just like any other sport it takes practice. lots and lots of practice. I hit on average about 200 balls a week when weather permits, take my son out whenever I can just to hit balls. get him used to the swing on the range, so when he’s on the course you’re not thinking about what you have to do. brain just does the yardage calculations depending on elevation, lie, wind. club selection. then, repeat the process from the range.
used to be a 10 handicap. now a 15. just don’t have enough course time to get better.
Yeah, but if the hole requires only an 8 iron for your second on a normal drive then if you fucking crush it, like you know you can, then you might be close enough to land a sneaky 2 with a long put or clever chip. C’mon, take the driver. Imagine how cool it will be to hit the green in 1.
That is literally how I fucked up the easiest hole in my home course every time for probably 2 years, trying to hit the green when 3 wood, 9 iron left me with a birdie chance
as an example…if you play the whites for this course. A driver off the tee on at least 8 of the par4 holes meant I was looking at a narrower landing area and some kind of partial wedge shot into the green. Whereas hitting off the blues put me into a full wedge>8i off the fairway. For me, actually easier to play the blues or even blacks where my second shot will be 90-140y out. puts me into 54deg -9i range. I had to rent clubs there, fortunately the club pro had a few moments for me to discuss the course as I was playing it blind (and a bit hung over)
Great par five on the course I usually play, with the second shot the ultimate risk/reward. It needs a good tee shot, long drive, or it’s definitely three shots to the green.
If you can manage that, then the green is reachable with a fairway wood, or hybrid, depending on wind and conditions.
However, it needs a long carry, over water, then over sand across the front of the green, and then landing it on a shallow green front to back, but wide left to right.
Alternately, you can play the second shot with a mid ish iron for placement to the right of the lake, and hit a short iron or wedge in, for a very solid chance at a par every time, or an occasional birdie or bogey (the green slopes ferociously so a three putt is just as in play as a single putt).
I play off an 8, but I go for it every single time on this hole. Statistically it’s not the best move, but I have eagled it a few times, though many more times I’ve had to scramble the crap out of it to make par, or also throw up a bigger number. Ugh. Stupid, but I can’t help myself.
My rationale?
I don’t want to go home and tell my lad, “You should have seen the lay up your dad did today!”
Interesting.
Normally in competition by playing handicap goes up by one when the course handicap is calculated.
I’d be expecting at least 5 for this monster!
That’s just crazy length. In a way it might make it clear, as on normal courses if you can play ok you go for it, but that course would force you to play smarter and hit shots within yourself.
Depending on greens and terrain etc. I’d be looking to break 90 and then I’d want another go to see how close to 80 it could be. But I could be way off, as it looks like any score could be possible.
Rory looking like he’s made some major improvements to his wedge play.
His driving is in great shape.
I’m sure over the next week he’ll be working on his putting from 10-15’ range too.
I’m backing him big for The Open, shame his price is only 15/2
that putt he had to hit today, from a hole on the edge of the green it took two hops (on the green!) up the hill and turned 90deg left down into the hole. what a difficult course/conditions.
I very rarely (only if I have a bunker between me and the hole) use a lofted club from inside 60 yards.
Almost always a bump and run with a 6 iron.
I’m always mindful of a piece of Jack Nicklaus advice (not to me personally).
Visualise your best chip versus your worst putt from just off the green.
Works for me Jack.
maybe it’s due to the heavy amount of rainfall here, but most of the courses I play on locally have pedestal greens. it keeps the greens faster than the fairways but creates problems trying to play a bump and run.
Then you play a track like Pagoda Ridge and every fucking green on the course has a ridge running across it in some way. very difficult.
It’s a nice reminder that bunkers are supposed to be difficult! The way loads of tour players approach it is to bomb away, and if they land in the bunker, it doesn’t matter.
He was a bit greedy with his first shot, and ended up taking three to get out. Love to see it!
played yesterday, shot an 84 from the blues. 3 birdies was my best in a while but shocking number of failed chips from missed greens. just as many doubles. was 32’C at 10:15am, hot as balls.
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