Grant85
Head Pro
Earlier this week, a big bucket list entry was ticked off the list as I was fortunate enough to play around the most famous golf course in the world.
We had a long planned trip to St. Andrews and were intending to get a 3 day ticket and play as many of the 6 non Old Course courses as possible. However, a couple of the guys could only stay for 2 days, so felt that for the same money we could enter the ballot and possibly get on ToC, along with playing one other budget option (Fairmont).
So last Friday, 3 of us entered into the ballot. I was happy to go along with this, but as I could stay for the 3rd day my 2nd prize was going to be an extra day of solo golf at wherever I could tee off. This being the case, of learning of our successful ballot on Saturday afternoon, I was slightly underwhelmed. There were also high winds forecast for the Monday, which I felt would take a bit of the enjoyment away (40 to 43 mph). Maybe I was also scared of not enjoying the whole thing as much as I hoped, having heard plenty of reports of people not really 'getting' the Old Course. I was also very aware that I couldn't just go and play this again in a few weeks and this might be my only shot here for a few years.
However on Sunday night, after dinner we wandered up the 18th hole and I started to get excited. 1240 on Monday rolled around and we had had enough time to kill with a breakfast, a wander around the shops and watch the wind move our putts a foot or two on the practice green. We were then joined by 2 caddies (I opted not to take a caddy, but would have if no one else in the group were going to) and a solo American golfer with his caddy.
There were definitely 1st tee nerves as we hit off. Glad to say I hit the best shot of the 4 ball, with a well struck 3 wood right down the middle. I didn't even see it land, just delighted to put a good swing on it. The 3 others well well over to the left, with one actually hitting it OB, only to find that it had bounced back in (possibly off a parked car).
However as we got into the round, I feel that I'd done a bit of a deal with the devil to get my 1st shot away as I then managed to put my 2nd shot into the burn in front of the 1st green, and had trouble getting off the next 3 or 4 tees. It was a proper hoolie blowing and the greens were running understandably slow to keep things in play.
When I got to the 2nd green, I knew this was going to be my favourite ever course. The collection of humps and hollows, bunkers and mounds are just indescribable. Typically most greens are accessible from the right hand side, rewarding the player who takes the out of bounds on and giving an extra problem to the player who has hit a safe shot to the opposite fairway.
With a load of 340 to 400 yard 4s into the stronge breeze, and the long par 5 5th, the course relents around the turn, with a collection of shorter holes. On the way out, there is a lot of raised greens and you can just pick out a flag in the distance against the sky. It's amazing that every flag you are aiming for is on the right hand side, especially when you get up and see how things cross over on the 7th and 11th green. It really is a work of genius the layout and I can only imagine enjoying this even more if I was able to play it regularly.
Other great points. 10 minute intervals between groups. We really felt like we had the front 9 to ourselves on the way out, with a short delay on the 11th and 17th tees only, on the way back.
The size of the greens - they are just immense and quite often (especially with the breeze) we would have 40 or 50 foot putts.
The forgiveness of the place. Caddies were very happy to give us conservative lines, but there is just so much room to miss on the left. Perhaps in better weather, there would have been more opportunity to take on the risk / reward lines.
In reality there isn't a lot of rough about and this obviously aides pace of play and the enjoyment. 3 of our group didn't lose a ball all day. We were 4 hours 15 minutes for a 4 ball in high winds.
Issues - not an issue for me. but there are plenty of unkempt areas that did appear a bit messy.
There are a lot of bunkers that are blind. I guess this was just the way of things, but the 5th, 12th and 15th are notable with hazards that can't intimidate people who don't know where they are. I guess that's why they always say to get a caddy with your group.
Also the fact I can't play this every week.
We had a long planned trip to St. Andrews and were intending to get a 3 day ticket and play as many of the 6 non Old Course courses as possible. However, a couple of the guys could only stay for 2 days, so felt that for the same money we could enter the ballot and possibly get on ToC, along with playing one other budget option (Fairmont).
So last Friday, 3 of us entered into the ballot. I was happy to go along with this, but as I could stay for the 3rd day my 2nd prize was going to be an extra day of solo golf at wherever I could tee off. This being the case, of learning of our successful ballot on Saturday afternoon, I was slightly underwhelmed. There were also high winds forecast for the Monday, which I felt would take a bit of the enjoyment away (40 to 43 mph). Maybe I was also scared of not enjoying the whole thing as much as I hoped, having heard plenty of reports of people not really 'getting' the Old Course. I was also very aware that I couldn't just go and play this again in a few weeks and this might be my only shot here for a few years.
However on Sunday night, after dinner we wandered up the 18th hole and I started to get excited. 1240 on Monday rolled around and we had had enough time to kill with a breakfast, a wander around the shops and watch the wind move our putts a foot or two on the practice green. We were then joined by 2 caddies (I opted not to take a caddy, but would have if no one else in the group were going to) and a solo American golfer with his caddy.
There were definitely 1st tee nerves as we hit off. Glad to say I hit the best shot of the 4 ball, with a well struck 3 wood right down the middle. I didn't even see it land, just delighted to put a good swing on it. The 3 others well well over to the left, with one actually hitting it OB, only to find that it had bounced back in (possibly off a parked car).
However as we got into the round, I feel that I'd done a bit of a deal with the devil to get my 1st shot away as I then managed to put my 2nd shot into the burn in front of the 1st green, and had trouble getting off the next 3 or 4 tees. It was a proper hoolie blowing and the greens were running understandably slow to keep things in play.
When I got to the 2nd green, I knew this was going to be my favourite ever course. The collection of humps and hollows, bunkers and mounds are just indescribable. Typically most greens are accessible from the right hand side, rewarding the player who takes the out of bounds on and giving an extra problem to the player who has hit a safe shot to the opposite fairway.
With a load of 340 to 400 yard 4s into the stronge breeze, and the long par 5 5th, the course relents around the turn, with a collection of shorter holes. On the way out, there is a lot of raised greens and you can just pick out a flag in the distance against the sky. It's amazing that every flag you are aiming for is on the right hand side, especially when you get up and see how things cross over on the 7th and 11th green. It really is a work of genius the layout and I can only imagine enjoying this even more if I was able to play it regularly.
Other great points. 10 minute intervals between groups. We really felt like we had the front 9 to ourselves on the way out, with a short delay on the 11th and 17th tees only, on the way back.
The size of the greens - they are just immense and quite often (especially with the breeze) we would have 40 or 50 foot putts.
The forgiveness of the place. Caddies were very happy to give us conservative lines, but there is just so much room to miss on the left. Perhaps in better weather, there would have been more opportunity to take on the risk / reward lines.
In reality there isn't a lot of rough about and this obviously aides pace of play and the enjoyment. 3 of our group didn't lose a ball all day. We were 4 hours 15 minutes for a 4 ball in high winds.
Issues - not an issue for me. but there are plenty of unkempt areas that did appear a bit messy.
There are a lot of bunkers that are blind. I guess this was just the way of things, but the 5th, 12th and 15th are notable with hazards that can't intimidate people who don't know where they are. I guess that's why they always say to get a caddy with your group.
Also the fact I can't play this every week.
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