Bigfoot
Tour Rookie
Another vote here for the Belfry but I did enjoy Nairn. Having seen votes for Dornoch on this thread, I hope the are wrong as I hope to play it in August !!
Most overrated golf course you have played.....
- Thread starter Richuk123
- Start date
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I'm surprised you say St Mellion. Not the greatest, but one of the best courses I've played, and tough as old boots. It was designed as a modern championship course, hence the earth banks for spectators viewing. Plus it's built around the side of a hill. They could hardly have it flat!
Stand on the back tee on the 2nd (par 5) and that will really make you think about your tee shot. As will the 3rd. And 4th. And 5th! And so it goes on.
I don't think I've ever played a course where the premium is put so much on your driving abilities. On loads and loads of "championship" courses you can get away with spraying it around all over the place. But you can't at St Mellion. You have to concentrate on every (every) tee shot. And that's what marks it out of the ordinary. Go to St Andrews, or even Carnoustie to a certain extent and you can be as wayward off the tee as you like and get away with it. In many ways it actually pays you to be a little errant off the tee because you take a lot of the dangers (bunkers) out of play. Try that at St Mellion and you'll be reloading on almost every drive.
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
No, 5 of us will be there but we will have drawn times so we probably won't see much of each other apart from in the pub at night!
T
thecraw
Guest
6inchcup
Journeyman Pro
to be honest i am not a lover of nicklaus courses,the earth is moved around just for effect and he takes a lot of the natural features away,i didn't find it as daunting as you make out to be truthful,the first was just a gimmick hole really,i must add the facilities where good and the practice area was excellent but in my opinion i will not be driving all that way again.
Bigfoot
Tour Rookie
Thanks for that - I can look forward to it again.
SyR
Challenge Tour Pro
I've never understood why people rate Lewes. The only nice feature is it drains well and has some nice views. The course plays short and bland and the condition was poor due to the rabbits etc...
RGDave
Money List Winner
Overrated of overpriced?
Overpriced, easy....(we all know the answer).
I'm giving some thought to overrated.
Overpriced, easy....(we all know the answer).
I'm giving some thought to overrated.
RGDave
Money List Winner
Ouch. There are some great holes, particularly after the turn.....I think you've had bad luck, 'cause it's horrible in the wind and rain. I must admit though 2 of the par 3s are dull....and maybe the first 2 holes.
I'd give it 14/18. That's my new ranking method for golf courses, simply "how many good/decent holes" out of the 18.
Bunkermonkey
Medal Winner
Played forest of arden championship course today, played it about a year ago and was impressed, however it doesnt seem a greenkeeper has been on the course since i last went, there were literally hundreds of unrepaired divots on fairways that looked like they hadnt seen a mower for a while, greens were fast but covered in pitchmarks. The back nine looked like something out of a tim burton movie with old dead oak trees everywhere. Its a great design but sadly lacking in maintainance.....
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
I have to agree with Smiffy, this is the best parkland course I have played, so far.
Don't worry about others, RD is superb and is in superb condition at the moment.
When you are up give me a shout and maybe get you another game at Nairn
I love the FOA for obvious reasons. I thought last year it was in decent nick and to be honest I didn't really see the problem with the dead trees. I thought it was quite interesting, especially with the deer mingling amongst them. I'm surprised its as bad as you say unless they are perhaps going to do something to the course and so feel they can leave it for a bit until the work is completed
Ethan
Money List Winner
Tom Watson loves RD, so I think Bigfoot is on safe ground for August. hopefully the 2 weeks of summer will occur then.
we have better weather than you at the moment old boy, just wait and see fat Tigers Photo's from Yesteday and Today.
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
I played RSD in perfect links weather, bright and breezy. I was very disappointed. Yes it is tough but the only interesting holes were 14 to 17 in the dunes. The rest were pretty flat and featureless, the only protection was the really thick rough lining all the fairways.
Certainly not a course I would rush back to play again.
In_The_Rough
Tour Winner
Played there a few weeks ago and to be honest I agree the dead trees dont seem a problem. It is a cracking layout with some very good holes on it. Know what the other chap is saying though and the pitch marks and the unrepaired divots. I mentioned it to the chaps in the Pro shop and they said it is when they have had a corporate event on it gets in this state and that they are aware of it and it will be sorted. So it is not a lack of investment or letting the place get run down.
S
Snelly
Guest
My most overrated list is linked to the fact that they are desperately poor value for money. The courses I have looked forward to playing and have been colossally underwhelmed are:
1. Loch Lomond - take away the scenery and nouveau riche ambience and it's nothing remotely special. The beautiful waitresses are the only redeeming feature that I can recall.
2. Wentworth West - 3rd best course at Wentworth and a laughable £358 for 18 holes plus you have to have a caddy now too which is an extra £50 plus a tip. Absolutely ridiculous.
3. Celtic Manor 2010 - it wasn't quite finished when I played it but I was unimpressed. Nice clubhouse though.
4. The Belfry - ruined a nice farm when they built it.
I doubt I will ever play any of these again unless it is a freebie.
I also agree with the Walton Heath comments. Nice but doesn't have that special something and the noise from the M25 is constant.
1. Loch Lomond - take away the scenery and nouveau riche ambience and it's nothing remotely special. The beautiful waitresses are the only redeeming feature that I can recall.
2. Wentworth West - 3rd best course at Wentworth and a laughable £358 for 18 holes plus you have to have a caddy now too which is an extra £50 plus a tip. Absolutely ridiculous.
3. Celtic Manor 2010 - it wasn't quite finished when I played it but I was unimpressed. Nice clubhouse though.
4. The Belfry - ruined a nice farm when they built it.
I doubt I will ever play any of these again unless it is a freebie.
I also agree with the Walton Heath comments. Nice but doesn't have that special something and the noise from the M25 is constant.
Foxholer
Blackballed
H'mm. Agree that the other courses are very good, but they are not playing the PGA on The West because it's the '3rd best'.
Pretty sure the price structure has an element of 'determent' in there too - to keep wear and tear down.
Here's the Green fee structure: http://www.wentworthclub.com/golf/48/3015/
West fee includes caddy fee - but make sure you tip them well (if they do a good job)
.Best way to play any of the 'premium' ones, apart from freebies, is via club auctions - at Captain's Day etc.
Most over-rated for me is The Brabazon. About 4 very good holes, otherwise very dull. Doesn't mean it's not a great Ryder Cup venue though! 2014 RC is certainly being played on the '3rd best course on the complex' imo.
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S
Snelly
Guest
Fair point, well made.
I think I would still rather play the other two though. Especially after the changes - I don't like them.
