Bucket list golf courses ... PGA Tour players dish

http://www.pgatour.com/news/2015/04/14/bucket-list.html

 

yeah, the Pros have an advantage as they can get on a lot of these courses that we cannot get on to as they are private and super restricted access. Some don't even have member / guest privileges.

 

A comment like Aaron Baddeley's saying he's passed up opportunities to play Cypress makes me question his passion for the game. Is there a chance some of these guys just happen to be really gifted golfers but aren't really all that "into" it?

 

I think that may be the case for some. It has turned into a grind, and they lost their passion along the way. It is no longer fun, it is work, so any "work" outside of a possible payday gets pushed aside

 

So you're saying it's like a porn guy being given a pass to Sheri's Ranch and saying, "Meh, I think I'll go see the Mac King show instead"????

 

Some people just need time away from any occupation to help keep themselves from getting burnt out. We don't get it when it comes to professional athletes or golfers; we see what they do as something that would be great for us. I know people in both the entertainment and sports industry that like nothing better than to get away and recharge...and I know some that would play their sport or their instrument every time they can. Doing it or not doing while "off" it does not, from what I've seen, show a lack of passion.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

Well stated, ron.

I think Jimmy Walker's comments kinda summed up a lot of guys' feelings.

Kinda cool to see where guys have and have not played. Some of them almost sound like some of us.

 

I was a first surprised to see those who stated they'd like to play BD but hadn't, seeing that Bandon is public access.
Then I reminded myself that playing Tasmania courses might be more easily gotten to.
A good friend of mine, lifetime golfer, club record holder, turned down our invite to Cypress as too hard to arrange getting to from Oregon.
Never got any other invites as there were a couple other people who could somehow get away to play it on future occasions.

 

I'm surprised how many people want play Los Angeles Country Club with me. I've always wanted to play Cypress. I want to play Mayakoba again but not hungover. To this day when I see it on tv I don't remember half the holes.

 

LACC is one of those courses that is really hard to get on to, so I would assume that of course a lot of your friends would want to play there.

 

El Cameleon is a fun course.

LACC has a great rep, as you know, and ya'll keeping it current helps. I keep telling my Pebble peeps we need Cypress and they keep laughing at me.

Two for Californians that just popped into my head -- CordeValle and the reworked north course at Silverado. And I love the short, old school Sonoma Golf Club. I don't get Torrey South and particularly not Hump Trashional LA.

 

Have you played half moon bay? The 18th hole on the older course is just as nice as any other. Can't beat bayonet or black horse for the price either.

 

Why so surprised? The pictures I've seen of Hanse's restoration look phenomenal. If you ever need someone...

 

The North Course did come out nice. I'm only still a member because it pleases the old man. I'm not into showing off and personally don't agree with some of the rules at the club

 

sevenyo11, the showing off part is in your own head. Don't think that. Just know you are blessed to be able to enjoy such a course. As I said before I grew up a few blocks away from Wilshire/Comstock and have never in my 40 years of playing golf played there. Its just golf. Classic of all time golf. Lets go! That's my bucket list #2... LA North maybe?

 

18 is a great hole but other than that it's a pretty pedestrian track; love the hotel. I prefer the Ocean Course. Good call on the former Ft. Ord courses.

 

Interesting thread! It got me thinking about my own bucket list;

St Andrews Old Course
Augusta
Royal Portrush
Pebble Beach
Muirfield
Sawgrass (just for THAT hole)


I could name 50 courses on my list! I guess if I played one of the above in my lifetime I will be happy. I'm glad the R&A added Royal Portrush to the British Open courses, I guess a lot of the pro's will have that one ticked off the list in a few years time.

Ken, can I ask, have you played any European courses? Which one's would be the top of your wishlist?

 

I'd say all of we "locals" would like to meet up at LACC!

Speaking of which, for those of us in or near So Cal ... We're having a VMB round next week at Sandpiper in Goleta. It's just a foursome this time and sadly we couldn't get the fifth who wanted to play into the mix -- this time, he gets the right of first refusal for the next go around. But there are more of us on here than I think we realize so let's all keep in touch about getting together for a round here and there. I think our next will be at Rustic Canyon and then we'll move it toward the OC for geographic balance and fairness.

 

I've never played in Europe. I had a chance two years back to play in the Scottish Open pro-am, golf for the rest of the week then do the dog/pony show at the Open, but a family obligation got in the way. My golf "exotica" is limited to places like Banff and Jasper, Hawaii, Mexico, Pebble, the swamps of the southeast and a one-off round years ago in NZ; and god I've played a LOT of saguaro and cactus golf. Way too many "Terra Incognita" notations on my golf map, for sure. My next bucket excursion will be the sandbelt courses around Melbourne (Australia not Florida lol).

 

Family first, that's cool. Sounds great, I'm looking forward to the (non-Vegas) trip report! I'd love to play some of the West coast courses in the US and see how they compare to the British/Irish links courses.