Hardest course you've ever played

[stevek1969]

Played Carnoustie of the back tees in a bit of a breeze tough as old boots that,twice i've played Machrihanish of the back tee's and it was brutal.
But the hardest was Ballyliffin Old Links in 30mph winds, brutal but loved every minute of it.

Steve,

Scotscraig in a hurricane in March, 2010 was brutal. Hard enough just standing up on the 5th Tee and playing trying and keep the ball on the green on the 18th certainly made for an interesting finish !

Alan

Forgot all about that Alan have played there for 10 years and never played in wind as bad as that,Colin driving the 386 yard second and Craws ball blown of the green on the 18th when it was right in the middle ,its character building thats for sure.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Another one for Montemayor. Driving up to get to it you just think "how the funk did someone fit a golf course up here".

I thought exactly the same and was convinced we were on the wrong road even though it was clearly signposted. Even in the car park I just couldn't work out where the course was going to be.

 

[patricks148]

Jubilee when it was windy

Always struggle at Royal Dornoch, more to do wuth the greens though.

 

[Evesdad]

The Warwickshire for me, played both courses and both ripped me apart, it was the first time I had played 36 holes in a day and it was red hot. The course had recently held a comp such as the seniors tour couple of days before so punished any shots that were not spot on!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

West course at Wentworth c 1987 off the whites. Could hardly make any of the carrys off the tee and it just played so long. Needed a good short game to try and scramble any kind of score and left that department at home that day. It's quite a tight course too in places and so you have to be long and straight. Greens were probably the quickest I'd played on at that time and were a lesson in themselves. Scored horribly but loved the experience

 

[chris661]

But the hardest was Ballyliffin Old Links in 30mph winds, brutal but loved every minute of it.

Ha try Narin and Portnoo in a 30mph hitting a 5 iron on a 105 yd par 3 and JUST making the green

Thats charcter building

 

[Atticus_Finch]

My toughest day on a golf course is undoubtedly the forum outing at Craigielaw. Utterly soul destroying conditions. Managed to finish though, unlike others I could mention.........

Oh! and Carnoustie's tough too.

 

[Screwback]

I would have to go with Royal Aberdeen or PGA Catalunya and i only played the wee course!

 

[PNWokingham]

Royal Porthcawl was a tough SOB in strong wind, but I reckon it would still be properly tough in calm conditions. For a sub-6,000 yard course, I reckon Swinley Forest is very tough. The Duchess at Woburn is the tightest course I have ever seen. The Oxfordshire from the back tees, which go towards 7,500, in the wind would be a real tough proposition.

 

[stevek1969]

But the hardest was Ballyliffin Old Links in 30mph winds, brutal but loved every minute of it.

Ha try Narin and Portnoo in a 30mph hitting a 5 iron on a 105 yd par 3 and JUST making the green

Thats charcter building

Had the same at Machrihanish 120 yrd par 3 hit 6 iron flush it was 30 yards short wnd and rain driving into my face it was boody July by christ. .

Have had a look at Nairn and Portnoo mate it looks a cracking course,could be good for next years trip ,what do you think of it?

 

[Qwerty]

Narin and Portnoo looks a crackin' course iv'e never heard of it, but it looks like I should.

 

[chris661]

But the hardest was Ballyliffin Old Links in 30mph winds, brutal but loved every minute of it.

Ha try Narin and Portnoo in a 30mph hitting a 5 iron on a 105 yd par 3 and JUST making the green

Thats charcter building

Had the same at Machrihanish 120 yrd par 3 hit 6 iron flush it was 30 yards short wnd and rain driving into my face it was boody July by christ. .

Have had a look at Nairn and Portnoo mate it looks a cracking course,could be good for next years trip ,what do you think of it?

It is a great course the only bad thing about it is 3 longish par 5's on the trot on the back nine great friendly crowd and decent grub and shop all in all I would recommend it for sure. The only downside is it is tucked away in the middle of nowhere around 30 - 40 mins from letterkenny.

Narin and Portnoo looks a crackin' course iv'e never heard of it, but it looks like I should.

There are 6 or 7 really good links courses all within 45 mins driving of me spoiled for choice really

 

[Driven2Distraction]

'nother vote for The Braids here....

combination of hills & blind shots means that you could hit your best ever drive right outta the "screws" & still lose a ball.....

that & also being the venue for debut on the school team where I lost 10 & 8 tips the balance in it's "favour" ahead of Carnoustie

 

[doubletripledouble]

Carnoustie, as a 21 capper playing poorly... 40 mph(at least) winds from the east. Absolute killer! 16th - Driver and still 50 yards short of the green with a busted drive!

Got a game there last year at the end of the Tassie, quite calm and playing well at the time. I had 4 birdies. And was keeping up with a scratch and a 5 capper then it just bit me on the ass. 6,5,7,6 finish to wreck a really good round and end with an 81.
Scotscraig is also no place to go as a high handicapper who plays bad golf. It will destroy you!

 

[percy_layer]

Any course over 7000 yards long when the wind is strong.

I think different people play courses in different ways depending on what your strengths and weaknesses are. Gullane 1 is my bogey course, played it about a dozen times with mates and best score off the back pegs is +2. and that's with no pressure at all.
There are 4 holes that always get me, the 8th, 10th, 11th and 13th. I've always been able to get to them in regulation but drop shots on them more than getting pars on them.

 

[Smiffy]

Carnoustie (back 9 especially)
If you are not "on your game" the Nicklaus course at St Mellion can bite a big chunk out of your arse.
Celtic Manor (The old Wentwood Hills course) especially the back 9.

Toughest conditions (by far) that I have ever played in were at Dunbar. I have never played in wind like it.
We had to walk in after 13 holes because it was almost impossible to stand up.
Lovely course, and we cancelled where we were due to play on the Friday of that week to return and play it in much better weather.

 

[Paul_Stewart]

Another vote for Carnoustie with Machrihanish Dunes getting pretty close in there too.

The New Course St.Andrews, Hillside in the wind and Coombe Hill for honorary mentions.

And nine holes at Ventnor on the Isle of Wight when completely rat-arsed and playing with two mates. Couldn't see straight and had trouble standing up by the end as it was a beer on each tee and we were hammered before we even arrived. Even hit a cow 50 yards away with one shot. Still, saved buying a steak when I'd sobered up.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Some great posts so far. Some harrowing tales of the combination of links golf and high winds. Makes my nice little home counties parkland couse seem very cosy.

Was waiting to see if St Andrews New came up as after St George's that would be my second toughest with Westward Ho! in the wind on greens like polished marble a close third.

 

[richart]

Saunton East in the wind. Come to think about it the West in the wind is not much better. Played the West course at Wentworth in the Autumn when it was very wet, no roll, and the back nine there is a real slog.

 

[Dano]

would agree with IMO1....montemayor was toughest....if you didn't hit the fairway it was lost ball...simple as that...lost several that day....actually think there were 16 of us playing that day and the lost ball count was in excess of 200....!!!!