Quote:
Originally Posted by fred53
Been playing for over 50 years...hndcp now is about a 2-3 on the championships(blue/white tees) and scratch or better on the exec's(from black or gold tees)...only played championships till I moved here a few years ago at age 58 because they didn't have exec's in Maine or Virginia when I played as a teenager...I really like the exec's for the time they take and they are in very fine condition for the most part...I still like the championships as they test more aspects of my game, but play hell with my lower back when I go more than 9 holes...you still have to hit the shots on exec's, but because I'm teed up for most of the round I rarely have full 2nd shots into the greens(except for the par 4's...and even then it's usually a wedge)...
I play mostly exec's for the time and fun factor...once the social sec kicks in(if it's still around)I'll play more championships, but will still play mostly exec's...
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Ditto. Been playing for 45 years, did not play an "executive" course since I was 12 years old, my home course as a teenager was Bethpage Black and was lucky enough to get to play many of the great courses in the country. Unfortunately, I am still slowly recovering from a severely herniated and fragmented L4-5 disk 4 years ago that has left me with some permanent L leg nerve damage even though I'm only 56. I can't even THINK about walking a full course, sometimes it is hard to get thru a round.
Bought a house in TV early last year, have only occupied it for 6 weeks or so on and off, and just retired 5 weeks ago. My neighbor has a heart condition and plays execs for the walking, so I have played 2 or 3 times with him. I found the exec courses to be wonderful---surprisingly good conditions, good greens for the most part, and I was shocked to be able to walk the whole distance. Challenging?---can be---I looked at the course and thought this should be an easy 2 under---WRONG! as I limped (literally) in with a 6 over.
Am I a "good" golfer?--not anymore, was a +1 at one point, 21 after my injury, and have just worked it back to a 10. My wife has joint and muscle issues, she is a 2x club champion and now can't get thru 18, so we are glad there are so many execs, and this has changed my opinion of these courses in general. No, I still would prefer Bethpage, Winged Foot and Pinehurst #2 and hope to be able to handle them once again. Will still play mostly champ courses in TV, but it's great to have options, especially on bad back days.
And how the OP's question could be considered "elitist" is beyond me, unless he is a +2 asking a rhetorical question, which I doubt.