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Jay Flemma

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Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« on: July 03, 2011, 05:19:04 PM »
I haven't had this much fun researching a course for a preview in years.  Every time I turn around there is something new and interesting about St. George's...it seems like such a perfect course for fans of great, old school architecture:  funky greens, twisting, rumpled fairways, and massive, wind-swept sandy dunes. 

Pass the P.G. Tips, Branston pickle, Piccalilli, and Bird's Custard:)  Cue up Quadrophenia!  It's almost party time in Kent!
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Phil McDade

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Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2011, 05:37:36 PM »
Jack Nicklaus' least-favorite course among the Open Championship rota. ;D
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Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2011, 10:10:11 PM »
I am thrilled about the Open being there this year. Faldo said during the US Open they have not had any rain in 2 months.
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Bill_McBride

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Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2011, 02:07:54 AM »
Quote from: Tiger_Bernhardt on July 03, 2011, 10:10:11 PM
I am thrilled about the Open being there this year. Faldo said during the US Open they have not had any rain in 2 months.

Maybe the rough will be sparse so they can find balls in the hay!
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Tom Birkert

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Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2011, 02:32:33 AM »
Quote from: Tiger_Bernhardt on July 03, 2011, 10:10:11 PM
I am thrilled about the Open being there this year. Faldo said during the US Open they have not had any rain in 2 months.

Was there a few weeks ago and they were having serious problems getting any rough to grow.

Still a tough course though, with trouble everywhere.

Expecting to hear a lot of moaning about unfair bounces...
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Scott Warren

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Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2011, 02:41:28 AM »
Luke Donald tuned up with a round at Royal Cinque Ports yesterday. Reports are he shot a fairly impressive 68.
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Phil McDade

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2011, 09:41:18 AM »
Sandwich has usually played the toughest of the rota courses, the lone exception being the '93 championship in which Norman, Faldo, Pavin, Langer and Els among others all shot well in unusually easy conditions. The other Opens there have been won with +2 (Lyle, 1985) and -1 (Ben Curtis, 2003). The Open in 2003 was about as baked of a course as I remember seeing -- the epitome of fast and firm.
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George Freeman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2011, 10:27:30 AM »
Quote from: Phil McDade on July 04, 2011, 09:41:18 AM
The Open in 2003 was about as baked of a course as I remember seeing -- the epitome of fast and firm.

Hopefully we see that again this year!

I'm really looking forward to seeing this course as I really don't remember it much from the 2003 Open.  When all the pros are bitching about "unfair" it usually means I'm going to love the course.

Here to hoping the rain continues to stay away from southern England!
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Mayhugh is my hero!!

"I love creating great golf courses.  I love shaping earth...it's a canvas." - Donald J. Trump

Phil McDade

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2011, 11:00:05 AM »
George:

Best known for Denmarks' Thomas Bjorn leaving two shots in a greenside sandtrip down the stretch to essentially blow the tournament. Curtis, playing well ahead of the leaders, holed about a 20-foot putt on the final hole for a par, and watched everyone else fail to match him down the stretch, including Love, Singh, and Tiger. Curtis barely got in the championship in the first place, had never been on a links before, and stayed with some elderly couple at a B&B in the area. He's since become a decent pro, but at the time, he was about as unknown a major winner as Jack Fleck.

It was one of my favorite tournaments to watch, because it played so darn fast, and balls were bouncing all over the place.
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Mark Chaplin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2011, 11:12:03 AM »
There has been a heap of rain over the last couple of weeks which could result in soft and no rough....a disaster. 10 days is plenty of time although this week is forecast warm and wet. I predict -8 if it doesn't blow.

Sandwich is a stern test off the tee although the whimps didn't like the blind 13th tee so it was moved to make a straight hole.

Bjorn's bunker is now shallower

3 is 240 off the back and it plays into the prevailing breeze.

4 has been returned to a good tough par 4

17 fairway will be wider

New bunkers on left of 18
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Cave Nil Vino

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #10 on: July 04, 2011, 11:13:58 AM »
Quote from: Phil McDade on July 04, 2011, 11:00:05 AM
George:

Best known for Denmarks' Thomas Bjorn leaving two shots in a greenside sandtrip down the stretch to essentially blow the tournament. Curtis, playing well ahead of the leaders, holed about a 20-foot putt on the final hole for a par, and watched everyone else fail to match him down the stretch, including Love, Singh, and Tiger. Curtis barely got in the championship in the first place, had never been on a links before, and stayed with some elderly couple at a B&B in the area. He's since become a decent pro, but at the time, he was about as unknown a major winner as Jack Fleck.

It was one of my favorite tournaments to watch, because it played so darn fast, and balls were bouncing all over the place.
What is less well known (though his caddy then, Billy Foster, has been telling everyone recently) is that Bjorn had another bunker incident during the first round.  After failing to get the ball out of a bunker (a theme developing!) Bjorn slammed his club into the sand, turned to Foster and asked "Can you believe I just did that?", Foster, apparently, replied "What I can't believe is that you just landed yourself a a two shot penalty".  
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In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2011, 11:38:47 AM »
And having the Scottish Open this week at Castle Stuart is not too shabby either! ;)

http://www.golfworldmonday.com/golfworldmonday/20110704?sub_id=Zu8yJ1Id9hj8#pg10
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Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2011, 11:51:52 AM »
Jay if you’re looking for a good story, Google this for the details.


As I heard  it.

Andrew Brooks RSG’s very experienced and affable Professional was asked if any of the pro’s bothered to introduce themselves these days, perhaps in search of some local knowledge? 
He replied “Last time there was just one, a newcomer to links Golf, called Ben Curtis.”
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Let's make GCA grate again!

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2011, 12:06:27 PM »
Tony,

I gather that not only did Curtis introduce himself but that he spent plenty of time on more than one occasion in the pro shop asking questions.  Great feature on the week in one of the UK golf mags out at the moment with plenty of quotes from Curtis, Fosteret al.
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In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Tim Martin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2011, 12:24:07 PM »
Quote from: Mark Pearce on July 04, 2011, 11:13:58 AM
Quote from: Phil McDade on July 04, 2011, 11:00:05 AM
George:

Best known for Denmarks' Thomas Bjorn leaving two shots in a greenside sandtrip down the stretch to essentially blow the tournament. Curtis, playing well ahead of the leaders, holed about a 20-foot putt on the final hole for a par, and watched everyone else fail to match him down the stretch, including Love, Singh, and Tiger. Curtis barely got in the championship in the first place, had never been on a links before, and stayed with some elderly couple at a B&B in the area. He's since become a decent pro, but at the time, he was about as unknown a major winner as Jack Fleck.

It was one of my favorite tournaments to watch, because it played so darn fast, and balls were bouncing all over the place.
What is less well known (though his caddy then, Billy Foster, has been telling everyone recently) is that Bjorn had another bunker incident during the first round.  After failing to get the ball out of a bunker (a theme developing!) Bjorn slammed his club into the sand, turned to Foster and asked "Can you believe I just did that?", Foster, apparently, replied "What I can't believe is that you just landed yourself a a two shot penalty".  

Bjorn has been on the doorstep more than once at the British. From all accounts he is a great guy with quite a sense of humor. I would really like to see him win a bigger tournament and get back on track. I remember seeing him and Darren Clarke at Westchester CC one year and they looked like a couple of NFL tight ends walking side by side.
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Jay Flemma

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #15 on: July 04, 2011, 02:08:47 PM »
Great stories guys, but how about Harry Bradshaw and the broken bottle ball?  Tom Kite's 7 at the 10th...how about the poor fellow who left the Gold Cup on the same hole when he took a 14, seven of them ping-ponging between the bunkers on either side.

Britishers, please give me some more local foods, drinks, customs and places to visit.

Too bad Tiger will miss the Pfizer factory:):)
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Mark Chaplin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #16 on: July 04, 2011, 03:41:45 PM »
Jay - you coming over? Deal has media times each day from 0600-0700.

The Kings Head in Deal will be lively each evening.

Drink bitter but round off the night with Metzendorf or Wolfschmidt on ice.
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Cave Nil Vino

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #17 on: July 04, 2011, 05:31:16 PM »
Quote from: Mark Chaplin on July 04, 2011, 03:41:45 PM
Drink bitter but round off the night with Metzendorf or Wolfschmidt on ice.
Jay,

Drink the bitter (even though Kentish beers are renowned for their effect on the digestive system) but ignore the latter part of this advice if you actually intend to watch any golf the next day.
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In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Matthew Rose

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #18 on: July 04, 2011, 05:38:14 PM »
Quote from: Phil McDade on July 03, 2011, 05:37:36 PM
Jack Nicklaus' least-favorite course among the Open Championship rota. ;D

I'm guessing the 83 he shot that one time probably had something to with it.
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American-Australian. Trackman Course Guy. Fatalistic sports fan. Drummer. Bass player. Father. Cat lover.

Phil McDade

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #19 on: July 04, 2011, 05:52:08 PM »
Quote from: Matthew Rose on July 04, 2011, 05:38:14 PM
Quote from: Phil McDade on July 03, 2011, 05:37:36 PM
Jack Nicklaus' least-favorite course among the Open Championship rota. ;D

I'm guessing the 83 he shot that one time probably had something to with it.

Nicklaus was once quoted as saying Open Rota courses got better the farther north one traveled. I also think he didn't like the quirkiness associated with the course.
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Jay Flemma

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #20 on: July 05, 2011, 05:37:50 AM »
Mark you broke my heart, I really wanna see Deal too...I'll be playing Leatherstocking, Yahnundasis, and Hiawatha, while seeing my dad that wkd and watching the tournament with him.

What are Metzendorf and Wolfschmidt?  Sounds like a German law firm ;D

Eoghan O'Connell has me drinking RedBreast...but that's not very British...
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Scott Warren

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #21 on: July 05, 2011, 05:39:25 AM »
Jay,

They're kummels. Delicious stuff!
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Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #22 on: July 05, 2011, 05:53:49 AM »
As usual Scott is partly right (they are, indeed, kummels) and partly wrong.
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In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Michael Goldstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #23 on: July 05, 2011, 06:54:38 AM »
RSG is awesome turf, sensational par fours and the centre of the kummel world. Thank god I wasn't driving that day...
Bring on the Open I hope it blows a gale and on 14 the drives sail onto Princes.
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@Pure_Golf

Brent Hutto

Re: Absolutely LOVING the idea of St. George's for the British Open
« Reply #24 on: July 05, 2011, 09:52:28 AM »
Quote from: Michael Goldstein on July 05, 2011, 06:54:38 AM
Bring on the Open I hope it blows a gale and on 14 the drives sail onto Princes.

Talk about "quirk"...the day I played RSG the 14th was directly downwind. I started a (lefty) tee shot down the right edge of the fairway and dead straight. When it hit the ground it bounced about head-high and to the right (WTF?) for some reason. The guy I was playing with had played there a million times and didn't seem too concerned. Said it might have kicked a couple yards into the rough but we'd find it.

We spent well over the legal five minutes looking for that ball. I think it somehow bounced all the way across the rough and over the fence without any wind in that direction at all. Never did see anything in the fairway it might have hit. We're talking a 90-degree right bounce from a dead straight tee shot travelling downwind. How does that even happen?
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