Hoylake and true confesssions.....

[Adam Clayman]

Yup, I moved out!

Would anyone care to agree that perhaps the practice round conditions, of Tuesday and Wednesday, would've been optimal today?

[ForkaB]

I was there on Wednesday, Dama.  It wasn't significantly different than yesterday.  If anything, it was "easier."

[Kevin Pallier]

I loved every minute of watching the Open, however, I have a question for all and sundry.

Would you really want to play in conditions as presented this week, on a regular basis?

Bob,

I actually didn't enjoy the Open as much as I have in the past - the driver wasn't tested as much as it could have been at RL and the wind didn't get up as well which was disappointing.

I like a variety of conditions and felt it was too firm and fast so to answer your your Q - no.

[Doug Siebert]

Geez, I guess too many Americans are playing irrigated courses or live in areas with constant rainfall.  Am I the only one to play courses that weren't irrigated when I was a kid?  They were every bit as fast and firm as anything in the UK, believe me (except for the greens, those were usually hand watered to keep them alive)  I remember keeping broken tees since I couldn't get the regular size tee far enough in the ground on most teeboxes to be able to avoid undercutting my driver!

There's a local cow pasture course (that someone actually put on that pasturegolf web site) that I like to visit once or twice a year when it is extremely dry and fast -- its only irrigated on the greens, and I think it is hand watered at that.  It is a great workout for the short game and you really have to think about what you want to do if you are 50 or 60 yards away from a pushup green that's 35' in diameter and very soft, surrounded by concrete on all sides.  If you try to fly it onto that green you better strike your wedge very well off the hardpan, if you land short you may well bounce over the green on one hop, if you thin it and fly the green you will have the same shot all over again from 180* in the opposite direction!

I don't get why some think it would be too "mentally exhausting" to play a course that actually made you think for 18 holes, rather than playing simple target golf on an overwatered TV green golf course.  Isn't that what golf is all about?  If you just want to hit balls without having to think, why not try a driving range?

[Lloyd_Cole]

I don't get why some think it would be too "mentally exhausting" to play a course that actually made you think for 18 holes, rather than playing simple target golf on an overwatered TV green golf course.  Isn't that what golf is all about?  If you just want to hit balls without having to think, why not try a driving range?

Bravo

[ForkaB]

Doug

When I was hyperbolizing with the words "mental breakdown" I was thinking of great links courses tuned up to the point where the greens were stimping at 12-13 and the fairways at 8-9, and you had a card a pencil in your hand, and had to think well, strike the ball well and grind well on every single shot.

I don't think even Tiger would want to do that (or even could do that) every single day.  That's what Bob was getting at, I think.

Sure you could play fun golf on such a course, but after a while the fact that you were striking the ball well and shooting in the 90's would probably get to you.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

....you had a card a pencil in your hand....

There's the first problem right there.

[ForkaB]

Tommy

You need to retake Mucci 101.  Golf is a game which consists of trying to hit a small ball into a number of holes in the fewest strokes possible.  The fact that poofters such as Max Behr wasted their lives trying to convince themselves that it was a "sport" is tragic but irrelevant.

Attitudes like yours are what led to the "Mulligan" and the "gimmie" and "Wolf."  Not a distinguished heritage, my friend........

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Rich,
 I didn't expect you to understand it. and just to let you know, it just wasn't Behr who said it. So did MacKenzie, but what does he matter when compared to your vast knowledge and intelligence?

[ForkaB]

Tommy

I understand everything you say, even though I only believe a part of it!

As for MacKenzie, I know that he spoke of the "card and pencil mentality" but so what?  Last time I checked Wikipedia, he was not/is not a god.  Think for yourself, young man, and when you do, ask yourself why the Good Dr. spent so much of the latter part of his life with golf coaches and a card and pencil in his hand trying to get his handicap down into single figures.

Slainte

Rich