Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
It potentially needs to do nothing if the course it overtook let its standards slip a little, and it will be fine margins at this level.
New Top 100 Rankings
- Thread starter MendieGK
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It potentially needs to do nothing if the course it overtook let its standards slip a little, and it will be fine margins at this level.
Paperboy
Mini Cam
I'm down to only 22 courses played now and not likely to play any new ones next year either.
Jimaroid
Journeyman Pro
As someone who plays The Old Course rather a lot, I think I can say it's improved in the last couple of years. I'll give some examples why.
1. Three years ago we had some poor weather conditions; a mild January followed by some prolonged hard frosts in March&April. That knocked back early growth in a lot of of the East Fife courses severely, the difference being St Andrews Links had/have the resources to deal with it whereas other local courses struggled for most of the year following. Moving onto now, 2018 has been the best condition I've seen it in since I've been playing it in the last 8 years (which is personally infuriating because I've been too busy to actually play the darned thing in the last six months!)
2. The staff and facilities managed by the Links Trust are continually improving. This is largely a result of the fact that the Links Trust has more money than it knows what to do with and being a charitable trust it has a duty to continually reinvest back into facilities that reach further than just the course. The learning academy, range and practice facilities, the hospitality, toilets, beach(!), restaurants, cafes, shops, roads, shelters... They all continue to improve.
3. The course is the same but better. By that I mean the stripping of gorse/whins, and maintenance of bunkers to return small but significant parts of the course closer to 1890's photos and keep the "maintained but natural" links has made big differences in places. The boundaries between the Old and New are shifting slightly, and despite many people being nervous about all these type of changes when first proposed the results are undeniably making it better. For me one of the obvious improvements to stripping back the growth is from the 7th tee, which used to be a challenging, awkward and unsighted carry to the fairway short of Shell bunker. A lot of people were nervous about this change when proposed but the same people (myself included) have been proven wrong in play this year as it's improved the hole significantly.
So that's just 3 reasons it's improved in the last couple of years BUT I still don't think it's a better golf course than the likes of Muirfield, RCD, or even Carnoustie in the nearby rankings.
Anyway, lists are great, they continually stimulate debate and interest. They'd be pointless if they stayed the same and were considered fact all the time.
1. Three years ago we had some poor weather conditions; a mild January followed by some prolonged hard frosts in March&April. That knocked back early growth in a lot of of the East Fife courses severely, the difference being St Andrews Links had/have the resources to deal with it whereas other local courses struggled for most of the year following. Moving onto now, 2018 has been the best condition I've seen it in since I've been playing it in the last 8 years (which is personally infuriating because I've been too busy to actually play the darned thing in the last six months!)
2. The staff and facilities managed by the Links Trust are continually improving. This is largely a result of the fact that the Links Trust has more money than it knows what to do with and being a charitable trust it has a duty to continually reinvest back into facilities that reach further than just the course. The learning academy, range and practice facilities, the hospitality, toilets, beach(!), restaurants, cafes, shops, roads, shelters... They all continue to improve.
3. The course is the same but better. By that I mean the stripping of gorse/whins, and maintenance of bunkers to return small but significant parts of the course closer to 1890's photos and keep the "maintained but natural" links has made big differences in places. The boundaries between the Old and New are shifting slightly, and despite many people being nervous about all these type of changes when first proposed the results are undeniably making it better. For me one of the obvious improvements to stripping back the growth is from the 7th tee, which used to be a challenging, awkward and unsighted carry to the fairway short of Shell bunker. A lot of people were nervous about this change when proposed but the same people (myself included) have been proven wrong in play this year as it's improved the hole significantly.
So that's just 3 reasons it's improved in the last couple of years BUT I still don't think it's a better golf course than the likes of Muirfield, RCD, or even Carnoustie in the nearby rankings.
Anyway, lists are great, they continually stimulate debate and interest. They'd be pointless if they stayed the same and were considered fact all the time.
KenL
Tour Rookie
I've only played the Old Course once two years ago and considering how heavily played it is, it was in absolutely immaculate condition. I loved the course and experience from the moment I arrived to the applause my approach shot to 18 received from the public watching.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
As someone who plays The Old Course rather a lot, I think I can say it's improved in the last couple of years. I'll give some examples why.
1. Three years ago we had some poor weather conditions; a mild January followed by some prolonged hard frosts in March&April. That knocked back early growth in a lot of of the East Fife courses severely, the difference being St Andrews Links had/have the resources to deal with it whereas other local courses struggled for most of the year following. Moving onto now, 2018 has been the best condition I've seen it in since I've been playing it in the last 8 years (which is personally infuriating because I've been too busy to actually play the darned thing in the last six months!)
2. The staff and facilities managed by the Links Trust are continually improving. This is largely a result of the fact that the Links Trust has more money than it knows what to do with and being a charitable trust it has a duty to continually reinvest back into facilities that reach further than just the course. The learning academy, range and practice facilities, the hospitality, toilets, beach(!), restaurants, cafes, shops, roads, shelters... They all continue to improve.
3. The course is the same but better. By that I mean the stripping of gorse/whins, and maintenance of bunkers to return small but significant parts of the course closer to 1890's photos and keep the "maintained but natural" links has made big differences in places. The boundaries between the Old and New are shifting slightly, and despite many people being nervous about all these type of changes when first proposed the results are undeniably making it better. For me one of the obvious improvements to stripping back the growth is from the 7th tee, which used to be a challenging, awkward and unsighted carry to the fairway short of Shell bunker. A lot of people were nervous about this change when proposed but the same people (myself included) have been proven wrong in play this year as it's improved the hole significantly.
So that's just 3 reasons it's improved in the last couple of years BUT I still don't think it's a better golf course than the likes of Muirfield, RCD, or even Carnoustie in the nearby rankings.
Anyway, lists are great, they continually stimulate debate and interest. They'd be pointless if they stayed the same and were considered fact all the time.
Good post Jim.
Ive only played TOC once a few years ago, but looking forward to going again in the next few years. I think the whole experience can overwhelm you 1st time, and maybe you can appreciate whether a great or just good course a bit more on any subsequent visits.
Old Skier
Tour Winner
Reading through the latest GM list it doesn't say when courses were last visited. IMO I would now rate (off the back tees) Saunton West far more challenging than the East since it's change.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Jacko_G
Blackballed
Its not even top 10 in Scotland.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
Every single magazine or website etc seems to always have it top ten in the Uk or the world with some having it top 5 ?
So what are they all missing ? There must be hundreds of course raters all having it up there as one of the best - are they all wrong ?
Jacko_G
Blackballed
Some utter tripe in that list.
Castle Stuart top 20!
Machrihanish ahead of The Machrie!
Castle Stuart top 20!
Machrihanish ahead of The Machrie!
Jacko_G
Blackballed
Parrot reply.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
And that’s a reply avoiding the question really isn’t it - people rating courses from all over the world keep rating it so highly - what do you know that’s different ? You could provide the substance if you wish
Jacko_G
Blackballed
When you can come back with either a standout hole or a brilliant designed hole on TOC I will listen. Anyway, I'm not really interested in turning this into a debate about TOC. It's been done to death now. Therefore I will politely end my debate with you.
D
Deleted member 17920
Guest
Jacko_G
Blackballed
No I have not. Just going by reports from people who I respect and from what I know about Machrihanish. hopefully I'll be on the ferry from Kennacraig within the next few months with golf clubs.
D
Deleted member 17920
Guest
Let us know your thoughts, I fancy it at some point. Looks magnificent.
Will combine it with a trip to Machrahanish ðŸ‘
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
Stayed on Islay for a month, working, back in 2010 and played the course 3 times in that period, been following the redesign closely and it looks stunning.
As LQ says please let us know how it goes if you do get a cross.
Certainly on my bucket list to go back to Islay.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Same here - need to try and scratch the mach/mach itch in the next 2 years, maybe Dunaverty, also.
Captainron
Big Hitting, South African Sweary Person
I played Mach Old and Mach Dunes but cancelled the trip to Islay to play the Machrie when a big storm rolled in off the atlantic. I am deffo going out there as it does look something extra special
Jacko_G
Blackballed
All reports I've heard from friends, professional golfers and a "blogger" is that it gets it's big fat member out and wee wee's all over both Machrihanish courses.
Unless you're a national golf magazine wanting to maximize advertising that is.
