I think
setup
is more important than design. The avg golfer is lucky to break 100. The avg good golfer who actually tracks their handicap is 15. So why "Bubba proof" the course? My home course is a prime example of a pretty good design with terrible set up. They watch the PGA and say I want our greens to run that fast... So they bought an expensive new roller and stopped watering. They're concrete right now. Seriously you might as well put a flag in the parking lot. I'd be surprised if our pro could break 80 on his own course. They stopped cutting the rough too...thanks. I flew one 270 about 5 yds off the fairway and it didn't even bounce... It just buried. It took me 10 mins to find it. It was a miracle to break 90. I'm a good player and I live a block from 17 tee box, but they're taking the fun out of it. The PGA players were lying when they said it was fun not breaking par at Merion. Everyone loves making birdies and hacks like us should be happy with birdie chanses. Scrambling for bogie or double every hole sucks. It also turns away young players... I mean who wants to take 5 hrs looking for balls and 3 or 4 putting everything?