An interesting question.

This is mainly for the people who have played on a number of different courses.

I was discussing The Old Course and the upcoming Open Championship.

Taking into account your Hcp, how many courses have you found to be rather easy to play to it, but very difficult to better it.

The reason I ask is because to me The Old Course is easy to play when targeting a mid seventy round but if you start to attack it, you can end up with a plus eighty score. Some of the other courses I have played don't give me that feeling.

I feel that anyone could enjoy the experience of playing The Old Course but many would struggle to enjoy places like Lindrick, Ganton and others like them.

TheLyth

Ironically Lyth , I struggle sometimes to play to my hcp at my home clubs which i'm a member of two ,but can mostly play better at others especially matchplay

all in the head i know and would agree with.

Thats interesting Dave.

I have a saying, "** is the worst I can take round here" which means that I will shoot that score without having to play well. I can't see myself shooting higher.

Dave, you are a Hcp where I presume you have parred every hole on your "home" courses. Also you shouldn't take more than a bogey on any hole so do you struggle when you try and make Par on a hole you normally Bogey. This is what we were talking about at St Andrews. If you put the Tee-shot in a safe area and aim at the Green and not the flag. Keep out of the bunkers and keep 3putts to a minimum, The Old Course is not that hard. But take the direct routes, aim at the flags and get upset at three stabs and 80's & 90's will be achieved.

TheLyth

That's what good course design is all about. Cavendish is like that, designed by McKenzie it's an old course not to long so if you play it conservativly pretty easy to get a half decent score. If you go at it you bring all the pot bunkers etc into play and your score could rocket.

That was McKenzie's philosiphy making it a challange for all handicapps and of intrest to all abilities. My home course is a killer real tough and absolutly demoralising for high handicappers but Cavendish is enjoyable for all standards as the better you get the more of a challange it is.

Gary,

That is where I think a lot of US courses fail. Everything has to be carried over something to get to the Greens, there is no 'other way' in.

TheLyth

I don't necesarlily think where I play is a bad design I think it's a good design, it's difficult because hazards are in strategic locations water and scrub land is used well to ensure you have to get good carry off the tee's but this does all mean if your out of nick you are getting a bad score and it can mean you can play pretty well and still get a bad score. It's not what you would call a fair test.

The difference is to be a great design means you can play badly and still enjoy it without raking up 3 figures but on the same course you can't play badly and get a good score. To get a good score you have to play exceptionally well and that is a fair test of golf bad players are not demorallised and good players have the opertunity to score without it being far to easy.