posted May 10, 2008

Ha ha, it is a very very hard hole the 17th but then these are the worlds best players. To card a good round in golf, you need to play 18 holes well, not 17.5 but the full 18. Its not like the green shrank for Ernie and then got bigger when the others pulled their wedges from the bag. If a Pro can not stop their soft Pro V1's from deep grooved wedges from less than 150 yards, they should maybe go and practise hitting some higher spinning shots on the range. I imagine I would hit a few in the water if I played that hole but I know 100% that if I hit my PW sweet as a nut straight at it, that it would stop (as long as line and length were right) The ball goes in the water if it is a bad shot. Good ones stay up, simple as that. Its the same for everyone and wind can blow on any golf hole at any given time.

All that said, I am not a big fan of this course in general but to say get rid of the 17th altogether is stupid. It is part of the course and should be left. We all play courses that have some elements we dont like but you have to play the whole course, not just one hole.

Typical of American courses, lush green surroundings, lots of water and very little imagination when it come to using the natrual terrain to test whoever decides to play that area.

Fret not, Birkdale is nearly here and we will see a proper golf tournament where imagination and nouse will win over the ability to smash driver 350 and spin mickey mouse wedges from ankle high rough. Come on Westwood, you have got it in you. Hoping Donald might show up to.

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posted May 10, 2008

good hole but why do they break the rules of golf and have a drop zone rather than play it agin or drop from where it crossed the hazard line?

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posted May 10, 2008

Its big and flat with a collar that catches most shots that are pitched near the middle of the green. It's just a test of nerves. The perfect hole for analysing the way a professional golfer handles pressure.

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posted May 10, 2008

Hillside next door is better than Birkdale

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posted May 11, 2008

The 17th is a bit of a lottery but isnt all Golf?

There can be a gust of wind on any hole that could ruin your round - especially on a Links.

Does Ernie want every round on a perfectly flat manucired (sp) course with no wind and perfect conditions?

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posted May 12, 2008

I sympathise with those views describing it as a gimmick,but it can make good TV. Sadly too many courses in the States are manicured to ridiculous degrees just for the TV viewer e.g. artificially blue water. Golf is a sport which tests many aspects of a player's game, character, nerve etc., and doesn't really need all this artificial assistance. Get the wind blowing on a good links like Birkdale or Carnoustie and you've got all the difficulty and drama you need.

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posted May 12, 2008

it seems to me that the big easy just a problem getting over water at the end of a round back to the range me thinks

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posted May 12, 2008

I think everybody is taking Els out of context here, he said anyone taking 6 there would want to blow it up. Certainly anyone taking 6 isn't going to turn around and say I love playing that hole, I wish there were another 17 just like them!

I like The Players Championship, the rowdy crowds are the only thing that spoil it, I for one would make screaming 'get in the hole' a mandatory ejection (or feeding to the alligators)... especially off the tee on par 4 and 5s.

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posted May 12, 2008

I don't know what the fuss is about. I played the course last year, flushed a pitching wedge to a about 12 feet on 17 and made par.
We'll gloss over the 9 I made at 18 with two in the water. ;o)

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