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Post by Annihilation Nation on Aug 9, 2017 23:20:33 GMT
I am so happy that the PGA is back to a normal schedule without the Olympics kind of messing everything up. Every year I love this tournament and this year is certainly no exception. Quail Hollow is an excellent choice for this tournament. It seems like most of the first 12 holes are basically tree lined holes which are fair and might allow a small diversion from the fairway but if someone goes 20-40 yards off the path there is a good chance that trees will be a pretty big problem. I am not sure how thick the rough will be so the punishment might be just slight or severe for missing the fairway at all. The last 6 holes will be where it gets interesting and especially the last 3 holes which I believe is considered the "Green Mile" at this course. I believe there is some water on 13-15 but the blue stuff gets rather punishing on 16 and 17. I really like the 18th hole and it was the hardest finishing hole on tour last year. How is that for a great finish. The 18th has a small creek that runs all the way down the left hand side of the fairway and continues all the way past the green. Many golfers (most especially right handed ones) when they lose a shot it tends to drift a little left. The creek will be just big enough to collect 90% of the balls that land and roll off that side of the fairway. We are talking about 3-5 feet off the fairway so it is a true border between the fairway and the rough. I envision many golfer standing in their bare feet in this crick deciding if they want to attempt to play their ball or not. Actually missing left is very bad for each of the final 3 holes. On 16 and 17 missing in that direction will result in the ball certainly being wet.
I would think on Sunday that if the leader has a 3 shot lead or less there is going to be plenty of drama to get past. I don't think it would be enough to sink a 4 shot or more lead but definitely if the margin is 2 strokes or fewer the tourney will absolutely be in the balance. I believe a player that is in control of his nerves and has won a major before will be better equipped the handle the stretch run then someone that is a bit yippy or trying for a first time break through. I am going to predict a playoff and I can't remember if the PGA has gone to the 3 hole aggregate which I hope is the case. A playoff if it is indeed 3 holes and covers the last 3 holes would be awesome.
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Post by Annihilation Nation on Aug 9, 2017 23:53:28 GMT
I wanted to look ahead at the announced future sites of the U.S. Open and PGA Championship/
First PGA
2018: Bellerive CC in St. Louis - good traditional course that is more similar to Quail Hollow as it is different.
2019: Bethpage Black in Farmingdale NY - Not a big fan personally as it is kind of a mix of traditional and links golf. Quite a few bunkers and a fairly open layout with trees not hugging the course real closely in most areas. I didn't notice any H2O on the course.
2020: TPC Harding Park in San Francisco CA - I would call it a fair to midland course. It has the look of Torrey Pines and kind of has a half tropical or Hawaii look to it which seems slighty odd for the Bay Area.
2021: Kiawah Island Ocean Course in Sea Island SC - OK we have taken kind of a step backwards but I imagine Rich would be very interested in trying to attend. This is very Linksy and British Open looking with a splash of water mixed in but trees are either in prime demand or simply non existant. Hilton Head with the Light House would be a much better choice.
2022: Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster NJ - Now this could be rather controversial by the time it rolls around. Will the location remain here. Taking the politics out of it the course is actually pretty nice. Abundant water but trees coming into play only off and on.
2023: Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford NY - Has the feel of an older course with some old brick or cottage style buildings around the course. Pleasing the eye with quite a few trees but conservative with the water. Some of the holes that do have water are lined with large rocks which gives it a nice look.
U.S. Open coming up in next post
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Post by Annihilation Nation on Aug 10, 2017 1:29:07 GMT
I am a bit afraid to look at the future sites of the United State Open as they have been getting way too cute and off track with the course they have been choosing lately. How about lets put a major in one of the Rocky Mountain Courses. If anything tends to lack with these major courses it seems to be elevation changes. Make these guys face that type of test and even more so then what they face at August National.
2018: Shinnecock Hills GC in Southampton NY - The trend continues again with another Links like course. I believe this is the course that Cory Pavin won the U.S. Open at when he hit a long wood on 18 within a few feet of the hole. Actually on further check it happened here at the 1995 U.S. Open. Not a fan of this course
2019: Pebble Beach Golf Links in Monterrey CA - The U.S. Open has been here plenty and of course this is a nice setting for a major.
2020: Winged Foot Golf Club Mamoraneck NY - haven't we had enough future majors scheduled in New York already. An average course that is old school American Golf. Nothing real great or real poor with this course. Let's drop the New York monopoly on these Majors.
2021: South Course at Torrey Pines - I like this course for a regular stop but not so sure I like it for a major. I definitely don't hate it but these majors tend to be played on either Ocean courses or Links course and I would like a little more variety with these choices.
2022: The Country Club at Brookline in MA - Another traditional American course with plenty of rounds played on it over the years. A little bit of everything and not too much of anything other then maybe a generous amount of trees which seems to be the staple of old style courses.
2023: North Course at Los Angeles CC in CA - Seems like a nice layout and the conture around the greens seems nice. Another not real imaginative choice for the U.S. Open but at least it is a different location.
2024: Pinehurst No 2 in Pinehurst NC - Tree lined fairways are the name of the game here. Two courses in North Carolina are very worthy of the national open.
2025: Oakmont CC in Oakmont PA - The course is a little open but there are some nice holes. The trees seem to border the outside of the course moreso then the fairways themselves.
2026: Shinnecock Hill - You can not be serious Charlie, but the USGA is about this course. I really don't understand the obsession with this very boring golf course.
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Post by Sea Island Mafia on Aug 12, 2017 5:03:19 GMT
The PGA wins 3 times, this week.
On TV, this week, with a great leaderboard.
Better future venues (compared to US OPEN) imo. Kiawah Island Ocean Course should be a permanent fixture on tour, imo.
Better schedule, in the future. (May vs August/September).
It's gonna go TPC, Masters, PGA, US Open, British Open, Fed-Ex cup, from here on out. That's a much better slot (for PGA/it's relevancy), imo.
Agree: Don't get the "love" for Shinnecock.
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Post by Annihilation Nation on Aug 12, 2017 9:04:20 GMT
Maybe they can switch it like they do for Tennis with Wimdeldon being prior to the U.S Open. March: Players April: Masters May: PGA June: British July: U.S. Open August: Fed Ex Cup I would hate having the British being the last tourney. Is there ever a good time of year to play in the U.K. It seems like it is always windy and rainy there. The PGA in May could lead to some less then favorable conditions in some part of the United States. Once upon a time I saw a course that players had to go way up on a ledge and tee it up off the side of a mountain or cliff. I think the drop was over 500 feet if not over 1000 feet. That is the kind of a hole we need. Edit: I looked it up and it is a 1200 foot drop. This hole is in Africa and the only way to get up is by helicopter. Attachments:
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Post by Annihilation Nation on Aug 12, 2017 9:20:12 GMT
foursum.com/otd/25-unconventional-different-strange-golf-courses/Here is a link to some Unconventional Golf Courses. My choice would be as shown below. 1. Le Touessrok Golf Course - it is completely on a tropical island 2. Opal Fields Golf Club - in Australia and the entire course is sand 3. Greenland - The photo speaks for itself honorable mention - Furnace Creek Golf Course - it is in Death Valley CA and 214 feet below sea level. Temps reach 130 degrees.
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Post by Annihilation Nation on Aug 12, 2017 9:24:57 GMT
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Post by greenjacksixpack on Aug 12, 2017 12:02:35 GMT
Eric....stop bashing the (British) Open. It is where this game first was born, so if we are going to get critical, the courses SHOULD look like that, rather than the manicured lawns over on this side of the pond.  Agree with many of your other opinions...but we always butt heads here, lol. Only the Masters is a better tourney...it is the history and tradition, as well as being a true world tourney. |
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Post by Annihilation Nation on Aug 12, 2017 21:22:19 GMT
Sorry about the British bashing. I will try to lay off on it at least until the Open week.
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