Links golf is just soooooo dull

[User20205]

To be fair, I live about half an hour from all those courses (except Littlehampton) and would rarely ever bother to play them. In the summer, one bounce puts you in rough where you won't find your ball 9 times out of 10 and you need a totally different way of playing with the wind often adding 3 clubs to the distance. Mostly, standing on the tee you can't see the driving lines/ bunkers/ fairway so first time round is a lottery!

Give me parkland courses every time!

Chris you surprise me

I'd expect this kind of reactionary nonsense from a whippersnapper like James :rofl:

But a mature, considered gent like yourself, I thought you would have an appreciation for the finer things, like links golf..... And olives!!:thup:

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

It's not the golf that's boring, it's this thread that's boring.

Obviously a lot of people on here that aren't good enough to play or appreciate links golf. A windy links course is the ultimate golfing challenge.

 

[DCB]

Well, I spent the whole day down there on Thursday. On the course before 7am and only heading away after Tiger birdies the 18th around 12 hours later. It was a superb days golf. As for the empty stands, the 18th is always going to look empty until Sunday afternoon, too many reserved seats close to the green are unused on the early stages of the event. Out on the course, it was a different story. We had to wait to get into stands at most holes at different times of the day.

As for the unpredictable bounce.. well that's links golf. What surprised me most was the inability of the worlds best to adapt to the needs of the day. Too many lofted clubs being used around greens IMO. Too many players not taking their medicine when in the rough and then racking up a big score when they didn't pull of the shot. Too many errant tee shots from the supposed elite of world golf. To those who say playing an iron off the tee isn't real golf, wait ad see who wins on Sunday and see what his fairways hit stats are. Get the ball on the fairway off the tee is a must in these conditions.

Someone commented about remoteness and transport links... well they were better than last time. Park and ride was excellent and the rail link to Drem seemed to be going along nicely as well. Shuttle buses were quick and frequent and the road system was well marked for closures and restricted access. Absolutely no problem there. Took me less than an hour from leaving the 18th stand to going into the front door of the house. Not bad in those circumstances.

The course is looking well dried out after a couple of months of good weather, but, that's what courses used to look like in the days before we installed irrigation into all our courses. Was irrigation imnstalled to make the courses look nice to to make it easier for the golfers ? It's summer, so what else can we do ?

Cooler morning today, the haar will be in and it'll be a different day today that's for sure, still an East wind, but about 10° cooler at the moment.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I think the crowds are low because of the weather.
It was 29* at Prestwick yesterday and the last thing I would wish to do is drive for 4 hours and walk around a course in that heat.
I think plenty folk bought tickets and did not make the journey.

You need a different set of skills to play links, some have it by instinct Trevino, Watson, Couples etc.
Some learn it like Nicklaus and Faldo.
I see a lot of golfers without those skills at Muirfield and the scoring is very poor for a fast running course.
I said earlier that no one has won Muirfield by playing safe, Tiger is swinging and playing well again, he may prove me wrong.

 

[upsidedown]

How often do you heard the remark when you've skulled one along the ground " Golf is meant to be played along the ground " He who wins on Sunday will be he who has adapted to the conditions

Only played one links course so far at Dawlish and looking forward to tackling some more in Scotland lat September

 

[Foxholer]

I think the crowds are low because of the weather.
It was 29* at Prestwick yesterday and the last thing I would wish to do is drive for 4 hours and walk around a course in that heat.
I think plenty folk bought tickets and did not make the journey.

You need a different set of skills to play links, some have it by instinct Trevino, Watson, Couples etc.
Some learn it like Nicklaus and Faldo.
I see a lot of golfers without those skills at Muirfield and the scoring is very poor for a fast running course.
I said earlier that no one has won Muirfield by playing safe, Tiger is swinging and playing well again, he may prove me wrong.

I think you are right about the weather. Still disappointing to see virtually empty stands though.

You forgot the way it's become something of a pilgrimage for Mickelson!

It's more about knowing when you can attack - and how. Not sure whether Schwartzel driving the green was a great idea yesterday, though it worked out. Great to see a couple of Drivers off the deck too!

As long as there are no silly pin placements!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Now there is a rare thing, I am in total agreement with Peter Alliss.

Peter Thomson was the greatest exponent of fast links courses
IMVHO he would have given this field an 8 shot start and still have won.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Now there is a rare thing, I am in total agreement with Peter Alliss.

Peter Thomson was the greatest exponent of fast links courses
IMVHO he would have given this field an 8 shot start and still have won.

PT's Open record speaks for itself. I also agreed with what he said about those about 8 or 9 shots back still being in with a shout if they go low today. Going to be great viewing over next two days.

 

[jp5]

Links golf may be fun to play but it's as boring as anything to watch, I've had to switch to the cricket!

It's just that every hole seems to be unremarkable. Having watched a decent chunk of the first two days I couldn't describe any of the holes to you, or any shots on them that stood out.

 

[garyinderry]

Robert garrigus's putt from way down town. Amazing

 

[chrisd]

Chris you surprise me

I'd expect this kind of reactionary nonsense from a whippersnapper like James :rofl:

But a mature, considered gent like yourself, I thought you would have an appreciation for the finer things, like links golf..... And olives!!:thup:

Obviously you are an astute and erudite young man!

................. And I'm not keen on olives either!

 

[Piece]

Opened mouthed here at people dissing links golf! Probably from people who haven't played links golf!

These courses are very far from boring. They take on a totally different appeal and are visually stunning when you are playing on them. Target golf is very dull in comparison, very dull.

Links golf certainly shows who is a good golfer and who isn't, both at amateur and pro level. It's about controlling the ball with every shot as opposed to bombing the driver and finding it again...

 

[Snelly]

Links golf is awesome!!! It's a game apart for the normal point and shoot nonsense on the PGA/European tour week in week out. Rather than being lucky, I'd argue that is a different test of golfing skill. The open is my favourite major by far, though I did like merion this year. Probably for the same reasons.

If you prefer parkland golf to links then I'd suggest getting out more!!

Agreed.

I think the Open is the best major by miles and certainly the best to watch. I love seeing the world's best struggle to get around and it is much more exciting to see the variety of shots and trajectories.

It is golf for the purist. Appreciated by those who truly understand the game, have an appreciation of history and the subtleties of the links experience.

As for TW, I hope he implodes and has a miserable weekend.

Westwood to win with a bit of luck.

 

[Snelly]

Opened mouthed here at people dissing links golf! Probably from people who haven't played links golf!

These courses are very far from boring. They take on a totally different appeal and are visually stunning when you are playing on them. Target golf is very dull in comparison, very dull.

Links golf certainly shows who is a good golfer and who isn't, both at amateur and pro level. It's about controlling the ball with every shot as opposed to bombing the driver and finding it again...

Good post. Well said.

 

[Hobbit]

I moved to a links course 30yrs ago, on the back of several dodgy summers and lousy winters. They're not pretty until you get used to them and, like a good woman, understand them.

And what was a wedge yesterday, might be an 8 iron today and a 6 iron tomorrow. On clam-ish days the breeze will change as the tide changes. Over 4 days, 72 holes, every part of the game will be well tested and it will be a true champion that is found.

The bare lies you get on a links course will teach you how much you need to catch the ball clean.

Parkland is for girls, men play links...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Was it Zac Johnson who after first round said that the course really 'finds you out' and that he'll go away knowing where the weaknesses in his game are. Just shows how The Open in these conditions is a complete test of golf - what's not to like about that. The saying 'it's not how but how many that matters' will never be truer than it will be at 6pm tomorrow.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Links golf separates the wheat from the chaff.
Name a top player who cannot play links and I bet he/she is a player with a weakness in their game.

Some of the putting yesterday was a good example.
Trying to putt through breaks on quick greens is just plain stoopid.
The skills of Locke, Thomson, Charles and Crenshaw on links greens was a joy to watch.

 

[TheClaw]

I'm enjoying the whole thing. Went to watch the practice day on Tuesday and although I've not played the course, I feel like I know it (a tiny bit). Just wish the pros did a bit less moaning and just tried to tackle the course, they know what to expect after all.

 

[Neddy]

It is interesting to watch once a year and is a great test for the pros. The majors should be difficult.

I do agree that aesthetically links courses are a bit ugly. Muirfield is obviously a premier venue so looks better than most.

I don't know if anyone has seen Mark Crossfields latest on course video. That was done on a links course and the "fairways" are so dull it looks more like wasteland than a golf course IMO. Horrible to look at but i'm sure great fun to play.

 

[Birchy]

Believe it or not the coverage on tv does not actually do Muirfield justice at all. Its absolutely breathtaking when you go there and actually play it. It might look flat and boring on tv but its not that at all.

You cant play around a weak part of your game at a course like that because it finds you out. You need to be very good off the tee, good on approach, chipping, pitching, putting etc etc. Its not a place for the weak as shots that arent perfect often get punished.

This is like test cricket is to cricket, this is the purest form of the sport and a true test of nerve, skill and mind. The player who executes his skills best in every aspect of the game wins at places like this and thats how golf should be.

The best major by some margin in my book and i love it.