What ELSE should we look for this weekend?

[George Pazin]

For those of us who haven't been lucky enough to play TOC, what should we look for on the tube this weekend? Any particular holes that you feel are underrated? Any bunkers jump out and snag your ball?

I guess what I'm asking is, we all know about the Road Hole and Hell Bunker and Eden and whatever - what don't we know about that you'd like to share?

[Eric Smith]

Leisure suits

[CJ Carder]

I'm going to be interested in how many different wind directions they get.  When I played there (twice) in '07, we got two completely opposite wind directions on back-to-back days. 

Day 1, the whole front 9 was into the wind while the whole back was virtually downwind.  That left a hole like #12 as a drivable par 4 taking out of play a lot of the hidden bunkers.  It also took Hell Bunker completely out of play on the 2nd shot at 14 as you could reach the green in two or easily blow it over short of the green.

Day 2, opposite, so much so that Shell Bunker was even in play off the tee if you really caught one.  Flip it around to the back 9 and I had to play #12 and #14 (among others) completely different - laying out to the right to avoid the bunkers on 12 and playing well left on 14 into the 4th fairway to avoid Hell Bunker.  I'd love to see the weekend have this wind direction because it'll make for some interesting drama coming down the stretch.

[Dan Herrmann]

I have a hunch that the lengthened 17th could be a deciding factor this week.

Or, as The Beatles said, "Why don't we do it in the Road!"

[Scott Warren]

I would say the front sections of the 2nd and 4th greens. That's what stood out for me that I hadn't expected. The way those small features loom so large in playing the hole, camouflaged as short grass so not necessarily jumping out in your face as significent the way the bunkers do.

The 12th green, too. I reckon that's one of the most brilliant greens I have ever seen.

[Niall C]

Leisure suits

You know what I like about this photo ? Its the proper use of sleepers   .

Niall

[Anthony Gray]

  With some holes the safer miss is long.

  Anthony

[Phil McDade]

George:

I think #16, Corner of the Dyke, is under-rated, and sometimes lost in the shuffle among the more well-known back nine holes like #s 11, 14, 17 and 18. The key is the original Principal's Nose bunkers, a great center-line bunker complex that forces players left, but makes the approach into the green much harder. The bold (or foolish) player plays right of the bunkers, between them and OB, for a much easier approach shot. A helping win can negate the bunkers' strategy, as some just pound the tee shot over them. But with a wind against or sideways, a wonderful strategic choice off the tee.

Watching players approach the second shot to the 12th's shelf-like green is fun stuff, as well. And #7 is a nifty, shortish dogleg with a blind drive.

[Mike Cirba]

The most under-rated hole is the 13th, which features one of the most perplexing tee shots on the course.

I always am intrigued to see how the leader's try to play this hole, whether going for the narrow gap down the right, which affords a sliver of a view of the green, or bailing way to the left, which could leave just about anything coming in visually.

[CJ Carder]

The most under-rated hole is the 13th, which features one of the most perplexing tee shots on the course.

I always am intrigued to see how the leader's try to play this hole, whether going for the narrow gap down the right, which affords a sliver of a view of the green, or bailing way to the left, which could leave just about anything coming in visually.

Reminds me of my 2nd day there where laying up short of the hill was about the only option given the wind unless you hit the ball 300 yards.  I arrive at my less-than-stellar tee shot and engage in the following exchange:

Me:  "Caddie, how far to the hole?"
Caddie:  "Aye, tis aboot a 3-woot and a taxi."
Me:  "Right, and where is the hole?"
Caddie:  "Don't matter."

[Melvyn Morrow]

A blood good seat to enjoy the Golf

One of the best seats in town are behind the three centre windows on the 1st Floor. The blue door to the right is for Old Tom’s shop while the left had blue door is for access to both the flat above the shop and to the rear garden of 6 Pilmour Links .



Excellent view of the 1st Tee and 18th Green of TOC, not to mention the prize giving – watch out for the ghost of Old Tom is Tiger win The Open

Melvyn

[Adam Clayman]

I sure hope it rains to justify the green conditions. 

It's appalling to see the home of golf embrace the green is good attitude. The fairway mow lines are also lamentable. The 17th is pure stupidity.

So, I would say we should look for how the ball reacts to the turf, once it lands.

Personally, I'm sick of watching the Open Championship played in ideal weather. Not since Tiger's 83 on Saturday at Royal St. George's do I recall any significant challenges presented by Mother Nature. Have there been others?

[Phil McDade]

Adam:

Tiger's 83 was at Muirfield.

[Bill Brightly]

I don't know if this has been discussed on another thread, but I think Geoff Shackleford made a GREAT point that it is not the length on 17 that will matter, but rather, the narrowness of the fairway landing area. He predicts that many players will miss the fairway left and be forced to wedge it out and not have a go for the green. He says that if the players were given a "safe" left bailout, they would try to attack the green from the wrong spot, bring the Road Bunker and the road into play, and there would be far more drama on the hole. So the way they have the hole set up now it is kind of dumbed down. I think that bears watching.

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/british-open/2010-07/video-st-andrews-17-shackelford

[Tim Pitner]

I sure hope it rains to justify the green conditions. 
Personally, I'm sick of watching the Open Championship played in ideal weather. Not since Tiger's 83 on Saturday at Royal St. George's do I recall any significant challenges presented by Mother Nature. Have there been others?

The breeze was definitely up at Birkdale when Harrington won; it wasn't exactly balmy when Harrington won at Carnoustie either. 

[Brett Hochstein]

Adam,

I agree with the sentiment as I loved the 06 Open at Hoylake, but the weather just has not cooperated within the past year.  It has been some of the wettest and coolest weather in Fife in years, and there is no way to prevent "healthy" green turf in such conditions.  I have not seen the course since I left in May and won't get to this weekend, but my area correspondents have reported slow conditions with fast greens, relative to the Old, of course.  Looking forward to the DVR whenever I get a chance, especially after getting to know the place and work for 7 months this past year, which couldn't have been worse weatherwise, but oh well.

[Chris Buie]

You probably should look out for Mr. Daly's sport coat.  Apparently, a couple of R&A members had seizures after getting a look at that in person.

[Marty Bonnar]

Definitely try and see them tee off at the 13th. Anyone who knows the Eden will be amazed/amused/bemused at just how far they've gone 'off-piste' in the search for length.

FBD.

PS Big John has matching Pants for that coat. He wore them at Loch Lomond. My eyes still hurt.

[Jim Franklin]

Unfortunately TOC has back to back driveable par 4s so the course now only gets a Doak 6.0-6.5. At least that is what I hear on the Sand Hills thread .

[Mac Plumart]

Is that picture of John Daly a hoax?  Did he really where that at that gathering?

[Anthony Gray]

  Curious to see if some one plays 17 long and left.

  Anthony

[Mike Cirba]

I'm hopeful that we should see at least one day where TOC plays like it did when I visited in 1985.

On a July day, with a high of 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it rained sideways, blown by 25-30mph winds straight in my face the whole way out.

Shortly after the turn, the winds quieted a tad, but thick fog rolled in.

It was magical.

[Mike Cirba]

Speaking of which, is there any weather of note predicted over the next few days?

It looks like a lovely Caribbean beach day at present.   

[Mike Cirba]

The most under-rated hole is the 13th, which features one of the most perplexing tee shots on the course.

I always am intrigued to see how the leader's try to play this hole, whether going for the narrow gap down the right, which affords a sliver of a view of the green, or bailing way to the left, which could leave just about anything coming in visually.

It seems as though the 13th tripped up Phil, and I sometimes think that there is a Bermuda Triangle effect from some portions of that fairway, where an almost Twilight Zone warp gets created that is very unsettling and disorienting. 

Expect to see more of it this week.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I am enjoying the best of times short of me playing TOC. What a year. Augusta National, US Open at Pebble and now the Open at TOC.  I am watching every minute of this glorious event.

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