7000 yarders dont mean everyone should use those tees Sean. I think you do need 7000 yards these days in most new golf course situations, 7000 yards gives you the flexibilty to be shorter if you want too, a 6000 yarder will be far less attractive to better golfers if 6000 yards is all it can be. I think the problem a bit has been exagerrated because so many people hit the ball a ong way now with the technologly, its not just the pro's, many of the flatbellys can bang it 300 easy peasy and that tends to destroy some of these great courses that i referred too as going redundant. So for that reason the length aspect becomes a very real issue.
Golf courses that have staged Open championships, Ryder Cups, TV tournies are on peoples must play list, its all part of the rat race I guess and the ones that dont hop on become the hidden gems (that you like)... but because they are less popular they dont get the higher green fees. Plusses and minusses in that.
Adrian
We shall have to agree to disagree. I don't beleive for a second that 7000 yards is an ideal requirement for scratch golfers. I can certainly believe that is the perception brought on by loads of nonsensical talk, PR rubbish and the overwhelming marketing desire to label one's course as a championship test. What I want to know is how that marketing scam is doing for the upstart clubs/courses. Its fine for the older clubs that are actually championship venues. They had a huge headstart in the popularity stakes that for most will never be relinquished. Plus, a great deal, I am guessing a significant percentage of these old line clubs which aren't championship venues are not 7000 yard long They attract punters not because of yardage, but because of reputations built over several decades. Its the newer courses/clubs which are relying on 7000 yards as their marketing gimmick. It would be interesting to know just how well these clubs/courses are doing and just how many of them actually made into top 100 heaven for more than a fleeting moment. Judging from the many takeovers, buyouts and changing of hands, my guess is the entire concept hasn't worked very well even from a marketing PoV, but then I never invested in the concept.
Ciao
Sean,
I tend to agree more with Adrian, most advanced amateur players, like myself, and scratch golfers/pros would prefer to play 7,000 yard courses why? Basically it will expose the weakness of the weaker golfer more. Today there are too many 18 handicappers that expect to get on every par 4 in 2 whether they have a shot or not. I get a bit arsed off about people complaining about the hole being too long when there is a handicap system and about me hitting the ball ‘too long’.
Adrian is a successful businessman and what he has done at the Player’s Club is a credit to his ability as a businessman, designer, professional golfer, green keeper and GCA enthusiast. He is now one of my role models and has opened my view a bit more about the commercial realities behind a creation of a golf course. The Codrington Course at the Player’s Club is now in the top 200 in Golf World GB&I rankings – an amazing feat considering that this course did not exist 15 years ago!! Adrian is still intent on improving this course with the aim of getting it into the top 100 which I believe is feasible. There are more than 150 advanced golfers who are members/practice at the Player’s Club inc. Gordon Brand jr, Chris Wood and top amateurs etc. That is an enormous percentage of advanced golfers and the greens there is the best I have played of any golf course I have played this year.
The Stranahan is, which I believe, a GCA/Sean Arble type course – I had so much fun playing on it – it’s an landfill course with some great fairway shaping etc. I believe there will be more golfers playing on it in the future as it’s a 3 hr round course with a few quirkiness that you would find on an ‘antique’ course.
I am sure Adrian would be happy to host you there anytime. I would definitely come and play with you if you are planning to go there.
Cheers
Ben