YOUR choice of a Ryder or President's Cup site

[PThomas]

you've been apppointed as the person who gets to pick the next site for the Ryder or President's Cup site...depending where you reside determines which site you can pick...e.g., I live in America, so I cannot pick a European or overseas Pres. cup site

  and you have to be realistic re the length of the course...so no 6000 yard venues allowed for example

but politics and money/bribery issues are NOT an issue

so your choice is.......

[Garland Bayley]

If the US Open can have an Open Doctor, then why can't the President's cub have the President's Physician. Then hire a MacKenzie expert like TD to restore something like the Jockey Club for a site.

Or take it to Australia to play a classic there after a Physician has applied his restorative powers to make it suitable, but in sync with the original.

[A.G._Crockett]

I'll go for the easy, obvious answer and take Augusta National.  Watching match play there, especially on 12-16, would be a treat.

[Steve Burrows]

We (the Americans) haven't had too much success of late taking the Ryder Cup to our "Open" courses, so perhaps we need to go to a place where we think that we can go low, where we can simply make more birdies that the Europeans, or at least a place that is more conducive to birdies.

The TPC of Scottsdale, for example, comes to mind.  It's not flashy, but Americans rack up birdies and victories there.  Match play shouldn't change that too much, and may appeal better to our tendencies to go at every flag.

[Mark Pearce]

We (the Americans) haven't had too much success of late taking the Ryder Cup to our "Open" courses, so perhaps we need to go to a place where we think that we can go low, where we can simply make more birdies that the Europeans, or at least a place that is more conducive to birdies.

The TPC of Scottsdale, for example, comes to mind.  It's not flashy, but Americans rack up birdies and victories there.  Match play shouldn't change that too much, and may appeal better to our tendencies to go at every flag.

Isn't that the irony?  In the US the Ryder Cup tends to be played at established, rather more traditional and strategic courses which might suit the European team.  Over here, we go to the Belfry or the K Club, soft "target" golf courses with lots of water more like the courses used week in week out on the US Tour.

I know the above is a huge generalisation but it is, I believe, generally true.

Where would I take the Ryder Cup?  Back to Ganton.  Or maybe Alwoodley (if it could accomodate the crowds - it's certainly accesible).  Or, of course, a great links - Muirfield, Carnoustie (tight games geting to 16, 17 and 18 would really be fun) or the daddy of them all, TOC.

[Greg Tallman]

I too would have to say Augusta...

13 and 15 would be great theatre particularly in the two man events.

EX:
Furyk lays up on 15 and Tiger goes for it... hits it in the water while the other team has a ball 30-40 feet for eagle... Pin cut close to front... What does Furyk do... assume the other team will make 4 and risk the water with a cute wedge or play safe and force them to execute with the flat stick while leaving an outside chance at birdie.

Great course for strategy in the BB and Alt Shot formats.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I am with Greg. I would love Augusta as a Ryder Cup site. I would like Pebble as well. I understand these are not that creative but I think they are great venues.

[Phil_the_Author]

Bethpage Black

[Tony_Muldoon]

Ryder cup is now always in September. So even Augusta couldn't bid enough money to get it moved to another month?

[Tim Gavrich]

A fully restored Yale would be neat.  I think that it would even the field out by making length off the tee irrelevant on all but a few holes.  Might be a little TOO short, though.

An easier setup of Pinehurst No. 2 would be fun to watch.  I don't know what it was like in the 70s when the Cup was contested there.

Newport would be neat if F&F could be assured.

[RJ_Daley]

What about Sebonack or Friars Head?  It seems to me that Long Island in Sept., is one of the great settings for the event.  I like the above suggestion of Newport as well.  I think the water side courses are best.  Of course we had Kiawah and they are hyping Whistling Straits for a future Ryder.  

[Scott Coan]

As the K Club has proven, it's all about who's going to show the respective owners of the events the MONEY.

Here's hoping Julian Robertson digs into his deep pockets to provide Fichem and Co. a few million reasons to hold the 2011 President's Cup at Cape Kidnappers.  I cannot think of a more spectacular site to hold a match play event.

Heading out for a couple of rounds this weekend and cannot wait!

[Tom_Doak]

Of course, this is all hypothetical since the only criterion for being selected as a Ryder Cup site is $$$$$, not the merits of the golf course.

But I'd pay to see a Ryder Cup someplace like Prestwick or St. Andrews.

[RJ_Daley]

given the RC is contested in Sept., isn't it wise to have the event on a cool season turf site?  I know Kiawah and Pinehurst had it.  But ideally, isn't overseeding season considerations or end of summer Bermuda sort of a chore to get in great shape?

[John_Conley]

Hazeltine.

Oh, you mean after they hold it.

How about Kapalua Plantation.

[ForkaB]

TPC--Scotsdale

I'd love to see the Euros try to keep their nerve on the 16th with 50,000 drunken fans sitting in the stands baying for the blood of Englishmen.......that is if they hadn't burst into flames before then in the 110 degree heat of Arizona in September.

[Eric Franzen]

I'll second Doak on that it would be great to see Ryder Cup at The Old Course. 17th and 18th would provide some interesting drama for tight matches during the singles.

[Jim Nugent]

President's Cup choices:  Sand Dunes and Cape Kidnappers

Ryder Cup choices:  Royal County Down and NGLA

[Ally Mcintosh]

i'm with prestwick also for the sheer fun of it... and i like the idea of matchplay finishes on the final few holes of carnoustie and the old course

[Martin Del Vecchio]

Augusta would be my #1 choice.

The TPC Stadium Course would be my #2.

[Jim Nugent]

As the K Club has proven, it's all about who's going to show the respective owners of the events the MONEY.

Here's hoping Julian Robertson digs into his deep pockets to provide Fichem and Co. a few million reasons to hold the 2011 President's Cup at Cape Kidnappers.  I cannot think of a more spectacular site to hold a match play event.

Heading out for a couple of rounds this weekend and cannot wait!

Scott - are you going to take your camera?  Post pictures and report?  

[Sean Leary]

President's Cup choices:  Sand Dunes and Cape Kidnappers

Ryder Cup choices:  Royal County Down and NGLA

Sand Dunes ?  

Sand Hills or Pacific Dunes?  Obviously a mistake but which one did you mean?

[johnk]

Maybe everyone's already seen this but GShackelford offers his choice in humorous form:

http://www.golfobserver.com/features/Geoff/Rydercupcourse_091706.php

It won't take long for most posters here to see where he's going...

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Over here the tickets are very expensive.  I cannot afford to attend, but must watch on TV.  Which course looks best on TV in September?  It's hard to say, because we see so very few British courses on TV these days, but, of course, we are Europeans, so we could go to San Lorenzo or El Saler (Valderrama doesn't look special on TV).  But isn't Royal County Down the most beautiful course in TV terms and the course is well worthy, even if the closing two or three holes are not going to trouble the pros one jot.  

[Jim Nugent]

President's Cup choices:  Sand Dunes and Cape Kidnappers

Ryder Cup choices:  Royal County Down and NGLA

Sand Dunes ?  

Sand Hills or Pacific Dunes?  Obviously a mistake but which one did you mean?

Sand Hills.  Thanks, Sean.

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