George P and Brian G and billig:
The rough height at Dunluce when I played it this past September was extremely high. There was little transition points between the finely cut fairways and the hay-like conditions that were soooooooooooo close at hand. You also had to pay strict attention if your ball even bounded near the high grass because it could disappear faster than a mole in a covert operation!
If you missed the fairway on a FEW holes by a scant margin it's likely the options were limited to:
1). SW or PW back to fairway
2). Re-load because of lost ball
I mentioned that a course of such supreme stature (I would have it among my personal 10-15 courses I have ever played) doesn't need to have bowling-alley type fairways because the setting and the nature of the holes goes far beyond that easy solution of growing grass that HIGH on a number of holes. This was rough no les, if not more so, than the toughest stuff I have encountered when playing Bethpage Black prior to the time when they renovated the turf.
When you factor in the daily wind conditions and terrain of Dunluce you don't need much more for the scores to pile up high. I guess in suggesting that the fairways be "tweaked" just a tad has led some misinformed souls to believe that I am advocating fairways the width of the 1st hole at TOC. That is so laughable that it doesn't require a response.
The driving element at both RCD and Dunluce is simply too GOOD to be manipulated by hay-like grass that infringes upon the playing areas reminiscent of what was done at Carnoustie for the '99 BO. The designs have enough strength to simply provide a fair opportunity for the player without resorting to gimmicks IMHO.
DPL11:
Let me clarify something you may not know. I was invited, along with members of the GolfWeek panel (i.e. Mike Cirba, Joe Martin and Bill Vostinak) to play Hidden Creek. If the course was not prepared to have raters come by then don't invite them -- end of story. I rate based on what I observed. I'm also a bit smarter than you and the homers may think to understand that some elements of the golf course may not be at "peak" levels. Those elements are often included in any review.
Nonetheless, I base what I wrote on what I played. It's no different than having critics go to a Broadway show and assess what they saw. It's not my responsibility to know when the course is ready -- that's up to management.
Regarding one round of golf -- you will find that other reviewers whether they be Mr. Whitten, Mr. Klein, Mr. Doak, et al -- base opinions from one-time visits as well. I also
said -- you must have forgotten -- that I do make revisits to properties because matters / opinions can change depending upon what takes place from the first visit to the next one. Golf courses are an evolving entitty and one must not have a close mind that matters can change -- up or down. I have even included such reviews in Jersey Golfer (i.e. NJ National, to name just one example). Given your statement -- how many visits would you want to happen before a course is ratable. 5? 10? 50? 100?
What's "ridiculous" (to use your word) is the idea that MEMBERS OF THE COURSE IN QUESTION have no conflict of interest in the assessment of their own course
. These rabbit-ear gents than have the audacity to question the motives of the person doing the rating because the CONCLUSIONS reached by a disinterested observer do not match WORD-FOR-WORD their own conclusions. Please spare me all this anger when the reality is that people have opinions on golf courses all the time and the "process" followed here was one that takes place for Hidden Creek and other courses I visit. I go when the courses say they are ready -- simple as that. Keep in mind that when observers do come to play they will make up their own minds based on that visit. If you don't like my opinions so be it. Like I said you were personally asked to participate in the next Jersey Golfer ratings taking place in '04. Somehow you conveniently forgot to highlight this fact -- I guess bomblasting Ward is far easier than to mention this "open-minded" element. You see I don't have rabbit
ears like so many others -- the invitation still holds.
Happy holidays from the "blowhard" ...