Muirfield - Sorry I just don't get what all the fuss is about.

[Foxholer]

It is a myth that the place is hard to get on,a total myth.

Indeed!

While Visitor's Day's (Tuesday and Thursday) might be booked pretty solid through the Summer, the other 3 seasons provide ample opportunity to experience its delights.

It was pretty normal to be able to ring up on the Monday or Wednesday, having checked the weather forecast, and obtain an tee time for the following day! More than once I got a discount for food as I was the only visitor that day!

Another (of my) quaint measure of quality is the number of dog bowls outside the club-house and around the course. Muirfield provides the most of any course I've been on (4) and even has a tap part way around (7th tee from memory) It's the little touches that I enjoy!

 

[Iaing]

I think a lot of people are getting taken in by the hype that surrounds Muirfield. It is almost the Augusta of Britain, some mythical place that is difficult to get on and has an aura about it.

Sure, the clubhouse is fantastic, reeks of history and golf how it used to be. The food and service are also up there with the very best. And the course is tough, I don't deny that. But those things don't make the course any better. It is flat and it has too many straight holes. A few more doglegs and elevation changes wouldn't go amiss but as far as the elevation is concerned, you can only work with what is there.

I remember all the debate on here when the last Top 100 list was published and the GM guys came on and explained how the rankings are devised. I recall that (I think) the actual course layout only accounted for 35% of the total marks, the rest is made up by marks for facilities, condition, welcome, pro shop, ambience etc. Muirfield will undoubtedly score very highly in those categories which leads me to wonder how highly the course would be ranked if it was actually a municipal course in South London.

I have played many links courses that are more interesting in their layout, that is my opinion. Sorry if you don't agree with it.

Muirfield doesn't have a pro shop, so must have been ranked higher in other areas by GM.

 

[scratch]

Muirfield doesn't have a pro shop, so must have been ranked higher in other areas by GM.

True.....but they do put out a basket of free tees, that's got to be worth a few ranking points

Doon, yes that was gross.

 

[richart]

Rich its a Marmite course and i for one really enjoyed it, wasn't to windy either and i played in the St Andrews Clubs member guest day with Euan did hit a couple of decent shots as well.

When are you up here next?

Up for the week beginning 21st October. First three days booked at the Jubilee and Castle and Old, but two free days to sort out other courses. If you are about perhaps sort something out ? Hoping to get a game with Crawford and perhaps Euan if they can get time off. Counting the days !

It is interesting how golfers opinions can differ so much over courses, especially links ones. Someone was even trying to convince me that Royal North Devon was better than Saunton East. It was the Pro at RND to be fair.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Royal Liverpool then?

As flat as they come really bar a slight elevation change at a couple of points.....it would have been better suited as a cricket pitch or a horse racing track.

It used to be horse racing track.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I just had an email from a friend who has just done the Gullane/NB/Muirfield trip for the first time.

His comment was that Muirfield had all the class but NB had all the charm, quite good I thought.
Sadly they met Gullane 1 on a very wet and windy day but still rated it.

Ps Third hole on Gullane No1 used to be a racecourse.

 

[Val]

I just had an email from a friend who has just done the Gullane/NB/Muirfield trip for the first time.

His comment was that Muirfield had all the class but NB had all the charm, quite good I thought.
Sadly they met Gullane 1 on a very wet and windy day but still rated it.

Muirfield had class wth no charm

Hmmmmm

I can maybe relate to that, what it does lack is a visitor experience ie, no strokesaver/tee bag/bag tag etc where at the money they charge it should do however I'm told (my MD is a member) this is changing (wouldn't hold my breath though)

 

[Dodger]

Yep, happy to remind you......it's No1.

Possibly a lot to do with the reasons I listed in my last post ie. it's not because of the actual course. And depending which rankings you want to go by Birkdale, Turnberry and RCD are all listed above Muirfield in other rankings. I've not played Birkdale but I would certainly go back to play the other 2 before Muirfield. And if we are talking strictly about just the course then RCD blows it out of the water, it's not even close.

We agree on something!!

RCD is without doubt the best golf course on our isles,I am playing it again in a months time and I am popping a semi just thinking about it!

 

[USER1999]

Not played any of these, apart from rcd. When you've played the best, why try the sloppy seconds? Oh, and I live miles from any links golf, which makes it tricky.

 

[Andy]

True.....but they do put out a basket of free tees

Sssshhhhh don't tell Gok & Grumps lol

 

[User20205]

Someone was even trying to convince me that Royal North Devon was better than Saunton East. It was the Pro at RND to be fair.

he wasn't the pro, just some drunk off the street 'best clubhouse in england' my arse

Saunton East is special. not played Hoylake or Muirfield, I'd give a gonad to do the latter !!

 

[louise_a]

Although I havent played any Scottish course I have played a few links ones in the north west this last year, most of them in fairly benign conditions except for SAOL.

Putting aside how I played, I would say my favourite was Hillside, the toughest was Formby (SAOL was tough but that could have just been down to the wind), the easiest was Royal Liverpool, Also played Caldy and West Lancs but neither of these really stick in my mind.

 

[Foxholer]

Here's a pretty fair description of it imo.

http://www.linksmagazine.com/golf_courses/muirfield-golf-course-scotland

 

[MashieNiblick]

Some interesting views.

My main main reaction is total jealousy that so many of you have played so many great courses. My only experience of an Open venue is RSG. That felt "big, rugged and dunesy" especially for a parkland member of limited ability. I still think it's the "best" golf course I have played in terms of the scope and difficulty of the challenge, although by no means the best looking or even the most enjoyable.

However now to the point. I have always understood that one of the things about Muirfield which marks it out is the layout (an outer and inner loop running in different directions), which means the wind affects different holes in different ways (as opposed to out and back type layouts).

Was just wondering if those who have played it have any thoughts on that aspect of the course?

 

[bobmac]

I can't comment because I haven't played either (and from the photos I've seen won't be rushing there), but it's only someone's opinion.
Even if it's 100 against 1 you can't say their opinion is wrong as it's subjective.

It's like telling me I'm wrong for preferring Monster Munch to Nik Naks.

Totally agree.

 

[The Sclaffer]

Muirfield is almost universally recognised by the Pros as being the best course on the Open Championship circuit. I've not been fortunate enough to play on all of these courses but I've played most of them and personally I rate Royal Birkdale as being "Number 1"

However to consider North Berwick as being better than Muirfield is frankly laughable.

 

[The Sclaffer]

Although I havent played any Scottish course I have played a few links ones in the north west this last year, most of them in fairly benign conditions except for SAOL.

Putting aside how I played, I would say my favourite was Hillside, the toughest was Formby (SAOL was tough but that could have just been down to the wind), the easiest was Royal Liverpool, Also played Caldy and West Lancs but neither of these really stick in my mind.

I'd agree with that, Hillside really is a cracking golf course -------- and a very testing one!

 

[bladeplayer]

Pity they are links tho eh ? All Rubbish if you ask me , or any real golfers ..


Now ya see that would be an attempt at a wind up , where as the OP IMO was not , guy just gave his opinion of the courses he played , well he gave a majority opinion of most of the guys that played ..

Maybe as they had been loking forward to it so much they set the bar of expectation too high ? happened to me regarding the Ryder cup course at The K club ..

Il admit i havent played as many courses as most of ye lads on here , but id like to think i could come on and share my thoughts on them if i did ..

 

[Wayman]

Guy at my club has said he wouldn't pay again to play muirfield

 

[Adi2Dassler]

Just back from a trip to East Lothian via Hoylake where we played Royal Liverpool, Muirfield, North Berwick and Gullane #1.

Having wanted to play Muirfield for quite some time, I came off the course feeling really quite deflated. There were 12 of us in our group and everyone felt the same. It is hyped up as some sort of mythical place but in reality, I can rate it as no better than a decent course. The conditioning was pristine, the greens were absolutely brilliant irrespective of the time of year and the weather over the last few months. The biggest downside was the amount of sand in the bunkers, I can't see the R&A allowing them to leave so much in them when the Open comes round. In some bunkers it was actually possible to get the sand over the top of my shoes when shuffling my feet down.

Royal Liverpool was a much more interesting layout but the real star of the show was North Berwick. Quite simply it is brilliant fun to play. Quirky but constantly interesting with some superb holes and greens that were even better than Muirfield's. It really is a must play course.

If you do get the chance to play Muirfield, by all means do so and stay for the lunch as well which is an experience in itself. Just don't expect it to thrill you. Royal County Down, Turnberry, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns all blow it away IMHO.

What did you think of Gullane 1?

And everyone is forgetting the best links course in the whole wide world on this thread.The daddy of them all, Royal Dornoch.