Harbour Town

[Jason Topp]

I know that the course is difficult to maintain because of the lack of sunlight, the small size of the greens and heavy play.  Nonetheless, I really enjoy watching that tournament because it is such a refreshing change of pace from the normal tour course.

The players need to be very accurate off the tee.

The trees force a wide variety of shaped recovery shots.

You see different strategic choices being made, even on par threes.

Some one of a kind holes - 9, 13, 14, 16 and 18.

Some really interesting greenside shots.

A big reward for winding up on the putting surface - which usually means a makeable putt.

The hole widths seem absurdly claustrophobic from above.  I do not remember them seeming that tight when playing the course.

It was an interesting contrast to flip to a tape of the european event in China - on a course that looks identical to so many other courses on which major tour events are played.

[Carl Nichols]

The hole widths seem absurdly claustrophobic from above.  I do not remember them seeming that tight when playing the course.

I had the exact same reaction.  It's obviously not wide open, but holes like 12 and 13 looked way tighter from the blimp than I recall.

[JC Jones]

Agree completely.  The course is very strategic and therefore fun to play and watch.  Also, I agree that the course is not nearly as tight as it looks.

[jonathan_becker]

Jason,

I've played the course as well and the one thing that caught my attention while watching was the back left flagstick on #9 during the opening round.  You want to talk about nowhere to hit it!!    You have to place your tee shot perfectly on the right side of the fw or drive it just short of the green to have any opportunities.   It's a very demanding hole for how short it is with the flagstick in either corner of the green.

And yes, the course is somewhat tight, but nowhere near unfair IMO.  You just have to hit it the fairways to score.

[Phil Benedict]

So it's ok to have to shape shots from the middle of the fairway because there's a tree between you and the target?  Happens all the time at Harbour Town.

[Eric Smith]

Agree completely.  The course is very strategic and therefore fun to play and watch.  Also, I agree that the course is not nearly as tight as it looks.

+1. The thing is you can get 'locked out' oftentimes by being on the wrong side of a fairway.  This is when you get to have a little fun and maybe weaken your grip and play that cut shot you wish you played more often...

I spent the past week there at the tourney and constantly thought back on our recent round there in February JC. That was a fun day.  I used to enjoy going to the tournament to watch the pros, but I've changed I guess because I just didn't really care to watch the action.  I remember it being more compelling in the past. 

[JC Jones]

Jason,

I've played the course as well and the one thing that caught my attention while watching was the back left flagstick on #9 during the opening round.  You want to talk about nowhere to hit it!!    You have to place your tee shot perfectly on the right side of the fw or drive it just short of the green to have any opportunities.   It's a very demanding hole for how short it is with the flagstick in either corner of the green.

And yes, the course is somewhat tight, but nowhere near unfair IMO.  You just have to hit it the fairways to score.

JB,

Our flag in February was middle left and that is just a hellish/fun place to put a pin!

E Smith,

Perhaps its not as compelling because now that you've seen the way I played Harbour Town, nothing a pro can do will ever be as entertaining.

[Richard Choi]

I agree with most of the sentiments, but how is being forced to play "one correct" way strategic? It seems to me, due to the narrow corridors and trees that frequently block the path to the green, there is practically no strategic elements at all. You HAVE to place your ball in the correct spot or your approach shot is screwed.

Can someone explain the strategic nature of the course, especially off the tee, for me?

[PCCraig]

I understand the design elements in play at Harbor Town, between the tight fairways and tiny greens, and I'm sure it's a blast to play. However I can't imagine a more boring golf course to watch the pro's play on. I would much rather the big boys be forced to make strategic choices during their round, not just go from point A to point B....what a snoozer of a tournament.

[Keith OHalloran]

I have to admit, I am a little surprised that Harbour Town is well received on this site. I have played it and thought it played like a course in a housing development. I also do not remember (I could have missed it) walking being an option.

[Jason Topp]

I agree with most of the sentiments, but how is being forced to play "one correct" way strategic? It seems to me, due to the narrow corridors and trees that frequently block the path to the green, there is practically no strategic elements at all. You HAVE to place your ball in the correct spot or your approach shot is screwed.

Can someone explain the strategic nature of the course, especially off the tee, for me?

I think the interest in the course is not so much strategic as the unique demands imposes on the player.  

I would not want to watch it week to week but I would love to see more variation in the type of challenge presented by courses.

Harbour Town presents many interesting decisions made by the players.  Some examples (mainly from the final round):

9 - Furyk hits driver hoping to put it in the front bunker - he pops it up a bit but still hits it close.  Davis plays the more standard iron shot but hits a weak fade.  Both have short birdie putts but only after brilliant approaches.

10 - Furyk hits 3 wood ensuring the correct angle for the approach but leaving 200 yards in.  Davis blows it right.  Davis chooses to hit it to the front portion of the green rather than get it back to the flagstick

14 - Those that hit it to the back portion of the green had to be absolutely perfect or else they were screwed.  I saw one person pull it off.  Others hit it to the front left of the green and attempted a two putt.  

15 - Interesting when conditions allow some to reach in two.

16 - Big advantage with a front left pin to hit driver past the tree in the fairway.  Furyk does it well

18 - do you go at the pin or bail out right?

[Eric Smith]

I agree with most of the sentiments, but how is being forced to play "one correct" way strategic? It seems to me, due to the narrow corridors and trees that frequently block the path to the green, there is practically no strategic elements at all. You HAVE to place your ball in the correct spot or your approach shot is screwed.

Screwed to me means no chance at recovery.  You can choose to shape it, maybe more than you feel you can pull off, or you can go high up and over a live oak or group of pines.  Even as a 10 handicap I have hit these shots.  Maybe not always timely however...

Pat,

I'd wager you'll see more curve balls played at the Heritage than most other venues.  Seeing DL3 turn it over with a low, then rising slice around the trees on the 2nd hole after being blocked out (seemingly) from the green is satisfying to watch.  But I agree with you too, I was bored fairly quickly and left early for the playground or the toy store on the days I was there.


Keith,

There are 1500 people on the site.  Well received is a relative term.   It is a course in a housing development, should it play differently?

Walking is definitely an option there.

[jonathan_becker]

I think the interest in the course is not so much strategic as the unique demands imposes on the player.

Jason,

I couldn't agree more and once in a while, there's nothing wrong with that.  

I made the best birdie I've ever made in my life on #11 due to the slice that I was forced to play from under a tree right of the fw.  And it was a tee shot that traveled down the fw for 90% of it's flight.   People talk about shotmaking....well, go to HT and show some game.

Keith,

You can walk, you just have to take a caddie or have him drive your cart.  

[Keith OHalloran]

Thanks, I figured I may have missed the walking option. When  I played it was cart path only and it would have been more enjoyable to just walk. Oh well.

Eric,
The reason I mentioned the housing is not for the way the course plays, but more because I have seen courses on this site specifically criticized for being a housing development course. I found it interesting that Harbour Town seems to be able to avoind that.

[Jason Topp]

Thanks, I figured I may have missed the walking option. When  I played it was cart path only and it would have been more enjoyable to just walk. Oh well.

Eric,
The reason I mentioned the housing is not for the way the course plays, but more because I have seen courses on this site specifically criticized for being a housing development course. I found it interesting that Harbour Town seems to be able to avoind that.

The trees make houses remarkably unobtrusive, even though the housing is very dense.   

[Pat Burke]

The first time I played Harbor Town, I was really disappointed.  My expectations were set pretty high, as I heard it was one of the best
we played on tour.  Now, in fairness, I had played a couple seasons on the Australian Tour, and grew up in New Jersey/New York, and compared to my life experiences, the PGA Tour courses ('92) were IMO not very good.  The courses, while fewer, were much better in Australia, from my design preferences, to the conditioning.  But I digress.
HT in '92 as I have been told was much different than now.  I understand they have done some widening in areas, and it is better now, but I felt it was a tricked up place in '92.  Even being on the correct side of a fairway  (no small task), I had shots that I not only had to work around trees, but a couple times under them . 
I was lucky, always being comfortable working the ball both ways, and in most ways, HTOWN was a course I would have a better chance of winning on than, say, Phoenix.  I just thought it was a huge disappointment when I arrived there and had to play like Paul Hahn all day.

Probably says a lot about me as a player, that a course I could win on (IMO) was one of my least favorites!

[Andrew Summerell]

I've only played it twice (& watched the pros go round twice as well), and although I scored quite well in both rounds, I found the course quite boring & a real dissapointment.

[Anthony Gray]

Agree completely.  The course is very strategic and therefore fun to play and watch.  Also, I agree that the course is not nearly as tight as it looks.

  +1

[Michael Dugger]

The "strategy" at Harbour Town is probably enjoyable if you are a good player.

Spray it around a bit, however, and I bet it makes for a long day hitting punch shots out of the trees.

[JC Jones]

The "strategy" at Harbour Town is probably enjoyable if you are a good player.

Spray it around a bit, however, and I bet it makes for a long day hitting punch shots out of the trees.

I am not a good player.  Though a large part of that has to do with my caddie standing too close to the ball.

[Jerry Kluger]

I have heard that Long Cove is the best course on the island - true?

[JC Jones]

I have heard that Long Cove is the best course on the island - true?

I think Tony Nysse posted that a while back.  I haven't played Long Cove but am hoping to in June.  Eric Smith is the HHI expert so I'll ask him. 

Smitty,

What say you?

[Eric Smith]

I couldn't say which is better, though I've played them both a dozen times.  Both are fun golf courses and quite different from one another. Probably when I lived on the rock I liked LC better, it was such a treat to get out there and there are some really strong holes on that golf course.  

No doubt which one is the more difficult golf course.  Long Cove can throw it down with the best of them.  #'s 1,5,6,9,14 are awesome holes.

Still, if forced to choose one course over the other, I'll take Harbour Town.  I just really enjoy the walk in that park.  

[Anthony_Nysse]

I have heard that Long Cove is the best course on the island - true?

I think Tony Nysse posted that a while back.  I haven't played Long Cove but am hoping to in June.  Eric Smith is the HHI expert so I'll ask him.  

Smitty,

What say you?

I played HT 12-15 times and LC over 50 times. The one thing that LC has on HT, every day of the week, is MORE variety. HT is tree lined, small greens and shallower bunkering. LC is a much bigger golf course-bigger, roller coster greens, deep, bold bunkering, wide, rolling fairways, narrow fairways, LLOONNGG par 3's, doglegs that arent protected by trees, more waste areas, etc... LC is packed with variety and is a pretty easy walk as well.  But, Pete did design LC to be completely different than HT. Also, in talking about the homes at HT, LC has homes around every hole, but you hardly see them, even less than HT.
  I think that day in and day out LC is the tougher course BUT a bad day at HT could be a very, very long day because there isn't much room to miss a shot.