Do 'good' courses inspire better golf ??

[Macster]

Just curious whether others find the same as me, in that very often, whenever I get the chance to play somewhere 'spectacularly' good or renowned, my game often seems to raise and I end up playing out of my skin.

ie, I had the chance to play Ganton for the first time last summer, with 3 members, who admittedly gave me the line on various 'tee' shots, and other little pointers etc, but after a steady front 9, I came back in level gross, playing golf like we only dream of week-in week-out.

Similarly, years ago I was taken to play San Lorenzo in Portugal, reputedly better than even Valderrama, and only finally 'blew up' after 13 holes, when realising I was only +2 Gross.

I find a stunning course layout, and invariably stunning fairways/greens, just inspires, rather than intimidates ?

Anyone else ?

 

[patricks148]

Not Me I can play shite on any course good or bad

 

[viscount17]

wot he said

 

[Dodger]

Na,I can go around a goat track in under par or a championship course in 24 over.The fact the 24 over was on a top course made it a bit easier to take cos I actually enjoyed it....strange but true!

 

[thecraw]

As Euan will testify, apart from an opening birdie I played like a fanny round the Old Course!

 

[Oddsocks]

not so much courses, but some times big days on unknown courses get me, gps has helped but i need to forget negative factors and enjoy the walk.

 

[Ethan]

years ago I was taken to play San Lorenzo in Portugal, reputedly better than even Valderrama,

San Lorenzo? [sound of Ethan spluttering his cup of tea].

Not in a million years.

 

[Region3]

Na,I can go around a goat track in under par or a championship course in 24 over.The fact the 24 over was on a top course made it a bit easier to take cos I actually enjoyed it....strange but true!

^^^ +1

It makes no difference to how I play, but I can enjoy it regardless of score.

 

[Macster]

Ethan - meaning ?

 

[Ethan]

Ethan - meaning ?

Meaning that SL is a decent, but not a lot more than that, course. Its conditioning has been poor in recent years and it now couldn't hold a candle to Valderrama. I am not sure I would play it again even if I was staying next door.

Monte Rei is so much better.

 

[Macster]

I'm with you, well, I'll bow to your experience, I'm talking 10yrs ago, and all I can say is that - then, it was in unbeleivable condition.

 

[GB72]

I do not play better on good courses but often play better on new courses. When I play my home course I have an expectation of what I can do so tend to get frustrated if I play badly. On a new course I have no score expectation so tend to relax and enjoy it with no concerns about the card so tend to shoot a better score.

 

[goldenbare]

I do not play better on good courses but often play better on new courses. When I play my home course I have an expectation of what I can do so tend to get frustrated if I play badly. On a new course I have no score expectation so tend to relax and enjoy it with no concerns about the card so tend to shoot a better score.

I'm with you on this one GB, new course, there to enjoy you day out, no baggage from the 100s of times that you have been your own course, no expectations, often good score.
Also our course is short but the long par fours and fives all get very narrow towards the green. lots of other courses let me hit my longer approach shots with a lot more leeway to still have the next shot in without being in a ditch/bush.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It depends. Any new course usually needs a couple of rounds to know exactly where to play the shots and where you can afford to attack or miss. As such I rarely score well first time round any course (that I am usually rubbish). However it depends on the course and the company. Put me in a big open at say Bearwood, Beau or Woodhull and I'd probably be to wrapped up with making a score and not looking a fool to be inspired by the layout.

Conversely even a goat track like Lydd is bearable if the company is good. I played Leatherhead a few time with Smiffy as a guest of HTL (before he came to Ascot. An old established tree lined course with small(ish) but quick greens. A proper test and a joy to play and the company made it even better.

Similarly I'm hoping the crack of a GM forum plus the old fashioned layout of Blackmoor will make the meet in June a source of real inspiration for me and that I can get round in enough points not to finish last

 

[Swingalot]

2 of my best rounds in 2010 were away at 'good' courses.

Pretty sure the reason for this was that yes they inspired me, but also I think they made me concentrate more on my game (what to hit, rather than just blast away). However, I reckon the most important thing was because it was not the home track, we all played a little bit slower and methodical (not that we were slow by any stretch) and therefore avoided the hit and rush I often fall into at my course.

I have vowed to change this at my course this Year, so we'll see if the theory works!

 

[Smiffy]

I do not play better on good courses but often play better on new courses. When I play my home course I have an expectation of what I can do so tend to get frustrated if I play badly. On a new course I have no score expectation so tend to relax and enjoy it with no concerns about the card so tend to shoot a better score.

Is the correct answer. (Well for me, it is).
I always tend to play better golf on a strange course as the "fear factor" won't have crept in.

 

[patricks148]

I do not play better on good courses but often play better on new courses. When I play my home course I have an expectation of what I can do so tend to get frustrated if I play badly. On a new course I have no score expectation so tend to relax and enjoy it with no concerns about the card so tend to shoot a better score.

Is the correct answer. (Well for me, it is).
I always tend to play better golf on a strange course as the "fear factor" won't have crept in.

What happened at Boat of Garten then?

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Not Me I can play shite on any course good or bad

Ditto.

 

[Smiffy]

What happened at Boat of Garten then?

Depression set in once I saw the state of the place.

 

[patricks148]

What happened at Boat of Garten then?

Depression set in once I saw the state of the place.

I don't think there was anything wrong with it, you just played shite

To be fair the course had been under snow for four months and only cleared the week before as you are only 4 miles from the UK's main ski resort, knob