I was wrong. Sandwich is great.

[mike_malone]

The times I played it were always after either Deal or Rye which are my style of golf. I thought Royal St. George’s was big and brawny with less definition than the other two.


  But this week the variety is shining and the greens are stellar. The course seems straightforward and not funky.


The leaderboard is interesting.


It’s rare that I change my first impression.


I want to return.

[Tom_Doak]

The leaderboard is interesting.

It amazes me how much difference this makes in people’s perception of a course, when it’s so random.  The “wrong” guy has the best week of his life, and that’s somehow definitive?


Use Pinehurst #2 as an example.  Recent winners:


Payne Stewart over Tiger = it’s great!
Michael Campbell over Tiger = huh?
Martin Kaymer runaway = is it no good now?

[mike_malone]

I would go farther down the board than one or two but that may have been filler.

[Jon Sweet]

I would go farther down the board than one or two but that may have been filler.

In my experience, the more the tour pros bitch about the course, the more I like it.

[Sean_A]

The leaderboard is interesting.

It amazes me how much difference this makes in people’s perception of a course, when it’s so random.  The “wrong” guy has the best week of his life, and that’s somehow definitive?


Use Pinehurst #2 as an example.  Recent winners:


Payne Stewart over Tiger = it’s great!
Michael Campbell over Tiger = huh?
Martin Kaymer runaway = is it no good now?

I never bought into the leaderboard or past winners being the measure of a course. That's a bit silly. What if Tiger won 20 majors on Royal Parking Lot? It's a great course?

Ciao

[Michael Whitaker]

“I was wrong. Sandwich is great.”


As usual, you need to check in Arble… or me… before forming your final opinion. 🤣🤣

[Thomas Dai]

The quality of the TV production coverage has I suggest improved since the event was last held at RStG, angles, drones etc, and this has likely enhanced the viewing experience and thus the appreciation of the course.
Still not my favourite Open venue however.

Atb

[Michael Whitaker]

What’s your favorite, David?

[Tommy Williamsen]

I think there are at least two ways to evaluate the course: as a championship venue and as a course for mortals. Certainly we love courses like its neighbor at Deal, or St. Enodoc in Cornwall, or Dornoch in the north. AS a player, I love RSG. I have found it to be extremely fun. The routing keeps you off balance in terms of the wind. The tee ball shot isn't as scary as Portrush or County Down but keeps you on your toes. The blind shots are fun, and the terrain is just short of wonderful. It is a place I could play every day and love life. Of course that is true of a dozen links courses in GB&I.

[Thomas Dai]

What’s your favorite, David?

Big fan of Carnoustie Mike.
Atb

[Brian_Ewen]

I have not heard anyone call it the most unfair course on the open rota this year.

[Jon Sweet]

I have not heard anyone call it the most unfair course on the open rota this year.

I really dislike the word “fair” in terms of a course. I don’t believe you’re entitled to a shot at the pin if you put the ball in the fairway. Nor do I think you’re entitled to a two putt if you hit the green. The bounces are what the bounces are. The ball goes where it goes. Battle it out and hit the shot in front of you. That’s it. Obviously this allows for putting the pins in spots that are reasonable for the speed of the greens but other than that, it be what it be.

[Ally Mcintosh]

It’s not unfair, it’s just a little less predictable. I’m absolutely fine with less predictable, even encourage it. I don’t like unfair.

[Thomas Dai]

"Diddums" time.
atb

[Rob Marshall]

I have not heard anyone call it the most unfair course on the open rota this year.

I really dislike the word “fair” in terms of a course. I don’t believe you’re entitled to a shot at the pin if you put the ball in the fairway. Nor do I think you’re entitled to a two putt if you hit the green. The bounces are what the bounces are. The ball goes where it goes. Battle it out and hit the shot in front of you. That’s it. Obviously this allows for putting the pins in spots that are reasonable for the speed of the greens but other than that, it be what it be.

I think I remember reading that TD said that if you are within 10 yards of the fairway you should have a shot to the green. I may not be remembering that correctly. If you’re in the fairway imo you should have a shot to the pin. Having a shot doesn’t  mean you should take it on. Only course that I can remember playing where that may not be true is Harbour Town

[Sean_A]

I have played many courses where trees block shots to certain areas of greens.  No issue with it if the fairways are seriously wide. If they are the typical 30-40 yard wide fairways it sucks.

Ciao

[Brian_Ewen]

Sandwich is Great.


Can you believe I got 350/1 each way for MacKenzie Hughes 


God bless Canada 

[Garland Bayley]

The leaderboard is interesting.

It amazes me how much difference this makes in people’s perception of a course, when it’s so random.  The “wrong” guy has the best week of his life, and that’s somehow definitive?


Use Pinehurst #2 as an example.  Recent winners:


Payne Stewart over Tiger = it’s great!
Michael Campbell over Tiger = huh?
Martin Kaymer runaway = is it no good now?

I never bought into the leaderboard or past winners being the measure of a course. That's a bit silly. What if Tiger won 20 majors on Royal Parking Lot? It's a great course?

Ciao

Agree.
Greg Norman and Ben Curtis both won there. World #1 and world #zillion. What matters is how well you play.

[mike_malone]

As I watch the replay I admire 3 through 8. That stretch is fun.

[Jon Sweet]

I have not heard anyone call it the most unfair course on the open rota this year.

I really dislike the word “fair” in terms of a course. I don’t believe you’re entitled to a shot at the pin if you put the ball in the fairway. Nor do I think you’re entitled to a two putt if you hit the green. The bounces are what the bounces are. The ball goes where it goes. Battle it out and hit the shot in front of you. That’s it. Obviously this allows for putting the pins in spots that are reasonable for the speed of the greens but other than that, it be what it be.

I think I remember reading that TD said that if you are within 10 yards of the fairway you should have a shot to the green. I may not be remembering that correctly. If you’re in the fairway imo you should have a shot to the pin. Having a shot doesn’t  mean you should take it on. Only course that I can remember playing where that may not be true is Harbour Town

Can think of a number of courses where the wrong side of the fairway gets you no direct shot to the pin. Overhanging trees and so forth. You don’t hit the correct portion of the fairway for a hole you might just have to play away from the pin. Or the green is angled so far away from you bc you took a poor line off the tee you’ve got to move the ball quite a bit. Every hole out there, somebody plays it well enough to make birdie. Somebody plays it poorly enough to make a bogey. Those are the breaks. Hit the right side of the fairway or take your medicine.

[Rob Marshall]

You always have a direct shot at the pin unless there is an overhanging tree. It might not be a smart or safe shot but you always have one.

[Jeff Schley]

You always have a direct shot at the pin unless there is an overhanging tree. It might not be a smart or safe shot but you always have one.

Unless you are close to a sod faced bunker, which are an equalizer regardless of wind/weather in links golf.

[Matthew Rose]

As I watch the replay I admire 3 through 8. That stretch is fun.

Yep, I actually thought the front nine was a lot more interesting than the back nine.

[Sean_A]

As I watch the replay I admire 3 through 8. That stretch is fun.

Yep, I actually thought the front nine was a lot more interesting than the back nine.

The two sides offer contrasting styles. An approach to design I am on board with. Just as its best not to have 18 flat holes, so too is true about 18 holes through dunes. The most important elements which aren't sacrificed are terrain which creates issues for controlling ball flight and interesting greens. Sandwich is class throughout. The contrasting styles from 12-14 is outstanding. 10 and 16 are excellent holes. The biggest criticism I have about the course is the lack of size and shape of the bunkers. Still, Sandwich really has it all like no other Open rota course.

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

It’s not really an approach to design though, is it Sean? It’s the land that defines that approach. Really the only significant dune land at Sandwich is the system / ridges that cross the 4th, 5th, 6th holes plus the first half of 7. As you move further away from that system (both along the coast and inland), the land turns in to rollicking undulations before reaching less undulating, flatter land around 13, 14 & 15 where the course adjoins Princes which is of a similar nature.


What is great about RStG is that that change is gradual and exciting. At no point in the round do you feel like you are playing on two different sites.


That is much more important than having one nine contrasting the other, certainly for me. Whether you have 18 dune holes, 18 flatter holes or 9’s that differ in nature, the first priority for me is that your round flows on what feels like a consistent site