[V. Kmetz]

...does this bother anyone else from a routing standpoint?


Of course, for facility of everyday play, and extraordinary emergency needs of big championships (rain, etc) I wouldn't jump up and down too much.


But I still somehow don't like it, like the course (especially revered championship courses of the canon) needs to be played in the order it was designed to be encountered.


They've been doing this at the US Open since 2002, the PGA Tour since the 70s, and I question why they wouldn't begin Rounds 1 and 2 at 7 am...off of #1 and ONLY #1...they could still get 156 out in threesomes, with 10 minute(!) gaps and be done by 3:15 pm, plenty of light for a 5.5 hour round.


cheers
vk

[BHoover]

Doesn't bother me.

[Josh Stevens]

I suppose that depends on the two holes.  If the 1st hole a nice wide starter hole that doesn't create too much stress and is designed to get the field away with minimal fuss, and the 10th is a prick of thing.  Then yes I guess it makes a big difference to the player

[Matthew Rose]

The one time it bugs me is when the 10th hole is a par three, and somebody's got to start their day with a 6-iron or something. I guess that's a timely topic since the tour is at Congressional this week.

[Matt_Cohn]

It's one of those things you can't think about. If you're in tournament play, then you shouldn't be trying to ease yourself into the round. You should be ready to go.


Besides, there are too many permutations. Maybe #10 is really hard and you start with a bogey. Or maybe it's really hard and you start with a par, and suddenly it's to your benefit.


It's the same golf course either way. My only frustration is when #10 tee is far from the clubhouse and it affects my ability to prepare for the round the way I like.

[Michael Felton]

I'm generally not a fan of starting on the 10th hole. Played at a course in Florida a few years ago and we were first off on the 1st. They did a two tee start. They told us that they take pace of play seriously and that as the first off it was our responsibility to set the pace for the day. We played the first nine holes in about 1 hr 50 mins, only to find out that they had tee times off the 10th for 2.5 hours, so we had to wait about 40 minutes before we could play 10. Then we discovered that they didn't take pace of play particularly seriously at all. /rant


The course I grew up on, the 1st was a gentle par five, while the 10th was a brute of a par four. I hated starting on 10. Much rather be up and running when hitting the 10th.

[David Whitmer]

The only time it does not bother me is if it's a tournament with a two-round cut, and therefore all participants start one round on the 1st hole and one round on the 10th hole. To me that makes it fairly equitable.

[Joe Schackman]

I played in a qualifier a few weeks ago and we started on #10 and I didn't give it an extra thought. But my playing partner said he hates starting a tournament on any hole but #1. He acknowledged everyone is playing the same course but he just said he felt better about playing the course 1 to 18.

I don't really get it but clearly it does bother some folks.

[Paul Dolton]

Hope it never happens at the Open. Especially at St Andrews.

[Will MacEwen]

The Open has about 16 hours of daylight.

I don't see the issue. Several courses have flopped their nines at some point in history.

[John Kavanaugh]

At one point in my life I regularly played in a tournament where the 10th was a 200 yd par three with OB right. I always felt cheated starting on that hole considering they didn't have a range. Also the 17th and 18th were both drivable par 4's. We as a team once finished eagle, eagle to win out of nowhere. Note I said team. I can be a very supportive partner.

[Matthew Petersen]

I suppose that depends on the two holes.  If the 1st hole a nice wide starter hole that doesn't create too much stress and is designed to get the field away with minimal fuss, and the 10th is a prick of thing.  Then yes I guess it makes a big difference to the player

Best example of this in championship play is probably Pebble Beach?


The start from #1 is gentle and offers good scoring chances. Starting from #10 means a very long cart ride to even get to the tee, and then starting on a really tough driving hole.

[Jeff Shelman]

It doesn't bother me at all.


And while there is enough time to do threesomes off of 1 for the US Open, it doesn't leave much cushion. If the USGA had gone 1 tee only this year, it seems very doubtful they would have finished on Sunday. The used spilt tees for the third round as well and that allowed them to catch up.


I also don't have the reservations about starting on a par 3. I think it is probably easier for those guys as they can prepare for that shot on the range.

[Pete_Pittock]

The PGA is held in mid-August. I picked Valhalla in Lexington, KY as a recent host.
Sunrise is 6:54. Sunset is 8:30ish on Aug 15th.
Your lead group would practice in the dark. Your last group would play the last hole in the dark. No time for any weather delay. There are a myriad other problems. such as course preparation and setup. Please continue.

However, I would  agree on playing the 17th at TPC Sawgrass mid-round.

[Matt OBrien]

I know that if I was playing the crump cup at PV I would rather start on 10. 10,11,12 are much easier holes than 1,2,3.

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