The Royal Melbourne Composite - How would you route the course?

[Sven Nilsen]

The proposed routing for the Presidents Cup makes little sense to me.  For those that haven't seen it yet, here's a link to RM's website:  http://www.royalmelbourne.com.au/guests/PC_Composite/hole1PC.mhtml.  

Here's a link to the routing:  http://i.cdn.turner.com/pgatour/docs/pdf/Pcup_course_map_2011_27.9.11.pdf (courtesy of an earlier thread).

Here is the hole by hole composition:

1 - 3rd Hole from RMW
2 - 4th Hole from RMW
3 - 5th hole from RMW
4 - 6th hole from RMW
5 - 7th hole from RMW
6 - 10th hole from RMW
7 - 11th hole from RMW
8 - 12th hole from RMW
9 - 17th hole from RMW
10 - 18th hole from RMW
11 - 1st hole from RME
12 - 2nd hole from RME
13 - 3rd hole from RME
14 - 16th hole from RME
15 - 17th hole from RME
16 - 18th hole from RME
17 - 1st hole from RMW
18 - 2nd hole from RMW

Things I don't like:

Starting on RMW #3 - One of my favorite holes from my round there, yet I don't feel strongly about it as an opener.

The first 5 (composite) - I'd rather see this group of holes show up later in the round, especially the RMW #5-#6 combo.

12 - 15 (composite) - To me, the weakest stretch of the Presidents Cup composite will come into play during the peak time for players to make their move.  How cool would it be to see RMW #5, #6, #10, #17 and #18 be a factor in crunch time.

Closing on RMW #2 - I understand the implications for match-play, but for those that do go the distance, there's something about finishing away from the shadow of the clubhouse that bothers me.

Assuming we're using the same list of holes, would you route it differently?

[Mark Chaplin]

Having played the Presidents Cup course earlier this year the only change I'd make is the 11th and play 1RME tee to 8RMW green.

[Mike_Clayton]

Perhaps the biggest downside to this routing over the original is that 1 West is an Old Course- like opener but a quite dull 17th.
It is miles better for spectators because the original had the back nine holes so far apart.

[Jason Topp]

Having played the Presidents Cup course earlier this year the only change I'd make is the 11th and play 1RME tee to 8RMW green.

Mark:

How would that improve the hole?  I remember my tee ball on 8W winding up somewhere in the vicinity of 1E green and thinking that was not a bad place to approach from but I never played the East.

[Mark Chaplin]

Jason - 1RME is a pretty straightforward drive and flick, its quite a nice angle coming from 1E to the fairway on 8W. There are enough drive and flick holes that may or ma not be drivable. The green on 1E is also very close to the 2nd tee.

[James Bennett]

Sven

remember that for this event, there are generally 6 matches, and only 6 matches.  On Sunday - one day in a week of golf - there are 12 matches.

From a crowd perspective, the routing works well.  I was initially confused, but the routing with holes finishing on 16 east (14), 17 east (15), 18 east (16), 1 west (17) and 2 west (18) enabling an easy movement to the next live macth when one concludes.

It also has a compact first 4 holes, then a movement across to the back west paddock, then to the south of the proerty before the concluding holes.

Because Mackenzie sited so many greens near each other to make best use of the features, there are a myriad of routings possible.  Reagarding finishing on 18 under the clubhouse - apparently most matches finish on 16 which will be under the clubhouse, and matches finishing on 15, 17 and 18 are never far away.  18 green is closer to the clubhouse than 1 east, and closer than 3 west which is this event's first hole.

enjoy the golf - every hole gets played eventually, and they are all good.

James B

[Kevin Pallier]

I like the original "Canada Cup" composite routing and the P3, P5, P4 East finish.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I am just watching and loving it.

[Adam Clayman]

The first commercial I saw was a CITI, which used Behr's, Game v. Sport as a reference. This course looks like real sport.

[Sven Nilsen]

Maybe we should turn this thread into a running blog of the play.

Still not sure how I feel about the first (West #3) as an opener.  That green will get the nerves on edge.  Hopefully we'll see a front pin in the days to come.

By the way, who is the 70's porn star playing with Schwartzel?

[Terry Lavin]

The announcer just referred to the third hole on the composite course as "one of the most beautiful and most photographed par 3 holes in the world.".

Really?  Comments from those who have played there?

[Adam Clayman]

Terry, They called the course "Links Like with sandy turf" earlier. It's clearly not links like. It friggin links.

It's not easy talking for a living, but when guys start making shit up, someone is gonna catch'em.

[Sven Nilsen]

The announcer just referred to the third hole on the composite course as "one of the most beautiful and most photographed par 3 holes in the world.".

Really?  Comments from those who have played there?

Its a pretty stunning hole the first time you see it.

[David_Elvins]

The announcer just referred to the third hole on the composite course as "one of the most beautiful and most photographed par 3 holes in the world.".

Really?  Comments from those who have played there?

Yes, it is both of those.  Close to the most photographed hole in Australia.  The bank at the front of the green is a feature that really stands out when you are there in person.  It is high and steep.  The vegetation on the right edge of the hole and the way it interacts with the bunkering is also spectacular.