The TOC experience. Which era?

[Pete_Pittock]

I first played there in 1977 with 2 high school friends (age 25 at that time). Beautiful day, hot summer as you may recall from the Open at Turnberry, and very few Americans traveling to the UK in those days. The train no longer stopped there but was still a recent memory. Golf was L3.50. I had First Flight persimmon woods and First Flight irons. For the modern era, it was a great time.

Did the train tracks and railway sheds still exist?  The hotel was not there yet, I would think.

Looked at my pictures from 1975.  The sheds were gone, replaced by a chain link fence which mimicked the roof line. Train tracks were gone.  The hotel was three stories high, ugly, and set back so it shouldn't impact any flight path (maybe Garland's)


I think that was the prime time for me. Got three rounds in, staying at Rusacks. Gorse and whins were in play, minimal irrigation and 1.62" balls in play


Would time travel forward to get my Browning irons and original Adam's Tight Lies. Still use my 1975 putter at times.

[BHoover]

I have never played TOC (or anywhere in Scotland…), so my opinion is an uneducated one. But I recently watched an extended coverage feature of the 1984 Open on The Open’s YouTube channel. It seemed like TOC played pretty much ideally that week — firm, fast, browned-out, and not rendered obsolete by out-of-control equipment. If only we could turn back the clock to that moment in time…

[Niall C]

I have never played TOC (or anywhere in Scotland…), so my opinion is an uneducated one. But I recently watched an extended coverage feature of the 1984 Open on The Open’s YouTube channel. It seemed like TOC played pretty much ideally that week — firm, fast, browned-out, and not rendered obsolete by out-of-control equipment. If only we could turn back the clock to that moment in time…

So is TOC rendered obsolete for you with todays modern equipment ? If so, why don't you stop playing with modern clubs and let the rest of us get on with it.


As for the pro's, the course is no more obsolete now than it was in 1984 or any of the previous Opens for that matter. They just happen to score a bit better than they did previously. Not all of that has come from better equipment but some of it has. But also at the end of the day, no matter the equipment, the object is still the same which is to get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes.


Niall

[Jeff Schley]

I recall hearing that years ago golf was free for locals at TOC? If so a far cry from today for visitors.

[BHoover]

I have never played TOC (or anywhere in Scotland…), so my opinion is an uneducated one. But I recently watched an extended coverage feature of the 1984 Open on The Open’s YouTube channel. It seemed like TOC played pretty much ideally that week — firm, fast, browned-out, and not rendered obsolete by out-of-control equipment. If only we could turn back the clock to that moment in time…

So is TOC rendered obsolete for you with todays modern equipment ? If so, why don't you stop playing with modern clubs and let the rest of us get on with it.


As for the pro's, the course is no more obsolete now than it was in 1984 or any of the previous Opens for that matter. They just happen to score a bit better than they did previously. Not all of that has come from better equipment but some of it has. But also at the end of the day, no matter the equipment, the object is still the same which is to get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes.


Niall

Okay