Your Best Experience on a Golf Course

We must firstly thank all those golfers who completed our January 2019 Golf Course Survey focused on the quality of venues, which included a question to identify your finest overall experience in the game. This provided some interesting results due to the ambiguous nature of the query, but it got us thinking - what has been your best experience in golf?

It was pleasing to see many people simply reply with 'hole in one' which is obviously an objective for most golfers. There were also several replies in relation to playing particular courses or holes, including simply playing golf in Scotland, the seven courses on the Isle of Arran, and the 17th hole at The Manor House Castle Combe. The responses were diverse and enjoyable to read.

Monte Rei was noted for the exemplary service as well as Vikla in Cyprus for the outside service and lunch. We will have more on specific clubs once we publish the full survey results.

However, experience wise participation in Pro Ams was high on the list along with bucket list opportunities such as marshalling at the Ryder Cup. Additionally, several respondents had also been lucky enough to meet tour players including Seve Ballesteros, Tom Watson, Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson. But, one of our most favourite of the replies was simply:

Just being on the course, heaven on Earth.

Have you had an experience that you will remember forever related to golf? Let us know in the comments below. We asked this question to the Golfshake Team and Golfshake Ambassadors who replied with their favourite moments.

Golfshake Travel Expert and Ambassador Andrew Picken is a lucky golfer. Having had a hole in one whilst playing golf with his son in a charity golf day, which then led to him embarking on an adventure to play golf at Gleneagles and then TPC Sawgrass. He's also been fortunate enough to visit Panmure for Golfshake where he unearthed this bunker related story on Ben Hogan, and whilst playing at Holinwell discovered a story around medals and military memorials which led to his extensive and rewarding research around golf during the Second World War. That's quite a few highlights!

Golfshake Ambassador Matt Holbrook told us about his time playing the Old Course at St Andrews and experience with the caddie known as 'Lurch'.

Tee off on the first - straight down the middle. Got to the ball and at this point I had given Lurch my club yardages. Without the use of a GPS or laser he looked at the flag and said: "Right Matt, you have 147 yards to the flag. Wind is into off the right so you will need to hit a 7 iron at the right side of the green.

Without thinking it was far too much club I hit this 7 iron bang on the line he gave me, it went up into the air held up in the wind which also brought it round to the left and landed pin high and rolled on a few more feet towards the hole.

Best. Feeling. Ever.

Fellow Ambassador Mel Davies fed back on when his son had the opportunity to play at Woburn (Marquess Course) in the Ian Poulter Junior Invitational.

He got to meet Ian, was given an IJP shirt, Tiger Woods game, balls, bag tag and a few other things. The course was set up as hard as possible and it was organised like a pro event. 

A fantastic experience for him and also great we could all be there to watch him.

Finally, Ambassador Rob Treanor commented on a time when he sampled the highs and lows of golf and an experience still firmly recollected several years later:

Whilst it’s hard to choose just one moment in time, I have very fond memories of a trip to Aphrodite Hills a few years ago. Having played pretty poorly during the final round (possibly due to enjoying a beer or two the night before) we got to a long par 3 on the back nine. Having watched my playing partners hit below average tee shots it was on me to get the team into a good position. I struck possibly the best three iron I have ever hit to the heart of the green, giving us cause to celebrate! The sweetness of the strike, combined with the hope of clawing our way back into the match, all whilst playing with friends and the sun in our backs is a moment that I will remember for a long time.

Everyone has their own story, and we'd love to hear about yours. Comment below with your best experience in golf!