Tune-ups and practice courses...

[RJ_Daley]

If you were a pro in the elite strata, and fancied yourself as a potential winner of a major toon-a-mint, would you spend time at specific similar designed and conditioned course to the major venue for that year, as a practice facility to tune-up your game prior to the major?

For instance, the Masters.  If you are going to take a few weeks off in the timeframeleading into the Masters week, would you spend time at a particular course you think might help you with fast putts, and hilly or specific sort of shot shape demands? 

I don't know how true it is; but I heard Tom Watson once or more went out to SHGC in weeks prior to 'The Open Championship' held at one of the more dramatic links in the rota, to tune-up. 

Where would you go prior to Merion?  Oakmont? 

Wouldn't a competitor want to seek out a similar venue,, if possible to get the feel? 

[Wade Whitehead]

I've often heard that Redstone snags a number of top players because they replicate some of the shots and conditions players will face the next week at Augusta.

WW

[Jeff Bertch]

Hogan spent the month of March at Seminole before every Masters...even though Seminole is a second shot course like ANGC, I think this had as much to do with his good friend and club president at the time, George Coleman.

If I were going to Oakmont, I'd stay in my kitchen and practice putting on the hardwood floor!

Sometimes it is nice to go to a place where you can make a lot of birdies and get your confidence up.