Wentworth and the run offs.

[Birchy]

I agree with this. I know I could only see on teh TV, but there seemed to be so much more spectators at Wentworth compared to the middle east / China events, there also seemed to be twice as many youngsters !!

Wentworth had the biggest crowds ive seen for any euro tour event in the last few seasons and i have always at least seen some of the higlights of every televised event.

Ive seen more people watching forum meets than some of the tournaments out in eastern europe and asia etc.

Its a shame that this doesnt make more of an impact with sponsors or whatever else is required to have more events over here.

 

[Imurg]

Apart form The Open, The Masters when it was at Woburn and the Matchplay/PGA at Wentworth they were usually played at pretty poor courses and badly supported.

The Belfry, The Oxfordshire and Forest of Arden were always very busy when I went to watch - not shabby courses either.....

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The Belfry, The Oxfordshire and Forest of Arden were always very busy when I went to watch - not shabby courses either.....

Always seem to remember lots of crowds on the telly as well

 

[richart]

Wentworth had just under 24,000 spectators on the Sunday.

 

[Foxholer]

I can understand the tour wanting it at Wentworth as its their HQ and so I'm happy to see it at the same venue. However, I think the course has been undermined by the changes and the 17th in particular has become a weak hole

What Tosh!

The tour had threatened to go elsewhere if something wasn't done about the greens - and the changes had started a couple of years before the 'complete overhaul'!

It's certainly not a particularly friendly course for handicap players - 'just a long slog' is probably the best description - but there's always something magic for the guns - and they never overpower it.

17th was a very weak hole a while ago, bit is now part of the magic finish imo. A few Eagles, a couple of 8s and even a 9! Andy Sullivan was on a charge until he got caught with a 7! The run-off area on the left is now a bigger threat than a bunker would be and the rough on the right works well now - it was previously a 'too tough' run-off area.

It took them 3 goes to get the 18th right, but it's a great finishing, hole for them, now - and an easy Par 5 for handicap players. Seemed to me there was too much 'owner-design' originally and it's now the sort of style Els would probably proposed imo.

It hasn't been a 'heathland' course for ages - long before Els got involved. And it was/is simpler to simply get rid of almost all the heather rather than try to maintain it. There is little heather on most of the East course either. Maintaining Colt heather 'eyebrows' on bunkers is just too expensive! Walton Heath heather is going through a period of decline/regrowth too!

The run-offs/collection areas, while an American trend, are a nice balance imo. Punishing enough for a slightly wayward shot and can even feel like too much punishment, but not as bad as thick rough for poor/too aggressive ones!

The best thing about the 'new' style is that fairway bunkers are now really hazards! There are only a couple where it's possible to get to the green from - and that's down to getting lucky too!

I'm even a fan of the greens - though they look awful for 45+ weeks of the year! Most roll up punters are really surprised at how slow they are (normally 8-9), but they probably wouldn't be able to handle the slopes if they were at tournament speed. There's a ballot for today to play the course as it is on Day 4. Most 4-balls take over 5:30 to get round with 40-45+ putts being the norm!

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Whilst in agreement that the run offs don't look natural to a British course, be interesting to hear what they do around the greens when it is not set up for the PGA? What are folks faced with for the other 51 weeks of the year?

From commentary, it sounded like the winning scores came from the results of how the par 5's were played - with net par being the outcome on the 3's and 4's.

Speaking to a member at Wentworth when there fir the Pro-Am day, not much really changes. Sure, it may not look as splendid, as they shut it to prepare, but the member said the course pretty much plays as difficult. SSS is a few above par, but CSS can go quite high (think he mentioned 78 a few comps ago!)

 

[Deleted member 1418]

My brother played in the Pro Am last year and raved about the course. Said it was great to play on and a real test. My only gripe with 17 is it's probably 15-20 yards too long at the moment to make it an exciting hole. 18th has been changed for the better IMO.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What Tosh!

The tour had threatened to go elsewhere if something wasn't done about the greens - and the changes had started a couple of years before the 'complete overhaul'!

It's certainly not a particularly friendly course for handicap players - 'just a long slog' is probably the best description - but there's always something magic for the guns - and they never overpower it.

17th was a very weak hole a while ago, bit is now part of the magic finish imo. A few Eagles, a couple of 8s and even a 9! Andy Sullivan was on a charge until he got caught with a 7! The run-off area on the left is now a bigger threat than a bunker would be and the rough on the right works well now - it was previously a 'too tough' run-off area.

Know a few members including some up and coming single figure juniors playing in the Wentworth academy and all of those I know dislike the 17th and the run off area. How can you have a "too tough" run off area? These are suppose to be top players. Was the design therefore to blame?

 

[Foxholer]

...My only gripe with 17 is it's probably 15-20 yards too long at the moment to make it an exciting hole. 18th has been changed for the better IMO.

But then it would be a Par 4!

Remember that they moved the tees 50yds forward from the 610 official length in order to make it exciting too! Length off the tee isn't hugely important - as it's restricted by the anti-camber dog-leg and run-out - at about 320!