Would you enjoy playing this 8000+ yard course?

[Sean_A]

A bit of imagination may be needed but do you think you would enjoy playing this course?

1   SandHills           550   5
2   National Moonah   549   4
3   NGLA                   430   4
4   Royal Melbourne West   527   4
5   Merion            488   4
6   Sunningdale New   510   4
7   Shinecock hills   185   3
8   Crystal Downs   542   4
9   Cypress Point   292   4
10   Passatimpo           440   4
11   The Lakes           581   5
12   Swinley Forrest   455   4
13   Augusta National   502   4
14   Dornoch           445   4
15   Kingston Heath   157   3
16   Pine Valley           475   4
17   The Old Course   495   4
18   Pebble Beach   543   5
   Total                        8166   73

Are 8000+ yard courses really not enjoyable for the average golfer or is it more a case that not enough of them have been built by the great architects for some great ones to rise to the top?

David

Thanks for this thread.  It has given me a better appreciation for what women and older folks must suffer on many courses.  Though I am convinced that building much shorter courses even when stretched all the way back is far more sensible approach than building mega sets of tees. 

Needless to say, despite the great holes selected, this would not be a course I would care to play. 

Ciao

[paul cowley]

Yes and no.

Yes, those are all great holes on great golf courses, and I'd love to see them all.

No, I've tried 7800 yds. (Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta, GA from the tips) and did not find it to be fun in the least.  Couldn't reach the fairways, could reach the corner of the doglegs, and so forth.  (5 handicap of average length)

A.G.C.

Wasn't the problem with the course that you played that the fairway carries were too long and the doglegs in the wrong spots?  Most of the holes I have listed were designed to be par 5s or par 4.5s and several of them you have to carry the ball 50 yards off the tee to reach the fairway.  My opinion would be that long courses get a bad rap because more often than not the back tees are not designed to be played by the average golfer. 

David,
I don't think so.  Kinderlou is terrific, and from 6600 or even 7100, I'm ok.  But unless they were going to mow a zillion acres, I just couldn't carry the ball far enough to get to short grass.  As to the position of the doglegs, I don't think I understand your point; if the doglegs were right for me a 7800 they'd be wrong at 6500, and vice versa, wouldn't they?

And of course back tees aren't designed to be played by the average golfer (whomever he might be...).  The "average golfer" simply cannot play a course that long and either enjoy it or play "average" golf.

AG...what in the world were you doing back there? You have always seemed a most sensible type  

We built the back set of tees because the land was plentiful and we knew it would be hosting some good player events. Its our longest course to date.

Its interesting that on opening day, DL III...who had never played a complete round there, shot a 66 from the tips...and with a bogey!