Miss Doral?

[Tim Leahy]

Anybody else miss seeing Doral Blue Monster on tv? I am happy they took the tourny stop from comrade Trumpsky but I loved watching the top pros play Doral with all the sand, water and palm trees coming in to play. For those that have played there, was it as fun to play as it was to watch?

[James Brown]

Yes.  The renovated Doral was much more interesting than the course in Mexico City.

[Tom_Doak]

Anybody else miss seeing Doral Blue Monster on tv? I am happy they took the tourny stop from comrade Trumpsky but I loved watching the top pros play Doral with all the sand, water and palm trees coming in to play. For those that have played there, was it as fun to play as it was to watch?

I only played a previous iteration of the course, and no, it was really not that fun to play.  It got the name "Blue Monster" for a reason.

[jeffwarne]

It was an iconic Tour venue.
Was it a great course? no-not really-but compared to many tour torture chambers it really wasn't that water infested-pre Hanse-then it became the worst of TPC  Sawgrass and PGA National ick...


I certainly enjoyed the older version-pre Floyd-pre Hanse more than the new one.
When I taught at Doral it always look best on TV when watching it a ski resort as I used to take that week off

[Jeff Schley]

Anybody else miss seeing Doral Blue Monster on tv? I am happy they took the tourny stop from comrade Trumpsky but I loved watching the top pros play Doral with all the sand, water and palm trees coming in to play. For those that have played there, was it as fun to play as it was to watch?

I only played a previous iteration of the course, and no, it was really not that fun to play.  It got the name "Blue Monster" for a reason.

I never played it but several friends of mine took golf trips there annually and stopped playing it because it was "too xxxxing tough!"

[Tom_Doak]

I played about a month before the tournament, and the ryegrass in the rough was nasty.  I'd never played out of deep, thick ryegrass rough anywhere.  The water hazards were a relief by comparison!

[Frank M]

I miss it and wish it would go back. After watching one round last year at the Mexico course, I’ve never cared to watch another of that particular WGC.

[jeffwarne]

I played about a month before the tournament, and the ryegrass in the rough was nasty.  I'd never played out of deep, thick ryegrass rough anywhere.  The water hazards were a relief by comparison!

They only overseeded with rye on the fairways and roughs one year.
Silly.

[Jeff Schley]

Bring back Trump Doral...make the WGC great again.

That's funny! 

[Anthony_Nysse]

I played about a month before the tournament, and the ryegrass in the rough was nasty.  I'd never played out of deep, thick ryegrass rough anywhere.  The water hazards were a relief by comparison!

Tom-
  When did you play it? The rough hasn’t been seeded at least since I’ve been in FL

[PCCraig]

I don't miss Doral in the least bit. That was always one of the most boring golf tournaments of the year.


It may sound strange to this group, but I think the course this week is a terrific change of pace. The courses that the pros visit have become so big...longer, wider, more bunkers, more eye candy...that watching them play a tight classic course with back-to-front sloping greens and sketchy turf has been a joy. Who hasn't enjoyed watching guys actually curving the ball off the tee?

[jeffwarne]

It may sound strange to this group, but I think the course this week is a terrific change of pace. The courses that the pros visit have become so big...longer, wider, more bunkers, more eye candy...that watching them play a tight classic course with back-to-front sloping greens and sketchy turf has been a joy. Who hasn't enjoyed watching guys actually curving the ball off the tee?

+1


just wish it would've replaced the Honda and the Bear Crap instead

[PCCraig]

After today's finish, how could anyone miss Doral?

[jeffwarne]

After today's finish, how could anyone miss Doral?

+1


shades of Craig Parry-though I think he hit 6 iron from the same distance they were hitting gap wedges


I actually like Kikuyu as a defense-and slopey greens where near perfect putts die off and just miss

[Jeff Schley]

After today's finish, how could anyone miss Doral?

+1


shades of Craig Parry-though I think he hit 6 iron from the same distance they were hitting gap wedges


I actually like Kikuyu as a defense-and slopey greens where near perfect putts die off and just miss

That was a great finish with him holing out in the playoff.  I remember a couple things from that week:

1. Johnny Miller, being the beloved critic of players he is, said something like Parry's swing would make Ben Hogan puck.
2.  Parry almost missed his tee time on Thursday due to jet lag and barely made it.
3. He won a car as well and remember him saying he isn't a car man, but a boat man.

Verplank actually was on the green in 2 after running up a shot out of the rough, so had some drama.  Also yeah the 6 iron from 175 or so.  That is hard to believe huh.

[Carl Rogers]

The course in Mexico does not live up to any memorability standard but does seem to mitigate the big hitter advantage.  Grow the game initiative.


The Tour did themselves a favor by avoiding the political baggage of the Trump prescence, tweets, family & etc.  No win deal.

[PCCraig]

The Tour did themselves a favor by avoiding the political baggage of the Trump prescence, tweets, family & etc.  No win deal.

Don't forget the poorly received renovation of the course in 2014 which brought a number of complaints from players.

[Jeff Schley]

The Tour did themselves a favor by avoiding the political baggage of the Trump prescence, tweets, family & etc.  No win deal.

Don't forget the poorly received renovation of the course in 2014 which brought a number of complaints from players.

But isn't this population whiny by default? 

[jeffwarne]

The Tour did themselves a favor by avoiding the political baggage of the Trump prescence, tweets, family & etc.  No win deal.

Don't forget the poorly received renovation of the course in 2014 which brought a number of complaints from players.

There have been multiple poorly received renovations over the years on The Blue-

[Joe Schackman]

I don't miss Doral in the least bit. That was always one of the most boring golf tournaments of the year.


It may sound strange to this group, but I think the course this week is a terrific change of pace. The courses that the pros visit have become so big...longer, wider, more bunkers, more eye candy...that watching them play a tight classic course with back-to-front sloping greens and sketchy turf has been a joy. Who hasn't enjoyed watching guys actually curving the ball off the tee?

I agree with this 100%. The golf course may not have been an architectural gem by any stretch but it made for great TV/entertainment. I stress that I'm talking only about the entertainment value as a viewer. The more I watch pro-golf the more I value variety in the venue, as well as format.

A few weeks ago we got to see these guys plot their way around Riviera and that was fantastic.  Now we got to watch them ping-pong their way around Mexico City. In a few weeks we see Match Play. Then they take on Augusta. Later this summer we get a 2-man event in NOLA as well as a US Open at Shinnecock. Variety is the key.

We already get a ton of Florida golf with PGA National, Copperhead, Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass. I can't say I miss Doral one bit.

[John Nixon]

[Jeff Schley]

 
That is so cool John.  Good find!

[Kalen Braley]

I'm with Joe on this one.  Don't miss yet another boring PGA Tour venue in Florida.


TPC Sawgrass is the only interesting one, in large part because its the best major each year based on strength of field...

[Tim Leahy]

Wonder how much she got from comrade Trumpsky to shut up.

[BHoover]

Change the name from Trump Doral to Dave Dennison Doral.