Africa Open

[Imurg]

Is it being held on a pitch'n'putt or something?
The leaders are -21 after 3 rounds, the course is par 73 and it's only 6691 yards long.
2 of the par 5's are only a whisker over 500 yards, 4 of the par 4's are under 350 and 8 of them under 400!!!

Is this really a course that is good enough to hold a European Tour event?
Not been able to see any of it so conditions might be tough but at -21 I doubt it!
Is it tricked up with water and other hazards? Again I doubt it.
Surely South Africa has a slightly tougher course available...?

 

[Naybrains]

Agree Imurg, it's tear-gas to watch too. Boring.

 

[Yer Maw]

to be fair lots of long birdie putts going in on the uneventful greens but at this time of year, I wouldn't expect much of a challenge. Line up says most are on holiday and it is boring. However the belly putter tour isn't that great either, wherever it is!

 

[JustOne]

Danny Willet is one off the lead, would like to see him win.

 

[A1ex]

Does it matter if the winner is -5 or -25? Not at all in my view.

Nice to see a different type of course on the tour and one the players are going for.

 

[Mary]

Apparently no wind either.

 

[Imurg]

Does it matter if the winner is -5 or -25? Not at all in my view.

Nice to see a different type of course on the tour and one the players are going for.

I suppose the actual score is irrelevent but it has to be a test doesn't it?
Spectators and viewers want to see birdies but they also want to see players having to work for their score.
There have been 19 scores of -6 or better in 3 rounds. At a guess - because I can't be bothered to count - that's many more than you'd get in a usual Tournament. And with almost a full round to go you'd expect that figure to be 25 or more....
With at least 4 drivable par 4's it's a Mickey Mouse course to hold European Tour event on..
And there's not a huge number of big players there either..
Imagine if Luke,Lee and Rory et al were there - you'd being seeing someone coming in with 40 under!

 

[Captainron]

Being South African, I know there are better and harder courses out there. The wind is this courses main defence being as close as it can be to a links course. There is one true links called Humewood designed by Major Hotchkin of Woodhall Spa fame. Theboys are carving it up but they are playing well.

 

[thecraw]

Fingers crossed for a great final round from Alastair Forsyth. Went to school with him and he's now being coached by a pro I know well also so I hope for both he has a good placed finish today.

 

[fat-tiger]

Fingers crossed for a great final round from Alastair Forsyth. Went to school with him and he's now being coached by a pro I know well also so I hope for both he has a good placed finish today.

good luck to him ,, im not so keen to see em taking irons off the tee

 

[Junior]

I like the course. Makes a change from 'the driver 5 iron and par 5 finish over water' courses we usually see. There are lots of drivable par 4's and some huge elevation changes. I bet its a lot tougher today as the wind is supposed to blow harder.

Come on Danny Willet !!!!

 

[CMAC]

Fingers crossed for a great final round from Alastair Forsyth. Went to school with him and he's now being coached by a pro I know well also so I hope for both he has a good placed finish today.

Another vote for Alistair, I remember watching him pull his own trolley when he was trying to get on the tour and he just kept plugging away and qualified. Didn't he have to go to Q school again this year? Really hope he gets a good payout today.

 

[thecraw]

Top 5, secures him another start next week.

 

[NervousShankaholic]

i used to be a member at his home Club Ralston GC and always chuffed when he does well.....was at a junior prizegiving today where Paul Lawrie was guest and he rated Alaistair as one of the guys he always enjoyed playing with..

 

[Naybrains]

Top 5, secures him another start next week.

Great result for AF, 3 Scotsmen in the top 20 = pretty good.
My man Drysdale had a good final round -6 finished 18th.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It isn't the toughest course they'll see on tour but look at some of the other place they play like the St Omer or Austrian Open and these are birdie fests too. It does make it a bit of a putting contest I guess but you still need to put your ball in the right spot. I'm just glad golf is back on TV as it means thenew season is coming here soon

 

[USER1999]

I like the look of the course. It looks the look of a course I'd like to play, rather than a 7000 yard slog fest with water everywhere. Quite wide fairways, tree lined, big elevation changes, big greens. Probably a bit easy for them, but a good course for me.

 

[Golfmmad]

I like the look of the course. It looks the look of a course I'd like to play, rather than a 7000 yard slog fest with water everywhere. Quite wide fairways, tree lined, big elevation changes, big greens. Probably a bit easy for them, but a good course for me.

That's funny Murph, I thought some of the greens looked quite small and a bit - boring I suppose.