Golf forum

"So wayne how tough out of 10 was that course? just the courses i have played have never been that difficult. How would it compair say to st andrews or places in florida?"

I've never played in America or St Andrews Matt, but of the courses I've played here I would say an 8.

Tight fairways and fast greens, and I'm going on the fact that they are quick even though on the Monday the greens staff had sliced them to air they could be quick and with hard to read borrows.

would appreciate any of the lower handicappers views that played there!!.

The greens were very quick, and the difference between 25 points, and mid to high 30s was the number of putts that shaved the hole actually dropping :s

It's a tricky course, rather than a long one. Alot of the tee shots don't expose all of the landing areas, so playing it blind wasn't ideal. I heard alot about the rough before going out there, but imo there was nothing harsh about it; longer than usual, but if you miss the fairway and 1st cut, you deserve to be in the crap. It's a course you need to think your way around, and would benefit from many rounds to consistently card good scores and know which club to hit and where to hit it.

I for one thoroughly enjoyed the test, even if it was a bit demoralising at times. 

Never played St Andrews, but in the US I've played one PGA (Magnolia, the course used for the Funai Classic in Florida) and two PGA qualifying courses. 

The US courses are immaculate and the first cut is definitly more forgiving.  On most holes you can afford to be well off the fairway (4 or 5 feet anyay) and still have a good lie - I've played UK courses with fairways like their first cut and greens like their fairways.  What makes them difficult is the layout is extremely well thought out with bunkers and water just where you don't want them.  It means that club selection and accuracy off the tee is critical and you have to think your way around.  Check out the virtual tour on the link below and have a look at holes 1 and 11 and you'll see what I mean. 

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/moreMagic/golf/golfLanding?id=MagnoliaCours
eLandingPage&bhcp=1

As for Hollins Hall, with the exception of a couple of holes, the layout of the course wasn't overly difficult.  What makes it tough is the topography of the course, the narrow fairways, the heavy first cut, knee length rough and lightning greens.  I think someone got it bang on in another thread when they said they'd laid out the course, realised it needed it something a little more so grew the rough and narrowed the fairways.  However, the pace and difficulty of reading of the greens is akin to those in the US and I bet that gusting wind could make it play like an inlands links on some days.  I think if you could be reasonably accurate around this course and figure out the greens then a decent score is achievable.  However, when you add all these factors together, Hollins Hall is one of the touger courses I've played and I would give it a 7.5/10 on the difficultyometer and I really know I've played this morning!

Guys,

I wasn't able to make the Northern cup as I went to a lovely place called Forest Pines in North Lincoln for 3 days. This hosts 3 9 hole courses which are all of PGA standard & almost every hole requires a strategy on how to reach the greens & once you reach them some of them have 4 tiers whith lighting fast putts!!

I'd say that these courses are one of the most difficult I've ever played.

http://www.forestpines.co.uk/

Chris  -  Well done mate, looks like those new irons are proving there money?

Thanks John.  And you said I had too much disposable income!!!  Shame I only took four points from the last five holes or it could've been better. 

How was the weekend?  Got plenty of brownie points in yet?

John,

did you not find Forest Pines a bit repetative? Most holes are the same and not many stick out in my mind from palying it the other month. Apart from the par 3 over water and the par 5 before it, the rest was a case of fairly staight narrow holes through pine trees. One thing that was outstanding, was the quality of the fairways and greens. It is certainly well maintained.

As for difficulty, it is a tough course, but Hollins would beat it, as at least you can find you ball in the tree at Forest, something that was impossible in the rough at Hollns!