[Melvyn Morrow]

Four photos courtesy of the Links Trust web site showing the 18th &17th Holes on TOC St Andrews. Would anyone like to explain their intended shots to get to the pin. For the sake of this exercise may I suggest it’s a very windy day blowing from the West Sands (that’s from left to right as you view the picture) so the aerial game is not the order of the day





To those who have not played TOC please join in, the photos are great as they show the surface detail on the each Hole giving an idea of what can happen to your ball.

Again similar weather conditions but this time on the 17th Road Hole on TOC





Melvyn

[Bill_McBride]

The left to right wind you describe adds even more danger to these tee shots.   On 17 I am driving left of the sheds and hoping for a decent lie in the rough.  If I hit the fairway I have pushed my tee shot!   From there I'm playing to the right of the Scholars Bunker and hoping to get up and down with a chip.

My line off the 18th tee is at the clock on the R&A clubhouse.   This means I'll have to play a runner through the Valley of Sin but won't risk breaking any windows down the right side.

Now off to the first tee to go around again!   

[JESII]

I guess the first thing to do is figure out how far to hit the drive on 17 so I would drive my cart out around the corner and use the laser range finder on a half dozen different prospective targets...


Kidding!


I do love this exercise.

17: With that wind I'm assuming getting it on the green in two will be a true challenge, not so much the tee shot as the approach. Looks like it'll be worth taking on the risk from the tee to leave an angle in. Can you really expect to hit the green from the left side with the wind off the left?
1) Hard down the right followed by
2) a 3/4 iron that should bounce up the slope and release to the back pin and then
3) make an 8 footer for 3!!!

18: Birdie birdie finish can only happen one way...
1) Whichever tee club will leave me in the 100 - 115 neighborhood and well off to the left
2) full sand wedge should be able to stop pretty quick
3) Tap in for 3...

[Mark Saltzman]

Can you really expect to hit the green from the left side with the wind off the left?

Jim,

No.  But can you even expect to hit the green from the centre of the fairway in calm winds!

[JESII]

Don't know...that's why I went 3 - 3!

[Melvyn Morrow]

Great Guys, but its that wind which has just put Jim OB, followed by 3 months in the Castle, now that can be the course with 3 months repeated play twice daily or 3 months with bread and water in the old castle see picture below


Melvyn

[Bryan Izatt]

Played it two weeks ago Saturday, into a 2 club breeze quartering off the left.  Not quite Melvyn's wind, but then how often does it blow directly across 18?

Anyway, cut a driver around the shed to left centre of fairway.  A 3 wood second from 200 yards in driving rain comes up 10 yards short.  A bump and run 8 iron chip over the front ridge to 5 feet.  Make the putt for par.

On 18 push the drive directly at the green and come up just short of Granny Clark's Wynd.  Play a 6 iron runner through the green into the thick stuff just right of the stairs.  Hack it out 20 feet past the hole.  Drain the putt for par to polite applause from the small gallery.

Not quite good enough to keep up with Mr Sullivan, but a satisfying finish, nevertheless.   

[Ed Brzezowski]

17 Driver over left edge of the sheds. Then a 210 yard 5 wood pin high 10 yards right of the green. Chip  up and a two putt bogey.

18  Driver to the clock, 7 iron 10 feet short and leave the birdie putt one inch short.

Then off to The Dunvegan with the caddies for some Tennants. Then to to the R and A for some serious history lessons. That was July 25th , the memory is as fresh today as then.

[Steve Lang]

  September 1996, 22 degC, 15 mph off the Himilayas

17: Driver directly over the fake shed's Lion head, slight power fade, draw iron to front of green, roll up, miss birdie put, take 4 and get out of Dodge City..  damn the hotel

18: Slice driver under fence on one of widest fairways in existence.. re-tee and aim at R&A , 8 iron fade stop to middle of green for slightly back middle pin, walk through the valley of sin with my bride, run in 5 footer for a 5 and waive to applause from crowd who though I had birdied..

i think a smile all the way is essential

[Melvyn Morrow]

Thanks Guys, great stuff, as for my wind from the West Sands, wait until the day you play with it gusting inland with some sand in the mix, not great, you pray for rain to reduce the quanty of sand in the air or was that face.

Even to this day walking up the 18th is something special and always gets my heart beat up. Other courses you play but TOC you live it.

Melvyn

[Bill_McBride]

I have played 18 with the 2 club wind in your teeth.  Hit driver at the clock, 4 wood on the green.  Who says that's a drivable par 4?

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