Most hated course design tricks

[iWALK18]

uneven tee boxes? I don't think this is a "design trick" but strikes me more as poor upkeep if there is no flat area to hit from. I don't want to hit a driver off a side-hill lie...

[r7 425]

a tree in the middle of the fairway

[seattlemudder]

Not a lot of mounds over here in Washington state. Personally, I don't like courses where there is a lot of slope on the fairways AND on the greens. If a designer is going to put a lot of slope on the fairway, then at least don't severely slope the greens. I don't mind when the greens have a slope but then don't put as much slope in the fairway.

My second peeve is when a par 4 has a severe dogleg 200 yards away from the tee with no way to cut the corner because of really tall trees. I've played holes like this in central Oregon and I don't like them at all.

[CPHoya]

1. "Collection areas" that spray any shot that lands anywhere near them directly out of bounds - generally only found on par 3s.

2. Stupidly excessive mounding.

3. 235+ yard par 3s - only the pros are picking targets at that distance; mortals are aiming at areas (ie: "the entire green and 10 yards left, too") from that far out.

4. Pete Dye. Seriously. I genuinely believe his courses to be garbage, with his absolute worst being the Barefoot Dye course in Myrtle.

[Lemay427]

1. Uneven tee boxes/Unkept tee boxes
2. British Open type 3 foot hay grass rough. I do not have cameras following the ball nor spectators watching for my ball. It makes it near impossible to find a ball that is 285 yards out. I know I shouldnt hit it there in the first place, but when speed of play is important maybe trimming it to a normal length would work.
3. Super side sloped fairways that will not keep a ball in the fairway.

[mikelz]

The Fazios in general and railroad ties in particular.

[x-forged]

my high school home course was actually a nice course but there was on hole with the biggest tiered green imaginable, and if you didn't get over that tier, the ball would sometimes roll off the MIDDLE of the green and into the water.

[r7 425]

my high school home course was actually a nice course but there was on hole with the biggest tiered green imaginable, and if you didn't get over that tier, the ball would sometimes roll off the MIDDLE of the green and into the water.

Thats like every hole at Oakmont except for the water part

[iacas]

Thats like every hole at Oakmont except for the water part

Very few of Oakmont's greens are "tiered." This much you know.

Oakmont's greens have dramatic (yet very subtly blended) contours, but "tiered," no. I don't despise tiers (or a lot of contour) if there's still a shot you can play which will be safe. Whether that's shaping the ball left or right, or high or low, or running the ball onto the green, or whatever - if there's a shot you can play, and particularly if there's enough of a bail-out area - I don't consider it a "trick."

[wolverine318]

I dont mind much as long as there is a way to play to it. I agree with whoever said the tree in the middle of the fairway, I think they are stupid. Someone said railroad ties, I dont get it, around here they are used for looks though, not any sort of trick. I dislike greens that arent receptive to any shot at all. More so when they put the pin in the unrealistic spot. Like on the slope between two tiers. Ok put it just on top or something, but not literally on it.

[XSup]

Anything built by the Dye's! Those guys must hate golfers. I hate blind tee shots (dangerous and make for slow play) and rolling mounds that Jack Nicklaus loves to put on everything. I think that Gary Player designs some pretty fair courses.

[Jack_2251]

I think course designers should be aloud to make any tricks they like, they just add to the concerntration needed and for you to hit a better shot

[AmenCorner]

I personally believe that you cannot please all of the people all of the time. I'd say the average golfer has a worse ego than course designers. Why? Because they insist on playing a course that allows them to score rather than be challenged. After playing golf for 21 years, I'm tired of playing bland courses that don't challenge me. Now, I'm playing the tips, all the time. Eventually, I think it will help me improve my game.

I have now played a total of 13 member-guest golf tournaments over the last few years. Every single time I have played, the "Tournament" tees end up being at or near the Senior tee box. What's up with that? Clearly the older or shorter hitting members are complaining enough to get their way. It is now to the point where I can rarely hit driver because I would face too much trouble. As a result, I cannot use my distance to my advantage. Not fair in my opinion.

Whoever says you have to score well to enjoy Golf is missing the point. It's a game far more challenging the other of our more primitive sports. I don't think designers should have to have a red carpet to the green on every hole. Rewarding someone for not being able to get the ball airborn is not a real challenge in my book. I enjoy novelty and creativity of designers. Not every hole is meant to be birdied, eagled, or reached in less than regulation. I remember a story about Ben Hogan chipping down to a lower tee box in a pro tourney because the hole was too long and windy. I don't remember him complaining. People said Shinnecock Hills was way too long for a short hitter to win, then Corey Pavin took home the title with a fairway metal approach on the Par-4 18th.

This is golf, enjoy the challenge and uniqueness of each and every golf course. Because in my eyes, they are all masterpieces.

If you would like conformity, there is always tennis and basketball.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I hate false fronts on greens..those things piss me off to no end..

[AmenCorner]

What would a "false front" be?

One thing I don't particularly care about are when courses have hazards that cross the fairway at unreasonable points. There is a course in Houston called Wildcat. On the Highlands course, there is one hole where you can only hit your drive 260 yards or so before you enter a ravine. So, usually one would play a 230 shot to avoid getting too close. Problem is, that shot leaves you like 190 yard blind uphill approach to the green. It's retarded. You don't see them that much, but it just seems to me that the tee shot is artifically shortened.

[DavidFehertysBike]

When a greens edge slopes away from the middle and towards the fairway, rough, or a collection area is what ive always called a false front. They decieve your depth perception and when you carry the ball onto one of those things you never stay on the green. I hate them.

[XSup]

Look at the old courses. No tricks, just using the land, prevailing winds and terrian. A course that you have to play a dozen times to figure out the stupid quirks is ridiculous. PD Dye has one in Va. "The Gauntlet". Zoysia fairways, pretty dumb idea up here. Wait until you get to 17 (?) . tee shot is a 7 iron down hill then a 6 back up. 15' off the front of the green and you cant see the putting surface. Now thats ego. And bland courses?? what 5or6 under makes you tired? You cant use your distance to your advantage? Since when? So 150 yards with a 9 iron is the same as some else hitting a 5 that far??

Leave that driver at home for a change...

[useless149149]

I just played Pacific Grove in Monterey. The greens are rock hard, and many of them are elevated, making it impossible to hold the greens. Then the fourth hole is a downhill downwind 270 yard par 4, but the eighth hole is a 425 yard par 4, upwind, and the 9th is an upwind 220 yard par 3, making the fourth hole play shorter than the 9th.