Sunningdale - You will not be dissapointed

[MendieGK]

Played both courses at Sunningdale yesterday, and all i can say is that those of you that are playing it next week will NOT be dissapointed!

everything about it is exceptional, the greens were flawless and i've never played a course that has so many subtle breaks!

Didnt get the fuss over the sausage sandwich on the 10th though - no different to any other sandwich.

Also a general gripe with all these 'old' school heathland courses - i wish i could play off tees further back, 6000yds is just not long enough to really appreciate some of the holes to their full potential.

We let Andey Shevshenko play through on the New Course too - my mate a liverpool fan resisted the urge to ask him about 'that' penalty!

 

[USER1999]

Its always been the length, or lack of, that has put me off in the past.

 

[IanM]

You just hit the ball too far Sam!

 

[paddyc]

Should suit my accurate long iron off the tee game.

 

[MendieGK]

Its always been the length, or lack of, that has put me off in the past.

It certainly didn't limit the experience as the place is absolutely flawless, but a number of the tees are elevated and increase in height the further you move back on the tees. Just felt like a bit of a tease!!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Considering the courses are ranked #9 and #12 in the UK were you expecting anyone to be disappointed?

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Considering the courses are ranked #9 and #12 in the UK were you expecting anyone to be disappointed?

In some ways, doesn't that leave people more likely to be disappointed? Expectations are so high when you play somewhere rated so highly, and that's what people judge against, rather than objectively against other courses they play. So courses can fall short

 

[Crow]

If you're disappointed about the length then play old school clubs, you'll then be hitting the ball distances that are closer to what these older courses were designed for.

I'm seriously thinking about it for next week, I'll definitely be playing the afternoon round at New Zealand with old school gear.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Its always been the length, or lack of, that has put me off in the past.

Can I ask why ? Is it too short for you ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Happy to play any course off any tee and I can't see either course next week disappointing in any shape or form irrespective of the distance of the course, dress code or anything else

 

[HDID Kenny]

Horses for courses, I'm more exited now because at 6000 yrds it becomes more playable therefore enjoyable to me 😎

 

[USER1999]

Can I ask why ? Is it too short for you ?

You have played with me, and know i am not a big hitter.

No, its not that. Its more the lack of seeing the course as it was meant to be played. There is a big disparity between what you are allowed to play, and what you could play. I will probably only play it once, and for the money would like to play nearer to the whole golf course.

If it wasnt in the top 20, and off the yellows, which might not even be 6000 yards, as thats off the yellow stones, and we wont be, it wouldnt be in the top 20, or anywhere close, would you pay the money to play it.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

You have played with me, and know i am not a big hitter.

No, its not that. Its more the lack of seeing the course as it was meant to be played. There is a big disparity between what you are allowed to play, and what you could play. I will probably only play it once, and for the money would like to play nearer to the whole golf course.

If it wasnt in the top 20, and off the yellows, which might not even be 6000 yards, as thats off the yellow stones, and we wont be, it wouldnt be in the top 20, or anywhere close, would you pay the money to play it.

The yardage has zero impact on whether I play a course or not - zero. I know Sunningdale had plenty of holes that are long enough and tough enough to test us all.

I have played long slog courses and it's bored me to death - give me a 6000 yard course with character any day of the week

 

[Deleted member 17920]

I have played long slog courses and it's bored me to death - give me a 6000 yard course with character any day of the week

This every day of the week for me. The pics of sunningdale look beautiful regardless of length..

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You have played with me, and know i am not a big hitter.

No, its not that. Its more the lack of seeing the course as it was meant to be played. There is a big disparity between what you are allowed to play, and what you could play. I will probably only play it once, and for the money would like to play nearer to the whole golf course.

If it wasnt in the top 20, and off the yellows, which might not even be 6000 yards, as thats off the yellow stones, and we wont be, it wouldnt be in the top 20, or anywhere close, would you pay the money to play it.

But equally I played Hillside a few years back and nowhere near where the Open Qualifying tees were going to be. It was a tough enough but playable course for me and to be honest I wasn't disappointed and probably would have been off the whites. Similarly with the Grove, I've been off the second furthest tees and it's a slog for me and not enjoyable hitting so many long clubs into holes and still not getting to the green

 

[USER1999]

But equally I played Hillside a few years back and nowhere near where the Open Qualifying tees were going to be. It was a tough enough but playable course for me and to be honest I wasn't disappointed and probably would have been off the whites. Similarly with the Grove, I've been off the second furthest tees and it's a slog for me and not enjoyable hitting so many long clubs into holes and still not getting to the green

I have played the grove from the tips, pretty much every time, and it is a proper test of golf. Yep, its long, but it is how it was designed to be played. A lot who criticise it havent played it off the black tees. Its a better test of golf from back there. Take the 4th, front tees, a 150 or less par 3 across a stream to a narrow green. Off the tips, a 190 ish carry, to a tricky green. Its a better hole. It just is.

 

[Liverbirdie]

But equally I played Hillside a few years back and nowhere near where the Open Qualifying tees were going to be. It was a tough enough but playable course for me and to be honest I wasn't disappointed and probably would have been off the whites. Similarly with the Grove, I've been off the second furthest tees and it's a slog for me and not enjoyable hitting so many long clubs into holes and still not getting to the green

I think when we played Hillside it was 25-30mph winds, so was very hard off the yellows or whites (cant remember which we played). However, I played it off the blues the other week in a 1-2 club wind and it was very playable TBH.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have played the grove from the tips, pretty much every time, and it is a proper test of golf. Yep, its long, but it is how it was designed to be played. A lot who criticise it havent played it off the black tees. Its a better test of golf from back there. Take the 4th, front tees, a 150 or less par 3 across a stream to a narrow green. Off the tips, a 190 ish carry, to a tricky green. Its a better hole. It just is.

And ideal if you have the game. I am short and so it's a long course and I just find it too much of a slog. I'm sure the holes are aesthetically better and might even be a better hole and while I'd take the challenge on the par threes (we have two over 200 yards) it's trying to play a par four I've no hope of getting too and reliant on a good drive, good wood or hybrid to still leave a mid-short iron in. Yes I get a shot but it's not fun

 

[Liverbirdie]

I have played the grove from the tips, pretty much every time, and it is a proper test of golf. Yep, its long, but it is how it was designed to be played. A lot who criticise it havent played it off the black tees. Its a better test of golf from back there. Take the 4th, front tees, a 150 or less par 3 across a stream to a narrow green. Off the tips, a 190 ish carry, to a tricky green. Its a better hole. It just is.

We did consider Sunningdale off the whites, but consulted a few people who had played from the whites, as well as the club and there are some carries that would trouble a good enough amount for us to make the decision to play off the yellows. In the past we have left it up to people if they want to play off longer tees, but due to the organising 60-odd golfers round once, suited, booted, fed and out again we had to go with this.

We are doing NZ off the whites on the Friday am round though.:thup:

 

[FairwayDodger]

And ideal if you have the game. I am short and so it's a long course and I just find it too much of a slog. I'm sure the holes are aesthetically better and might even be a better hole and while I'd take the challenge on the par threes (we have two over 200 yards) it's trying to play a par four I've no hope of getting too and reliant on a good drive, good wood or hybrid to still leave a mid-short iron in. Yes I get a shot but it's not fun

I think for handicap golf the answer is to have male/female SSS from every tee, let golfers play from the tees that suits their ability and adjust handicaps as appropriate for any competition. I think it's daft in handicap comp with a wide range of abilities to insist everyone plays from the same tees.