Porthcawl-Senior Open

[jeffwarne]

Great to watch-weather, links.(if not slightly painful )


Anyone see Watson set Jimenez straight on his "placement" of the ball?
He absolutely would've supervised Jordan's sequence of events Sunday-at least with pace of play from an earlier point in the round.
That said, Jimemez then picked up the ball quickly again(after it was already "in play") and put it back in a slightly better lie....hmmmm


a

[Will Lozier]

Great to watch-weather, links.(if not slightly painful )

Anyone see Watson set Jimenez straight on his "placement" of the ball?
He absolutely would've supervised Jordan's sequence of events Sunday-at least with pace of play from an earlier point in the round.
That said, Jimemez then picked up the ball quickly again(after it was already "in play") and put it back in a slightly better lie....hmmmm

Jeff,


I thought the exact same thing...it almost looked like MAJ put it back down in near panic after realizing?


I checked out RPGC early one morning on my way to Pennard and was impressed...even more impressed by looking at pic and vids on their website. To me, it LOOKS like one of the great courses of the world, perhaps a bit underrated? I don't have my Doak Confidential Guide anymore and am wondering where he puts it?

I did come across this description in Golf Digest's rankings (not to give it much credence):

47 (44) Royal Porthcawl G.C., WalesPorthcawl, Mid Glamorgan, Wales / 7,065 yards, Par 72
Considered a seaside venue (situated on the south coast of Wales) but not a true links, Royal Porthcawl doesn't have returning nines, but it's not an out-and-back routing. Instead, the front nine moves in a clockwise crescent-shaped manner, with the back nine running counterclockwise inside the crescent...

"not a true links"? Seriously?

[jeffwarne]

Great to watch-weather, links.(if not slightly painful )

Anyone see Watson set Jimenez straight on his "placement" of the ball?
He absolutely would've supervised Jordan's sequence of events Sunday-at least with pace of play from an earlier point in the round.
That said, Jimemez then picked up the ball quickly again(after it was already "in play") and put it back in a slightly better lie....hmmmm

Jeff,


I thought the exact same thing...it almost looked like MAJ put it back down in near panic after realizing?


I checked out RPGC early one morning on my way to Pennard and was impressed...even more impressed by looking at pic and vids on their website. To me, it LOOKS like one of the great courses of the world, perhaps a bit underrated? I don't have my Doak Confidential Guide anymore and am wondering where he puts it?

I did come across this description in Golf Digest's rankings (not to give it much credence):

47 (44) Royal Porthcawl G.C., WalesPorthcawl, Mid Glamorgan, Wales / 7,065 yards, Par 72
Considered a seaside venue (situated on the south coast of Wales) but not a true links, Royal Porthcawl doesn't have returning nines, but it's not an out-and-back routing. Instead, the front nine moves in a clockwise crescent-shaped manner, with the back nine running counterclockwise inside the crescent...

"not a true links"? Seriously?

Did look like a panic-Watson seemed to act like he didn't see it....


I like the course-find it quite playable as well.
But can't say it's one of my Top picks in the world

[Tom_Doak]

To me, it LOOKS like one of the great courses of the world, perhaps a bit underrated? I don't have my Doak Confidential Guide anymore and am wondering where he puts it?

I gave it a 7 -- we all did except for Ran, who gave it an 8.  [He has awarded more 8's than the rest of us.]  I think it gets a bit of a boost sometimes from those anxious to include a Welsh course in their "top whatever" list.


It's a beautiful course and I would call it a true links, but the holes up the hill from #6 through #9 do get onto more fertile ground, as does the 17th.


I can't recall ever seeing one of its individual holes singled out for a list of the best in the world, and I think that sets it back a bit.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Some years ago they played the Walker Cup there and Tiger was on the American team. I was told by the GB and I Captain that Tiger hated the place. None the less, he played the 17th (an uphill par ) in practice with a drive and wedge!

[Adrian_Stiff]

Some years ago they played the Walker Cup there and Tiger was on the American team. I was told by the GB and I Captain that Tiger hated the place. None the less, he played the 17th (an uphill par ) in practice with a drive and wedge!

Holed it for an albatross 2 as well, it might have been to the old green though which was a bit shorter.

[Will Lozier]

To me, it LOOKS like one of the great courses of the world, perhaps a bit underrated? I don't have my Doak Confidential Guide anymore and am wondering where he puts it?

I gave it a 7 -- we all did except for Ran, who gave it an 8.  [He has awarded more 8's than the rest of us.]  I think it gets a bit of a boost sometimes from those anxious to include a Welsh course in their "top whatever" list.


It's a beautiful course and I would call it a true links, but the holes up the hill from #6 through #9 do get onto more fertile ground, as does the 17th.


I can't recall ever seeing one of its individual holes singled out for a list of the best in the world, and I think that sets it back a bit.

Tom,


It seems to suffer a bit from a lack of width, at least in how it is set up for this tournament. The morning I was there it was howling and I would bet it is regularly one of the winder spots in the UK. Is that a characteristic that might hold it back a bit?

[Bill_McBride]

Some years ago they played the Walker Cup there and Tiger was on the American team. I was told by the GB and I Captain that Tiger hated the place. None the less, he played the 17th (an uphill par ) in practice with a drive and wedge!

Mark, if I remember correctly Tiger butchered 17 during an important match that he lost.  Downing Gray, a member of my club, Pensacola CC, was captain that year. He didn't have much to say about Tiger's attitude.

I've played four rounds at Porthcawl and find it a great course, in my top 50.  Unfortunately the linksiest holes are the first three along the beach. A couple of inland holes like 6 and 8 are pretty pedestrian.  My favorite hole is probably 16 with the cross bunkers.

[Mike_Clayton]

Bill,


Tiger, playing Gary Wolstenholme in the singles, and hit an iron OB on the 18th and lost 1 dn - the hole they are playing as the 1st this week.

[Richard Fisher]

The GB and I captain in 1995 was Clive Brown, former Welsh Champion whom many will have heard speak at the Birkdale prize-giving last week in his current capacity as Chairman of the R&A Championship Committee.

I was at Porthcawl yesterday, in essence for lunch (on the way back  from Cornwall to Cambridge with my wife Jo), and within ten minutes had seen a tropical downpour, strong winds, and lovely bright sunshine. The Seniors play the normal 18th as their first, which does give (as at Hoylake) a slightly different dynamic to the round: I can't see anybody coming in as Bernhard Langer did in 2014, when the event was first played there, numerous strokes ahead both of par and of the field. In terms of coverage, one aspect of RPGC that the TV cameras don't bring out is how sloped many of the holes are, much moreso than is customary at the seaside: I am unquestionably biased, but I do think that Porthcawl has some of the best and most interesting green sites of any of the British championship venues.

[Richard Fisher]

although I note as a PS to the above that Bernhard was the only player to break 70 yesterday!

[Andy Stamm]

Just saw the Jimenez video. He picked up and replaced a ball in play. I'm very surprised that a) Watson didn't say anything and b) nothing became of it. That was very poor.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Probably because they're all a little older, wiser and more pragmatic... There seems to be far more discussion about rules than there does GCA on this forum. Have to say that the rules of golf bore the bejaysus out of me... but I seem to be alone on that one.


Porthcawl I love as a course. Tom is probably right that it lacks any standout world class holes although the 2nd must come close and three of the four one-shotters are straight out of the top drawer. Also, I don't really buy in to holes 6-9 being classified as non-links with two of those holes (6 & 9) among the best on the course. Pure links, wonderful course.

[Sean_A]

I am not convinced Porthcawl is a great course (need to play it more to better understand it), but I do think it has three All-Wales candidates in 2, 9 & 14.  I have a hard time thinking in terms of All-World because its a god damn big world.  I reckon if a course has a few all-country candidates it must be one of the better courses. 

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

Just saw the Jimenez video. He picked up and replaced a ball in play. I'm very surprised that a) Watson didn't say anything and b) nothing became of it. That was very poor.

Good news.
The competition is still open.
One can call in and get him a quick 4 strokes.(formerly DQ)
Perfect for the gambler looking to control the outcome.(and he's 7 under today)


Just a shame he's not a 16 year old girl...
Amazing we now have rules where as long as someone "intended" to play from the right place, despite playing from the wrong place(Irish Open), there's no penalty--
but if someone "intended" to give someone a putt and the opponent picked it up too quickly for the verbal, it can't be given.


Pandora's box is beyond wide open.
The rules were fine before-harsh but fine-they're not fine now.

[Peter Pallotta]

Maybe the game and its rules will continue to evolve, completely in step with the world itself. Maybe in a few years time, if you intend to make a birdie and start the putt on what you think is the right line, it'll count as a birdie whether or not the putt actually goes in!

[Pat Burke]

Just saw the Jimenez video. He picked up and replaced a ball in play. I'm very surprised that a) Watson didn't say anything and b) nothing became of it. That was very poor.

Good news.
The competition is still open.
One can call in and get him a quick 4 strokes.(formerly DQ)
Perfect for the gambler looking to control the outcome.(and he's 7 under today


Just a shame he's not a 16 year old girl...
Amazing we now have rules where as long as someone "intended" to play from the right place, despite playing from the wrong place(Irish Open), there's no penalty--
but if someone "intended" to give someone a putt and the opponent picked it up too quickly for the verbal, it can't be given.


Pandora's box is beyond wide open.
The rules were fine before-harsh but fine-they're not fine now.

The all cheater Open should be a hell of an event!!

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,


Tiger, playing Gary Wolstenholme in the singles, and hit an iron OB on the 18th and lost 1 dn - the hole they are playing as the 1st this week.

That explains why the short 7th is now the 8th! I was confused. 🤔

[Garland Bayley]

Seemed a true links to me.

St. Enodoc has some holes that I remember to be softer than those singled out here as soft at RPGC. Anyone calling St. Enodoc not a true links?

[Jon Wiggett]

Seemed a true links to me.

St. Enodoc has some holes that I remember to be softer than those singled out here as soft at RPGC. Anyone calling St. Enodoc not a true links?

No caravan park so no its not 

[Thomas Dai]

Be obliged if someone could post a link to the video of the 'Jimenez incident'.
Thanks is anticipation.
Atb

[George Pazin]

I'm always amazed, when I look in one the various Open championships - men's women's senior's whatever - at the lack of definition on each shot. I personally love it, but wonder what others think.


I can't imagine the pros enjoy it.

[Søren Rye]

The all cheater Open should be a hell of an event!!

You mean, like the Tour de France? 

[jeffwarne]

I'm always amazed, when I look in one the various Open championships - men's women's senior's whatever - at the lack of definition on each shot. I personally love it, but wonder what others think.


I can't imagine the pros enjoy it.

George,
I've played a lot of golf on links courses.
I've NEVER felt there was a lack of definition.
The shots are defined by dunes, texture,vegetation, topography, rough and even the wind.
Perhaps your TV is playing tricks on you.


Also, I must say it was little disturbing to see such defined rough lines at Porthcawl and Birkdale. I'm hoping that's attributeable to wet weather.
I had a TV producer on my show Sunday who is pretty knowledgeable about golf and is UK born saying how nice and green Birkdale looked-I told him I was turned off by it not being yellow and brown like those old vintage shots.

[Thomas Dai]

I'm always amazed, when I look in one the various Open championships - men's women's senior's whatever - at the lack of definition on each shot. I personally love it, but wonder what others think.
I can't imagine the pros enjoy it.

I recall a Tiger comment that he played one of The Open rota venues on one occasion and struggled with his aim as The Open was elsewhere that year so there were no TV towers, grandstands etc aim at or away from.
Atb