Irish Straits vs Whistling Straits

[Mark Brown]

I've had a couple people tell me they enjoyed Dye's Irish Straits more than Whistling Straits. Those who have played both, what do you think -- what does Irish Straits look like?

[SB]

I had the pleasure of playing both courses just after the PGA event last year.  I much prefer the Straits course to the Irish, although a couple in our group actually preferred the Irish.  Many on this site think the Straits course appears manufactured.  In my mind, the Irish course is 10 times more manufactured looking.  It basically takes flat land with NO features (at least the straits course has the lake) and makes it into a strange conglomeration of giant dunes, small dunes, and just regular american golf holes at the finish.  The holes themselves are interesting, but when you look at giant manufactured dunes to the left and rows of corn (?) to the right, it's a little wierd.

I loved the straits course, although I played exceptionally well that day  

[RJ_Daley]

SBusch says...

The holes themselves are interesting, but when you look at giant manufactured dunes to the left and rows of corn (?) to the right, it's a little wierd.

Yahtzee!!!  Mr. Busch, You hit that one right on the screws!

[grandwazo]

Played both after the PGA last year and will agree with Mr. Busch, the juxaposition of the design of the course against the surrounding cornfields was disconcerting, and the the water holes, both to start and finish the round also seemed out of place...that being said, a digital photo I took on the Irish has been my screen saver for the last two months, but it isn't of the golf course itself, but a view off one of the fairways and if I knew how to post photo's here I would bore you with it....Whistling Straits was more consistent in it's design, but to my eye, that consistency was part of the "problem" I had with the course, it just seemed extremely artificial....just too many bunkers and not at all natural.  That's just me, I know a lot of GCA'ers love the course...given the opportunity to go back...I would not make the trip.

[Matt Kardash]

no, i think most people on this course don't like the staits that much, and sorta hate the irish. but you have to understand, this website secretly hates pete dye, but very few people want to admit it.

I like pete dye, and i like the straits. Go me!