Is anything wrong with Crystal Downs?

[Tom_Doak]

The Ryder Cup. 

I understand this is theoretical but September in Northern Michigan can have dicey weather. And can the course and the Frankfort area provide the needed infrastructure? Seriously doubtful.

I was at Oakland Hills in 2004 for the Ryder Cup and while I've never been on the CD property, I can't imagine they have the space to host 40-50K people per day. Oakland Hills has a second course and they used part of it to stage the buses and we parked at the Silverdome lot in Pontiac. Ryder Cup logistics are immense.

Mike:

I attended the Ryder Cup at Medinah, which has grown way bigger than what you saw eight years earlier.

No one suggested even half seriously that Crystal Downs could put up with the infrastructure necessary for such an event.  [As I pointed out, the narrow, hilly, tree-lined 17th hole would not exactly be ideal for Ryder Cup crowds.]  We were just talking about the golf course and how it would PLAY with the best players in the world.  And a hole like that would be a blast for match play, right up there with the 10th at The Belfry.  Too bad it will never happen.

[Mac Plumart]

I know we are talking about what is "wrong" with Crystal Downs and because of that we are talking about greens speeds, is 17 good, is 18 good, How can it be a Doak 10 if 18 isn't a "must see", and all the other negative stuff about the course.

But, I can't let the thread go by without mentioning 5-8 is one of the best stretches of golf in the world. 

Carry on...

[Jud_T]

U.S. Am- Match play.

[Peter Pallotta]

I know we are talking about what is "wrong" with Crystal Downs and because of that we are talking about greens speeds, is 17 good, is 18 good, How can it be a Doak 10 if 18 isn't a "must see", and all the other negative stuff about the course.

But, I can't let the thread go by without mentioning 5-8 is one of the best stretches of golf in the world.  

Carry on...

Mac - I've never played a 10, but CD is not 10. It does have the several great holes you've noted, and many enjoyable and unusual (and thus interesting) ones; and its greens running at 11, far from being a negative, is its best feature. It is a wonderful journey, and a wonderful course.
Peter