We knew it was coming – the 8,000+ yard tournament course
It was only a matter of time, and it happened at a course that is getting serious consideration for a U.S. Open. Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin held a tournament over the weekend for a group of 38 club pros and amateurs with the course set at 8,400 yards. Now, it was for 19 holes – the also played the “Bye” hole, a par 3 of about 160 yards. So really it played at “only” 8,200+ yards.
Some applaud, or at the very least, don’t see it as a big deal. I tend to disagree – this is not only a sign of the times, it’s a sign of the problems the game faces. 8,200 yard courses are not sustainable for any number of reasons – from the added cost of maintenance to the time it would take to play a course that long, golf literally can’t afford for technology and/or ego to allow this to become common place. To top it off, the wildly undulating greens stimped at a 12 for the tournament, making three putts common.
The purpose of the Back Black Challenge was to put some of the better players in the state to the ultimate test and also to see how difficult Erin Hills would play from the tips. The course is considered a potential U.S. Open site by the United States Golf Association.
But not even the USGA would make Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson play an 8,400-yard course. For comparison, Whistling Straits measured a record 7,536 yards for the 2004 PGA Championship, but the actual yardage for three of the four tournament rounds was considerably less.
“I was looking at it from a U.S. Open perspective,” said David Albrecht, the head professional at Blackwolf Run. “I don’t think they’ll use some of the tees we played.”
The opening hole was a 655-yard par-5. There were par-4s of 535, 535, 521, 516, 512 and 509 yards and par-3s of 242, 223 and 221.
“It doesn’t get any better than that,” said Charlie Delsman, who shot an 83. “Nowhere else can you go and play an 8,400-yard course. The yardage is intimidating. You stand up there on the par-4s and it’s 535 or 520.”
Sorry, but I have no interest in half the par 4s playing in excess of 500 yards – I don’t find that compelling golf at any level. Think how drab Augusta was this year – and it has one par 4 in excess of 500 yards, the now goofy 11th hole which should be renamed “Tree Farm”. Let’s hope that the USGA finally gets somebody back in charge that understands two things – golf needs compelling leadership on both technology and pace of play and tournament golf needs compelling course setups. Perhaps then there is hope for the future of golf.
Making courses that long is not make anything better. I totally agree that on any level that is stupid. Especially when you consider that the average golfer golfer only hits it 190. Making a course like that will only allow Tiger, Phil and others like that to win. The courses need to grow out the rough and hurry up with the U groove decesion.
Jason, I disagree on the rough. I don’t care what a winning score is as long as the golf course is a strategic test. Rough makes a course penal – and boring. The U groove debate is, IMO, a red herring. The golf ball is the problem – for the pros. The U groove decision is going to force nearly every single golfer to have to buy a new set of clubs in order to “play by the rules”. Changing the ball means that I have to buy new golf balls – something I’d do anyway.
Where is the forum and how do I get to the campfire???
And my private message Board??!!
You hear about the widening gap between what an amateur and a PRO can do with high end equipment.
Add to that 8,000yd courses and now the amateur has NO relation to what they see the PROs doing on TV.
Maybe it doesn’t matter. What amateur can play tennis like a PRO, or run like a olympic athlete, or throw a baseball 100mph?
If you want to find a problem with the “state” of golf try this: a $100 golf round is out of reach for the masses.
RM
Rob, certainly the cost of golf prohibits many from the game. However, $100 golf is still the exception. It won’t be if courses are stretched to over 8,000 yards in length. It adds hugely to the cost – from maintenance costs to land costs – and that all goes towards the green fee,
Very good post, thanks!