[Terry Lavin]

Tom Meeks, who ought to know, told me ten years ago that the Ocean Course was the toughest course in America.  Some things never change...

[Bill_McBride]

Tom Meeks, who ought to know, told me ten years ago that the Ocean Course was the toughest course in America.  Some things never change...

Just ask Calc.   

[Andy Troeger]

I didn't think Tobacco Road was that hard. Its pretty wide, and for the strong player I would guess plays pretty easy since its not long. Its just tough for the high handicapper who can't make the carries, at least if they are trying to play for a score. Even a decent player should do ok there--the blind shots look harder than they play.

According to the NY Times, for the scratch golfer the only course that has a higher rating from the tips than Butler (78.1) is the Blessings at Clear Creek (79.2).

The Times needs to work on their research. Just of what I've played...
Pikewood National 79.3 (I should have included this one the first time too)
Medinah 78.3
Promontory Nicklaus 78.7
Pete Dye at French Lick 80.0
Conservatory at Hammock Beach 78.4
Rich Harvest Links 79.1

[Sean_A]

"Difficulty" is a bit of a meaningless term.  Much depends on who is playing.  I played Kiawah in probably a normal breeze (ranging from 10-13ish) in season from the normal tees (I think Dye tees) at around 6400 yards as a 9 capper.  I wasn't all that hard.  The fairways can easily accomodate 10-15 mph wind.  However, I think for a 20 capper not hitting the ball as well as he might hope, its a bear of a course.  There is lost ball trouble on every hole (I think).  For me, Pinehurst is harder, but I think a 20 capper would find it easier.  

Ciao

  

[cary lichtenstein]

Oak Hill by a mile

[JNC Lyon]

Oak Hill by a mile

I was hoping I didn't have to be the first to mention it, but yeah, there can't be too many courses harder than the East Course.  The Ocean Course is right up there, but there is a lot more width at Kiawah than at Oak Hill.  I guess I'd rather play a course like the Ocean Course, which doesn't rely on rough or trees for a tough test.

[Scott Szabo]

A big surprise to me is Pacific Dunes coming in at 16. I've never played Pac Dunes, but have never heard of it talked about in terms of being difficult.  Fun, exciting, but not difficult.  I've never associated the name "Doak" with the term "difficult", and I mean that in a positive way.  I've always thought of his courses as strategic, and playable.  Hope that makes sense!

[Scott Stearns]

I played 17 at Ocean in the dark--used a three wood based on the yardage on the card and hoped.  Made three.  Never want to play it in daylight. 

[cary lichtenstein]

Golf Digest named The Ocean Course as America's Toughest Golf Course again in their January 2012 issue.  Do y'all think it deserves that ranking?  Everything is in plain sight.  The trouble is right there in front of you - nothing hidden.  Sure, on a windy day it's a bit of a pisser, but I've played harder.  What do y'all think?  Here's their 10 hardest

1. The Ocean Course
2. Pine Valley
3. Oakmont
4. Spyglass Hill
5. Bethpage Black
6. Whistling Straits (which I think is harder than The Ocean Course)
7. TPC Sawgrass
8. PGA West
9. Winged Foot West
10. Pinehurst No. 2

I played em all. Played with Mike Vegis the one time I played the Ocean Course, shot 77. Pine Valley 79, Oakmont 89,, Spyglass a dozens of times, never broke 80, Bethpage Black, once 81, Whistling Straits a few times, 81, TPC Sawgrass a week after it open and shot over 100, PGA West don't remember, Winnged Foor West 82, Pinehurst #2 78.

I hate very few courses, but Oakmont, TPC Sawgrass and PGA West are in my top 3 of just no fun.

[Dustin Ferrell]

Played TOC this past Nov for the first time.  I'm a 4 hc and found the course to be really penal and certainly one of the hardest courses i've played if not the hardest so the ranking is in line from my perspective.  I think its fairly benign off the tee if you can hit a straightist tee ball, but misses are punished bigtime.  I found a lot of the greens difficult as the lies were tight around the greens and a lot of time you were chipping or putting up a small mound to get it on the surface if you missed the green w/ your approach.  Also...I'm sure the the ranking was based on the back tees and i looked back a couple times and would imagine it takes a mighty poke to get your tee ball into good position from some of the back tees.  Also many spots on the course where a avg. course would allow for a bad shot w/ a chance of making par where TOC leaves you taking a drop as you might be in some marsh or tall grass not finding your ball.

[Jud_T]

Guys, 

This is Golf Digest after all.  We should know to take whatever they have to say with a grain of salt by now.  Although given that they have a Viagra induced perpetual chub for difficulty, one would think they could at least get this right...

[Lester George]

Mike,

I have played The Ocean Course 3 times.  Once with a 30 mph wind.  At the time I said it was the hardest course I had ever played except Carnoustie.  The other two times were in decent weather and I thouroughly enjoyed it.  Bit it is hard, hardest, not sure its harder than PV (in my view). 

Lester

[JC Jones]

Now I know why the caddie was so impressed with the 80 I shot there 6 weeks ago.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Cary...Glad to see that somebody agrees with me...

[Howard Riefs]

Kiawah today issued a press release touting TOC's "toughest" ranking.

http://bit.ly/vctrqR

Wasn't this viewed as a negative just yesterday?

[jeffwarne]

Kiawah today issued a press release touting TOC's "toughest" ranking.

http://bit.ly/vctrqR

Wasn't this viewed as a negative just yesterday?

all part of a grand strategy....

If it finished 100th, they'd be touting it's playability

[Jason Topp]

Now I know why the caddie was so impressed with the 80 I shot there 6 weeks ago.

Had you paid your caddie at the time?

[Jerry Kluger]

Lester: When we played Ballyhack in the scramble format we were not even back to the tips and it was incredibly difficult.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()