St Andrews Eureka moment?

[Grant85]

There's an interesting article in the current GM magazine about the fact the course was once played backwards i.e. clockwise. Apparently the placing of a lot of the bunkers make more sense played that way.

They did this on a day recently and played it backwards again.

I'd guess there would be a few crossover holes at the start and around the turn (without a few new tees) which might mean they won't make a habit of it.

I'm sure they used to do it to save wear and tear on certain areas.

 

[patricks148]

looks like the Reverse doesn't suit the hit it left theory

 

[garyinderry]

 

[williamalex1]

Not sure I could convince myself to pay £95 +, five times before getting the golf course a bit more (not experience, as that is in my top 3. As you say the green complex's generally are great as well).

Could I be nosy and ask what made you pay that much money each time and kept you returning ? (hopefully that doesn't read off, am interested to hear)

Back in the early 80s when British Rail owned them , a round on the Old Course was only £14.
Also only £14 to play 2 rounds at Gleneagles, 18 on the old Glen Devon course and 18 on Kings course, on the same day .

 

[Foxholer]

...
Now - having said all that it's still not the best course in Britain in my opinion. There are better layouts/designs and challenges than the Old Course in my opinion but I have been more than won over by the charms of the Old Lady. She is deserving of the credit she gets.

I too have played it a number of times (also 5) and have enjoyed it every time - particularly the first when a top local caddy helped our mixed ability group through her intricacies.

Definitely a more 'feminine' course compared to the likes of RSG or Birkdale. On a still day, she's a pussycat, but with a 'wee breeze', as happens at least once during most Opens, she turns into a tigress! Of the 3 of the St Andrews 'bunch' I've played, I like The New course best and rate The Jubilee the 'toughest'.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

Not sure what you mean re - club set up but he had to enter the ballot and hope for the best re a tee time. He had the Jubilee booked as a fall back.

Sorry about confusion, I meant in respect of signing someone on at discounted rates.

 

[Jacko_G]

Sorry about confusion, I meant in respect of signing someone on at discounted rates.

As Patrick said its a points based system. Its 4 points + sign on fee (I think) for TOC, on a sliding scale for the other courses. Not 100% sure how many points he gets possibly 20/25 per year.

 

[stevek1969]

As a memeber of The St Andrews club a visitor on the Old Course is 4 pts the Jubilee and the New are 2 points and you pay roughly 35 % of the standard green fee as a guest in the summer a guest on The Old Course paid £72 . Points are a sliding scale if you stay in St Andrews you get 30 pts everyone else gets 20 pts .

 

[bigslice]

This is what i was like with dundonald. My first round i wasnt impressed but the more i played it the more i like it. Nothing to do with suiting me, i just slowly realised WOW wit a course

 

[Hobbit]

I kinda 'got' St Andrews from my very first visit. I read all the bumpf on aim left for safety or right for the best line into greens.

Carnoustie gave me that Eureka moment after a few visits. My first visit left me wondering if its was just hype, a bang average course but with an extremely tough, iconic finish. My last couple of visits saw me understand how it should be played and I really took it to heart - loved it.

 

[User20204]

I kinda 'got' St Andrews from my very first visit. I read all the bumpf on aim left for safety or right for the best line into greens.

Carnoustie gave me that Eureka moment after a few visits. My first visit left me wondering if its was just hype, a bang average course but with an extremely tough, iconic finish. My last couple of visits saw me understand how it should be played and I really took it to heart - loved it.

At least TOC can be fun, Carnoustie can be utterly brutal, you can stand on almost every tee and think.....where am I going to hit it cause there is trouble everywhere.