Who hasn’t played The Old Course & definitely should have?

[Scott Warren]

I discovered this week that a good friend of mine from this corner of the woods has never played The Old Course at St Andrews.


I’m curious to this sentence completed by anyone (I won’t out my mate, but keen to hear his response if he so wishes) who considers they qualify for the statement:


“I really should have played The Old Course by now, but I haven’t because...”


In Australia, the equivalent I find is when someone is working in the golf design or maintenance field and hasn’t visited Royal Melbourne.


I’m curious, what’s the equivalent in the United States? The place that everyone in the industry really ought to have made the effort to see (noting the more tangible access barriers)?

[Ulrich Mayring]

“I really should have played The Old Course by now, but I haven’t because...”

... during my week at St Andrews as a single player I could not get on.

Ulrich

[Steve Lapper]

I discovered this week that a good friend of mine from this corner of the woods has never played The Old Course at St Andrews.


I’m curious to this sentence completed by anyone (I won’t out my mate, but keen to hear his response if he so wishes) who considers they qualify for the statement:


“I really should have played The Old Course by now, but I haven’t because...”


In Australia, the equivalent I find is when someone is working in the golf design or maintenance field and hasn’t visited Royal Melbourne.


I’m curious, what’s the equivalent in the United States? The place that everyone in the industry really ought to have made the effort to see (noting the more tangible access barriers)?

Your question is a good one, yet yields multiple answers.


I'd say NGLA, Pine Valley and or Sand Hills are the league-leaders for architectural study. If limited by access, the logical alternatives are Pinehurst#2, Bethpage Black, Bandon.

[Nigel Islam]

[quote author=Steve Lapper l


Your question is a good one, yet yields multiple answers.


I'd say NGLA, Pine Valley and or Sand Hills are the league-leaders for architectural study. If limited by access, the logical alternatives are Pinehurst#2, Bethpage Black, Bandon.



I have not had the opportunity to play Pine Valley, but the other two definitely are eye opening experiences. Pinehurst # 2 was the one that really peaked my interest in what makes golf architecture actually good.

[Guy Nicholson]

I really should have played The Old Course by now, but I haven’t because I was in Scotland just once, [/size]unexpectedly, [/color][/size]with a non-golfing friend,[/color][/size] [/color][/size]in February, with snow in the air, and I haven't made it back. I watched a couple of groups tee off and went through the British Golf Museum, but 15 years later, I'm still not sure whether the emotional burden of being there without playing was worth it. [/color]

[Jeff Schley]

In the US I don't think you can include the private courses, for most don't have access.  On GCA sure much more prevalent but not for the average guy.
I'd say Pebble Beach is the iconic public course equivalent.

[Sean_A]

For me the American TOC is without a doubt Pinehurst #2. Both are public access and part of a milt-course complex, no lost ball championship venues whose greens are prominent, with design pedigree by men who are arguably the most influential on either side of the pond.


Ciao

[Mark Fedeli]

I haven't played the Old Course because during both of my golf trips to Scotland it was closed for R&A events.


And though I obviously really want to play it, I don't feel like I've missed out. I've played 15 other amazing courses in Scotland and think back on those weeks as being among the very best of my life. But I'll be back. And it will be accomplished.

[Steve Lapper]

In the US I don't think you can include the private courses, for most don't have access.  On GCA sure much more prevalent but not for the average guy.
I'd say Pebble Beach is the iconic public course equivalent.

Pebble is certainly beautiful, and nicely routed, but it is as comparable to TOC as Farrah Fawcett is to Meryl Streep.

[Ben Stephens]

I was selected to play for University of Dundee Golf team to play the R+A on the Old Course in the late 1990s however I was unable to play as I had an important critique for my project work even though the then Head of Architecture was a golfer! I was gutted and on the other hand had a pretty good crit and caught up with my friends afterwards they said Michael Bonnallack played so that was even more gutting not to meet a golfing legend.
[size=78%] [/size]

[Thomas Dai]

I’m curious, what’s the equivalent in the United States? The place that everyone in the industry really ought to have made the effort to see (noting the more tangible access barriers)?

On a recent podcast Rees Jones said he hadn't seen Sand Hills. Although perhaps he wouldn't be allowed on site!!
atb

[George Pazin]

Damn, I was really hoping someone would have posted my pic by now....


I don't think there is a US course. Pinehurst and Pebble are beyond the means of most. And I don't think our topography lends itself to the bigger question.


But those things aside, I doubt I personally would trust anyone who hadn't played TOC with an opinion on any architectural question. That's like asking me to trust the artistic instincts of someone who hadn't ever heard of Michelangelo. Or Picasso. Or Da Vinci. Or whoever. Or asking a musician who had never heard of Mozart, or the Beatles, or whoever.


Could I be wrong? Certainly. Would I bet on that? Not a chance.

[Jeff Loh]

YALE
Only in America

[Ulrich Mayring]

I certainly wouldn't trust anyone's opinion on golf architecture, if said person had never heard of TOC. But if said person knows all about it, but has never played it - different story. I've actually never been to Paris in my entire life, so there's no way I could have ever seen the Mona Lisa. But I'm pretty sure that I know enough about it to be half-dangerous

Ulrich

[Kalen Braley]

George,

In the spirit of Ulrich's post....there are far far far more Yucksters, Tacky Tourists, Ignorant Locals, and Scott Hoch's of the world who have played it, in whom I would never trust thier opinion on GCA...

[jeffwarne]

In the US I don't think you can include the private courses, for most don't have access.  On GCA sure much more prevalent but not for the average guy.
I'd say Pebble Beach is the iconic public course equivalent.

Pebble is certainly beautiful, and nicely routed, but it is as comparable to TOC as Farrah Fawcett is to Meryl Streep.

I'm curious, which course is Farrah Fawcett? cuz I never had a poster of Merlyl Streep in my room....

[mike_beene]

Ben Hogan. Didn't detour going south from Carnoustie and never got to town. Never came back.

[Mark Chaplin]

Ulrich as a single golfer unless the course was closed you would on got on TOC with the appropriate level of desire.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Ulrich as a single golfer unless the course was closed you would on got on TOC with the appropriate level of desire.

There goes another myth...the Germans rise early and work hard at the job

[Ally Mcintosh]

There can be no American equivalent because for those who are lucky enough to have access to great private courses, neither Pinehurst nor Pebble is a must see in the way TOC is.


And for those who don’t, they spend as much effort trying to gain access to those private courses as they do planning to visit Pinehurst or Pebble.

[Jeff Schley]

Ulrich as a single golfer unless the course was closed you would on got on TOC with the appropriate level of desire.

There goes another myth...the Germans rise early and work hard at the job

Ouch I'm half German.

[Greg Smith]

In the US I don't think you can include the private courses, for most don't have access.  On GCA sure much more prevalent but not for the average guy.
I'd say Pebble Beach is the iconic public course equivalent.

Pebble is certainly beautiful, and nicely routed, but it is as comparable to TOC as Farrah Fawcett is to Meryl Streep.

I'm curious, which course is Farrah Fawcett? cuz I never had a poster of Merlyl Streep in my room....

Uh, actually Meryl Streep as the enigmatic Polish immigrant Sophie (1979 I think) means wayyyyyy more to me than Farrah Fawcett ever did.  I guess I have a thing for Polish women (who historically have a reputation as among the most beautiful in the world).   Meryl Streep isn't Polish, but she sure did a great imitation!

In this analogy, TOC has to be Meryl Streep.  Pebble is more "obviously" beautiful, TOC is more "enigmatically" beautiful.

[Colin Macqueen]

Gentlemen,
Ach, now this is an embarrassing question for me to answer at a personal level!


In my opinion Mike Beene has hit the nail on the head with Ben Hogan, "The Wee Ice Mon", as the definitive answer!


As far as myself is concerned as a Dundonian resident in my teens and a frequent visitor to the Kingdom and St. Andrews due to my Dad's University and family connections, compound by the fact that I am a golf tragic of epic proportions I have to solemnly admit I have never played the Old Course at St Andrews. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!


So having confessed I now have to try and justify what many would consider a cardinal sin. Let me explain.
Well the cost is exorbitant is it not!?
 
I also firmly believe that I should not abuse this Grand Old Lady with my execrable golf as she is subjected to hordes of golfers of debatable skills as it is!


The hordes of golfers suggest that the pace of play may leave something to be desired and this multitude of practitioners scurrying over sacred ground leaves me less than enthusiastic!


In the Kingdom of Fife there is a cornucopia of golf courses to choose from and very fine they are!


Now this does not mean I do not have the utmost respect for this hallowed ground and I have enjoyed many a Sunday stroll across the sward but whack a ball on it's turf I have not done.


Lame excuses or not the truth is out and I must suffer the calamities which may now befall me. Considering my heritage this is probably heretical!

[Michael Moore]

Scott -
 
Your mate lives ten thousand miles away from Scotland. I'm going to give him a pass on this one.

[Mark Pearce]

Scott -
 
Your mate lives ten thousand miles away from Scotland. I'm going to give him a pass on this one.

No, he doesn't.