2022 British Open at St. Andrews

[Beastie]

46 minutes ago, RFKFREAK said:

Do you live in Europe?

I live in the North of England, but grew up in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. About 75mins drive from St Andrews

[RFKFREAK]

49 minutes ago, Beastie said:

I live in the North of England, but grew up in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. About 75mins drive from St Andrews

Nice!  Get some good pics and post them!

[Shindig]

Edit nevermind, I thought the comment I was responding to hadn't been answered but it looks like there's another page.  My mistake, sorry

Edited July 13, 2022 by Shindig

[colin007]

How different does this course look in person? For someone like me who is somewhat underwhelmed by how it looks on TV and can't quite understand why people call this their favorite course in the world.

[woodzie264]

16 minutes ago, colin007 said:

How different does this course look in person? For someone like me who is somewhat underwhelmed by how it looks on TV and can't quite understand why people call this their favorite course in the world.

Not to sound sac religious, while I really appreciated playing there from the history standpoint (and will always treasure the memories from playing my bucket list course), the course itself  was not impressive. I can tell you that the fairways were faster than some of the greens I’ve played at other courses and so that hype is real. But, to be fair to the course, as you know, the better a player is, the more they can appreciate the smaller details/intricacies than a 25HCP might.  In other words, I’m not good enough to appreciate many things about the course that others would.  
 

All that said, I was simply answering the question you asked. My feelings about plying there was a different story altogether…it was awesome for me (a guy who plays 2-3 times/month) to be able to play that course and I loved every minute of it. 

[colin007]

3 hours ago, woodzie264 said:

Not to sound sac religious, while I really appreciated playing there from the history standpoint (and will always treasure the memories from playing my bucket list course), the course itself  was not impressive. I can tell you that the fairways were faster than some of the greens I’ve played at other courses and so that hype is real. But, to be fair to the course, as you know, the better a player is, the more they can appreciate the smaller details/intricacies than a 25HCP might.  In other words, I’m not good enough to appreciate many things about the course that others would.  
 

All that said, I was simply answering the question you asked. My feelings about plying there was a different story altogether…it was awesome for me (a guy who plays 2-3 times/month) to be able to play that course and I loved every minute of it. 

Thanks m8

I just feel like I would be standing on every tee wondering where the heck the hole is?

[Vinsk]

2 minutes ago, colin007 said:

Thanks m8

I just feel like I would be standing on every tee wondering where the heck the hole is?

We wouldn’t be driving that direction anyways….lol.

[iacas]

4 hours ago, colin007 said:

How different does this course look in person? For someone like me who is somewhat underwhelmed by how it looks on TV and can't quite understand why people call this their favorite course in the world.

It's not about how it looks. It's about how it plays.

[woodzie264]

36 minutes ago, colin007 said:

Thanks m8

I just feel like I would be standing on every tee wondering where the heck the hole is?

That’s why you use the caddies

[RFKFREAK]

13 minutes ago, iacas said:

It's not about how it looks. It's about how it plays.

My guess is it plays difficult 😂

[Zeph]

10 minutes ago, iacas said:

It's not about how it looks. It's about how it plays.

How do you think it plays for mid and high handicappers compared to more ordinary courses that most play on? For starters, it’s links, which isn’t what most play on a regular basis. I can imagine a lot of frustration with balls that never stop and bunkers taller than yourself.

St. Andrews is of course special in ways that goes beyond the actual course design, which may be difficult to untangle from the actual course when passing judgment. How it would be percieved if it wasn’t historic, known as the oldest course and site of major championships.

An important reason for why it’s good spectator entertainment is that is plays different from most courses the pros play. You see shots on courses like St. Andrews that you normally never see.

[Shindig]

1 hour ago, colin007 said:

I just feel like I would be standing on every tee wondering where the heck the hole is?

As if most of us haven't had that feeling on other courses too  

[iacas]

56 minutes ago, Zeph said:

How do you think it plays for mid and high handicappers compared to more ordinary courses that most play on? For starters, it’s links, which isn’t what most play on a regular basis. I can imagine a lot of frustration with balls that never stop and bunkers taller than yourself.

Some parts are easier. Wide fairways, big greens… etc.

Some are more difficult. The turf is tighter, you have to play more imaginative shots, etc.

[Beastie]

 

2 hours ago, Zeph said:

How do you think it plays for mid and high handicappers compared to more ordinary courses that most play on? For starters, it’s links, which isn’t what most play on a regular basis. I can imagine a lot of frustration with balls that never stop and bunkers taller than yourself.

St. Andrews is of course special in ways that goes beyond the actual course design, which may be difficult to untangle from the actual course when passing judgment. How it would be percieved if it wasn’t historic, known as the oldest course and site of major championships.

An important reason for why it’s good spectator entertainment is that is plays different from most courses the pros play. You see shots on courses like St. Andrews that you normally never see.

It’s been dry and hot (relatively)the last few weeks. The course is gonna be very firm, and the rough looks pretty decent. A mid cap player with no links experience would probably get destroyed the first time they played the Old Course. So many hanging lies on the fairways, the fiery bounces and tight lies mean playing over obstacles is very tricky. This is one course where playing approaches to the right parts of the greens is important, and the pot bunkers at St Andrew’s are horribly deep. The amount of borrow on chips and pitches is pretty savage. 

On the plus side, on half the course you can tee it up and just blaze away. Unless you are my old man- he went OB on the first hole- on the other side of 18. 

Just now, Beastie said:

 

It’s been dry and hot (relatively)the last few weeks. The course is gonna be very firm, and the rough looks pretty decent. A mid cap player with no links experience would probably get destroyed the first time they played the Old Course. So many hanging lies on the fairways, the fiery bounces and tight lies mean playing over obstacles is very tricky. This is one course where playing approaches to the right parts of the greens is important, and the pot bunkers at St Andrew’s are horribly deep. The amount of borrow on chips and pitches is pretty savage. 

On the plus side, on half the course you can tee it up and just blaze away. Unless you are my old man- he went OB on the first hole- on the other side of 18. 

Visually it’s pretty nondescript- it’s so flat.
 

For any US Sandtrappers, if you come to Scotland you should definitely try to play the Old Course, there is nowhere else quite like it. 

[colin007]

2 hours ago, Zeph said:

St. Andrews is of course special in ways that goes beyond the actual course design, which may be difficult to untangle from the actual course when passing judgment. How it would be percieved if it wasn’t historic, known as the oldest course and site of major championships.

 

Thank you, you summed up perfectly what I didn't realize I was trying to express - what would we think of it was just another links course in Scotland

[Beastie]

Course is looking good this morning - fairways like lightning, greens a bit slow. The rough’s up but wispy so playable. No wind. On the minus side Poulter has just holed a 50 yard eagle putt to go top🤮

Edited July 14, 2022 by Beastie

[Zeph]

Who dressed up Justin Thomas today? Jeez… 🙈

[Beastie]

8 minutes ago, Zeph said:

Who dressed up Justin Thomas today? Jeez… 🙈

He forgot to pack his socks.