LOL. I played this thing some 29 years ago (on my 40th birthday). Don't remember my index, but I was playing pretty well back then. I played great that day, broke 90 (barely) and only rinsed 3 balls. On a bad day? I'd probably would have hit 3 digits! Tough, tough course. There is no fairway on 18, just water.
"I always laugh when I hear about some mid- or even low-handicapper who wants to "play the whole course, all the way back, like the Tour pros do." It’s one of the biggest conceits in golf, because your average golfer, no matter how much they’ve watched the PGA Tour on television or followed the majors, has no real idea how good those guys are"
soooo why not encourage them to play the championship tees and find out? The only thing I hate about golf is this elitest attitude that like you shouldn't even think about doing certain things. If i pay $500 for TPC, I'm not going there to play half the course. I want to shoot a 120+ and see exactly how good the pros are. Isn't that the point?
You are right why pay that money and not play from the back tees even if you are 120 plus
Joe, what exactly does playing from completely inappropriate tees for one's skill set have to do with getting one's money's worth from a round of golf? If anything, by playing the tips when you shouldn't be, you're robbing yourself of that $500 because the sequence of shots you're playing, and clubs you're hitting, is probably completely different than what the pros are hitting. That's why shorter sets of tees exist: to allow non-pros to experience the golf course closer to the way pros do.
Joe, what exactly does playing from completely inappropriate tees for one's skill set have to do with getting one's money's worth from a round of golf? If anything, by playing the tips when you shouldn't be, you're robbing yourself of that $500 because the sequence of shots you're playing, and clubs you're hitting, is probably completely different than what the pros are hitting. That's why shorter sets of tees exist: to allow non-pros to experience the golf course closer to the way pros do.
Joe, what exactly does playing from completely inappropriate tees for one's skill set have to do with getting one's money's worth from a round of golf? If anything, by playing the tips when you shouldn't be, you're robbing yourself of that $500 because the sequence of shots you're playing, and clubs you're hitting, is probably completely different than what the pros are hitting. That's why shorter sets of tees exist: to allow non-pros to experience the golf course closer to the way pros do.
Didn’t play here but played chambers bay before the usga butchered it. I was about a 3 index at the time and had perfect weather. Played from about 1100 yards shorter than the pros played the us open at and shot 94. Unbelievable to think how much harder it would have been from the tips. I hit it pretty long and because of slopes in fairways their would have been numerous par 4s I wouldn’t have been able to reach. Those guys are so much better than the average joe.
I have played the stadium course over 10 times in different times of the year... when we play the am tour event in January,it is always the worst weather.... this year ,it was 41 degrees when we got off the course.... that being said ,the numbers are for 17th get inflated by a few people that struggle with that hole... in my threesome,we had a 3,a15, and a 20...... my advice- NEVER HIT FROM DROP AREA, always te-tee
My wife and I played it in March. She's a 20 handicap and played the forward tees. Needless to say she beat me by a stroke with a 95. My 12.8 index could not withstand the number of penalties. Carded a 5 on 17. Played the Dye course too and it was just as challenging. Absolutely beautiful setting!
Played Sawgrass 20+ Springs ago when I still had a semblance of game. I actually hit the ball well and still shot 100. Played the Valley course after lunch and eased in with an eighty ( mentioned for comparison). Stadium course plays long, tight, and with very few safe outs. I seemed to locate more water than you would imagine watching TV coverage. Toughest course I've played ( Cog # 4 is not to far behind).
Played the course in 1980 before it actually opened. No one on the course that day which was at the end of a one lane dirt road. The delay was because the Tour Players had a fit and said it was too hard. Anyway, it was tough! Green contours and forced carries were much more dramatic on this original version that very few people ever got to see. A herd of goats roamed the native areas. Never forget my first sight of #17. It was like Star Wars Golf as the world had never seen anything like it before. A new era of golf was born.
Playing the Stadium in January is just brutal. Difficult turf, cold and much wind is the norm. The stats of the January vs Sept point that out mostly. Either which way I have to agree though that the Ams have no idea really how good these guys are. Good stuff as usual Brad.
The stats on par 5's I found kind of interesting. I played Cog Hill #4 from the tourney tees last year. I currently carry a 7.7, as low as 3.9 at the end of last year, and shot 90 I was satisfied with. Where I struggled the most, though, was with the longer par 4's. While I can make up distance with a third mid/long iron on par 5's, I just don't have any answers for 460-480 par 4's. They are simply par 5's for me. This has been true of all of the longer courses I've played, so it's interesting to me that the stats seem to say am's have more trouble with the 5's.
Similarly, I've played the island green in Coeur d'Alene a couple times now (and participated in a closest to the pin contest where I hit three more shots) which, I think, is as intimidating as 17. However, ever that wasn't as tough a test, from a golf standpoint, as those long long par 4's.
Other than that, this all makes a lot of sense to me. Those guys are good.
Bogeyed it 2 times, par once double bogey once. This year 1st time in water. Hit drop zone shot to 3 feet then bogey. Senior Snead flight AM Tour.
Hey Rick, no one cares how you played. Especially your wife. She hates you but enjoys spending your money.
