We usually hear stories of extreme conditions, be they the green speeds at Oakmont, the Wind at Bandon and combinations at other courses.
Not long ago I went to play Pine Tree.
I was told by members that the greens were spectacular, firm, fast and true.
When I dropped four balls on the practice putting green I knew what to expect and mentally adjusted my stroke accordingly.
So, when I stroked my first 30 footer, it rolled past the cup, it kept on rolling and rolling and rolling until it stopped 15 feet beyond the cup.
My next putt was much better, it stopped 10 feet past the cup,
Then 8 feet, then 6 feet.
I thought to myself, these are fast, firm and true.
I kept putting.
I couldn't stop the ball
This reinforced my belief that NOTHING rolls like a ball.
I looked over and saw members, who were mostly high handicaps, putting extremely well.
Their balls, the one's that didn't go in, were all around the cup, they had figured out the pace and break.
I hadn't.
So, I thought, how long will it take me to acclamate myself to these conditions ? 3 holes, 6 holes, 9 or 18 ?
After the round it was clear that it would take more than 18, that distance was inextricably entwined with break and that mastering the two would require practice, especially 60 foot approach putts, birdie putts to the TV announcers, along with mid and short putts, and especially on any downhill putts that I would be unfortunate enough to play.
As I reflected upon my dliema, the element of the WIND entered the equation, and I thought, when a visitor comes to play courses like
Bandon, Seminole, Friars Head or Shinnecock, when the greens are FF&T, can they really adjust their game within 3.5 hours ?
I saw good golfers four putting from distance.
This has to put pressure on the golfer, pressure in the form of getting the ball closer to the hole and avoiding the dredded 40, 50 and 60 foot approach putts, that in turn putts pressure on the irons, and the driver.
So, how much of a disadvantage is a visitor under, when compared to a member, when playing on windy courses with fast, firm and true greens ?
How many strokes would it take to compensate for those conditions, conditions the visitor isn't used to ?