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Tommy Williamsen

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Courses that live up to the hype
« on: August 24, 2007, 12:43:04 PM »
I played Ballyneal this year.  I have been hearing about it, it seems forever.  I tried to go in with an open mind but it was hard.  After coming off the last green all I wanted to do was play it again.  It more than lived up to its positive reviews.  
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Tom Huckaby

Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2007, 12:47:27 PM »
Very cool Tommy!  Most reports from Ballyneal have been the same as yours, and it sure does get hype.

This has been discussed in here before (as has darn near everything).  Seems to me that the greater the course was, the more it lived up to the hype, no matter how crazy such hype was.

An example for me is Cypress Point.  I don't think you can get a more hyped course than that.  But I've only heard one guy ever for whom it didn't live up to such, and he's simply a contrarian anyway. It exceeded the hype for me, big time.

TH
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Roger Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2007, 12:50:42 PM »
County Down, Kapalua Plantation for me.

As for those who don't, Samoset Resort takes the cake for ones I've played.
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Wayne_Kozun

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2007, 12:56:29 PM »
St. Andrews
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Tom Huckaby

Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2007, 01:06:12 PM »
The converse was also discussed before - that is courses that didn't live up to the hype.  The only one I could think of was Troon.  First time I played it I was rather unimpressed.  But coming back a few years later it won me over... maybe because my expectations were lower?

It's an interesting topic.

BTW, each of Kapalua Plantation, TOC and RCD exceed hype for me too - great calls there.
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Roger Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2007, 01:14:20 PM »
I can add Portrush as well. I was blown away by the condition it was in this past summer, and I know I've heard discussion on which is a better course, Portmarnock or Portrush, fighting for #2 in Ireland... Portrush blew Portmarnock out of the water for me. Portrush and RCD were just in a quality far beyond anything else I'd ever played. I'd put Portmarnock with Ballybunion Old in my rankings, tied for 3rd in Ireland.
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Matt MacIver

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2007, 01:59:27 PM »
Kingsbarns for me, and rightly so.  
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Steve Kline

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2007, 02:09:59 PM »
Pine Valley (the course and the whole experience) far exceeded the hype in my opinion.

The whole experience of playing in Scotland exceeds the hype for me. If I could somehow play golf for the rest of my life there i would in a second. The ground game is just so much more fascinating than aerial game in this country. The ground game causes the courses to vary more from day to day whereas when you play an aerial game it's much more the same all the time.
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Steve Pozaric

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2007, 02:26:23 PM »
Pebble Beach and Bethpage Black for me - talk about opposite sides of the spectrum!
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Steve Pozaric

Larry_Keltto

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2007, 02:38:49 PM »
I'll add Sand Hills, Crystal Downs and Turnberry.

I find great beauty in the plains, and Sand Hills took my breath away, round after round. CD's greens and routing were a thrill. I realize Turnberry isn't bullet-proof in terms of GCA, but the experience of playing there was magical.
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David Stamm

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #10 on: August 24, 2007, 02:58:58 PM »
Believe it or not, with all it's hype, Pebble lived up to the billing. Spyglass exceeded it, but IMHO Pebble is a better course. But not by much.

Pasatiempo blew me away. It became my instant fav after playing. And then I played Riviera. I was expecting alot and it delivered and then some.

Rustic Canyon that was another that exceeded my expectations despite knowing who was invloved with the course.
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"The object of golf architecture is to give an intelligent purpose to the striking of a golf ball."- Max Behr

Michael Christensen

Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #11 on: August 24, 2007, 03:16:03 PM »
I have been nervous on two first hole tee shots in my life....Pebble Beach and St Andrews.  I don't know what it was, but my knees were knocking and the blood pressure was to the max....and I felt comfortable at WFoot, Muirfield, Seminole and many others....
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Richard Choi

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #12 on: August 24, 2007, 03:24:04 PM »
Lived up to the hype:

-Bandon Dunes/Pacific Dunes - actually they were better than I hoped

-Bethpage Black - even getting up early and lining up was a fun experience


Did not live up to the hype:

-Torrey Pines (South) - Long and brutal, but not that much variety or fun

-Baltusrol (Lower) - Very fair and tough test, a very very good course for sure, but not as highly as it is regarded (for me)

-Doral (Blue) - 3 great holes, rest so mediocre.
« Last Edit: August 24, 2007, 03:25:48 PM by Richard Choi »
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Dan Herrmann

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #13 on: August 24, 2007, 06:06:20 PM »
A course that deserves more hype:  Monroe (Ross-NY).  
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Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #14 on: August 24, 2007, 06:30:47 PM »
Cypress Point and Pine Valley exceeded my high expections when I walked into the smallish pro shops.  It did take Cypress a few holes before it got my attention though.  Pine Valley got my blood rushing on the first tee.  By the time I hit the scary second shot on 18 I could barely breathe.



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Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #15 on: August 24, 2007, 06:39:40 PM »
Sandwich & Dornoch are probably the two I would choose.  

One course I can't understand not getting more hype is Old Town - its especially odd being an American course because Americans are the kings of hype.  

Carne, Pennard, St. Enodoc, North Berwick, Deal, Burnham, Addington, Beau Desert, Stoneham and Enniscrone all should be more hyped courses.  I would much rather play these then many of the very top rated courses.

Ciao  

« Last Edit: August 24, 2007, 06:50:30 PM by Sean Arble »
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Ari Techner

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #16 on: August 24, 2007, 06:59:00 PM »
Lived up to the hype:
Sand Hills
Lahinch
Crystal Downs
SFGC
Pacific Dunes


Didnt:
Pebble Beach
Bay Harbor (not as much hype but extremely disappointing)


Deserve more hype:
Royal Cinque Ports
The Addington
Franklin Hills CC
« Last Edit: August 25, 2007, 04:56:51 PM by Ari Techner »
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Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #17 on: August 24, 2007, 07:12:51 PM »
Muirfield (that'll get 'em going)
Dornoch
Machrihanish
Woodhall Spa
Carnoustie
Olympia Fields

All courses I wanted (want) to go straight back out.
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Roger Tufts

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #18 on: August 24, 2007, 08:04:14 PM »
Quote from: Sean Arble on August 24, 2007, 06:39:40 PM
Carne, Pennard, St. Enodoc, North Berwick, Deal, Burnham, Addington, Beau Desert, Stoneham and Enniscrone all should be more hyped courses.  I would much rather play these then many of the very top rated courses.

Carne, I can most definitely agree with.

Enniscrone, if further hyped, would fall into the category for me of courses that are over-hyped.
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Geoffrey_Walsh

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Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #19 on: August 24, 2007, 10:16:40 PM »
Yale
Merion
Fishers Island
Essex County
Kapalua


Yale still blows me away and the scary thought is that the course could be even better than it is!
« Last Edit: August 24, 2007, 10:17:00 PM by Geoffrey_Walsh »
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Chris Cupit

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #20 on: August 24, 2007, 11:07:52 PM »
Quote from: Dan Herrmann on August 24, 2007, 06:06:20 PM
A course that deserves more hype:  Monroe (Ross-NY).  

Agreed :)
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Kevin Pallier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #21 on: August 25, 2007, 01:36:55 AM »
Do:
Royal County Down, North Berwick and TOC

Dont:
Pebble Beach, Turnberry and Wentworth
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Dustin Knight

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #22 on: August 25, 2007, 02:18:14 AM »

#1 Barnbougle Dunes!!!! ( blew me away! )

#2 Kingston Heath

#3 Magenta Shores (Just Brutal in a strong breeze)


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Ash Towe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #23 on: August 25, 2007, 05:16:36 AM »
Murifield for me.
The course and the whole experience of being there for the day was much better than expected.
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Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Courses that live up to the hype
« Reply #24 on: August 25, 2007, 01:25:06 PM »
Quote from: Ash Towe on August 25, 2007, 05:16:36 AM
Murifield for me.
The course and the whole experience of being there for the day was much better than expected.

I agree.  I had heard the horror stories about the maltreatment of visitors but things have changed.  It was a great day of golf, 36 holes sandwiched around a very good lunch and too much drink.  And a lot of changing clothes!

If I had to mention one thing that I admired most at Muirfield it would be the cross bunkers - #8, #10, #17.  Great stuff.
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