Course Length.

[Macster]

I noticed on the Green Fee thread that someone commented about their course being a bit 'short' at 6000yds, and it got me thinking.
Surely on a good course the length shouldnt matter,unless its new and you can splay it everywhere with little penalty etc.

My own course is only 6067 off the White Tees, with only 1 Par 5 of 529yds, and 5 Par3's, 3 of which play at nearly 200yds on Medal days.

A lot, including Pro's, come to the course and look at the Card and expect an easy day, but find out all too soon how tough it is.
Favouring a draw on a lot of Tee shots, and out of bounds on a lot of fairways, accuracy is paramount, and you earn your score by thinking your way round.
Even Stuart Cage, ex Tour player for a year or 2, came to our course for the Pro Am, and promptly shot about 7 over i recall.

Personally, I'd hate a course that was just long for longs sake.

 

[Sneds]

As I said in the other thread, my course is Par 72. 6354 off the whites. I think it's regarded as quite an easy course. Lots of slopes, and trees lining the fairways, but sometimes I wish it was a little bit longer too, especially the Par 5s. This is probably reflected in the SSS of 70.

Av Par 3 length - 176 (4)
Av Par 4 length - 366 (10)
Av Par 5 length - 498 (4)

 

[Twire]

Ours is about 6231 off whites and it's a par 70 but the SSS is 71, so that tells you it's a tricky course to play. So no, it's not all about length. As an example, my old club/course was over 7000 off the competition gold tees, but my handicap has gone up 2 shots since changing to the shorter course.

 

[Smiffy]

Pitlochry...

Just under 5,700 yards, par 69.
36 points round here and you'll think you've shot a 62

 

[birdieman]

I mentioned the yeardage in the other thread. My concern is there are just too many short par 4's in the 280 to 340 yards range, so its drive wedge, drive 9 etc. Even though its harder I prefer some (not all) second shots to require 4,5,6, irons etc.
I think when people on here bangs on about the 'great' courses generally they are great because they're difficult and therefore more memorable, dont they?

There is a great sense of acheivement in hitting a 5 iron close, there isn't much of a sense of achievement in hitting a wedge close...that's all I meant really.

 

[Del]

whites = 6485 Par 71 sss 71

yellows = 6185 Par 71 sss 69

reds = 5780 Par 73 sss 73

 

[Macster]

Birdieman ; Certainly wasnt a dig at you bro', just curious as to peeps thoughts thats all. We have a nice mix really, risk & reward too I suppose.

For example, our 1st, 354yds. Good tee shot will leave you a Wedge/9 to the green, but left or right and your chipping out.
2nd, 250yds Dogleg Par4. Easy 2 shots to the green, which slopes left, or go for it and risk water/bunkers/oob.

The 4th & 5th are only about 35oyds, but need a drawn Tee shot to leave mid irons in.

We then have the 7th, 10th, 11th, and 16th, which all require long irons in , if you're lucky.

Great mix of shots required.

 

[Robobum]

I know I'm in for a tough time on Sunday:-

Chipping Sodbury:- 6995 yds Par 72 <u>SSS 74</u>

Might put another couple of drivers in the bag!!

 

[brendy]

Our club is 6410 of the whites (room for another few yards too if they really wanted to stretch it a little)sss 71 par 71 Yellow tees are 6169 sss71 par 70.
Our longest par 5 is 510 yards but have 4 par fours well over 400 yards that require long irons to the greens most days with two damn hard doglegs with out of bounds down the short sides.

 

[Parmo]

5250 yards off whites, par 70 SSS 65. Its a good track and I like it.

 

[Smiffy]

Ours is 6,270 off the whites. Par 70, SSS 70.
5,860 off the yellows, Par 70, SSS 68.
5,440 off the reds, Par 71, SSS 71.

Nice little test of golf, no hidden horrors. What you see is what you get. Treelined and a stream that comes into play on 5 of the holes. Beginning to look nice again now that we have had some rain...it's beginning to go green rather than the brown it's been all summer.

 

[Ethan]

6857 black, par 72, SS 72

6488 white/medal, par 72, SSS 71

6279 yellow, par 72, SSS 70

 

[jammydodger]

whites 6611 par 72 sss 72

Dont know and dont care what the yellows are

 

[Smiffy]

Dont know and dont care what the yellows are

Do you knock it past them everytime then???

 

[pigmeister]

J O`Gaunt. 6513yds. par 71. sss 71.
Carthagena. 5869yds. par 69. sss 69.
Both courses, although not long by todays standards, are a really good test of your golf.
Played Hollinwell a couple of weeks ago. It was a very windy day and at 6900 of the whites, par 72, sss 74, its was monster.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

6294 off the whites par 70 (SSS 70)
5836 off the yellow par 70 (SSS 69)

It is tricky and you need to drive it well to score. We've hosted a load of pro events in the last few years and most winning scores are only only 2 or 3 under. Barry Lane still holds the course record with a 65.

 

[DMC]

I thought size doesnt matter??

 

[jammydodger]

Dont know and dont care what the yellows are

Do you knock it past them everytime then???

Without fail Smiffy , even getting past the reds most times too these days (my games come on a lot this year)

 

[kid2]

Our course is 6031 metres off the blue and 5831 off the white its a very open parkland course on the fringe of a peat bog which is surrounded by hills and mountains... Its pretty tough in the wind.

 

[RGDave]

Personally, I'd hate a course that was just long for longs sake.

Couldn't agree more.

I couldn't tell you what the yardage (within a few hundred) is on any of the courses I've played in the last 24 months, including my own. I've really don't notice....honestly.

I do however notice when I turn up to play somewhere and every hole is driver, fairway wood.....it's just SO dull.

Then again, for big hitters, I'm sure length is everything....they want to be tested not gifted lots of short holes.

t.b.h. it gets me mad when folk off high h'caps go on about length.....until a player can hand-on-heart say it's a factor (those off lower than 6, say) I don't believe a word of it. What's the point in saying...."ooh, it's a bit mickey mouse (short)" when you've just had a 90!!!