and so to Celtic Manor

[viscount17]

Does the host Captain have as much choice in the presentation of the course (those pitiful attempts at rough) and pin positions as it seemed from the commentary - was it all Azinger?

With that in mind does Celtic Manor need to be changed and how would you see it prepared?

http://www.celtic-manor.com/The_Twenty_Ten_Course.aspx

As a starter, I think the bail out areas on some holes are too big and you should not be able to contemplate long irons out of bunkers, even better if you could negate the hybrid as well.

Hazards should hurt!

 

[birdieman]

More watchable for us viewers if people aren't hacking along like the US Open (Torrey Pines excepted this year).
I thought Valhalla played great, tons of birdies but still tough enough. I think whatever way you set it up you're always going to get the odd drive and wedge guy like JB Holmes in there. Most players seemed to enjoy the course and it looked good on tv. I'm sure Celtic Manor will look great with 40,000 fans on it, not sure about Gleneagles in 2014, players seem to hate it, well the greens anyway.
Course set up at Valhalla didn't favour the Yanks as far as I could tell.

 

[dangermouse]

I didn't think Valhalla was too bad. You don't want to see the Ryder Cup being won with bogeys and pars - the course should reward good play, and give incentives to go for it.

Playing safe for pars etc is not what it should be about, risk and reward should be the order of the day - the long hole over water at Valhalla (8/9th? - where Sergio lost two balls) are exactly the type of hole that makes the competition so exciting.

 

[Macster]

I thought Valhalla was good to watch, good mix of holes.

Some phenominal golf played over the weekend, great to watch even if the result wasnt what we wanted.

 

[viscount17]

Yes, the golf was good to watch, painful at times, but good nevertheless. Vahalla was set up for the spectacular, which we got. Maybe that was necessary to maintain viewing interest but don't tell me you wouldn't have enjoyed it as much off a course that challenged more than long drives, short iron and damn good putting.

I still think that the guy who keeps his shots on the fairway should have an advantage over the guy who does not. The fringes were laughable, there was no incentive and no need to play out of the middle as it wasn't even necessary to club up or down.

 

[Cernunnos]

The Ryder Cup 2008 Valhalla, as great to watch, but definitely set up for the Yanks.

Oh & I fully agree with the poster that said hazards should be hazards. Oh & I think having a really long course playes into the hands of long hitters like JB Holmes, Boo(SA) Weekley etc. tbqh I think Roman Road would be a better course to use than the 2010 course unless a true challenge is set to prevent silly hitters getting an advantage.

 

[USER1999]

The fairways need to be generous, but the rough should be penal. This would reward straight driving. Bunkers should be deep and hard to get out of. Greens need to be lightning fast too, but with fair pin positions so if you hit the shot, you can hole the putt.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Maybe I am a traditionalist but I prefer a course to be a little bit tougher for big events. OK I don't want it set up to US Open standards or another Carnasty but I think if you go off line you should get punished and be forced to play back out and then try and get up and down from there. Too many of these courses allow you to be way offline and you know there will be a playable lie.

There is nothing wrong with winning holes with pars in match play. In my opinion there is even more of a skill on a tougher course. Do you risk all by hitting driver and potentially going offline into a fairway trap (ideally with lips to make it a true punishment) or the rough with a short iron the reward or do you play safer off the tee and have to hit a longer club in. With clever use of tee boxes it could be set up with a few drivable par 4's but with heavy rough there to penalise as well.

 

[rgs]

The home captain can make whatever alterations to the course he deems appropriate to give his team an advantage.

Usually the european courses have slower greens which gives us an edge.

I remember Seve at Valderamma on the 17th narrowed the fairway and/or put a large strip of rough across the fairway to negate Tigers drives.