When conditions make it difficult...

[Michael Ryan]

...of appreciating the architecture.  I had my first opportunity to play the National Golf Links of America yesterday.  Teed off at 8:15 am with the tempature around 40 (they say it reached 50 later on) and the wind howling off the Peconic Bay at 30 mph, gusting to 35.  The wind never let up.  Holes 2 and 5 played straight downwind and holes 14 - 17 played straight into it. 

I have been hoping to play NGLA for many years, even more so in the last 4 to 5 as I have begun to appreciate and become educated on golf course architecture.  I was excited to see and play so many of the holes.  I have read Scotland's Gift, The Evangalist of Golf, etc.  I spoken to so many folks who have played it and loved it.  I was ready.

I stood on the 4th tee and looked at the Redan hole and the back left pin and wished I could hit a high draw that landed on the slope front right and bounded down to the hole.  I was faced with a 35 mph wind from left to right that was bending the flagstick.  I tried to knock down a 4 iron and watched it hopelessly balloon and drift 30 yards right of my target (the left side of the green, a spot the caddie said he had never told anyone to aim for in normal conditions). 

I asked the caddies what kind of shot Ray Floyd would hit there on a day like today.  They answered, "He wouldn't play on a day like today". 

Our group trudged on and still had an fantastic day.  An amazing collection of golf holes on land that is blessed to have been found by C.B. MacDonald and utilized for his dream of creating the ultimate golf course.

I played Seminole for the first time in January and we had a 15 to 20 mph wind that made me feel like we got the full "Seminole Experience". 

The conditions we faced at NGLA made me feel like I didn't get to fully appreciate the intricacies of the design.  Has anyone else had the same experience?

[Melvyn Morrow]

Michael

Have not played in North America, but have had the pleasure in playing some enjoyable links golf in worse conditions. I think it down to what you are use to. Wind is part of our game and probably reflects why we perhaps have a slightly different approach to the game.

If anything I would say that the wind makes you more aware of the course, its nature and hazards, but as I said above perhaps is just the way we approach our game and one reason why I always say to all playing in the UK to play the course and not their normal game.

[Sean Leary]

I played The Ocean Course on a day it was blowing 35-40, seemingly side wind all day. Can't remember much at all as I was just fighting everything all day.

Played Waterville in a 38 degree hailstorm. Froze my ass off.

Playing in these conditions can be fun, but if it is your first or only time around a great course, it isn't ideal, and for the most part it is harder to appreciate the architecture.

Another thing is conditions. I have 6 or so rounds around Pine Valley which I am so lucky to have done. Every round was on recently aerated greens.  Simply cannot appreciate hoe great those greens really are on punched greens.

[John Moore II]

I might say that on many courses, especially The Ocean Course, in order to appreciate the architecture as intended, you must play in somewhat adverse weather conditions. The are the conditions that are normal at the course. A place like Pinehurst was not designed and intended for poor weather, but many of the seaside courses were. The conditions, in that way, actually become part of the architecture.

[Ian Andrew]

The ASGCA played Royal Dornoch - meetings were in Scotland this spring -this is what the day looked like during the best point. We had 6 snow squalls and the ball would collect snow when you hit a putt, create a donut of snow around the ball as it rolled, and fall sideways when it ran out of speed.....

I never had so much fun in my life!

You have to seperate the architecture of the course from your playing experience. You can still understand the holes even if youy can't hit the required shot.

[Michael Ryan]

Ian,

Great picture...I certainly can't compare my day at NGLA on 10/30 to what you encountered at Dornoch.

I definately do seperate the conditions from understanding and appreciating the architecture.  However, I would have liked to had a chance to hit the proper shot into the Redan hole or had something less than a ripped 3 wood from 185 yards into 16 to appreciate the Punchbowl.  Perhaps because I have been waiting for this one round at this course more than any other am I having trouble...

Thanks for shairing.

Mike

[DBE]

I agree that difficult conditions (wind, cold, rain, etc.,) may really put a damper on appreciating architecture.  There was a 40+ MPH wind my first time at Ballybunion (Old) and I couldn't get off fast enough. The holes through the dunes were into the wind and nearly impossible as was making any kind of backswing or playing the par three on the water. Though I played it a few years later in much calmer conditions, my opinion was jaded by the previous experience.  Perhaps links golf is too difficult on this course in that much wind?

I would say that Seminole, even in 40+ MPH wind is playable having experienced it a couple of times when either a "Noreaster" or tropical storm was blowing.  On the other hand, Pebble Beach isn't good in a lot of wind ('72 and '92 US Open final rounds) as there are only a few shots that can be rolled onto or held on, greens.

I admit to being a "fair weather golfer."

[Bill_McBride]

The ASGCA played Royal Dornoch - meetings were in Scotland this spring -this is what the day looked like during the best point. We had 6 snow squalls and the ball would collect snow when you hit a putt, create a donut of snow around the ball as it rolled, and fall sideways when it ran out of speed.....

I never had so much fun in my life!

You have to seperate the architecture of the course from your playing experience. You can still understand the holes even if youy can't hit the required shot.

Ian, I hope you didn't play #15 from the new back tee!  Rich Goodale was talking/posting about it the other day.  You apparently have to play the hole as a bit of a dogleg from back there.

That might have been a warm up for your round at Maidstone!

I played in England once - at stately Brockett Hall, a Peter Allis course, on a rainy day that turned into a sleety then snowy day.  It is pretty nutsy but not impossible IF you are properly outfitted.  We weren't (just off the plane at Heathrow with a weather forecast of 60*).

[Max Schechter]

Michael - I share similar sentiments. My sole trip to NGLA was shortly after they aerated the greens, making them soft and slow. I cannot count the number of times our host said, "I've never seen a ball stop there on this green." From what I understand, so much of NGLA's charm is derived from moving the ball along the ground using the slopes of the green. While I still was able to appreciate all that the course has to offer, I could not help but think what it's like when the greens are at their finest.

[Mike Fowler]

Played Whistling Straits for the first time in 40 degree weather with a 25 mile per hour wind and when we got to number 4 it started raining. Caddie said we were getting the true Irish Experience. Started with a foursome ended with a twosome. They sent a cart to take 2 of the guys in on the 11th. Terrible conditions but unforegttable!!

[Rob Rigg]

Ditto on Ballybunion (Old)

The front nine was fairly pleasant, probably a 20 mph wind, but the wind picked up on the back and really started whipping, then the rain started coming down and it turned into a real slog just to finish.

We didnt have a caddie which made it even a bit difficult to navigate at times.

Played Lahinch the next day in brilliant conditions, 10-15 mph wind and 60s, absolutely loved it.

I agree with you all - if you are playing a course for the 10th time then it is not as big a deal, but the first time you play an amazing course it is nice to have decent conditions so you can focus more on the GCA and your game than just trying to find your ball and hold onto your club.

[Doug Siebert]

I have no problem with high wind, but the cold you had in combination with the wind you describe at NGLA would make it a non-starter for me.  I'd love the chance to play NGLA but to be honest if I had a time lined up and those were the conditions, I'd bundle up and just walk the course carrying only a putter and a ball to join in on the greens (picking the most interesting/challenging putt I could find for myself on each green)

I'm not one who really has much desire to walk courses rather than play them, but I know I would not enjoy that kind of cold at all, and I'm sure by walking the course I'd see things I might otherwise miss if I was playing (like half the fairways )