Triple Junk Punch

[Tim Martin]

If I could only play PGA National, Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass in a never ending loop I’m thinking I might opt out. Giving deference to the four majors I don’t think any of them are bookended by events that mete out a tougher three tournament stretch on the PGA Tour. What say the greatest minds in golf?

[Terry Lavin]

If I could only play PGA National, Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass in a never ending loop I’m thinking I might opt out. Giving deference to the four majors I don’t think any of them are bookended by events that mete out a tougher three tournament stretch on the PGA Tour. What say the greatest minds in golf?

I’ve played ‘em all and I’ve gone sleeveless on each, in a way unrelated to clothing, shall I say.

[Tim Martin]

One of the pundits chimed in this morning that the Players this week will actually be a reprieve from PGA National and Bay Hill and that it is the easiest of the three.

[Peter Pallotta]

It raises the question of whether "playing the correct set of tees" actually has anything at all to do with our experience of a golf course or our enjoyment of the architecture -- as we've been told constantly that it does for the last 50+ years. Perhaps in some cases in deference to their clients' wishes, just about every architect alive, from Fazio-Nicklaus to Coore-Doak, has supported & fostered this belief/notion through the use of 4 and 5 and 6 sets of tees on every course they've ever built. But over the years here after so often reading posts from decent & well-travelled golfers like Terry, the truth seems to be that a golf course/design is either terrific enough to serve us all with only two sets of tees or so average/banal that even a dozen sets of tees wouldn't make much of a difference.       

[Ian Andrew]

I'm a 14 hcp.


I can (and did) get around both Sawgrass and Bay Hill comfortably, by playing a few extra shots to go the long way.
I've have not played the other course.


They both have enough width to give me options on where I'm going.
The corridors for holes are quite wide, so recovery is not that bad.


They also don't have the rough you see for the event.

[MCirba]

Good thing they pulled Doral and Eagle Trace from the Florida swing. 

[Sean_A]

I'm a 14 hcp.

I can (and did) get around both Sawgrass and Bay Hill comfortably, by playing a few extra shots to go the long way.
I've have not played the other course.

They both have enough width to give me options on where I'm going.
The corridors for holes are quite wide, so recovery is not that bad.

They also don't have the rough you see for the event.

My take away from this is you are a 14 marker. Is this some sort of perverse Canadian joke ?

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

Good thing they pulled Doral and Eagle Trace from the Florida swing. 

The former pre-Trump Doral was an excellent site for a Tour event.(Give or take a couple Floyd failed renovation years)
When the wind blew, it had its share of challenging water laden holes.
3,4,8,9,10,18-with only 18 having limited tee shot options when an unfavorable wind blew. (just not enough bail on the right-it was a very narrow strip that ended down the right)
6 somewhat dramatic Florida-like holes to provide a heart pumping tour test and resort player excitement, yet 12 other holes that could be navigated every day by a resort guests and playable in seasonal high winds for the event.
The Blue "Monster" just wasn't that monstrous compared to the nonsense we see every hole in the current 3 event stretch on Tour. where it's not really about strategy, but rather sheer execution.


When the wind didn't blow every few years they tore Doral up, a la Erin Hills ,which IMHO got an absolutely unfair bad rap when they got their own  "outbreak of unexpected weather"(***see below) and scores were low-IN NO SMALL PART because they actually had the balls to have par 5's for a par of 72, thus fooling the unsophisticated observer into freaking out about -16 (a USGA -8)


***(Mike Davis coined phrase in 2018 Shinnecock after 4 days of 75 degree breezy weather including a couple days game saving of light rain-exactly what we get every June on Eastern Long Island which should be picked up by the on-site guy WHO LIVES THERE for 2 years prior)