Professional Tour Play Does the Old Course at St. Andrews need to be re-designed?
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Posted: July 20, 2010 • Views: 1,849 • Replies: 31 • Go to Last Reply |
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There could be some interesting responses to this topic. 3 of the last 4 Opens at St. Andrews have been won by a combined 25 shots and have had 0% drama in the final few holes. John Daly's win over Costantino Rocca in 1995 is the exception to the facts above. So since the course is getting easier by the year, is the history at the course not enough to get the course re-designed and get it turned into something like Carnoustie where stuff actually happens on the back 9? Now I love St. Andrews as much as anyone, but I love major championship drama even more. Something that St. Andrews has acked lately. What do you think?
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# 1 on 7/20/2010 6:39:46 PM |
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I Think,the course should be left alone.that's just me..but if you want to change it,maybe our President Obama,can go over there and re-design..the old course.cut down the rough,plant 50,000 Trees & add 1,000 more bunkers.add 500 ponds and all the holes have OB,on both sides.will that bring more drama? NO!... I,think,St Andrews,is fine just the way it is!
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# 2 on 7/20/2010 6:58:02 PM |
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Do you know who first designed the Old Course at St. Andrews? God. Do you really think anyone could improve on his work? The great defender of the Open Championship is, and always will be the weather. Had mother nature not cursed half the field on Friday perhaps the outcome would have been different. That being said...what she gives, she takes back...just ask Tiger. The Old Course is perfect just the way she is. |
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# 3 on 7/20/2010 7:37:22 PM |
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Weather is the great defender of some Open venues. St. Andrews is the most glaring exception. Regardless of conditions, scores well under par win the Open at St. Andrews. I'm not sure that a redesign is warranted. After all, they have lengthened the course significantly in recent years. If you took away the Road Hole, someone would shoot 25 under. This was the first year that 18 had so many players driving the green. I've always liked difficult finishing holes at a major, like 18 at the Masters. This year, there were almost a few holes-in-one at St. Andrews. If it was close among a bunch of players on Sunday, the possibility of a 1 or 2 on the final hole would have added a lot of excitement. |
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# 4 on 7/20/2010 8:35:59 PM |
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That on is easy, NO!
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# 5 on 7/20/2010 9:03:45 PM |
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I disagree...designing a course for the objective of drama in a tournament is not a good reason. There wasn't drama b/c Louis O. played very well, putted well, didn't have major weather to contend with and lapped the field...and wasn't a major name prior. If you take him out, there was plenty of bunching for top 5 positions. I say fine as is... |
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# 6 on 7/20/2010 9:15:08 PM |
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I disagree...designing a course for the objective of drama in a tournament is not a good reason. There wasn't drama b/c Louis O. played very well, putted well, didn't have major weather to contend with and lapped the field...and wasn't a major name prior. If you take him out, there was plenty of bunching for top 5 positions. I don't want it re-designed either. I'm just trying to get everyone to think a little bit. |
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# 7 on 7/20/2010 9:44:00 PM |
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Nah..I like it just the way it is.
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# 8 on 7/20/2010 10:31:35 PM |
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The Old Course is fine, but many times Mother Nature has her pick of who will win The Open. The draw is such potluck and the weather seems to change every 3 hours in Scotland. Of the Majors, The Masters & The Open are the only Majors where every player tees-off on #1 on Thursday/Fridays. The US Open & the PGA both tee-off on #1 & #10 the first 2 days. It was close to 10 hours between the 1st guy teeing-off and the last guy teeing-off on Thursday/Friday. With the ever changing weather at The Open, the luck of the "Weather Draw" is huge. If you have the entire field going off both 9's it would definitely even the playing field for everybody. I know that they can't do this at St. Andrews because of the way the course is routed (straight out, thru the loop, then all the way back). There's really no way to get half the field out to #10 to begin their rounds. We've seen over Par compete at The Open, so having a shoot-out once in a while is okay with me. To me they shouldn't touch a thing at St. Andrews & just let Mother Nature decide the winning total.
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# 9 on 7/20/2010 10:45:21 PM |
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With all the history that comes with the course I don't think it should be changed.....Anyway; I think weather a course is easy or hard; they are all playing the same course right? Someone could be way ahead on a hard course the same as on an easy course if they are playing better than the rest of the field......Though I would like to see 18 more difficult......100 yard wide fairway...sikes...
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# 10 on 7/20/2010 10:49:07 PM |
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I am not sure if any of us on this site have the right(nor the knowledge) to even hint in the direction of redesigning St. Andrews. Not every thing in this world stands the test of time, but the Old Course has been regarded as the Holy Grail of golf since any of us were born, In other words, I disagree. |
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# 11 on 7/20/2010 10:53:14 PM |
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Tons of history and that is awesome, but overrated.
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# 12 on 7/20/2010 10:58:11 PM |
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Was this is a serious question? Does the Old Course need to be redesigned? No. |
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# 13 on 7/20/2010 11:03:53 PM |
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I think the only thing that needs to be changed is players teeing off on both 1 and 10 this would equalize the weather factor, more players would play in the same weather conditions. but i also like the massive amount of tv coverageyou get with only starting on 1. so i guess i'm torn...
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# 14 on 7/20/2010 11:04:43 PM |
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NO...
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# 15 on 7/21/2010 6:05:22 AM |
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I am not sure if any of us on this site have the right(nor the knowledge) to even hint in the direction of redesigning St. Andrews. To alleviate your concerns as to whether we have "the right to even hint in the direction of redesigning St. Andrews," a fellow named James Madison back in 1791 ensured we would have the right when he introduced the Bill of Rights as the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America. |
