My personal "Quick Nine"

Do not feel sorry for me. Though it's true I went from a guy who, at his best, was a 3 handicap and played almost 150 rounds/year - to a guy who only occasionally breaks 80 and plays hopefully 20 rounds a year - you should not feel sorry for me.

Why? The short answer is...logo golf balls.

What I now lack in quantity of rounds, I make up for in quality - and my souvenir of each round is a logo golf ball. And to be frank, my collection is tremendous. Possibly spectacular.

And the single most often asked question to me is: What are your favorite courses that you've played?

I often try not to publicly play favorites, but what the heck, let's publicly play favorites.

This is a very subjective and non-scientific list - but if you really had an interest in my nine favorite courses I've played...here they are.

9.) East Lake Golf Club: The iconic home course of the legendary Bobby Jones and home to the PGA Tour's The Tour Championship - it's also in my hometown and an invite to walk these fairways is always a treasured day. I'm surprised I haven't been granted an honorary membership (I am sure I couldn't afford the locker fee - much less a membership) but after all, my dog's name is Bobby Jones!

8.) Torrey Pines: Yes it hosts an annual Tour event. Yes it hosted one of the greatest U.S. Opens in history. But even more, it was the scene of a very fun round with me and the Head Pro. The blue skies, perfect temps, huge cliffs and Pacific Ocean - yeah, it doesn't get much better than that.

7.) Whistling Straits: Site of 2010 PGA Championship. On the shores of Lake Michigan. Beautiful. Tough. Just don't ground your club in a bunker.

6.) Pinehurst No. 2: Really, do I have to explain this one?

5.) Ocean Course at Kiawah Island: Toughest course in America. Maybe. once shot 39 on front nine, just 7 over going to 17. finished triple, triple. whatever.

4.) Spyglass Hill: Combine Pine Valley and Augusta National - and throw in a few holes bordering the Pacific. yeah, hard to beat.

3.) Chambers Bay: Seattle, a little rain, a little sun, a little wind. and just beautiful

2.) Port Royal (Bermuda): Perhaps the most singular scenic course I've ever seen. amazing.

1.) Pebble Beach: Shot 36 on the front while playing with the Head Pro there. This, after a double bogey on hole No. 3. chipped in for birdie on iconic No. 8. just couldn't play any better. Easily could have been lower. Of course, back nine couldn't have been much worse. 46, didn't make a par. Next time!