POLL: Which would you rather play?

[Mitch Hantman]

Here's a poll:  Given a choice of two courses to play tomorrow, and knowing you've played them both many times before, which one do you choose?  

Course #1 - GREAT design, but in MEDIOCRE condition
Course #2 - MEDIOCRE design, but in GREAT condition.
(great condition is defined by ideal firm and fast conditions).

[Matthew Mollica]

Great course wthout a shadow of doubt mitch. Surely we're out there to play shots and pit ourselves against the elements, and the course? I'd rather a more strategic, and better designed more enjoyable course, rather than a poorly designed layout, in pristine condition.

Matthew

[larry_munger]

If great= world top 100ish than this is a no brainer.

[Joel_Stewart]

Easy #1.  Yale is an example.

[Brock Peyer]

For a top 100, yes that is a no-brainer but we all don't get to play those on a regular basis.  I can think of one here in Atlanta, Chastain Park, that is a charming old course, that is far from the top 100, it is probably far from the top 40 in Georgia, but much of that has to do with conditioning and being a city run course in a city that doesn't focus on golf courses.  I don't know how many times I have driven by there wishing that it was in the condition of the some of the courses in the housing developments in the area or even if the greens ran more than 5 on the Stimp.

I think that Hogan once said that he'd hit out of mud to good greens but vice versa he would not.

[Evan Fleisher]

Gotta go with #1 here...would much rather enjoy the design and deal with conditioning than play a ho-hummer in good shape.

[THuckaby2]

As the great Lee Corso says, not so fast my friends....

To me it depends.

In competition?  Give me the good conditions, thank you.  Predictability is one's friend when one is trying to grind out a score.

Outside of that, then yes, it is no-brainer for #1, with the caveat being that take the conditions past mediocre to awful/unplayable, and then one has the Old Harding SF Syndrome.  Good layout that becomes impossible to stomach due to horrid conditions.

TH

[Mitch Hantman]

Here's a new twist to this thread:

How about when trying to figure out which course to join in your area?  The course that is better, which historically is always in less than favorable conditions, versus the mediocre course with historically outstanding playing conditions.  For day in/day out play, give me the better conditions.  It would be more fun. Remember that in the original thread I said you have played these two places many times in the past.  It would only depress me to constantly see a great course in that kind of shape, especially as a member.  

[THuckaby2]

Concur with you, Mitch.  In the end the game is about the playing, and consistently bad conditions would get depressing for sure.

That being said, it also seems to me conditions can be fixed... bad design can't.

So maybe I'd join the one with better design, then push hard for conditions to be shored up?

I know, I am cheating again on your premised, waffling more than they do at the IHOP.  

TH

[corey miller]

I may go with 2 based on Mitch's definition (F&F) as opposed to the more normal definition (plush and green).  Is Yale really in mediocre condition or is it worse?

[Mitch Hantman]

Tom,

The idea of changing a club that has historically been a certain way, sounds like a frustrating path to go down.  

I grew up playing Bethpage, and it was in horrible condition for so many years, that I enjoy good playing conditions that much more.  And on the subject of playing conditions, the greens are 90% of the equation as far as enjoyment is concerned.  

[THuckaby2]

Yeah, I guess you're right - I'm with ya, Mitch.  It would be frustrating as hell trying to set things right at a course that never has been...

And you are also so correct re greens... as long as the greens are decent a lot of other things can be tolerated.

TH

[Mitch Hantman]

Tom,

........."like trying to make a silk purse..........

On a slightly different note, it would be bad for one's game to pay terrible greens every day.  Both for putting and short game.  

[bstark]

 #1. I do it every week at my course......And then right after your unpteenth round of medicore conditions, go run for the board to make sure it doesn't continue.......

[ed_getka]

I choose the better conditions, but it only has to be the greens. I hate golfing on greens in poor shape.

If I join a club I go for the great design like Tom said because conditions can be improved.

[JDoyle]

Mitchgolfs,

I started a very similar thread a few months ago.  You might be interested in the responses:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=5725

JD

[Mitch Hantman]

JDoyle,

I went back and read your thread.  It was interesting.  The twist here is that the assumption is that the golfer has played each choice many times, and we're talking about day in, day out play.  Also, I doubt as many golfers would go out of their way to play a resort course that's well designed, if it was difficult to get to, and is horrible shape consistently.