP) CADDIED FOR ME IN THE ST.LOUIS DSTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP WHERE I WON THE CLOSEST TO THE HOLE AND TRULY ONE OF MY BIGGEST THRILLS WAS PLAYING WITH MY GRANDSON WHEN HE MADE HIS FIRST BIRDIE.
FOLKS,,,,,,,I LOVE THIS GAME SOOOOOOO MUCH.
I HOPE ALL OF YOU CAN HAVE JUST A FEW OF THE WONDERFUL THRILLS I HAVE HAD.
TEARING UP AGAIN.
Geezzzzzzzzzzzzz Dog, I'd hate to have seen what else you could have thrown in there if you WERE bragging!!!!! J/K bro. You have been blessed in your golfing career. Now that I have read your story I guess I did have a great golf experience once when I got to meet my idol, Jack @ English Turn in New Orleans when they played the tournament there. I got to take a picture with him also so that was very cool. My other best golf experience would be a hole in one & breaking 90 again. Doesn't quite stack up to your tally but I'd be just as proud as you if(when) they happen.
SORRY FOLKS IF I GOT CARRIED AWAY.
SOMETIMES US OLD COOTS LOOK BACK ON A SUBJECT AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE FLASHES ON THE SUBJECT.
DIDN'T MEAN TO BRAG OR BORE YOU.
AGAIN SORRY FOR MY RAMBLE.
No apology needed.....I know how you feel, it is impossible to pick just one memory from a life long (almost at least!) series of great moments.
DOGLOSKI: OH MY GOSH,,,,,,,,WHAT WONDERFUL MEMORIES YOUR POST HAS BROUGHT BACK TO ME. I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE I'M BRAGGING BECAUSE I AM NOT AND WAS NOT EVER BETTER THAN A 3-5 HANDICAP, BUT OH WHAT MEMORIES. IN HIGH SCHOOL I WAS ON A TEAM THAT WON THE ST.LOUIS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP. I WAS ALSO ON THE ST.LOUIS REGIONAL CADDIE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM OF ALGONQUIN CC. THAT TEAM HAD THE MISSOURI STATE JR. CHAMPION AND RUNER-UP SO YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH I HELPED THAT TEAM. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO PLAY GOLF WITH JUDY RANKIN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE BEAT ME BADLY-I WAS 16-17 SHE WAS 9 I THINK. I PLAYED WITH V.J. SIGNH AT REDSTONE. I MET ARNOLD PALMER WHEN I PLAYED AT BAY HILL AND BERNARD LANGER IN TAIPEI, TAIWAN. I WON THE AMERICAN WELDNG SOCIETY ST.LOUIS REGIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT THREE TIMES AND RETIRED THE TROPHY. I HAVE HAD TWO HOLES IN ONE. I HAVE PLAYED AT ST.ANDREWS TWICE. OTHER GREAT COURSES I HAVE PLAYED ARE; ROYAL TROON BALLYBUNNION TURNBURY-AILSA CARNOUSTIE-THE HARDEST COURSE I EVER PLAYED. GLEN EAGLES-KING AND QUEEN PEBBLE BEACH SPYGLASS SPANISH BAY KIAWAH ISLAND OCEAN,TURTLE POINT,COUGAR POINT,AUSPREY POINT CHAMPIONS-CYPRESS,JACKRABBITT BELLERIVE OLD WARSON WOODLANDS-TOURNAMENT,PALMER,PLAYER REDSTONE TOURNAMENT,MEMBERS MEMORIAL PARK BARTON CREEK-3 COURSES DEERWOOD-TIN CUP KING & THE BEAR-WORLD GOLF HOF BAY HILL PRESTON TRAIL NORWOOD HILLS NORMANDIE GLEN ECHO ST.LOUIS COUNTRY CLUB. PUSAN CC-KOREA OH SO MANY MORE. I DON'T MEAN TO BRAG BUT TO TELL EVERYONE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY WHAT MY BIGGEST THRILL IS, BUT TO SAY THIS WONDERFUL GAME HAS BEEN SO MUCH A PART OF MY LIFE THAT I JUST HOPE ALL OF YOU ARE JUST 1/2 AS LUCKY AS I HAVE BEEN TO HAVE HAD SOOOOOOOOO MANY WONDERFUL THRILLS. NO GAME IN THE WORLD LKIE IT. IT IS A MAJOR PART OF MY LIFE. THANKS FOR ASKING. I'M TEARING UP.
You win.
I was lucky enough to get out one last time before I moved back east. Just the 3 guys I played the most golf with and perfect weather/conditions. I was playing really well, as was everyone else. I had a double eagle on the last Par 5 (only one I've ever had) and shot a great round. We got out at 4 and the 4 of us finished 18 just as the sun was setting. It was a great way to end a really fun chapter in my life.
Best golf experience.
I have to say it was the first time I decided to not lay up my drive on the second hole of a local course. I wanted to see if I could get over the water hazard which would of meant I had to get at least 250 to clear and hit the fairway. I remember the sound of the club as it hit the ball and just watching it rise. Although it doesn't take long for the ball to travel that distance, it felt like an eternity. When I saw the ball land nice and dry I was ecstatic. I know, 250 on a drive, big deal. Well, at that moment it was. I don't think I had played more than a dozen or so rounds at the time and every time I tried to clear that hazard I would only donate a ball the water. I think that once I did that my appreciation for the game went up a few notches.
My favorite golf experience was last month. I won a trip for 4 to an Indian Casino in Louisianna. The course was Kosatti Pines and it is part of the Cousatta Indian casino. I took my family and they hit the buffet while I hit the links. The course was a championship style with 5 or 6 sets of tees. I've never seen such beautiful sand on a golf course. It was the whitest, softest sand I've ever seen on a golf course. It had to have been imported from a carribean island. After my round, the seafood buffet was icing on the cake. I'm not a gambler, but there was plenty of that to do as well. I definitely recommend this course. I like golfing at casinos, because everyone who loses their money helps donate to the golf experience.
Mine will be in twenty days.. Golfing with wife in Kauai for our 5th wedding anniversary!
Playing with kids from the First Tee program in Atlanta, GA. Its fun to look back and see how blessed we are to be able to play this game and have the proper mediums to share our experiences thru places like the FJC.
Seeing how much those golfers truly enjoyed the game and what it gave them was humbling and a lot of fun. We were lucky enough to play a home and home with the First Tee kids every summer. Had some of the most fun on I could have on a golf course on most of those days.
Other than that, Augusta National 3 times (Wednesday is the best day to go in my opinion), TPC Sawgrass, and state golf tournament in High School (though we didn't win, runner ups), and making my first eagle.
I love the First Tee program! It has done so much for me. We (it) really is a great group of kids and staff.