I was wrong. Sandwich is great.

[Sean_A]

It’s not really an approach to design though, is it Sean? It’s the land that defines that approach. Really the only significant dune land at Sandwich is the system / ridges that cross the 4th, 5th, 6th holes plus the first half of 7. As you move further away from that system (both along the coast and inland), the land turns in to rollicking undulations before reaching less undulating, flatter land around 13, 14 & 15 where the course adjoins Princes which is of a similar nature.

What is great about RStG is that that change is gradual and exciting. At no point in the round do you feel like you are playing on two different sites.

That is much more important than having one nine contrasting the other, certainly for me. Whether you have 18 dune holes, 18 flatter holes or 9’s that differ in nature, the first priority for me is that your round flows on what feels like a consistent site

I didn't mean the specific nines had to be contrasting, but that its nice to have a mix of terrain, however it may fall in the round. I do feel like WTF between 12 and 13, but in a good way. I still chuckle over the 12th.

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

Ah ok. Yes I agree it’s nice to have a mix of terrain through a round, as long as you feel like you are moving naturally from one part of a site to another.


I agree that 12 creates a big smile / chuckle.


It really is a great course.

[Sean_A]

It was very noticeable that mid to long irons were heavily relied upon this week for approach shots if we include 3 and 11. I found this to be quite unusual.


Ciao

[Kalen Braley]

The two most intriguing holes to me were:

12 - Mostly due to the fact that its played to that fairway... at a diagonal, which must drive good players nuts.  But it looks like a hole where you could experiment with strategy near endlessly.

15 - Not so much the landing zone for the drive which looks totally penal, but the approach into that green and surrounds just looks brilliant.  All kinds of deception going on, and several ways to succeed or get in trouble.  If any green and surrounds should become templatized from that course, my vote would be for this one.

P.S.  Not sure what to make of 14.  Just seemed odd that pros could eviscerate it with two iron shots, and its a par 5.

[Michael Felton]

The two most intriguing holes to me were:

12 - Mostly due to the fact that its played to that fairway... at a diagonal, which must drive good players nuts.  But it looks like a hole where you could experiment with strategy near endlessly.

15 - Not so much the landing zone for the drive which looks totally penal, but the approach into that green and surrounds just looks brilliant.  All kinds of deception going on, and several ways to succeed or get in trouble.  If any green and surrounds should become templatized from that course, my vote would be for this one.

P.S.  Not sure what to make of 14.  Just seemed odd that pros could eviscerate it with two iron shots, and its a par 5.

I can't think of many holes that are more affected by the wind than 12. Into a solid wind off the tee you can barely reach the first crest and then you have quite a long shot in with ball below your feet and the wind off the left. Tough combination. Downwind, you can be tempted to try to get close to the green. There's a lot of fairway there, but I feel like I've rarely played from it and the shots into the green from the rough are very challenging. Especially from the right. The TV really doesn't do justice to the slopes around that green.


14 with a wind off the left is a monster. They were I think mostly playing it downwind. They were hitting irons on the green from 280. That's going to make a hole play short even if it's 550 yards long. I was very impressed with how they took on the OB a lot, especially on the approach shots.


15's approach area is wild. Everything kicks right, but if you play left to allow for it you are a whisker from being in real big trouble left of that green. I didn't see anyone on the coverage I saw hit it left there. Lots hit it right. Not surprisingly really for people as good as them. Us normal mortals spend more time left of that green and it's a rough spot.

[Ally Mcintosh]

The two most intriguing holes to me were:

12 - Mostly due to the fact that its played to that fairway... at a diagonal, which must drive good players nuts.  But it looks like a hole where you could experiment with strategy near endlessly.

15 - Not so much the landing zone for the drive which looks totally penal, but the approach into that green and surrounds just looks brilliant.  All kinds of deception going on, and several ways to succeed or get in trouble.  If any green and surrounds should become templatized from that course, my vote would be for this one.

P.S.  Not sure what to make of 14.  Just seemed odd that pros could eviscerate it with two iron shots, and its a par 5.

15 is really interesting for its juxtaposing of two diagonals at the green, the fronting bunkers going in an opposite direction to the offset angle of the green. Not sure I’ve seen that done elsewhere so you’re probably right that the idea could prove inspirational.

[Kalen Braley]

Michael,

Morikawa missed left on 15 in the final round and had a super clutch up and down to a short sided pin from the gunch.  Not sure what was bigger, his putt up and over a ridge on 14 for bird or that par save.

Ally,

Exactly on 15. What a great green and surrounds to do something similar with.  All kinds of stuff going on...