2011 Canadian Open at Shaughnessy in British Columbia. Similar type of course and the organizers left a fair amount of rough. Everyone complained that the course was too hard and that these guys were not used to hitting balls out of thick rough and narrow fairways. Winning score was -4. I remembered Anthony Kim, who everyone regarded back then as one of the best ball strikers in the game, shot 81 in the second round.
Wolfcreek is a SOB – the Front Nine is torturous 🙁 – Wolfcreek lost events because it wasn't well kept – but new ownership has turned the course around!
That course Sahalee CC in Washington probably has the tightest holes in the world. I do love executing a single shot test like having to hit a low draw on one hole and a high fade on the next. However, the reason I love links golf is that it gives you options. Courses like Sahalee just feel like simulator golf. As far as the professional level, I think its the same. I would rather see a player that doesn't bomb it and think through shots rather than being asked to hit only one shot down a shoot.
Same here, I find wide open courses boring, less skill involved. I like Parkland courses, you get punished for hitting wides – as it should be, like the US Open used to be. Pinehurst looked a bit micky mouse, this years US Open at Oakmont was solid.
And you nailed it! It is expensive to clear the trees. Easy to cut down the trees. . .but getting rid of the stumps was tough. Dynamite got them out of the ground, but then you had to dispose of them.
Well Mr. Erickson! You are completely right! A course for pros…that thought came into my mind when I began 'playing' something resembling golf in the mid 1980's. We all knew that there were courses too tough for most players. When I was a member at Olympic (long time) I avoided the championship course because (before the great loss of trees and the recent remodel) it was really a test for fine golfers or for gamblers who used their handicaps cleverly to play poorly but win bets! Anyway, you made a great point. You have to not try to dominate – CANNOT dominate – a top course, either on the fairways or the greens or the clubhouse. Plus, I also noticed that sh*t golfers are properly uncomfortable at a fine course, not showing bad manners, poor dress and great disorientation. I too, dislike the quackery in today's golf, everyone is a teacher, the silliness of PhD's and their mystical formulae, the bang-and-roll play that is the golf equivalent of the NBA dunk. Only an experienced, top-notch golfer can appreciate how important it is to play a hole the way it must be played, making allowances for skill and experience. No shortcuts, no $700 drivers and $400 shafts, n o $500 putters, overpriced wedges which are scaled by half degrees, can replace a real appreciation for the challenge. Odd, I don't care one way or another for the man, a great golfer in his own modern way, but Rory McElroy is the face of bang and pitch. He didn't choose that, but his tee game sold a lot of drivers. Anytime the big money comes into anything (except baseball? -except for a little hiccup with PEDs) the promoters push the popular side of the game. My country club and public courses around here are empty at the putting practice area, almost empty at the short game area, and only the D1 boys and girls pound irons next to their trackman's (or is it Trackmen') to figure yardages. Thanks for your work and comments. VERY informative and well-thought out.
John you ever play Morningstar in Parksville ? Was a member there for a while. Played Uplands, Colwood, and Victoria club also. And the Ft Mcmurray club.
Love your comments John. I grew up in Toronto playing a muni course, Don Valley, in a parkland valley, trees and rivers everywhere. It terrified me, could never break 100 and would lose 10 or more balls. I still love those types of courses. Today I shoot around par. I was a member of a nice course called Summit, and a few years ago they took down over 400 trees; many of them to make the course easier. I say, if you want it easier, play another course or a different set of tee blocks.
Yes John, you're so out of touch. Expecting professional golfers to have complete control of the golf ball???? I'll never forget watching the PGA for the first time at the Honda Classic. My daughter was given free tickets. I watched from green side on I think the 9th hole. It was a steady one club wind blowing right to left , not gusty. I watched 7 and 8 iron approaches for about two hours and I remember thinking, "thank God I didn't pay for this honor to watch "the best" in the world". These guys just weren't that good, maybe three shots inside of 8 feet the entire time and the crowd cheering for anything in the 12 to 16 feet range, pretty sad. I had been watching much better control of the golf ball from my daughter for years. It would be funny if it wasn't sooo sad. We all know who the GOATs are. Keep on keeping on. Your "soapbox" is totally relevant.
16 Comments
2011 Canadian Open at Shaughnessy in British Columbia. Similar type of course and the organizers left a fair amount of rough. Everyone complained that the course was too hard and that these guys were not used to hitting balls out of thick rough and narrow fairways. Winning score was -4. I remembered Anthony Kim, who everyone regarded back then as one of the best ball strikers in the game, shot 81 in the second round.
Wolfcreek is a SOB – the Front Nine is torturous 🙁 – Wolfcreek lost events because it wasn't well kept – but new ownership has turned the course around!
Cutting down trees and widening fairways is idiotic. Can’t believe that’s the direction the pro game is going. The US Open at LACC was a disgrace
That course Sahalee CC in Washington probably has the tightest holes in the world. I do love executing a single shot test like having to hit a low draw on one hole and a high fade on the next. However, the reason I love links golf is that it gives you options. Courses like Sahalee just feel like simulator golf. As far as the professional level, I think its the same. I would rather see a player that doesn't bomb it and think through shots rather than being asked to hit only one shot down a shoot.
Same here, I find wide open courses boring, less skill involved. I like Parkland courses, you get punished for hitting wides – as it should be, like the US Open used to be. Pinehurst looked a bit micky mouse, this years US Open at Oakmont was solid.
Growing up in the Northwest with high school golf in 2nd half of the 70s, I miss those tree lined fairways. Fairways and holes were so well framed.
One sad thought embraced by the PGA, "Birdies sell."
And you nailed it! It is expensive to clear the trees. Easy to cut down the trees. . .but getting rid of the stumps was tough. Dynamite got them out of the ground, but then you had to dispose of them.
Bomb and gouge and no trees! Thats the pga.
Northwood in Monte Rio!
Well Mr. Erickson! You are completely right! A course for pros…that thought came into my mind when I began 'playing' something resembling golf in the mid 1980's. We all knew that there were courses too tough for most players. When I was a member at Olympic (long time) I avoided the championship course because (before the great loss of trees and the recent remodel) it was really a test for fine golfers or for gamblers who used their handicaps cleverly to play poorly but win bets! Anyway, you made a great point. You have to not try to dominate – CANNOT dominate – a top course, either on the fairways or the greens or the clubhouse. Plus, I also noticed that sh*t golfers are properly uncomfortable at a fine course, not showing bad manners, poor dress and great disorientation.
I too, dislike the quackery in today's golf, everyone is a teacher, the silliness of PhD's and their mystical formulae, the bang-and-roll play that is the golf equivalent of the NBA dunk. Only an experienced, top-notch golfer can appreciate how important it is to play a hole the way it must be played, making allowances for skill and experience. No shortcuts, no $700 drivers and $400 shafts, n o $500 putters, overpriced wedges which are scaled by half degrees, can replace a real appreciation for the challenge.
Odd, I don't care one way or another for the man, a great golfer in his own modern way, but Rory McElroy is the face of bang and pitch. He didn't choose that, but his tee game sold a lot of drivers. Anytime the big money comes into anything (except baseball? -except for a little hiccup with PEDs) the promoters push the popular side of the game. My country club and public courses around here are empty at the putting practice area, almost empty at the short game area, and only the D1 boys and girls pound irons next to their trackman's (or is it Trackmen') to figure yardages.
Thanks for your work and comments. VERY informative and well-thought out.
John did you ever tee it up w Guy Boros. Watched him up here 🍁 . Big man could move it around for sure. Played very well in Canada did Guy. 🏆
John you ever play Morningstar in Parksville ? Was a member there for a while. Played Uplands, Colwood, and Victoria club also. And the Ft Mcmurray club.
Love your comments John. I grew up in Toronto playing a muni course, Don Valley, in a parkland valley, trees and rivers everywhere. It terrified me, could never break 100 and would lose 10 or more balls. I still love those types of courses. Today I shoot around par. I was a member of a nice course called Summit, and a few years ago they took down over 400 trees; many of them to make the course easier. I say, if you want it easier, play another course or a different set of tee blocks.
Yes John, you're so out of touch. Expecting professional golfers to have complete control of the golf ball???? I'll never forget watching the PGA for the first time at the Honda Classic. My daughter was given free tickets. I watched from green side on I think the 9th hole. It was a steady one club wind blowing right to left , not gusty. I watched 7 and 8 iron approaches for about two hours and I remember thinking, "thank God I didn't pay for this honor to watch "the best" in the world". These guys just weren't that good, maybe three shots inside of 8 feet the entire time and the crowd cheering for anything in the 12 to 16 feet range, pretty sad. I had been watching much better control of the golf ball from my daughter for years. It would be funny if it wasn't sooo sad. We all know who the GOATs are. Keep on keeping on. Your "soapbox" is totally relevant.
Did you ever visit the alex olynyk golf school in Edmonton alberts