How I would have approached The Old Course.

I have been lucky and been able to watch nearly all The Open last week.

I feel disappointed that no one tackled the Course in such a way as to negate the wind. I think that most lost out by thinking that with all the rain the course would be soft so everything could be played in high.

When I used to prepare for the challenge of a course like The Old Course I would first wedge a coin into the slot on my Ping Anser Putter. This nulled the bounce effect and added weight. A strip of Lead Tape would go on my Ping MyDay today. A heavier putter is easier to control in high wind.

I would approach the Club guys and get an ordinary steel triple X shaft put intoa a 10.5* 400cc Driver head. I don't want a 'kick' in the shaft because I want to hit the ball with the back of my left hand and drive the ball in low. I will also put non kick shafts into my Irons. I would select Driver, 3wood, 1iron, 3-Wedge, SW, 60*w & Putter. I wouldn't need all my SW's because I will be trying to keep the ball on the ground more than take the high route.

I would plot the ways to get at flags, and map the down slopes.

My personal strength is that I can manufacture shots from 100yds in so will look to lay up inside 100yds. The guys last week were laying up leaving full shots which they played in high. A number had the wind knock the ball out of the air on the 1st and ended up in The Swilken Burn or short after laying up to make sure they couldn't reach the Burn on the right (255yds off the Tee).

So once again it is shown that Modern Technology has taken shot making out of the game. That is OK in normal conditions but the guys should not have struggled as much as they did on Friday, after all it was only a breeze for a Links Course.

Did I hear right, an big Irish Tournament getting the same bashing carried on when they were called off the course on Friday?

TheLyth

I would approach from the South Lyth as I would be coming from Cardiff Strange our little tourney at South Winchester wasn't called off either and it was blowing a bit there too!

My bag would be fine as is my putter has a 360gm head so heavy enough.

I can hit my irons as low or as high as desired,and I carry a 16* rescue extra siff shaft.

I can hit my driver very low also so no problem there ,i would probly limit my wedges to a 58* for the bukers + my 52*

Was Intresting to here your comments though lyth having played it as much as you have hope to get there myself one day.

We will have the same conditions at Saunton and Westward Ho, David, so you can put it all into practice.

Can't wait i love links , so much so my new club for 2011 will be P&K shame Marshall won't be joining me after all.

And this is why http://www.pandkgolfclub.co.uk/

As you know, David, one of my all time favourites. You will throughly enjoy your membership.

Very briefly leyo, how do you alter the trajectory of your irons?

Dave CAC handed Geordie.

Dave,this is my method.

Look low and finish low  (shorten follow through) ball a tad further back in stance, lower ball flght

Look high finish high ball a tad forward in stance, higher ball flight.

works for me.

There are other things i do but thats briefly

Interesting comment from Peter Alliss as three top players tried, unsuccessfully to play 3 wood, 250yd high draws into one of the par 5's with a 35 mph blustering cross-wind.

'I don't understand it, they're trying to play a modern game on an old course and the course is winning'

Sums it up really, especially when you see old heads like Clarke putting from 45 yards..... 

According to the stats only one person in the 4 days of competition missed the 1st fairway, although it doesn't say who.

Embarrassing enough for any reasonable hacker, but for a pro....  

Also I heard that a few Pro's have also knocked it OOB on the 1st, not sure when or who though!

I thought Casey seemed to go some way in adapting his game but then I suppose a lot was just the driving distance.

It was Oliver Wilson, He went in the burn on the first day.

According to his twitter:

'All done today. -4 68. Relatively pleased considering I won the prize for dumbest pro today. 1st tee shot in the burn, Say no more'

https://twitter.com/Oliver_Wilson/status/18603106132