When is there too much water?

[Tommy Williamsen]

saw this statistic on the telecast at Memphis.
Courses with most balls in the water 2003-2015
TPC Southwind------4671
TPC Sawgrass-------3104
GC Houston---------2994
Muirfield Village-----2828
When I played MV and Sawgrass I felt I needed to be on top of my game to avoid the water, but didn't feel claustrophobic. I have not played Outhwind but the number of balls in the water is phenominal. Too much water in play? How do the members like it? I would like the be a golf ball salesman at the club.

[Jon Wiggett]

When the water is not natural maybe

[Tommy Williamsen]

When the water is not natural maybe

Understand your thought but that would eliminate most water hazards.

[Jon Wiggett]

When the water is not natural maybe

Understand your thought but that would eliminate most water hazards.

Yep   but just to be a little controversial, the artificial water hazard is most often used as the lazy option when the GCA can't be bothered to come up with something decent. If it is not natural or there for a practical reason such a drainage then it is probably best left well alone.

[BCowan]

When the water is not natural maybe

Understand your thought but that would eliminate most water hazards.

Yep   but just to be a little controversial, the artificial water hazard is most often used as the lazy option when the GCA can't be bothered to come up with something decent. If it is not natural or there for a practical reason such a drainage then it is probably best left well alone.

+1, well said

[Mike Nuzzo]

Cool stat, thank you for sharing.
The average tour pro loses approx 3 balls over four rounds in Memphis and 2 balls in Houston.
That is a lot of water balls, I feel bad for the average player.
I quick check of the PGA tour stats, which doesn't list water balls, looks like approx 6-7 balls in green side bunkers per tournament.
That is a lot of hazards for the best players.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Some water can be exciting. It is thrilling to hit a ball over the ocean on 16 at Cypress Point but I do grow weary of cape18th holes on the tour. For the 18 handicap water is a magnet. I remember playing at Innisbruck with a friend who is about 18. He must have lost a dozen balls one round. He finally would say, "Thousand dollars if I hit it in the water." He figured if he aimed at it he would miss the water. It worked. Muirfield Village has water on 14 holes. That's a lot. Jack even added one on 16 a few years ago.

[Jamey Bryan]

I've been hoping Ron would jump in on this.....  He did post a comment on Facebook noting the statistic (and blaming his twin brother), but also noting that water was present (albeit sometimes in the form of a creek rather than a pond) everywhere it appears on the course.

Maybe now that the tournament is over he'll pipe in.....

Jamey

[Carl Rogers]

Water Hazards and only 2 par 5's are probably why scores are a bit higher than the average Tour Event.  The 11th hole (short par 3 island green), 12th hole (shortish par 4 with water all down the right side) and the 18th hole (poor imitation of TPC Sawgrass 18th and not long enough to make them hit driver) are template holes that are over used.  The holes with the creeks are the most interesting use of the water hazard.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I agree that creeks are much more interesting than little ponds. They add both interest and beauty.

[Dan Gallaway]

TPC Sawgrass had always been on my Bucket List, but after watching The Players, I realized I would be taking penalty drops all day long.  At what point does the rough at Oakmont become a greater "penalty" than a water hazard?