Great Links Courses and the High Handicapper

[Brent Hutto]

Consider a list of well-known courses that visitors to Scotland are usually eager to play:

Royal Dornoch
Cruden Bay
North Berwick West Links
Carnoustie
The Old Course
Royal Troon
Turnberry

Do any of these courses stand out as particularly suitable for enjoyment by a long handiapper?

Just by reputation, I'd think an 18-handicapper would find Doroch or Carnoustie a bit frustrating even if there was no strong wind. Surely there are at least a few great courses (and I made no attempt to come up with an exhaustive list of great Scottish courses) that allow a less accomplished player to appreciate the strategic challenges of the course rather than struggling to keep a ball in play at all.

[James Edwards]

Brent,

Id initially add that Berwick may be frustrating too especially on the first few holes - sea significantly to the right on the openers, but I will add that they are must plays regardless of handicap...

[JakaB]

Brent,

As a duece de duece handicap yourself...what strategic challenges do you ever consider anywhere....even at my own vanity cinco I rarely try to do much more than keep the ball in play..hit a green and try to make a putt.....strategy is most often function of recovery...except for forced carries I just don't get what you are worried about..

[Paul_Daley]

Brent: when the wind is only half-active, it turns low markers into hackers, so don't worry too much about the handicap differentiation. If being "stripped naked" is not your idea of fun, perhaps give Carnoustie a miss.

To get to first base on your Scottish golf-architecture scholorship, it is advisable to play four links: The Old Course; Prestwick; North Berwick (West Links); and Cruden Bay. These are not necessarily the best four in Scotland, but are among the best and most significant. If time is on your side, you'll do no harm by playing the remaining ones you've listed.

Have a great trip!

[Brent Hutto]

As a duece de duece handicap yourself...what strategic challenges do you ever consider anywhere....even at my own vanity cinco I rarely try to do much more than keep the ball in play..hit a green and try to make a putt.....

Hey, after this weekend mine is duece de uno thank you very much ;-)

But to answer your question for most courses I've played "strategy" comes down to just two things. The less important of the two is off the tee. I try to play the fat part of the fairway and play away from hazards and whatnot. But that's really just as you say "keep the ball in play".

The only real strategic challenge is figuring out how to avoid shortsiding or otherwise giving myself a difficult shot if/when I miss the green. So let's say it's a course with small greens, big front to back slope and you just can't afford to be playing from over the green. In that case on many holes I'll choose to play for the front of the green and when I inevitably miss short it's a simple uphill chip. Some other courses have all the trouble in front of the green and the classic high-handicapper advice of always taking one more club than you think you need is best.

One difficult kind of judgement required at my level is deciding when to lay up even when I think I can reach the green. On long Par 4's it sometimes makes sense to try and hit a 3-wood at least near the green because a layup to 80 yards (my favorite wedge distance) is a narrow part of the fairway or perhaps is on a sidehill or something like that. Sometimes when I play a course for the first time I default to laying up to 80 yards whenever I have more than 190 or so to reach the green. Occasionally when I get to the green I realize that wasn't the best shot and I could have run the ball up onto the green with less potential trouble in play than there was for the layup.

So I can't really choose angles of play for the approach by hitting the right part of the fairway off the tee and I can't make choices like cutting or drawing the ball to counter a breeze. But the closer I get to the green I do find that some options start arising if I want to do better than just hit it hard and hope it lands in the middle of the green.

The only remotely links-like golf courses I've ever played are Pine Needles and Mid-Pines where at least there's a ground game as an option. In just my three rounds at those courses this past winter it was clear to me that aiming for the flag was seldom my best option and that even aiming for the middle of the green could leave some tough putts or even bounce off into a bunker. I assume a real links course would offer similar challenges farther back toward the fairway and tee, no?

[Brent Hutto]

Brent: when the wind is only half-active, it turns low markers into hackers, so don't worry too much about the handicap differentiation. If being "stripped naked" is not your idea of fun, perhaps give Carnoustie a miss.

It's not so much my play relative to better players but just the possibility of having to pick up too often to experience the entire course. So as John mentioned there's the issue of forced carries that a short-hitter might not be able to execute into a breeze. But there's also the whole looking for balls in the rough thing. For instance, I'd imagine the Old Course might not be too frustrating at least on the holes you avoid the bunkers. A bad tee shot might leave a playable recovery and a bad approach shot might mean three-putting from 100 feet or a killer chipping challenge but it doesn't seem as likely to produce a dozen holes where you lose two balls and just pick up and move on.

So I guess I'm really asking about the kind of courses where a bad shot means one more stroke on the scorecard plus potentially a harder next shot. As a high-handicapper myself it seems the courses to avoid are the ones that present more than the occasional "execute the shot or it's out of play altogether" challenge. I'm making an assumption that the better players expect more do-or-die type challenges but maybe that's a false dichotomy.

[A_Clay_Man]

Brent- From this statement:

the kind of courses where a bad shot means one more stroke on the scorecard plus potentially a harder next shot. As a high-handicapper myself it seems the courses to avoid are the ones that present more than the occasional "execute the shot or it's out of play altogether" challenge.

One could surmise that "links" courses will be the least of your worries.

The penal nature of most of what's been passed off as golf, for some, isn't.

[JakaB]

Brent,

Thanks guy...that was some insightful insight into the mind of a long handicapper that must win a ton of bets...Now that I'm setting up as many bets as possible at Cuscowilla...I'll take you plus 17 shots against Huck all day long..

[Brent Hutto]

John, I hope you're not having too much fun at my expense but then I guess I'm asking for it...

In truth, I do OK in matches where I'm getting anything close to full strokes. Probably 8-10 shots of my handicap is due to shots that just don't advance the ball very far if at all. I seldom have a round without one or two strings of multiple topped or duffed shots in a row. The thing is, these tend to lead to back to back eights on a couple of Par 3's or Par 4's and then I'm back to making pars and bogies for a while just hitting it 200 yards down the middle and scraping it somewhere around the green with my approach. In match play those snowmen (or worse) are no big deal, just a couple holes I lose by multiple strokes.

The other 10+ strokes come from lack of distance (210 yard driver, 150 yard 5-iron) and being a very inconsistent chipper, especially in rough. OTOH, I'm pretty good at getting down in two or three strokes every time if I lay up to 70, 80 or 90 yards in the fairway on long holes. That's the pars that really take the wind out of a low-handicap opponent when I'm getting a stroke on 400 yard Par 4.

I also find that tougher courses are to my advantage as long as there aren't long forced carries. Even with strokes I can't beat a bunch of birdies on an easy course but sometimes I can scrape out a bogey-net-par on a tough hole and get a win if the low-marker screws up and doesn't get his par.

[johnk]

I can't make it to Cuscowilla, but some free advice based on
the experience at Painswick:

It's really, really a lot of fun to play without any strokes.  If you
have a bunch of people at C-willa, you should be able to match
up teams and games so that people don't have to give/get
any strokes.

If you don't try it, you'll never know what you're missing.  Well actually, I'll tell you one thing you'll miss: grumping and excuse-making about each other's handicaps...  (altho that's not always bad as it invariably generates fodder for threads.)

[Bill_McBride]

Playing links courses is so much fun that even if you're not playing too well, the shots are just so interesting that you'll have a good time.

A course I can highly recommend as a fun links course is the ancient Balcomie Links at Crail, about 20 miles south of St Andrews, with a series of holes along the cliffs high above the sea.  The ocean is in view on every hole.  There are some easy holes, there are a few very difficult holes.  But it's all there in front of you and the turf is firm.  The second course at Crail is Gil Hanse's Craighead, built recently but with a number of great links elements.  You drive over a wall at least twice, and hopefully make it!     36 at Crail on those two fine courses with a nice lunch in between is a really good day.   The day wont' break the bank either, I think it was 60 pounds for a day ticket.

[JohnV]

In 1995 my ex-wife played the first 5 you mentioned as a 28 handicap and had no real problems playing or enjoying any of them.  She played fast (learned that from me) and we just went out and did it.  She also played Prestwick, Machrihanish, Southerness and 17 courses in Ireland two years later.  Links courses are much easier and less frustrating for high handicappers to play than the typical Florida resort as they don't have to worry about water hazards everywhere.

[Brent Hutto]

It's really, really a lot of fun to play without any strokes.  If you have a bunch of people at C-willa, you should be able to match up teams and games so that people don't have to give/get any strokes.

I think Bill is aiming for that arrangement. I'm probably the only one who is unmatchable for handicap and it may be that I can just play the mixed tees in lieu of strokes in my singles match. It is also my unshakable determination to get my index under 20 by that point in time.

[Brent Hutto]

A course I can highly recommend as a fun links course is the ancient Balcomie Links at Crail, about 20 miles south of St Andrews, with a series of holes along the cliffs high above the sea.  The ocean is in view on every hole.  There are some easy holes, there are a few very difficult holes.  But it's all there in front of you and the turf is firm.

Some friends of mine did a Scotland trip a few months ago and played a round Crail Balcomie. I think one guy parred all one-shot holes that day so it's probably his favorite course in the world now...

[Bill_McBride]

There are seven one shotters at the Balcomie, and you would be a high class player if you parrred all 7.  #4 is 175 slightly downhill, cliff off to your right.  #6 is 220 pretty level, big green with opening in front.  #13 is incredible, it's 215 straight up hill over a cliff to a blind green that is quite wide.  #14 follows immediately with a nice 155 yd drop shot with the boathouse right behind.  #16 is a stout 165 uphill with a world of gorse-death left and fronting bunker. #18 is 230 yds which is very reminiscent of the 18th at North Berwick except it's more level and it's a par 3!  That's only six so I've left one out, I'll probably remember it about 3 a.m.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

The main problem may be getting on to courses which demand a handicap of less than 16, 18 or whatever.  However, if you are denied access to TOC because your handicap is apparently too high, just watch the visitors for a few moments and you'll see many who have clearly falsified the documents or spun a yarn of unbelievable proportions.  TOC has little in the way of forced carries from the yellow tees, which most visitors must play from.  That's even true of Royal Troon if you stick to the visitors' tees, ditto Dornoch.  The main troubles lie to the side - a slice or a hook is readily lost, not only in gorse but also in seemingly innocent rough.  You may be in full view of the public on Nos 1 and 18, but everywhere else on the course you are free to make as much of a hash of it as you like and nobody will see and nobody will care (with the exception of hacking up other people's fairways on the parallel holes of TOC).  

Ideally, see if you can join a group of locals.  In social golf they rarely play strokeplay, and there is a particular game in which someone is in The Chair which is a bit like a skins game without the financial risk.  It is quite possible never to win a hole over the first 17, yet stand on the 18th green and find yourself putting to victory and posession of The Chair.

[Brent Hutto]

The main problem may be getting on to courses which demand a handicap of less than 16, 18 or whatever.

I don't think I'll be making a trip like this any time before getting my handicap lower, surely 18 at worst. Few courses seem to be more picky than that at least on weekdays.

Ideally, see if you can join a group of locals.  In social golf they rarely play strokeplay, and there is a particular game in which someone is in The Chair which is a bit like a skins game without the financial risk.  It is quite possible never to win a hole over the first 17, yet stand on the 18th green and find yourself putting to victory and posession of The Chair.

If/when I ever go to Scotland finding ways to play with locals isntead of other tourists would be a big priority. It would hardly seem like experiencing Scotland if I spent the whole time in the company of yardage book carrying, medal score keeping heathens.

[George Pazin]

I'm sorry I won't be making it down to Cuscowilla, as we'd probably be fine playing each other without strokes. I'm a little longer, but probably a lot wilder.

I completely understand your point about being in your pocket on too many holes. That's the reason I don't think courses like Black Mesa are good for high handicappers (though apparently there's low handicappers on board that think I just don't know how to get around a golf course). Conversely, there are harder courses to score on that I'd prefer, because I wouldn't constantly be trying to figure out where my drop is!

Heck, I'd think a lot of high handicappers might enjoy links courses more than low handicappers, because there is no expectation of low scoring. That, and we're used to playing from weird places.

[Bill_McBride]

George, the point about you and me playing Black Mesa and having fun is that it doesn't matter if we pick up out of the gravel a couple of times!  Dr MacKenzie lamented the "scorecard and pencil" mentality; I heartily concur!  I love playing match play.  The last time I played medal play (which I signed up for thinking it was going to best ball, turned out to be two medal scores added together), I had a 10 on #13 when I could't stay out of the fronting pond!  So I avoid that format these days and have fun anyway!

[Tim_Weiman]

Brent:

I've had the experience of playing with a man who never broke 100 on any golf course until he shot 91 at Prestwick. He shot nowhere near that at Turnberry, Royal Troon or Western Gailes, but for a few hours he had the time of his life!

[Brent Hutto]

...for a few hours he had the time of his life!

They would have had to dig a hole right behind the clubhouse and bury me because at that point I'd be dead of a stroke. Great story!

[Doug Siebert]

Brent,

Sounds like you just want to think twice about playing the courses where it is more likely you might hit a ball into an unplayable area or one where you'll lose it.  While you might have to use a hand wedge to free yourself from some of the pot bunkers at TOC if you aren't a pretty decent sand player able to hit it nearly straight up, its pretty hard to lose a ball there if you stay away from the occasional gorse bush.  Same is true at North Berwick, except also stay out of the sea on #1 and #2.

On the other hand, Carnoustie and Prestwick could be pretty nasty for you, especially if the wind is up.  Though the story about the guy who shot 91 there but couldn't break 100 on Turnberry, Troon or Western Gailes makes me kind of laugh since last time I was there I shot 102 at Prestwick, sandwiched in between a 76 in the wind at Turnberry and a 76 at North Berwick.  Some courses just got your number (I had 95 the other time I played Prestwick, again sandwiched between two good rounds)

Now if you don't get too hung up about playing by the rules when you hit it into 2 foot deep grass you can't escape from and taking the full five minutes to look for balls, you can probably keep up pretty much anywhere over there.  Your lack of length shouldn't be an issue, you'll get plenty of roll over there if you can find the fairway.  I was there with my dad in 2001 and for him a 210 yard drive is a bomb only possible downhill or downwind unless he's on the hard links fairways.

[Sean Walsh]

I would say that the most lenient on a wayward shot for me a 20 handicapper were TOC, Crail (Balcomie), Brora (If you're going to get to Dornoch get to Brora as well) and Kingsbarns.

Crail and Brora are both very sparse with regards to rough and very good courses.  They are also the 2 courses where I had the best reception from the locals.  This is not to say the rest of the Scots were bad just that the members of Crail and Brora were incredibly good.

TOC and Kingsbarns probably provide the widest fairways I played.  And if you happen to end up in the bunkers then that is all part of the fun.  I took 4 shots getting out of Hell just for the pure enjoyment of trying.  

All of these courses also have some very good short fours that I for one enjoy.

Crail has a great assortment of par 3's (6).  I think the other one shotter referred to may be the short par 4 7th which is reachable
.