Wider sloping fairways versus narrow ones with deep rough Thoughts?

[mike_malone]

I prefer the wider fairway with slope which places a premium on tee shot placement versus the tight fairway with rough and/or bunkers.


  I’m watching 17 in the Solheim Cup as I write this.


  Lexi hit iron and Ally hit hybrid—-yawn.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I prefer the wider fairway with slope which places a premium on tee shot placement versus the tight fairway with rough and/or bunkers.

If the slope makes the fairways play effectively narrower, how is that much different than narrower but flatter fairways? Or are you just saying wider fairways with… a little slope? But not enough for them to play effectively narrower?

I think slopes in the fairway make the approach shots more interesting, of course.

[JohnVDB]

This past week I was at the US Women’s Mid-Amateur at Brae Burn CC in Newton, MA.  The 16th hole there is almost vertical from right to left.  They doubled the size of the first cut on the left because almost won’t stay in the fairway.  For the two days of stroke play only 6% of tee shots stayed in the fairway. Other than that tee shot it was a really good golf course.

[Matt_Cohn]

I prefer the wider fairway with slope which places a premium on tee shot placement versus the tight fairway with rough and/or bunkers.

If the slope makes the fairways play effectively narrower, how is that much different than narrower but flatter fairways? Or are you just saying wider fairways with… a little slope? But not enough for them to play effectively narrower?

I think slopes in the fairway make the approach shots more interesting, of course.

I would assume because the wider, sloping fairway rewards a shot shaped in a particular direction, which a narrow, flat fairway doesn't do?

[mike_malone]

I’m trying to eliminate the flat fairway in this discussion since there isn’t much interest there although there can still be a proper side to be on. It doesn’t have to be severely sloped.


 

[Mark_Fine]

What are you defining as flat?  Are the narrow fairways at The New Course at St Andrews flat?  Rumpled fairways without slope right to left or left to right can create a lot of interest.  Obviously dead flat fairways without much internal contour can but not always be boring.  Different courses like the very narrow New Course offer different challenges.  Most true links courses are at sea level and don’t offer severe slopes from side to side.  Some are wide and some are not.  I love all the variety.