[Rob Marshall]

I wish someone could explain the rational for having out of bounds in the left fescue on #1. After I played the course and was back in the states, I sent Portrush an email asking the question. I got a very nice reply that it was somewhat controversial and was a topic of conversation when they had events but no real definitive explanation.
 

[Ally Mcintosh]

.

[Tommy Williamsen]

When Martin Slumbers was asked about it, he replied that they will play it that way in the Open because they want to play the course the way members play it. I found that an unsatisfying answer after all the changes they made to the course.

[David_Tepper]

https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2019/7/18/predictably-sadly-and-absurdly-portrushs-internal-out-of-bounds-claims-the-biggest-victim-imaginable

[Kalen Braley]

I'm surprised this topic isn't getting more discussion.

The internal OB left of 1 and 18 seems very silly.  And so far the only argument seems to be, "well that's how the members play it".  The members also play it from much shorter tees and I'm guessing they don't have the greens at 10-11 for normal member play either...

[Steve Kline]

The OB stakes didn't show up over night. Rory was hitting an iron off the tee. I'd be shocked if even a handful of players hit it OB on that hole.


The reality as I see it?


The moment got to Rory and he hit a really bad shot.

[Jim Hoak]

It is reported that the internal out-of-bounds came about because the Club did not originally own the land in question.  They do now so it could be changed.  I am a great believer in tradition in golf but this seems to carry it too far.

[Kalen Braley]

The traditions I love best are the ones without any logical basis, even if there was some at some point.  Reminds me of the 5 monkeys in a cage experiment.


Sadly thou they thought so little of thier own traditions to throw away two holes and replace them....much less all the other bunkers added/moved, edited greens, and tweaks otherwise.

[Pete_Pittock]

I am betting the internal OBs will be gone pretty soon aince Rory became a victim and they can't root for him this weekend. I figure he'd be in the -8/-10 range.

[Brian_Ewen]

I am still amazed at the Spectators standing on the OB line, all backing off as Rorys ball heads their way, and allowing it to roll OB.

[Thomas Dai]

I'd be happy to have more internal out-of-bounds. Just another type of hazard to be avoided.
atb

[Keith Phillips]

Just watching as the leaders get started on day 4 - Rickie OB right, JB OB left - I have been distracted and not watching this Open until now but the set up of the first hole is preposterous.  So much for 'strategic width'.

[Keith Phillips]

Having said that, and a little OT but is there a more resilient golfer than Rickie?  Gets screwed by OB on 1 then goes birdie-birdie-birdie to push right back into contention.  Reminds me of that unfortunate 'drop' experience several months ago which he survived to win a tournament.

[BCrosby]

Internal OB has an interesting history. It has always been controversial, as far back as Hoylake at the turn of the last century.


Bob 

[Craig Sweet]

People should stop their whining and hit the ball a little straighter...

[Ronald Montesano]

I stand with Craig. This isn't the late-October sweeps for the whiners who haven't won any pro-shop credit. It's the fracking Open Championship of the civilized and uncivilized worlds! Bah-Bah-Booey and Mashed Potatoes on you who demand less of the world's best golfers. If they can hit a 236-yard shot, uphill with death eaters right on the 16th, they can hit a shot of the same value on the opening hole. Remember that they hit 6 and 7 irons 200 yards, so that's all they need to gain off the tee.


Rahm in bunker...too bad, play smarter. Rickie hits marshal a$$...too bad, play better. If I go on, you'll get more of the same.


By the way, the "safe" gesture in baseball is much lower. Still don't know why they can't use the landing signal sign to indicate OOB?

[Rob Marshall]

I stand with Craig. This isn't the late-October sweeps for the whiners who haven't won any pro-shop credit. It's the fracking Open Championship of the civilized and uncivilized worlds! Bah-Bah-Booey and Mashed Potatoes on you who demand less of the world's best golfers. If they can hit a 236-yard shot, uphill with death eaters right on the 16th, they can hit a shot of the same value on the opening hole. Remember that they hit 6 and 7 irons 200 yards, so that's all they need to gain off the tee.


Rahm in bunker...too bad, play smarter. Rickie hits marshal a$$...too bad, play better. If I go on, you'll get more of the same.


By the way, the "safe" gesture in baseball is much lower. Still don't know why they can't use the landing signal sign to indicate OOB?

When I played Portrush the inside out of bounds stakes on the first hole were in the middle of thick heather and fescue. The penalty was the heather and fescue. Why was there a need for out of bounds? The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th holes if I remember correctly all run in the same direction with the same heather and fescue but there was no OB there? I don’t think there is anything less interesting on a golf course than out of bounds. “Hit it straighter”? “Play better”? Really?  [size=78%]Why not line every hole with OB? That would make for a great championship.[/size]

[Kalen Braley]

Agreed Rob,

"Play better" and "hit it straighter" has been the battle cry to justify punishing narrow slogs for how many dozens of US Opens?

No thanks.....

[archie_struthers]

 


would like to see it go

[Jamie Pyper]

The internal OB on the first is purely historical. The current first hole was originally designed as the third when the clubhouse was in "The Triangle " in the centre of town, and the current clubhouse was the original Holyrod Hotel. The property on each side of current # 1 was never owned by the club until quite recently, so it has always played with OB each side since Harry Colt completed his design.

[Kalen Braley]

Colts design also included 17 and 18 and did not include the new #7 and #8 but they had no issue changing those holes.  It also didn't include all the back tees and extra added bunkers and moving the entire 2nd green 40 yards back...


But heaven forbid they remove the OB fence on #1... 

[Jamie Pyper]

Kalen;
Fair observation.

Portrush is an example of a classic course that will continue to evolve from the original design, as it has since Colt completed the original layout. Current holes 10 and 11 ( the old 7 and were never his design and have been in play for over 60 years. Longtime club professional P.G. Stevenson and Sir Anthony Babington designed these two to make up for two lost when the course moved out of The Triangle. Covering over the natural stream in front of current hole # 11 was another Colt change made many decades ago. I'm sure now that the R&A have their hooks embedded in its future, Martin Eberts will be tweaking it again in short order. Whether its right or wrong, The Open would not have returned to the Dunluce Links with its original 6,460 yards length. Having just spent the week at The Open, I found it quite interesting to observe that many tees on the final round were placed at the members yardage, moved well up from the championship tees, including # 9, # 16 and # 18.

[David Federman]

Other than Rory's first drive of the tournament, do we know how many (if any) others hit their ball OB along the left of the first hole? It just seems pointless  to have that very unnatural OB with no  rationale except that at one point in time, because the club did not own that land, it was, indeed, OB.


Interesting that the tees were moved up on Sunday (due to high winds?). I do not believe that the broadcast mentioned that fact.


The course did look wonderful and combined with the telecast of Lahinch two weeks ago, was a great showcase for golf in Ireland.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Not far beyond the OB line is a road running the length of the hole. Why not simply move the OB back to the road?


At least that would have a degree of logic to it. The road marks the clear boundary of the hole, if not the property.


PortrushOB by duncan cheslett, on Flickr

[Pat Burke]

Well
Given the state of professional golf distance wise, OB is in effect a rev limiter IMO


You could see it on number one at Portrush


Guys that can stand on a par three and hit long irons and hybrids at the green all day, suddenly are missing a huge area give the clubs some hit out.


I understand and appreciate width and strategy for most situations, and there was plenty on number one with a driving iron in hand for the best players.  With no OB guys would have just hit more club of the tee more often


I can see both sides, but those damned white stakes can get these guys unlike many other challenges they face
It’s weird/quirky but so is the damned road nobody drives on, on the road hole and I like that too!!

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