GJ,
OK thanks. I was a bit off on what you guys call a slog. Is that a universal term then? If I google it basically I only get posts from GCA and nothing else golf related.
Anyway I single out those holes due to length only as they are all above 400 meters which I find to be long for par 4's. I think I mentioned that before though. Agree that 8 is not a good hole, everything regardless of where you hit it rolls right. Perhaps the most extreme left right contour I've seen.
- Definitely played the wrong tees considering the conditions and wind direction.
- Still leaves the question open what other GCA'ers do in those circumstances. Would you be happy to be odd man out and play up at the tees you will find more fun if you know the rest play back? To be fair I would of joined them at the sand tees as well being alone even if I wanted to play the Blue tees just to be more social. Perhaps I'm too nice.
- Never said the course was boring I didn't think that.
- I do think it requires driver to be used too often (for my taste).
- 6 x 400 + meter par 4's is a lot and doesn't call for as much variation or strategy in comparison to other championship links courses with regards to tee shots (oh and I know it's not a true links course, though they are claiming it's a links course). Ram the driver as far as you can. I'd be willing to bet that most of the pro's come Open time will hit driver on the large majority of holes at the course.
- Group was not too fun which actually did make it a bit of a slog. In contrast I had a really great time playing with Stephen, Emile and Pete in Portland. This also affected my round at Chambers as I was expecting something else in terms of playing groups.
Actually our round was surprisingly quick for Chambers, that was great. 4 hour and 15 minutes. Not bad at all, we were able to walk through the entire time. The group behind us was 2 full holes back at the end.
Hi David,
It's all down to individual circumstance as to what tees you play. I can tell you if I'm only going to get to play a course once or twice in my lifetime, I have no qualms about choosing a different tee than my playing partners. If it's somewhere I play regularly, I'm willing to be more accommodating.
The point is, however, I wouldn't judge a course based on a set of tees I'd played that I knew weren't really right for my game.
I have not played Chambers Bay. If I had one round there, all other things being equal I would probably play the Navy (7,100) or Sand (6,500) tees. If circumstances meant I played from 7,500 into an unusual wind I would be well aware that this one experience wasn't very representative of the course.
I think the concern we're expressing here is that you're suggesting that the course may be a long slog while also admitting you played tees that were a bit too much for you, given the conditions of the day. That doesn't feel fair. Just as I wouldn't play the course from 6,000 yards and then come post a review scoffing at how the course is easy and you just hit wedges into greens all day.