Easiest famous course.

[JumboJack]

The hardest course thread got me thinking.

Of world famous courses, which ones are "easiest" when not set up for world class play? Manageable length (under 7000), rough not at 4"+, fairways at normal width, pins not tucked, greens rolling 10ish+/-...

 

I would think Augusta could be manageable from the members tees and tame pin placements.

[knock it close]

Probably the old course or another open rota course without wind

[cardoustie]

Agree on The Old

 

Very gettable in tame conditions .. I've played it twice

[aabcuue]

Pebble Beach.

All the tourists want to play it so its dumbed down for the averagen occasional player.

Course is very manageable distance from the whites basically county course length.

 

If you don't slice badly you'll do ok. Even the 2nd shot into 8 and the teeshot on 18 the slice plays to your advantage.

 

The resort sends the low handicaps to Spyglass. The setup is adjusted for better players.

 

[raynorfan1]

The easiest is almost definitely the Old Course.

 

Then it's probably classics in member trim: Riviera, Shinnecock, Merion.

[dhc1]

The easiest is almost definitely the Old Course.

 

Then it's probably classics in member trim: Riviera, Shinnecock, Merion.

 

Of the US courses, Pacific Dunes (#18 in Golf Digest) is 10x easier than Shinnecock and Merion. Not even close although perhaps PD isn't "famous"

[az2au]

The Old Course is definitely at the top if there's no wind. On those days when it really blows it is a different story. I've only played that way once and the other times it has been still/light winds. 10-15 shots different in gale force conditions.

[cardoustie]

I played with gusts from 30-60mph

 

Insane downwind and into

 

Nuked a drive 190 on 18, 380 downfan on 16

[Caddykev]

The easiest is almost definitely the Old Course.

 

Then it's probably classics in member trim: Riviera, Shinnecock, Merion.

I'd say ngla in members trim before Shinny. Not trying to toot my own horn but our dopey caddies left drivers and walked out into 1, 2, 14, and 17 and I was chipping to all four. I never would hit Driver on 1 or 14 if I ever play there again. However, Shinny under members conditions is scorable if you keep it in play. I personally thought friars head wasn't overly difficult when I played it, especially after hearing so many people tell me how hard it was.

[North Butte]

At Cypress Point I was a couple shots better than my handicap until I botched the 14th (short game meltdown) and then the 18th (awful, awful tee shot). But I still found it pretty darned straightforward, at least when you have the experienced club caddies who seem to be able to find any ball and read any putt perfectly.

[knock it close]

Isn't this the mark of a truly great course. One that can challenge the better players without being exceedingly brutal, yet allow the higher handicap player to enjoy their round, hit a couple greens and not lose a handful of balls.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

Pebble is hardly a meat grinder...

[North Butte]

Around the same time I visited Cypress Point I played with a low-handicap friend of mine at Spyglass Hill. It was a very interesting day. I was then about a 20-handicap but was hitting the ball reasonably straight that day and had a good feel for the pace of the greens. So I probably shot in the mid-upper 90's. Not a very good round but not too far off what I'd hope to do.

 

My friend had a bit of a two-way miss going with his irons that day (normally his strong suit is hitting it straight). He probably shot darned near the same score as I did playing off nearly a stroke a hole lower 'cap. It's like if there was a green you could not afford to miss to the right he'd block one out right. If there was death to the left he'd hook that one. Just medium-bad swings ending up in super-bad places and then those greens leave you virtually no recovery option if you're on the incorrect side and close to hole high.

 

I think that's a pretty cool example of course where you can put the Mickelsons and Spieths of world off the tips and it will eat them up but you put a hacker playing up a couple sets and he can sort of tack his way around and give himself plenty of par chances (although probably not many short birdie putts by any means).

[duffer987]

Famous as in tournament venues, historical-architectual pedigree, or well thought of modern track? All three?

I'd agree that the Old Course in docile conditions is not difficult. 2 or less club wind and you don't mind some some blind shots and you can shoot a score there.

 

I also think Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes are fairly 'easy' all things considered.

[isaacbm]

The easiest is almost definitely the Old Course.

 

Then it's probably classics in member trim: Riviera, Shinnecock, Merion.

Riviera is not easy ever.

[nolixul]

On the Open rota, without a doubt the Old Course if the wind isn't up. But that's not really golf according to the Scots - "Nae wind, nae golf!"

[is76550]

The easiest is almost definitely the Old Course.

 

Then it's probably classics in member trim: Riviera, Shinnecock, Merion.

Riviera is not easy ever.

 

A plus handicapper at my club played Merion and Oakmont and said they were both insanely hard but at Merion he only had 1 birdie all day and shot in the 80s I believe.

[VNutz]

Augusta National

 

-Jones Scott

[toypor]

The easiest is almost definitely the Old Course.

 

Then it's probably classics in member trim: Riviera, Shinnecock, Merion.

Riviera is not easy ever.

 

I'd agree. Been fortunate enough to play it a few times and found it to be very challenging. One of my favorites.

[MichaelJScott]

Pebble beach the greens are pretty mellow. Just don't miss right along the water

 

[golfandfishing]

I did not think Muirfield Village was overly difficult. Crooked Stick is quite fun and not oppressive in the least. My one trip around Valhalla was ungodly tough but have heard that for member play is docile.

[duffer987]

Pebble beach the greens are big. Just don't miss right along the water

 

Their greens are tiny, relative to other famous courses.

[MichaelJScott]

Pebble beach the greens are big. Just don't miss right along the water

 

Their greens are tiny, relative to other famous courses.

 

I haven't played many famous courses then. Compared to spyglass, poppy hills, black horse & bayonet and other nice courses I have played they were surprisingly large.

[dhc1]

Isn't this the mark of a truly great course. One that can challenge the better players without being exceedingly brutal, yet allow the higher handicap player to enjoy their round, hit a couple greens and not lose a handful of balls.

 

For a course to be truly great, it doesn't have to cater to the bogey golfer IMO. Great courses require great precise shots and loose shots should be penalized. The amount of penalization is subjective (i'm not a huge fan of water and OB everywhere and prefer quarter to half stroke penalties where you can advance the ball but not get on the green) but a bogey golfer should make a bunch of bogeys and be happy. YMMV

[SilverBullets]

As others have mentioned, Bandon and Pacific Dunes aren't overly difficult. In fact, all 4 of the courses are pretty tame. Those courses clearly were not designed to host major championships. They were designed as tourist destinations. Incredible golf courses which are very playable for all levels of player.

 

I may get flamed for this, but, I thought The Ocean Course was relatively tame. I played it on a day with mostly calm winds, in October when it was playing a little softer. Yes, it's still a difficult track, but, it was nowhere near the hardest golf course I have ever played. Now with 20+ mph winds and dry conditions, I'm sure that course is a nightmare.

 

Another course I was expecting to be more difficult was Erin Hills. Playing it from 6700 or so yards with mild winds, really took the teeth out of it. Like The Ocean Course, its still challenging, but, in good conditions from a regular yardage you would play, it's very manageable. As a 5 handicap, I shot 82 at EH and felt like I hit the ball awful. That 82 would have been about the same score at a typical country club with the way I played. I can only imagine how much more difficult that place is when its playing north of 7500 yards and when the fairways are narrowed to host the US Open. But in the everyday conditions, I felt Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run - River were much more challenging.

[caniac6]

I am not very long, but I am pretty straight, so I didn't think Harbor Town was too tough.

[knock it close]

Isn't this the mark of a truly great course. One that can challenge the better players without being exceedingly brutal, yet allow the higher handicap player to enjoy their round, hit a couple greens and not lose a handful of balls.

 

For a course to be truly great, it doesn't have to cater to the bogey golfer IMO. Great courses require great precise shots and loose shots should be penalized. The amount of penalization is subjective (i'm not a huge fan of water and OB everywhere and prefer quarter to half stroke penalties where you can advance the ball but not get on the green) but a bogey golfer should make a bunch of bogeys and be happy. YMMV

I never said cater, but it should allow some semblance of a ground game to be played, allowing players of all skill levels to use the contors of the course to get the ball close to the hole, rather than just asking them to fly it to a spot. Also I think the idea that a course has to be difficult to be good led us to a bunch of uninspiring, cookie cutter, plug and play courses

[Imhappyinthe80s]

Not super famous, but Ross's Bay course at Seaview, hosts the LPGA ShopRite. It has wind, I played it in 40 mph winds and shot low 80s which is a good score for me.

[deadsolid...shank]

Pebble beach the greens are big. Just don't miss right along the water

 

Their greens are tiny, relative to other famous courses.

 

I haven't played many famous courses then. Compared to spyglass, poppy hills, black horse & bayonet and other nice courses I have played they were surprisingly large.

 

It's been a few years and my memory isn't real good anymore, but I remember Poppy Hills, Bayonet &Blackhorse's greens all being substantially bigger than Pebble's

[toddnt]

Pebble beach the greens are big. Just don't miss right along the water

 

Their greens are tiny, relative to other famous courses.

The greens are smallest Ive ever played and thats its protection.