St Andrew's 18th

[brgolf]

So I think St Andrew's final hole is a fantastic spectating experience as little can beat the excitement of such a long drive to the green and possible eagle or hole in one!

However it is much to my surprise that the players seem to be capable of reaching this 357 yard hole with a single drive. So many of them seem to get near the green and they can't all be the super long hitters.

What happened to the tour driving averages? How do they do it? I know the answer will be technique and skill and I was content to drive 240 + roll to boot knowing pros could get 290-300. But 357! What gives!?

If players are driving 290 on tour and step up to that hole and hit it out 357 my assumption is that their 'average' of 290+ represents just how much they have in reserve, a swing more for accuracy than distance.

[kafka01]

I was wondering that too - but there seems to be 2 factors influencing driving range (18 is not the only whole they can bomb it on)
- Wind (as i watched the final pairings they seemed to have wind from behind
- Those fairways make the ball run forever (even if they go in the light rough they seem to keep rolling a bit)

We were watching with a couple of guys in the clubhouse today, and we talked about how it is possible that they get such a huge run off the fairways, even when its wet. Must have something to do with the compactedness of the turf (underneath the grass) and what kind of turf it is. I just dont see any other explanation.

[jamo]

When they measure par 4's and 5's they don't measure straight from the tee to the pin, it is in increments especially on doglegs. Usually if you took a rangefinder to the tee and shot the flag, it would almost always be shorter than the indicated yardage.

Seeing aerial pictures of the 18th green/ 1st tee really makes me like it. I love how it is rectangular and boxed in by the town, I wish all of the holes looked that way, it's really cool.

[steelernation]

I agree I was wondering myself. All of the players hitting 357, Im assuming this distance is more likely 320 330 perhaps the green is deep or the tee is forward...I dont know...Hell Zach Johnson was 10 yards off the green!

[saevel25]

What happened to the tour driving averages? How do they do it? I know the answer will be technique and skill and I was content to drive 240 + roll to boot knowing pros could get 290-300. But 357! What gives!?

Note, that course never gets soft. they even said that the first hole is tough because it leaves you with half wedges, its the first hole and all lies are tight lies on that course. Second, there is a ton of wind that, especially going on the back nine were its a right to left wind, they can just draw the ball and add tons of yards or hit a cut and hold it up for more carry. Third, they are getting rediculus amount of roll.

So don't get all excited about those numbers, they get back to the states, on courses that are watered by sprinklers on fairways that are softer, the average will drop quickly.

[brgolf]

Note, that course never gets soft. they even said that the first hole is tough because it leaves you with half wedges, its the first hole and all lies are tight lies on that course. Second, there is a ton of wind that, especially going on the back nine were its a right to left wind, they can just draw the ball and add tons of yards or hit a cut and hold it up for more carry. Third, they are getting rediculus amount of roll.

That explains it really well.

[kennay92]

its a straight shot drive to the green, tons of wind pushing the ball, tons of roll, and has a 100yd wide fairway. So they can all give it all they got. Other courses on tour, little holes to none are like that. Also driving averages on tour on not always from driver, when they tee off with a wood, hybrid etc, that gets thrown into the average as well.

[2bGood]

Also the distance it to the center of the green, and the green is very big.

[te3point5]

i think with such a wide fairway, the tour players probably have a little more confidence to grip it and rip it, not worrying about missing a fairway.

most tour players dont swing at 100% for accuracy, at this hole they really get to let it fly.