Olympic Lake - Separates the Scratch from the Five HCP the best?

[Evan_Green]

I personally have not seen a course that does a "better" job of  more clearly distinguishes a Scratch for a 5 HCP than Olympic Lake. Whereas with consistent ball striking the Scratch is hitting the greens and shooting a 71-73, the 5 misses the greens by 5-10 yards and ends up with bogies in place of pars and next thing you know an 83 or 84. I cant tell you how many times I've seen this occur.

I think it is the small greens, penalizing trees surrounding the holes and the uneven lies. The normally simple 7 iron from the middle of the fairway is not so simple on a sidehill lie to an uphill green (ex: Hole #2 on Olympic Lake).

This is compared to a wider, flatter course with bigger greens where the same quality of play that shot 83 at OC Lake will shoot a 78. The difficulty rating/slope simply doesnt reflect this reality. And on the 18 HCP, a course like Olympic is that much harder. While there isnt the OB/Water Hazards, you'll still make many double bogies from the tree lines and around the greens all day.

Has anyone else seen this at Olympic? What other courses are examples of this phenomenon?

[Rich Goodale]

The only time I played Olympic Lake I shot +/- 75.  I was a 5-6 hcp at the time.  I did play relatively well, for me, and was incented to do so by my opponent, who was shooting +/- 73.  That being said, I never felt that disaster loomed on the course.  When I hit bad shots I recovered OK, and I never felt like any shot I was faced with was beyond my capability.

I could easily see myself shooting in the mid-high 80's on that course as it was set up that day, and maybe struggling to stay in double digits from the tips under Open conditions, but the course is not at all impossible, and very much enjoyable, IMHO.

[MHiserman]

The phenomenon that may be the biggest contributor to your question is the humidity and average temp.

In my experience there, It seemed that many who do not play in those temperate conditions on a regular basis, do not adjust for the loss of distance when navigating the difficult bunkering around smaller greens.

Any thoughts?

Merrill

[Kevin_Reilly]

Hey Merrill --long time, hope all is well.

I used to think the climate had an effect on length out there, until I saw John Hurley of Nebraska reach #17 with driver, 8-iron in one of the Amateur qualifying rounds.  Maybe the air was a bit lighter that day.   

I'd submit that the course is a bit more challenging off the tee (relatively) for a 5 hdcp than for a scratch player.  On #2, the scratch might fare better ending up on the left side of the fairway.  On #4 the scratch might be better at bending a 3 wood or driver around the corner.  On #5 the scratch might have a baby cut in his quiver while the generic 5 hdcp hits it through the fairway on the left.  Not much differentiation on #6-8 (updated #8 excluded), but on #9 and #10 the scratch can pull out that Couples cut shot again while the 5 might not have it.  #12 is an intimidating tee shot from the back...maybe the scratch is less nerved than the 5.  I don't think there is a big differentiator on the remaining holes between the scratch and 5, except if the 5 finds the rough for either his drive or 2nd on #16.

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