How Penal is your course?

kid2

Money List Winner
Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
5,173
Location
Ireland
Visit site
I had a big argument after our round today with my 2 playing partners that basically revolved around the rough and course management.....
I was for the course management side of the argument which basically meant that i was saying you should manage the course with your own strengths and weaknesses...... Obviously taking a club that doesnt reach the cabbage...... Their argument was that not everyone can hit a long iron the way i do....:o
Our debate centred as an example around our 1st hole.....

Anyway.... This is a gentle enough opening hole 320mtrs off the tee where the blue dots are.... OOB down the right..... The red line is a swale right at 150mtrs.... Cabbage all down the left.... The back of the green is a severe run off into dense trees so long is seriously out of the question....
All those shadows you see down the right are maturing trees but if your lucky you may land between the 2 lots of them off the tee or if your in them you'll be chipping back into play.....

The wind dictates usually my club choice but in a Medal i always hit a long iron here...... A 4 iron off the tee usually leaves me 150 mtrs to the middle but then the bunkers come into play if your not straight...... If i play a stableford i might give the driver a wallop but you have to take what danger then comes into play if your not straight.....


My playing partners argument say that the high grass outside the yellow line down the left should be cut down as its usually a hold up for people looking for balls off the tee.....
As a side note these are either players that hook there driver or slice it for lefties....

My argument is that you should take trouble out of play off the tee..... Not hit the club you want to hit just for the sake of getting as far down the hole as you can to make an easy wedge in.....
But they then said that if you need to stay above the swale you'll have a long second shot..... Now thats fair enough but im playing with a 20 handicapper that thinks he should hit the centre of the green from 180 mtrs most of the time:rolleyes:

I think thats just plain crazy...... From that distance im happy to miss left or right.... And more often than not if theres trouble left and right or behind ill hit a club to purposely miss the green short.....

Who is right or wrong.....?
Should you be able to hit what club you like off the tee? Or should you play the course how the designer wants you to play it?



Here's a Pic....East Clare 1st.jpg
 
looks like driver off the tee, down the left side with a slight fade to me :)


shotgif.gif



Easy birdie.... (chip-in eagle) :whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle:
 
Last edited:
looks like driver off the tee, down the left side with a slight fade to me :)


Usually the way i hit driver pal..... It sets up perfect for me..:lol:.. But the cousin off 20 sprays it a bit and is usually prone to pulling it as well which is kind of what my argument was.....
 
But the cousin off 20 sprays it a bit and is usually prone to pulling it as well which is kind of what my argument was.....

It's hard to 'course manage' someone who sprays it around a lot... do you expect him to tee off on every hole with a 7-iron? :p
 
That hole looks like it needs the high grass, otherwise you can just blat it away from the OB and wedge it on...

My place has lots of deep rough, admittedly it's offline like that on your first but not so far that if you hit a poor shot then you're in it.

Mind you, rough doesn't have to be 3 feet high to become a place to avoid. 6 inches of rough and you'll still find your ball but you'll probably be hacking out.

I'd probably play your 1st in much the same way. We have a 320 yarder that I normally play 4 iron, 9 iron. We have rough on the right and trees/OB on the left....whatever gets the ball to the green....
 
It's hard to 'course manage' someone who sprays it around a lot... do you expect him to tee off on every hole with a 7-iron? :p


Not really.... He's pretty long with the driver when hit well.... But thats like everyone i guess.... Im just trying to get him to think outside the box for a change...... even a rescue would be straighter than the driver and still leave him maybe an 8 iron in.... The father is a lost cause im afraid.... He always hits his driver here too and usually complains when he slices it and it leaves him in the trees on the right....... He isnt long enough to carry them off the tee most of the time....
 
That hole looks like it needs the high grass, otherwise you can just blat it away from the OB and wedge it on...

My place has lots of deep rough, admittedly it's offline like that on your first but not so far that if you hit a poor shot then you're in it.

Mind you, rough doesn't have to be 3 feet high to become a place to avoid. 6 inches of rough and you'll still find your ball but you'll probably be hacking out.

I'd probably play your 1st in much the same way. We have a 320 yarder that I normally play 4 iron, 9 iron. We have rough on the right and trees/OB on the left....whatever gets the ball to the green....


This has been the argument put forward by most of our members this year Murg.... Seems to be falling on deaf ears though..... And its becoming so much of an issue for players now that they are going to leave in the coming season.....
 
looks a well designed hole and I can't see any flaws in your line of argument - many in theirs.


It got a little heated at one stage Duncan.... And as iv only just got into Cat 2 i didnt want to sound too patronizing to them..... I work at my game, they dont, and i suppose i more comfortable in my abilities when i miss greens rather than how they see missing them......
Im just trying to get my cousin at least to start thinking better.... My dad is 63 and very set in his ways.... He isnt going to change now..... But my cousin has the ability to get better.....
 
Thread could be titled 'My Cousin the Eejit'.

Not exactly the friendliest first hole in that there's a bit to consider, but it's not unreasonable to have a deterrent up on the left.

Might be a case for a new bunker and reducing the rough to 'easily find-able' length.
 
Looks a nice hole to me. This is the mentality of a high handicapper who thinks they should have a 6 footer for birdie on each hole.
Explain he is a 20 H/C and this is effectively a Par 5 for him. Plop it 130/140 to come up short of trouble, hit the same club again, chip on and 2 putt for a 5 net 4.
First hole negotiated that can (normally?) destroy a card, confidence and rest of round for some people.
Stand on the second confident of your start and lash driver.
 
Top