What do you look for in a good course?

[GreiginFife]

1. Layout

2. Visually impressive

3. Quality of the fairways

4. Changes in elevation

5. Clever bunkering or placement of hazards

6. It fits in naturally to its surroundings

Overall a good course is one that makes me want to go back again

A great course is one that has holes you will always remember

I don't think I will ever forget the 3rd at Torphin Hill or the 11th, 12th and 13th little criss cross triangle... that is not a good thing though.

Seriously though, Phil's list above plus good greens and a friendly membership/clubhouse makes a good course for me.

 

[Foxholer]

1. Layout

2. Visually impressive

3. Quality of the fairways

4. Changes in elevation

5. Clever bunkering or placement of hazards

6. It fits in naturally to its surroundings

Overall a good course is one that makes me want to go back again

A great course is one that has holes you will always remember

Pretty much sums up my approach, though would add 2 items....

7 Quality of Greens - I can forgive many things if these are really good or better).

8.Variety - of choices and shots. Some risk/reward, but not necessarily everywhere. If I've used every club in the bag, then it's normally a good sign.

And would slightly modify 'clever' to 'intelligent' or 'sensible'. I'm not into too much 'trickery' - except optical illusions.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Ability to wear jeans in the clubhouse and flip flops on the course is a must for me.

 

[IanG]

I'm in agreement with a lot of what is above and would add that
(i) the course should require you to engage your brain to master it,
(ii) it should challenge you differently under different conditions (summer/winter, east wind/west wind etc),
(iii) some holes should offer more than one possible strategy to choose from.
(iv) it should provide a stimulating challenge to players of varying abilities from scratch to 36

The club (as opposed to the course) should be welcoming and open to new arrivals and new ways of thinking.

 

[Smiffy]

A nice pair of jugs (or two) behind the bar always help

 

[richart]

Decent halfway hut adds to to the enjoyment of my round.:thup:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Decent halfway hut "staff" adds to to the enjoyment of my round.:thup:

Changed for you :thup:

 

[Smiffy]

Decent halfway hut adds to to the enjoyment of my round.:thup:

Errrr...have you tried the sausage sandwiches at Blackmoor????

 

[richart]

Errrr...have you tried the sausage sandwiches at Blackmoor????

Yes, they are superb.:thup: Same food in the halfway hut as in the clubhouse now. We sacked the lady that used to run it. Does help if it is open mind you.

 

[markgs]

1. not to many old members

 

[guest100718]

Not to many blind shots.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

1. not to many 15 handicappers

Fixed that for you

 

[Deleted member 15344]

1. not to many old members

Well stocked pro shop ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Well stocked pro shop ?

To be honest a well stocked pro shop isn't a huge issue and has no bearing on the quality of the course. As long as they have some decent balls and the basics I'm happy, especially as a visitor. My own club has a very small shop in terms of square footage but the guy will get stuff in and put himself out to get clubs in to test. If we were talking about what I looked for overall in a club then of course it would feature

 

[Deleted member 15344]

To be honest a well stocked pro shop isn't a huge issue and has no bearing on the quality of the course. As long as they have some decent balls and the basics I'm happy, especially as a visitor. My own club has a very small shop in terms of square footage but the guy will get stuff in and put himself out to get clubs in to test. If we were talking about what I looked for overall in a club then of course it would feature

Whooooossssshhhhhh

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Whooooossssshhhhhh

Whatever

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Whatever

Relax Homer - my comment about the pro shop was in reference to Markgs suggesting he changes clubs every 5 weeks.

 

[Merv_swerve]

18 tees, 18 greens, bunkers, elevatation change, ideally some water. A good test really. Length between 6500-7000 ( anything more than 7000 wouldn't be fun every week and less than 6500 wouldn't IMO test range of shots as little long iron / wood use ). Personally social side can take or leave but a good practice area is a must have.

funny you should mention length. I was looking at another course the other day and thought 'that's short' as it was less than 6500 yards. On closer examination it was a tough test as there was maybe 1 par 5 all the way round and had many tough par 4's.

 

[Merv_swerve]

I like 2 different types of good course. Different requirements for my home club to a visiting venue.

My home club is repeatedly a good test. Decent length and can be brutal in the wind. I don't mind this as I know over a year I will get my fair share of good conditions to play in as well. Good greens and good practice facilities and a friendly clubhouse.

Visiting somewhere I love the picturesque. Jaw dropping landscapes that blow me away. One of my favourite visits is Nefyn & District in Wales, but would not want to play there every week. Played a few corporate type venues this year also. Enjoyed them all, very playable with excellent club houses.

I also played Ingestre, Staffs this year and loved it. Fairly tight track with tactical tee shots, not reliant on length. Loved it and remember thinking I could play here every week it was so enjoyable.

Personally, I also like quick greens, 1 short par 3 and the tidier the tee box the better as this is often overlooked.

 

[Val]

Lots of re-occurring answer here, a theme developing. I think I am very much in agreement with LiverpoolPhils response on pg1. Covers most of it for me. A little extra couple of things, I like a predominantly flat course and wide fairways are good purely to help me on bad driving days. Picturesque is a big one which is why I prefer parkland to links.

Picturesque which is why you are preferring parkland? Got to be a wind up