First, let's pronounce the name of the course correctly. Roll the r in a nice Scottish burr, and spend about 5 seconds getting the vowel out. Man, I love The Open, 'specially when it's from Scotland The Brave. OK, here are the holes I'll really enjoy watching.
No. 6 (Turnberry): Par 5, 601 yds. This I gotta see. It's the longest hole in Open history, but it's reachable (typically plays downwind). Was Troon's easiest hole in 1997 (avg, 4.46), when it was only 577.
No. 8 (The Postage Stamp): Par 3, 123 yds. It's the shortest hole in The Open rota; how hard can it be? Well, it's got a narrow green, 5 hungry bunkers, and a big honkin' sandhill on the left. Oh, and maybe some wind. Hardest front-9 hole in 1997. In 1950, some poor slob (amateur Herman Tissies, lest his name be lost to history) took a 15 here. They'll remind you of the hole-in-one made by 71-yr-old Gene Sarazen here in 1973; they may forget to tell you that the next day he holed out for birdie from a bunker. Lucky son of a gun.
No. 10 (Sandhills): Par 4, 438 yds. Now that the players have had their fun on the front 9, Troon starts to bare its teeth. Blind tee shot over sandhills, prevailing wind blowing L to R, where there's heather and gorse, and a crowned green that throws the ball off to either side. Priceless.
No. 11 (The Railway Hole): Par 4, 490 yds. Longest par 4 on the course. Another blind tee shot. Bushes left, OB right. Hit it far enough right when a train is going by, and you might be playing your next shot from Glasgow. Hardest hole in 1997 (avg, 4.65). In 1962, some young whippersnapper made a 10 here. Fella namea Jack Nicklaus.
No. 17 (Rabbit): Par 3, 222 yds. I love tough par 3's at the end of a course... when others have to play them, I mean. Prevailing wind from the left, but often plays right into the wind. Elevated green with slight hogsback. Sand in front, dropoff into grassy hollows on the left, deep bunker on the right. I mean, whattaya do here? Aye, laddie, say yer prayers!
{snipt} No. 8 (The Postage Stamp): Par 3, 123 yds. It's the shortest hole in The Open rota; how hard can it be? Well, it's got a narrow green, 5 hungry bunkers, and a big honkin' sandhill on the left. Oh, and maybe some wind. Hardest front-9 hole in 1997. In 1950, some poor slob (amateur Herman Tissies, lest his name be lost to history) took a 15 here. They'll remind you of the hole-in-one made by 71-yr-old Gene Sarazen here in 1973; they may forget to tell you that the next day he holed out for birdie from a bunker. Lucky son of a gun.{snipt}
I found myself saying "Wow" a lot in that paragraph. Thanks for the insights.
Jim, do I detect a Scottish Herrrritage there someplace in the past?
It is so refreshing to link up with a fellow historian.
Do not forget the 18th where Norman outdrove himself into a bunker and off the Auld Claret Jug in the playoff with Grady ( too short a game to compete in the playoff) and Calchavechhia..... How do you spell an alphabet? Did I get it wrong.... probably.
Number 11 looks crazy. A 490 yard par 4!? Isn't it against the wind, too? One of the local courses I play has a 480 yard par 4 but it plays upwind which makes it very reachable as long as you hit 2 good shots. Add to the fact that #11 has a blind tee shot and this would probably be the hole where I would throw my hands in the air and say, "I guess I'll stop keeping score now..."
Thanks Valeogut.....That's it!!! JimSomebody's picture has been driving me nuts for weeks because it reminds me of somebody I thought I know. I couldn't for the life of me figure out who it is that he reminds me of and now I know Man, that's a load off my feeble mind!
Your secret identity has been exposed "JackSomebody", so now do what you've always done best and give us your Open insights this week!
Brett: Unfortunately, no Scottish blood runs in my veins. :( Maybe a little scotch every once in a while, but that's another story. (BTW, thanks for your e-mail. No offense in not replying but I did read it and appreciate it. :) I've got that Crenshaw video; should look at it again!)
valeogut and leaguegolf: Jack Whittaker? Thanks for the compliment! That's high praise in my book (notwithstanding the reports of Mr. Whittaker's greatly exaggerated demise). Truth to tell, I have no idea who the guy I'm using as my avatar is. Found the photo in a Google search for "free avatars." At first I thought, "I can't use this bozo." Then I thought, "Hey, wait. Great smile, enjoys life, maybe has a sense of humor about himself (see cap)... Why not?" Showed it to my wife, who burst out laughing and said, "You can't be him! You're not that old!" Gosh, I love that woman.
Truth to tell, I have no idea who the guy I'm using as my avatar is. Found the photo in a Google search for "free avatars."
There goes another first impression.... :( I was warned about people on the internet not being who they really are. That's OK JimSomebody, you're more than just a pretty face here at golfrewind!
First, let's pronounce the name of the course correctly. Roll the r in a nice Scottish burr, and spend about 5 seconds getting the vowel out. Man, I love The Open, 'specially when it's from Scotland The Brave. OK, here are the holes I'll really enjoy watching.
No. 6 (Turnberry): Par 5, 601 yds. This I gotta see. It's the longest hole in Open history, but it's reachable (typically plays downwind). Was Troon's easiest hole in 1997 (avg, 4.46), when it was only 577.
No. 8 (The Postage Stamp): Par 3, 123 yds. It's the shortest hole in The Open rota; how hard can it be? Well, it's got a narrow green, 5 hungry bunkers, and a big honkin' sandhill on the left. Oh, and maybe some wind. Hardest front-9 hole in 1997. In 1950, some poor slob (amateur Herman Tissies, lest his name be lost to history) took a 15 here. They'll remind you of the hole-in-one made by 71-yr-old Gene Sarazen here in 1973; they may forget to tell you that the next day he holed out for birdie from a bunker. Lucky son of a gun.
No. 10 (Sandhills): Par 4, 438 yds. Now that the players have had their fun on the front 9, Troon starts to bare its teeth. Blind tee shot over sandhills, prevailing wind blowing L to R, where there's heather and gorse, and a crowned green that throws the ball off to either side. Priceless.
No. 11 (The Railway Hole): Par 4, 490 yds. Longest par 4 on the course. Another blind tee shot. Bushes left, OB right. Hit it far enough right when a train is going by, and you might be playing your next shot from Glasgow. Hardest hole in 1997 (avg, 4.65). In 1962, some young whippersnapper made a 10 here. Fella namea Jack Nicklaus.
No. 17 (Rabbit): Par 3, 222 yds. I love tough par 3's at the end of a course... when others have to play them, I mean. Prevailing wind from the left, but often plays right into the wind. Elevated green with slight hogsback. Sand in front, dropoff into grassy hollows on the left, deep bunker on the right. I mean, whattaya do here? Aye, laddie, say yer prayers!
----
Did you watch the ABC special on Sun p.m.? They showed the view from the tee on No. 11. Talk about blind! Once you hit over the gorse and mounds in front of the tee (probably only about 100 yds out) it looks like you're just hitting it into outer space. You know OB is on the right, but there is nothing in the background to aim at - just hit it somewhere over a specific gorse plant. That hole is normally played in a left to right wind, the worst wind for right handed golfers, that brings OB even more into play.
No 8 along with the entire back nine will no doubt bring a lot of golfers to their knees. I read today that in his practice round, Mike Weir played No. 6 (the 600 yd par five) 3 iron off the tee, then a 4 iron from the fairway and was over the green in two. Nothing like British Open golf! The really long hitters might be hitting two 5 irons if the wind is blowing like it usually is. Can't wait to see more of this Open.
I was warned about people on the internet not being who they really are.
Right you are, leaguegolf. I'm actually better in print than I am in person! But that isn't me in my avatar. However, that guy's expression does convey who I aspire to be here on GolfRewind (and in life): somebody standing in the sun, wearing a cheerful hat, with a smile for all. So it's sorta true from that perspective.
OK, this thread is about Troon, so I'll just add that I might want to play this course (or Turnberry) even more than I'd want to play The Old Course. Don't know why. More dunes-y, maybe.
I was watching a little of the Golf Channel's Open Preview Show and Frank Nobilo stated that the front 9 at Troon is probably the easiest 9 holes in Major Championship golf. Theres no par 4 over 400 yards and there's two reachable par 5's. That all changes on the back 9 with every par 4 over 420 yards, only one par 5, and the prevailing winds usually in the player's faces.
Looks like the players will try to go low on the front and hold on for dear life on the back! I can't wait to see how it unfolds.
Yes, NITBY, it does, but there is also something to be said for fairways and greens that accept accurately hit shots, rather than sending them in all kinds of crazy directions from weird bounces.
What we need is more of a balance of types of courses and conditions played, and I think that the USGA's selection of a course like Shinnecock and the PGA's choice of a course like Whistling Straits shows an effort to provide more variety.
Valeogut,
Good call. Love Shinnnecock always have since Floyd won and had a look at Whistling Straights on the web.
One word "WOW" Can't wait to get up at 4.00 am in the morning in the middle of winter to watch the misfortunes of the pampered and overtly catered for.
I accept your point about the fairways but the greens, particularly Royal Troon are about bump and run with the wind. Don't you think?
No. 11 (The Railway Hole): Par 4, 490 yds. Longest par 4 on the course. Another blind tee shot. Bushes left, OB right. Hit it far enough right when a train is going by, and you might be playing your next shot from Glasgow.
July 12th, 2004, 11:56 PM
for weeks because it reminds me of somebody I thought I know. I couldn't for the life of me figure out who it is that he reminds me of and now I know 
Man, that's a load off my feeble mind! 
That's OK JimSomebody, you're more than just a pretty face here at golfrewind! 
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