The highs and lows of a course

[Bruce]

Rather than clog up a thread on a different matter.

Which would you rate more favorably as a course?

18 serviceable holes? or 6 great holes, 6 OK holes, and 6 bad holes?

No course if flawless but would your prefer something with some highlights and a couple of dogs, or a more even set of less inspiring holes.

To compare a couple of courses that are often discussed here:
National Old has some to good to great holes in 1, 6, 7, 14, 15, but also has one of the worst holes in Australia on 8. 2 and 3 are not likely to make many friends.
Eynesbury is mostly solid C+ range, but 4, 17 and 18 are outright bad.
The Dunes serves up a very even set of holes. No superstars to remember, but no weak links in the round either.

Personally I prefer some highlight reels even it means putting up with some lowlights.

[LeftyHoges]

18 serviceable please and thank you.

There's no excuse for bad golf holes.

I don't need to be wowed, I need to be not ****ed over.

[Dotty]

No brainer for me.

I had 27 points at both StAB and The Dunes at last year champs, and came away thinking 'Playing The Dunes for 5 consecutive days would be the perfect holiday'.

For my level of golf, The Dunes' tougher bits aren't unpleasant vs. StAB that just tears me a new one each time.

[LeftyHoges]

Which would you rate more favorably as a course?

18 serviceable holes? or 6 great holes, 6 OK holes, and 6 bad holes?

A number of (insane) people say The Cu*t is a perfect example of 6 great, 6 OK, 6 bad. I think they're off their ****ing skulls, but IF that is the case, and that configuration was my only option, I'd never play the game ever again.

[Ron Burgundy]

A number of (insane) people say The Cu*t is a perfect example of 6 great, 6 OK, 6 bad. I think they're off their ****ing skulls, but IF that is the case, and that configuration was my only option, I'd never play the game ever again.

What if they’re 3 loops. Playing 6 great holes in an hour and being done with it sounds like perfection.

[PerryGroves]

I play a course that has 2 compromised (designed so we could achieve a certain overall par number) Par 5s back to back. They are our 2nd and 3rd holes, if they were on separate nines they would perhaps be tolerable but they aint.

Give me 18 serviceable.

Bruce: is 1 at National Old the green with that massive rise from front to back? It's not the worst hole given that Par 5 down the hill is presumably still in play

[ParkRoyal]

Purely depends on how low the lows are, if you are remembering or not looking forward to certain holes more than ones that excite you, then yeah you'll go serviceable.

[markTHEblake]

If you dont have rainy days, you would never appreciate a fine day.

[LeftyHoges]

Bruce: is 1 at National Old the green with that massive rise from front to back? It's not the worst hole given that Par 5 down the hill is presumably still in play

You're going to have to be more specific. 83% of the ****s have massive rises from front to back.

And side to side.

And in the middle.

And on the edges.

What if they’re 3 loops. Playing 6 great holes in an hour and being done with it sounds like perfection.

If you're able to play them in loops, and think that every prick on the planet would bother with the other 2 loops, you're sorely mistaken. You ain't getting around that loop in under 2 hours.

[Yossarian]

A number of (insane) people say The Cu*t is a perfect example of 6 great, 6 OK, 6 bad. I think they're off their ****ing skulls, but IF that is the case, and that configuration was my only option, I'd never play the game ever again.

It's been maybe 3 years since my last round there and the part of me that loves pain is almost ready to start thinking about maybe thinking about a round there.

[LeftyHoges]

It's been maybe 3 years since my last round there and the part of me that loves pain is almost ready to start thinking about maybe thinking about a round there.

I feel the same way about Scrapes golf.

Every 4-5 years I think, I haven't played scrapes in a while, I should just go for shits and giggles.

Then I play them and remember how ****ing shit they are, and vow not to play them ever again.

Rinse and repeat.

Tell me what you shoot when you finally get there bud.

[Yossarian]

I feel the same way about Scrapes golf.

Every 4-5 years I think, I haven't played scrapes in a while, I should just go for shits and giggles.

Then I play them and remember how ****ing shit they are, and vow not to play them ever again.

Rinse and repeat.

Tell me what you shoot when you finally get there bud.

I reckon it is another year away at least.

To Bruce's OG question, I could swing either way.

I do enjoy playing both awesome holes and amazingly bad holes (looking at you moonah links legends 15) for the experience.

Depends a bit on how great the 6 are TBH, like if you gave me 6 from Kingston Heath, 6 from something B grade and then 6 worst from the Cut I'd probably play it most weeks, I think.

[Dcanto]

18 serviceable please and thank you. There's no excuse for bad golf holes.I don't need to be wowed, I need to be not ****ed over.

I agree. Having to play a course that had 6 holes of crap would see me most likely take up lawn bowls instead. I'm trying to imagine a course with a half-dozen horrible holes, like the 6th at Paradise Palms (before they swapped the nines), and I start to feel nauseous.

[gco0307]

18 serviceable holes wins for me as courses that have what I call 'dead' holes (a hole that you have to 'put up with' somewhere to get to the next better hole) are just tedious and no fun for me as a golfer.
While I can accept a lone 'bad hole' on a course I always find that it can dullen the enjoyment of a round, particularly depending on where it is located in terms of numbering but my total preference is a course where i enjoy all of the holes as they challenge me in some way, even when i stuff them up and take a 10.
Have recently moved to a course that is 18 serviceable and challenging holes for my golfing game, although I will admit that other golfers (particularly longer hitters) may not find the same challenge, and all that is before I get to some of the greens which offer a mega-difference challenge.

[LeftyHoges]

I agree. Having to play a course that had 6 holes of crap would see me most likely take up lawn bowls instead. I'm trying to imagine a course with a half-dozen horrible holes, like the 6th at Paradise Palms (before they swapped the nines), and I start to feel nauseous.

Yeah, imagine having to play the 2nd, 5th, 12th, 13th, 16th & 17th at Half Moon Bay every week...

Oh....

[Dcanto]

Yeah, imagine having to play the 2nd, 5th, 12th, 13th, 16th & 17th at Half Moon Bay every week...Oh....

Hence, I am no longer a member there. Although, I am starting to feel the urge to go back and have a hit for old times sake.

[Ron Burgundy]

If you're able to play them in loops, and think that every prick on the planet would bother with the other 2 loops, you're sorely mistaken. You ain't getting around that loop in under 2 hours.

You seem to have forgotten that the world is full of idiots. I’d wager most people would still play all 18 because golf has to be 18 holes. 3PP would be out there playing all 18 with a big dumb grin on his face every week and he wouldn’t be the only one.

[Benje]

Bruce

I am playing at Robe later this month, which is reputed to have 6 ordinary, 6 OK and 6 good holes, each played as a 6 (I think). I'll revisit this thread after the rounds at Robe.

Benje

ps the good news is that land for another good 6 is available at a lower cost than the value of the land with the ordinary 6 (more suited to housing apparently).

[Courty]

This will probably come as no surprise to most, but I'd play any goat track as an alternative to not playing at all.

If it came down to a choice of 18 bland vs. 6/6/6, I may regret it on a few holes but I'd probably go for the 6/6/6.

[LeftyHoges]

Hence, I am no longer a member there. Although, I am starting to feel the urge to go back and have a hit for old times sake.

Fight it.

You seem to have forgotten that the world is full of idiots. I’d wager most people would still play all 18 because golf has to be 18 holes. 3PP would be out there playing all 18 with a big dumb grin on his face every week and he wouldn’t be the only one.

What a prick(y).

[3Puttpete]

You seem to have forgotten that the world is full of idiots. I’d wager most people would still play all 18 because golf has to be 18 holes. 3PP would be out there playing all 18 with a big dumb grin on his face every week and he wouldn’t be the only one.

Not because it has to be 18 but why play fewer if you can play 18?

[3Puttpete]

This will probably come as no surprise to most, but I'd play any goat as an alternative to not playing at all.

If it came down to a choice of 18 bland vs. 6/6/6, I may regret it on a few holes but I'd probably go for the 6/6/6.

Amen.

I’ve got stuff on next week and won’t have time for a normal Saturday round so I reckon I’ll play 18 x 60m pitch and putt holes.

[WBennett]

Rather than clog up a thread on a different matter.

Which would you rate more favorably as a course?

18 serviceable holes? or 6 great holes, 6 OK holes, and 6 bad holes?

No course if flawless but would your prefer something with some highlights and a couple of dogs, or a more even set of less inspiring holes.

To compare a couple of courses that are often discussed here:
National Old has some to good to great holes in 1, 6, 7, 14, 15, but also has one of the worst holes in Australia on 8. 2 and 3 are not likely to make many friends.
Eynesbury is mostly solid C+ range, but 4, 17 and 18 are outright bad.
The Dunes serves up a very even set of holes. No superstars to remember, but no weak links in the round either.

Personally I prefer some highlight reels even it means putting up with some lowlights.

What do I like? A course where driver isn't always the first choice or best choice. A course where there is some room for a miss, but your approach or next shot is more difficult. A course where you are asked questions around shape, or flight, or elevation changes.

'Bad' holes can be in the eye of the beholder.

[ParkRoyal]

This will probably come as no surprise to most, but I'd play any goat track as an alternative to not playing at all.

If it came down to a choice of 18 bland vs. 6/6/6, I may regret it on a few holes but I'd probably go for the 6/6/6.

This, I play a course that has a bit of this. A few people have said and I kind of agree that RH is probably more consistent but nothing too high or low where as Tas has a bit of everything good and bad.

[Webster]

How many courses in Aust that have no bad holes? Less than 10?