[Mark Pearce]

Maybe we ought to ask if any of the pros go anywhere in particular to practice before the Open.  Perhaps Shinnecock, or National.  I heard that Tom Watson was dropping into Sand Hills prior to the trip over.  Obviously if that is true, it hasn't helped him win since '83 was his last, well before SH was built.

I'm guessing that Wild Horse and front 9 at Bayside would be good training, when they are at their firm and fastest.

A number of them (including Tiger and,in the past, Faxon and Watson) travel to - wait for it - Scotland and Ireland to prepare.  This helps sort out the jetlag earlier, too.  I believe Woods goes to Ireland.  Faxon used to go to Macrihanish and Watson, famously, to Dornoch.

[Tom Huckaby]

Dr. V. is right.

We've all been suggesting approximations, but nowhere here in the US is really all that much like the real thing - including Bandon.  I'd say that unless you are going over there for competitive reasons (in which case, Mark Pearce just gave the truly best idea) it really is better to just go over there and be surprised.  Nothing here will really prepare you all that well for it anyway.

TH

[Pete Lavallee]

not that I am discouraging anyone from BD Resort, it's just not links golf.

Bandon uses a mix of Colonial Bent and Fescue from tee to green, giving true links like conditions. There is no grass type transition from fairway to green; you can literally putt from 40-50 yards away. How does this not simulate links conditions?

[Tom Huckaby]

Pete:

I'd say it simulates links golf VERY well - as well as anywhere in the US.  And it is fantastically great fun up there.

It's just not the real thing - and you know that.

But I can't put my finger on exactly why... perhaps Dr. V. can explain it.  I just never felt like I was anywhere but southern Oregon when I was in Bandon... and I even got weather this last time worst than anything I ever got overseas.

TH

[redanman]

My biggest point is if you want to practice for the $400 links, go play the cheap little links courses.  They cost next to nothing.

Go to Bandon - spend a fortune, maybe it'll be fast and firm.  It's your money, Pete. Bandon is EXPENSIVE.

It's very simple:  Go to Bandon Resort to play Bandon Resort. Go to the links to play the links.

I don't care what the grasses are.

[Mike Benham]

I like to think I have the shots.  Can hit either the low fade or draw pinched with the low finish and 1/2 swing.  

 

Pardon me for asking, but what is your handicap?  What type of shot do you routinely hit, fade, draw, high, low?

Played Pacific Grove but did not feel the conditions were fast and hard.  Seemed rather soft to me.

What time of the year are you making the trip to Ireland or Scotland?  The browned out courses that you see for The Open Championship are that way because it is July, if you are going in May, you will see courses that are greener and the ball does not roll out as much as in July.

The backside at Pacific Grove is really your best and cheapest option as it has sandy soil and fescue turf that is most like Scotland.  Go back in late August and see if there is more bounce in the turf.

Been trying around here, but just don't feel the conditions are matching.  

 

But honestly, why does it matter?  If you are any type of a player, you already know how  to adapt your game to the weather conditions or how the course is playing.

The ground game in Scotland has many random bounces and by definition, you can’t practice the randomness results.  

[Tom Huckaby]

Well then there you have it.  Put me down with Dr. V.  Well said, my friend.

Only one thing... I can't imagine Bandon ever NOT being fast and firm.  Man if it was during the February monsoons and gales that we saw, when would it ever get waterlogged?  So conditions are pretty darn links-like.

But the rest I am right behind.  Bandon is it's own thing.  UK links are there own thing.

TH

[Pete Lavallee]

Tom,

The question was: where to I go to practice links golf, not are there any links in the US. Any golf course where the putter works better than the L-wedge is good practice in my book!

[Kalen Braley]

Patrick,

In all seriousness, your best bet is to go to Chuck Corica complex in Alameda and practice on the range.  Last time I was there it was an astroturf driving range and you can practice hitting low shots and watch them running out.  You can at least approximate how to hit a 7 iron 100 irons with a low running show.  And if its a typical afternoon bay area wind you'll get lots of side wind to play with as well.

kalen

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom,

The question was: where to I go to practice links golf, not are there any links in the US. Any golf course where the putter works better than the L-wedge is good practice in my book!

Pete:

I got the question.  And like I say, Bandon is likely the best approximation.  But still, I like Dr. V's answer.  It does seem like a lot of trouble and a lot of money for an approximation, one that is in the end better being considered as its own truly great thing, not an approximation of anything else.

TH

[Tom Birkert]

The whole joy of playing links golf is that you have to adapt to the unexpected. You simply can’t prepare for some of the shots you’ll have to hit, no matter where you practice, unless you’re actually playing Royal St George’s!

Find a range where there normally is a lot of wind, and then start imagining shots. You can practice as much as you want but you still might be presented with a shot which you haven’t played before and you need to invent something.

With regards to actually playing links golf, don’t try and get too clever. Holding a fade into the wind might make you look good but is a tough thing to pull off. Get used to hitting three quarter shots, bump and runs with a 7 iron and adjusting to the fact the ball isn’t going to pitch and stop.

Links golf is great fun, while I don’t play too often at seaside courses I am used to playing in firm and fast conditions at my home course (I recently hit a long chip and run with a hybrid from 160 yards into a 3 club wind as it was the percentage play rather than attempting to hit a 3 or 4 iron aerially into the green).

I think you might actually spoil some of the enjoyment of links golf by preparing too much for it. Come over here, experience the breaks and bounces and enjoy the multitude of challenges it presents!

[Patrick Kiser]

Thanks for everyone for the feedback.  Helpful to see what folks think.  Probably going to pay Mariners Point a visit.  Been a while and maybe due.  Plus price is right.


Mike,

15 these days.  Dreadful putter.  When all esle fails and I'm just not swinging well, I go to the high fade.  But normally I pick the shot to fit the situation.  I just adjust my ball position and finish to keep low or high.  I also had a couple of sticks made up with stiff tips to keep the ball down even more.

Shooting for summertime when the days stretch into the night.  My idea of fast would be like Hoylake last year.
Played PG last September in fact and just think it wasn't all that fast.  But that's just me.

I just feel I do better when I give myself a chance to practice in similar conditions.  I'm not that great at adjusting to a completely diffirent feel within a given round.  Hence the idea of prepping.

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