With the golf course being this fast, it lent itself to just amazing creativity....--Tiger Woods

For the naysayers, I could play on those conditions everyday and die a happy man. Dry, arid, brown and green and orange and yellow, even white!, FIRM & FAST!

I can only think that the need to carry 6 to 7 clubs max would be not only lighter on the shoulder, but it would make one a better, more creative and instinctive ball striker.  

Thoughts?

It looked like a lot of fun and I thought it was a great tournament. Everything in moderation  is always a good way to live and I think it applies to golf courses, except for certain architects, of course. I could see getting to miss some of my American favorites after a while, but it would take some time.

Tommy - that would get old quickly.  Man does not live by match play and laying up alone.  It's also fun to make birdies.

I speak from experience... you of all people should know... this is how it works out with hickories a lot of the time.  So it's very fun for a change.  But for ALL of one's golf?  Well.....

TH

See, I think it would be the spirit of the challenge. the idea of whether you can make it or not.

Architecturally, it might mean that after years of mindless and uncreative use of water--more of its over-use is put to death.

R-E-M-O-D-E-L!!!!!

Tom Huckaby:

Most seem to constantly miss the over-all philosophy of my Maintennce Meld, and what it's intended to accomplish course to course. It is not a "one size fits all" philosophy like the American maintenance philosophy of the last half century where ALL courses in the States were supposed to be maintained in one homogenized way---eg generally green and lush and softish. My IMM is definitely specific to the type of course one has, and that can call for differing maintenance practices to highlight differing design intents.

On many classic and links type courses it is a combination of firm and fast "through the green" and green surfaces that are imaginatively fast enough and firm to the point of only a "light dent" to a really well struck lofted aerial shot from the fairway. The latter is to promote something of a lack of reliabilty to aerial shots all day long from particularly good players who are just looking to stick the ball.

On the other hand, with some modern primarily aerial design intent course and architecture that (the IMM) needs to be adjusted to provide for firm and fast "through the green" but green surfaces that are fast but soft enough to promote the total reliability of well executed aerial shots---eg to allow the ball to check and suck back on the greens, if necessary and if intended. Don't forget, that component has always been part of most of the modern playability on modern aerial game designed courses.

But not so, or not only so, on the classic ones. Generally, they're designed inherently differently and call for other types of options and shot choices. The one thing I never want to see on a classic course looking for the IMM is to see the ball hit the green and stop dead or suck back----obviously weather permitting, that is.

O.K. Here's another question, a course like say, Rye or Hoylake, what seven (7) clubs are you going to use?

Mine would be the following (Out of my current bag)

Ping G5 3 Wood
Ping Eye 2 5 Wood (the wood club I would probably use most)
Ping Eye 2 4 Iron
Ping Eye 2 6 Iron
Ping Eye 2 8 Iron
Callaway Hickory Stick Hi-Lob (strictly for sand and the occasional high-short carry over a greenside bunker)
Ping Anser 5 Custom Putter

(I would omit the use of my R7 driver, even though I could use the distance)

Tommy - you're going with modern sticks?  Why half-ass this?  If you're gonna use 7 clubs at a fine classic firm and fast links like that, why not go all the way?

My choices:

Brassie (the one I have, perhaps a better one I'd buy from Randy Jensen in Omaha)

Stewart mid-iron
Stewart jigger
Stewart niblick
Stewart mashie-niblick
Stewart niblick

Hickory putter

I bet I could play those courses pretty decently with that set....  The stewarts are damn well better than modern irons...

TH

Tom, Hickory aside. Modern day, conventional clubs. That is unless you have gone to hickory full-time.

Tom, Hickory aside. Modern day, conventional clubs. That is unless you have gone to hickory full-time.

Not as much fun.  But OK, it's your question.  All out of my bag or garage:

Driver - biggest damn TI head I can find, most forgiveness.  I am not Tiger and it still goes 275 at most for me.  I'd have to play far more like DiMarco.

Hogan Hybrid 19 degree - can hit off tees, out of rough, wonder club.

5iron
7ron
9iron
LW

Putter

I know I could break 80 if I played well with this set.  Hell I used damn near this set for 90% of my golf not all that long ago.

TH

Isn't the fun of firm and fast conditions that they give you choices?  If you take clubs out of your bag, you're limiting those choices.  It may force you to hit certain types of shots and make you a better player, but I don't see why it would be any more fun.  I like the full complement of 14.

One of the things that gets overlooked also is that a large part of the time, screaming firm and fast means you are certainly hitting shots that are DIFFERENT, but in terms of choices, they're actually even more limited for all but the very, very skilled.

By that I mean, make the ground concrete and who can confidently hit a wedge off of such tightness anyway?  So the one and only shot becomes a putter - or maybe some other iron punched along the ground - from anywhere near the green so long as nothing is in the way.  And damn near always on these links, nothing is in the way... or if it is, hell the wedge off the tight lie is so damn hard to do sans skulling or chunking, one just putts AROUND the trouble anyway!

Tom, good point, you're quite right.  I guess I'd make a distinction between (1) Hoylake before Thursday, balls run like a stabbed rat (courtesty of Sean Arble) firm and fast and conditions, and (2) conditions that are firmer and faster than most U.S. courses, but you can still take something resembling a divot (like, say, at the Bandon courses or the Irish links that I've played).  In the latter category, the full range of options--air, ground, something in between--are present.  

You didn't see putters from off the green?  What tournament were you watching?  I saw lots.  And this from the best players in the world...

Hey, that's not the point anyway - remember I qualified this based on skill level.  If you are great, options remain.  But for the 99% of us who aren't great, putter remains the choice damn near every time.  And remember also I'm only talking when it's concrete firm and very fast.

I can't wait till we meet - I'm gonna plunk a ball down on concrete hard dirt and make you lob it.  A beer for me for every chunk or skull, one for you for every correct hit.  Goodale can be the judge.  I expect to get very drunk, on your tab.

 

Sean - forgive me, this is nothing against you personally.  From what I've read hear you sound like a normal golfer like the vast majority of us, and if that's the case, well... as your caddie I am advising putter when we get close to the green in those concrete fast conditions.

Note I sure as hell don't hit any wedges myself unless FORCED to.

So I like that club range idea!

BTW, I have zero axe to grind re Steel - watching on TV, the greens he did looked fine to me.