[Patrick Kiser]

Here's a question I've been asking myself.

What are some of the better public tests out there state side that provide hmmm ... a decent "links" test.  Or at least the illusion of a links test.

The idea here is what kinds of public courses would best prepare you for the real deal when you head across the pond.

I'm in the Bay Area and can't think of any really.  Ya, maybe Bodega Bay and Metropolitan Links, but not really.  Tried several times at these courses to practice a running game and knockdown shots...  Impossible.  Water logged green fronts that stop the ball, fairways that won't let the ball run, etc.  About the only thing these courses have going is the wind.  Brutal at times.

You get the idea.

So how about some input to this?

Thanks.

[Matt_Cohn]

Patrick,

Gleneagles (blah, I know) is quite firm right now. Not sure about fast, but firm anyway. Lots of run in the fairways, but you're not likely to bump approaches into the greens there, I suppose.

Some of the East Bay courses can get pretty firm, but unless you're playing downwind, you're not likely to run the ball up there either.

Too bad Lincoln Park is so soft. If that place were hard and fast, there would be some amazing ground game shots: 6, 7, 11, 15, and 18 come to mind, among others.

[AndrewB]

Make the drive down to Pacific Grove.  The back nine is or approximates links golf nicely.

[Tom Huckaby]

Patrick:

Andrew is right - Pacific Grove Muni (back nine) is your best bet.  But even it gets waterlogged at times.  

Another one if you want to travel farther out is Stevinson Ranch - it's a decent approximation and does darn near always play firm and fast.

BUT... this is gonna sound weird... but the best place I found to warm up for overseas trips is the par three course called Mariner's Point - in Foster City, just off the San Mateo bridge.  Most of the holes are very short, but there are a few of decent length, and the main thing is it's always firm and fast, some of the bunkers are steep and deep (like UK links), and the wind blows like crazy right there near the bay.  I know it sounds strange but I swear that's the best practice place I found for this (given I couldn't travel down to PG Muni that easily).  If you live close in, give that a try. You'll certainly be able to practice knock-down shots into weird greens... which is really the main thing you're gonna need over there that's different from here anyway.

http://www.marinerspoint.com/

TH

[Jon Spaulding]

Head up to Shelter Cove & play the 9-holer. It's cheap, firm, fast, windy....and once you're there it's too close to Bandon to resist.

[Tom Huckaby]

Jon brings up a good one... and as long as we're venturing WAY out, well... Sea Ranch is a damn fine links golf approximation as well.  Always firm and fast, sometimes crazy so... not really links golf, but rumply enough.  And you will get wind.

[Jon Spaulding]

TH, have you played Shelter Cove in the last few years? I've not been there since 1995..... at which time a number of "anti-Humboldt" residences were being constructed. Was wondering if they've kept it "real", or if the yups had taken over.

[Tom Huckaby]

Jon - I've only been up there once, and it was a LONG time ago.  But I think believe it or not the course was discussed in here not too long ago.... maybe I'm dreaming.

[Mike Benham]

Patrick - if I may ask, why do you want a place in the Bay Area to practice these shots?

As another suggestion, go to Pin High Golf Range in Santa Clara, the have horrible turf to hit on, sandy patches, thin turf and the range is hard and plays downwind, perfect for practicing the 80 yard bump and run shots ...

[Mark Bourgeois]

Where ever you go, before you tee off step fully clothed into the shower and turn on the cold water. Then head to 1 tee.

[Jason Topp]

Hit off hardpan.  A worn out range is the perfect place.

Practice in the wind.  If you hit it left to right, practice with the wind pushing the ball to the right.  You will need to figure out how to control it.

Practice your bunker play.

Hit out of long thin grass to learn how the club twists.

Learn your scotch.  

[David_Tepper]

Patrick K. -

Have you tried Monarch Bay in San Leandro? The holes out at the far end of the course certainly have a linksy feel to them and there is usually plenty of wind as well.

The problem courses in the Bay Area have is that, since it can get hot in the summer and there is no rain from May thru October, a number of course get heavily irrigated at night to keep the turf from burning out during the day. A number of courses (such as Poppy Ridge) actually seem to play firmer in the winter months than they do in the summer.

DT  

[Tim Leahy]

Spanish Bay(Pacific Grove for the rich) and the Bridges in Dublin come to mind for links like conditions, also the new one, Mountain House in Tracy has all the wind you will ever need to simulate Scottish conditions.

[Eric Olsen]

Given a relative lack of links like courses in my area, my preparation for trips to Bandon involves practicing trapping the ball to deal with the tight lies with 1/2 to 3/4 shots to take the spin off the ball in the wind.  Practice a 120 yard 8 iron, for example, that you might have to hit from 85 yards into a 30 mph wind....

[Patrick Kiser]

All good input.

There's no restriction to the Bay Area.  I think I said "state side".  So anywhere in the U.S. really.

The range suggestion is a good one, but I'm really interested in all types of lies on actual courses and different wind directions that would provide a good preparation for the real thing.

Patrick - if I may ask, why do you want a place in the Bay Area to practice these shots?

As another suggestion, go to Pin High Golf Range in Santa Clara, the have horrible turf to hit on, sandy patches, thin turf and the range is hard and plays downwind, perfect for practicing the 80 yard bump and run shots ...

[Mike Benham]

Are you planning to travel somewhere where these shots are the norm, or do you just want to put these shots in your repertoire?


But since you opened it up to include outside of the Bay Area, I would say the Bandon courses give you the best option.

[Patrick Kiser]

Yes.  Planning for a trip to either Ireland or Scotland next year.

I like to think I have the shots.  Can hit either the low fade or draw pinched with the low finish and 1/2 swing.  A little stinger.  Just would like to practice the feel in real fast and hard conditions as much as possible prior to heading over.

Been trying around here, but just don't feel the conditions are matching.  Except for the wind that is.  Plenty of that here.

Bandon's a great recommendation, but $ takes away from the trip to Ireland or Scotland.

Played Pacific Grove but did not feel the conditions were fast and hard.  Seemed rather soft to me.

Tried Half Moon Bay (Ocean) but was rather disappointed.  Way too lush and slow.

Are you planning to travel somewhere where these shots are the norm, or do you just want to put these shots in your repertoire?


But since you opened it up to include outside of the Bay Area, I would say the Bandon courses give you the best option.

[Tom Huckaby]

Patrick:

You're just plain not going to get a perfect approximation of links golf anywhere near California that won't take $$$ away from your planned trip.  Such places do exist, but they're either a long drive and very expensive (Bandon) or are a plane flight away and/or very private (Wild Horse, Ballyneal, Sand Hills, Shinnecock Hills).  So I'm not sure really what you're after.

Seriously, if Bandon is too expensive, do trek up to Sea Ranch and give that a try.  I haven't been there in a few years, so I can't say FOR SURE what's what... but when I was there it was VERY firm and fast and rumply - a very good links golf approximation.

I can't think of anything else that will meet your criteria.  Heck, in the end it might be best to just go overseas and be surprised.

BTW, I was serious about Mariner's Point par three.  At least for approach shots it's as good as you're gonna get.

TH

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I agree with Andrew and Huck on Pac Grove back nine being the closest. Even then several holes are not linksy at all. I like Rustic Canyon for close to links style of play being available to you.

[Mike Wagner]

Without a doubt -get to Bandon if you can.  I haven't played overseas, but it is the closest thing.  

[RJ_Daley]

Maybe we ought to ask if any of the pros go anywhere in particular to practice before the Open.  Perhaps Shinnecock, or National.  I heard that Tom Watson was dropping into Sand Hills prior to the trip over.  Obviously if that is true, it hasn't helped him win since '83 was his last, well before SH was built.

I'm guessing that Wild Horse and front 9 at Bayside would be good training, when they are at their firm and fastest.

[ed_getka]

Patrick,
   Stevinson Ranch is your best bet IMO. It is firm and fast even when it is raining which I find amazing considering the soil in NoCal. Unlimited range balls are included, so show up in the morning, practice to your hearts content on their good practice facility, then tee off at noon when the price goes down (from its already reasonable green fee).
    Rustic Canyon is a good option, but would be a bit of a drive from up here.
    From a practice standpoint I don't think you can do better than Poppy Ridge which is where I do the bulk of my practice. There is not a shot you won't be able to work on there.
    Have fun.

[mike_beene]

One area pro used to get ready by hitting balls off almost concrete Texas hardpan behind the range.He won one open and lost another in a playoff.

[Tom Huckaby]

Ed:

I was going to suggest Rustic but the dire reports of wet conditions - particularly in the collars - scared me off.  Does it still play firm and fast there or not?  If it does, then that's his best bet for sure - better than anything in the Bay Area, that's for sure.

I still think Mariner's Point is all he needs though.

 

[redanman]

Practice for Links?

Go a week early, sleep in your car or a real cheap-O B&B and play cheap little links no one ever talks about before you tackle the "Rota".

You may just keep playing the "Little Links".

also

"Bandon if you can.  I haven't played overseas, but it is the closest thing. "

HUH?



There are NO, ZERO, ZIP, NADA LINKS in the USA.  On some days some really F&F courses play links-like, but stateside there is nothing to prepare you. Plus, Bandon isn't ANY cheaper than a Links trip. A little links trip with a cheap ticket is a lot less money, not that I am discouraging anyone from BD Resort, it's just not links golf.

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