On a lovely early autumn day 40 professional golfers gathered yesterday to compete at Cavendish. The course was presented in magnificent condition considering the appallingly wet August we've just had. The greens were a little softer and more receptive than we'd like but were running perfectly true at a speed of 10. When the day dawned with barely a breath of wind it looked as if all the course's defences were left wide open.
We needn't have worried.
When it was all over only seven competitors had broken par. The winning score of 6 under (62) which tied the course record was a fabulous round of golf but the average was 2 over!
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c353659da02bcf72b5ffadd/t/5f4e7da4d07bfe1f3b519fac/1598979493607/Cavendish+Classic+Results+%26+Prize+M.pdfThose competing yesterday are not elite professionals - this is an entry level tour comprising largely of young guys trying to make a name for themselves and up and coming pros on the verge of the Challenge Tour. What they all have in common with the household names however, is the ability to hit 300 yard drives consistently off the tee. It became immediately apparent to the spectator that this aspect of their game was easily the least important. I joked with the group I was walking with that they may as well all tee off from 300 yards down the fairway and slug it out from there. They concurred that the real action was from 150 yards in.
I was struck though, by how often they hit irons and fairway woods off the tee, even on wide holes. They were all trying to give themselves their favoured distance into the green, whether that was 150 yards or 120. Far from being overpowered by big driving, Cavendish was actually making them think about setting up their next shot in a way that a much longer course possibly doesn't.
Despite the greens being as benign as they can be after the recent rain, they were the ruin of many a round. I saw multiple three-putts and realistic birdie chances were thin on the ground as competitors struggled to position their approach shots on the best side of the hole.
Pin positions were set by the organisers, and they did a fine job. They also managed to find another 150 yards by swapping round some tees. For example, the 420 yard 5th played at 440 yards from the 17th tee, and the 160 yard 17th was stretched to 185 yards by utilising the 5th tee. It meant that the tee shots crossed each other but that isn't a problem because groups on the two holes never tee off simultaneously anyway. I played the same course later in the day and thought it worked superbly. I suspect these slight changes may become cemented in before long.
It was a fabulous day and hopefully the first of many. The tour wants to return next year and is even talking about a 3 or 4 day event at Cavendish, so impressed were they by the course and how we looked after them. If nothing else it was a huge PR coup.
The players seem to have enjoyed themselves too, although the majority were cursing under their breath about being made to look very average by a "pitch and putt" course!