I’m against the entire premise. The idea that you can play a golf course for the first time, and then have an opinion of whether its a good course. People do it every day. The internet is full of one time plays, and filthy bad reviews. How do people who know nothing about golf design suddenly have a valid opinion of what a course isn’t. Let’s dive deeper.
Its a Good Course, Mistake 1
The number one misguided criteria of whether its a good course is….what you shot? Have the round of your life, yeah that’s a good course. Loose a dozen balls, that’s most definitely a bad course. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but no matter how good your score, no matter how many donations you make to the lakes, your score doesn’t tell me shit about whether I’d like to play there or not.
Its a Good Course, Mistake 2
The second misguided criteria is spending the day on a strategic golf course completely out of position, and then saying the course sucks. The awesome thing about strategy is that there is an optimal angle of attack, and there is angles where: “you’re dead”. Just because you spent the day touring the “you’re dead” locations, doesn’t mean you played a poorly designed course. You just played poorly. Should you return tomorrow, and the next day, and maybe even the next day, surely you can’t put your ball in all the same bad locations. Is it possible that after multiple plays, you might actually be able to offer a fair critique? Maybe you’d even say that there are lots of thrilling decisions to be made. If you’ve played a place once, say nothing.
Now I’m not going to say that every course has fun strategic attributes. There are a lot of really boring places to play. Sadly, on courses like that, there is actually nothing to see. The hole is just as boring approaching from the left, as you found playing from the right. You get to repeat that process, 17 more times. I’m sorry. Should you run home and crank out a review? Please don’t, there is nothing to debate.
Its a Good Course, Not
How did we get such boring golf? In many cases, the developer was scared shitless of you. Terrified you might NOT return, terrified you might tell others not to play, they often neuter the character or the quirk right out of a golf course. Keep it obvious, keep it level, keep it simple, keep it easy is the construction mantra. In the end, the developer got exactly what he wanted. You leave and say nothing to bash the course, but you don’t offer any enlightenment either. You simply forget.
When it comes to courses in the Valley, Golf Course Owner Guy has one that is bolder. Sometimes it gets tough feedback, but it also gets incredible praise. Whether you like it or hate it…it leaves an impression. Impressions are the fuel of debate, and debate means its a compelling course. Think of a great painting, it’s great because no one can agree on what it’s saying. The debate continues….
Not everyone needs to be challenged when they golf, not everyone can hit the ball consistently down the middle or draw the ball into a perfect approach position. Your course is what a friend of mine called a destination course. Everything is the way it should be, great well kept fairways and pristine greens. Unfortunately, no one needs to spend time looking for golf balls in the rough or be in a foursome pushed by twosomes that pride themselves on speed golf. There are many sides to every story.
I’m incredibly confused by the comment. I’m advocating for interesting courses for those who don’t hit the ball straight, I’m not sure what a destination course is, when we are only played by locals, and what does my story have to do with twosomes pushing a foursome. I guess we will see if everyone else reading my article sees what you are seeing.
I absolutely agree with your article. I can’t remember how many times I’ve played a challenging course for the first time and “picked the wrong side” for my approach only to look back from the green and realize my mistake. Even after putting out for a double I can’t wait to get another shot at that hole. Over time, those kind of courses become my favorites. The ones where you wake up before your alarm goes off because you’ve been thinking about how you’re going to play it for two days. Keep up the good work, Nick. The sun is out today!
I love that you can see that in design. That’s what makes it interesting. So many courses were built without ever consider the interest. They just thought if there was grass and a hole at the end, people would play. Keep enjoying
Over the past few years, I have played Royal St. Patrick Golf Links and the name of this incredible course says it right up front …. “LINKS!” As the article reads, play the course and “Should you return tomorrow, and the next day, and maybe even the next day, ” you will find that each shot you make in four consecutive days will not be from the same position (hopefully you are in the fairway), the iron or metal head you choose for each shot will change because you are playing a links course, not a cow pasture pool game. Links courses are designed for playing positioning, not dragging out your “300 + yard” driver and swinging out of your shoes. Appreciate the doglegs, traps, bunkers, lakes and rough and simply play positioning and stay in the FAIR WAY (that is how and why this part of the course was named). That is our challenge when playing the Outstanding RSPGL, play the course by positioning your shots with the proper clubs of your capabilities, putt smoothly and with an even tempo and you will SCORE on this EXCITING LINKS COURSE.
John, that was a great explanation of why we are different. Sometimes people get sick of me telling the story, but when other people tell the story it gives credibility. I want people to understand why they like certain places and why they don’t. This is all part of education that makes us love the game. Thank You!