Where are all the Rustic Canyon fan base?
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Old Macdonald
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The public golf course player that plays Rustic Canyon doesn't get much of a chance to play NGLA.
A few more get to play Old Macdonald, but the intersection of players of both can be quite small.
And, Tommy doesn't post here any more.
All right, I'll bite...
I've played both and found Rustic more strategic. But I only played Old Mac once, and in the less suitable wind, so I am not able to say as well as some others.
Regarding Rustic Canyon, I think there are only a handful of shots on the course where I do not put a great deal of thought into the shot. My least favorite hole is the 7th, but the addition of the right fairway to the hole has opened up option for when the pin is on the right half of the green, and it's now a legitimate option off the tee. It's a more strategic hole than before, but I do wish I had gotten to the course when the original was still there.
I think on two of the par threes there might be two of the least strategic shots/holes on the course. 8 and 15 both call for an aerial shot that goes the right distance and really there is not much else to do but hit it straight and not go long. Although this is the case, I like that there are a couple of all or nothing shots mixed in and in many ways only adds to the variety of the course. The only caveat is perhaps the leftside pin on #8, for which there is no decision to be made but to go for the center of the green, but watching newcomers not realize this can produce hilarious consequences.
I would also say that the northbound par 5s with the exception of 13 (so that's 5, 9, and 10) do not impose as much decision making on the player as the rest of the course, but they are each unique and provide their own challenges.
I have not played NGLA, so I can't really answer the question of this thread. I would be up for defending the strategic virtues of Rustic if anyone feels that it does lack strategy, and I'd love to hear what might set NGLA apart from other courses (specifically I mean: I am well aware of the greatness via pictures, essays, threads, etc...).