What's more important to you?

r0wly86

Head Pro
Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Messages
1,312
Visit site
When it comes to golf course, what is more important.

The design of the course, or the condition of the course.

Would you rather play a very well designed course that is a bit ropy or a boring course that is immaculate. Obviously we would want both but if it was either or, which way would you go?
 

evemccc

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2020
Messages
1,594
Visit site
When it comes to golf course, what is more important.

The design of the course, or the condition of the course.

Would you rather play a very well designed course that is a bit ropy or a boring course that is immaculate. Obviously we would want both but if it was either or, which way would you go?

For my home course, I would want Option 2) Immaculate

I want the greens to be true and fairly quick with no stones in the bunkers. It’s really on and around the greens that the condition of the course matters most to me — this affects the approach shot and putting

Edit: thankfully it is!
 

Slab

Occasional Tour Caddy
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
10,771
Location
Port Louis
Visit site
Toughie, when I think of a great condition course it makes me think that would trump design... until I imagine playing the poorer design every week
But then the great design isn't anywhere near as much fun as I want if it's clagy and rough n ready...

In the spirit of the thread I need to pick one so I'm going for........... design

Edit, no wait condition :p

Edit edit erm design ;)

Edit edit edit, damit condition :mad:
 

Slab

Occasional Tour Caddy
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
10,771
Location
Port Louis
Visit site
Toughie, when I think of a great condition course it makes me think that would trump design... until I imagine playing the poorer design every week
But then the great design isn't anywhere near as much fun as I want if it's clagy and rough n ready...

In the spirit of the thread I need to pick one so I'm going for........... design

Edit, no wait condition :p

Edit edit erm design ;)

Edit edit edit, damit condition :mad:

I switched it round...
After a round am I more likely to complain about the condition of the course or the design?
And like many (most) I'd complain about condition way more than design, so that's the one I'll settle on
 

r0wly86

Head Pro
Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Messages
1,312
Visit site
Toughie, when I think of a great condition course it makes me think that would trump design... until I imagine playing the poorer design every week
But then the great design isn't anywhere near as much fun as I want if it's clagy and rough n ready...

In the spirit of the thread I need to pick one so I'm going for........... design

Edit, no wait condition :p

Edit edit erm design ;)

Edit edit edit, damit condition :mad:

tough one isn't it. I haven't come to decision yet
 

Lord Tyrion

Money List Winner
Moderator
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
26,690
Location
Northumberland
Visit site
I think I agree with all answers so far o_O. Ultimately, I left my last course because of the condition. Not that it was a brilliant design to be fair, but a poor conditioned course grates very quickly.
 

Imurg

The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Joined
Mar 15, 2008
Messages
36,752
Location
Aylesbury Bucks
Visit site
I'm for the design...
I can live with a course being a bit rough around the edges if the design keeps my interest.
As a home course I need one that I'm happy to play almost every day....Got one...the greens are fantastic, the fairways fast etc etc but its an interesting design..
You can't just blast your driver down every hole. You can't always aim at the flag.
I would get bored, very quickly, playing a run of off the mill design even if it is in exceptional condition.
 

Orikoru

Tour Winner
Joined
Nov 1, 2016
Messages
25,163
Location
Watford
Visit site
I've played a fair few courses that I'm sure some would consider boring. You could have the most interesting layout in the world, but if the tee boxes are overgrown and the greens are too bobbly to roll a ball over, then there's not much point in playing it.

It depends how extreme we're talking though doesn't it. If boring means every par 4 is straight and the exact same length then you probably wouldn't want to play there. If the well-designed course is just a bit shabby rather than completely awful, then you might opt for that one. Ultimately my standards are not massively high in either respect. Design-wise, I just like the par threes to be of differing lengths really, and condition-wise, as long as I can get a half decent lie on the fairway and my putts actually roll, I'm all good.
 

jim8flog

Journeyman Pro
Joined
May 20, 2017
Messages
14,687
Location
Yeovil
Visit site
If you mean for week in week out play I go for design.


A course that is a bit rough round the edges can be easily improved but it highly unlikely that a bland course can be redesigned to make it better ( although I know of one course that managed to do this but only after buying some adjoining land).
 
D

Deleted member 23270

Guest
It would do my head in if I hit my approach shot to 6ft then my birdie putt bobbled off line every time.
 

D-S

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2020
Messages
2,976
Location
Bristol
Visit site
Augusta with long muddy, plugging fairways, tees where you can’t find anywhere to put yourpeg in and you’re standing unevenly due to all the divots and the greens are rock hard, bare and the ball bobbles everywhere with bunkers that have almost no sand in them versus your local pay and pay in Masters condition with pure green tight Augusta fairways, greens running true at 14, beautiful white sand perfectly raked bunkers with razor sharp edges and immaculate hand mown striped tee boxes.
I think I’d take the pay and play.
 

wjemather

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2020
Messages
3,010
Location
Bristol
Visit site
A good course never needs to be in immaculate condition; as long as it's playable, it will never be a bad course.
A bad course will always be a bad course; being in poor condition just makes it worse.
 

Backache

Assistant Pro
Joined
Jun 26, 2015
Messages
2,002
Visit site
Almost the only times I've been really dissapointed in a course has been when it has been in really poor condition. I've found the occassional course a bit bland even when the condition has been good but not really to the point of being fed up with it..
I would say there comes a point where really poor condition I find pretty unacceptable but I've never personally found a course where I have found the layout completely unacceptable .
Having said that above a certain level of presentation I am far more interested in the layout rather than whether or not the presentation is perfect.
 

The Fader

Newbie
Joined
Sep 12, 2017
Messages
325
Visit site
Great question!

On balance I would slightly favour condition over design.

My (and I suspect the majority of forum members) golf is inconsistent and where and how I hit my shots
from round to round can introduce enough daily variation to offset a more mundane design.

And I don't think I would ever get bored of perfect fairway lies, pristine bunkers, flat and well grasses tees and fast receptive greens.
 

SwingsitlikeHogan

Major Champion
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Messages
32,219
Visit site
Every course no matter how bland or repetitive requires me to hit shots to achieve an outcome - that for me is the whole essence of golf. I get my enjoyment from executing shots that deliver the outcome I wish - and that is unlikely to be the case if the course is in poor condition - especially around the greens. Great design but poor condition could see me getting very frustrated and irritated - so for me it is condition over design.
 

CountLippe

Active member
Joined
Jan 28, 2020
Messages
282
Visit site
Askernish in South Uist is a good example of this. Fantastic location and layout, yet rough around the edges.

Personally, as long as a course is cared for, I'd take design over condition.
 

Backsticks

Assistant Pro
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
3,675
Visit site
Easy. Condition.

A great design, in poor condition, still leaves an unsatisfactory experience. You are almost giving it credit for what it could be, rather than how really not so good it was to play.

A lesser design, in top shape, I find leaves me more with a satisfied - that was nice, I enjoyed it - feeling.

If its a greenfee round, poor condition always leaves the feeling that you didn't get value for money, or that the course is trading on reputation and not really providing the quality.
 
Last edited:
Top