"We like having a bit of wind, don't we? Just not like this."

Bob Harig writes about the tradition of no Sunday golf at St. Andrews which, did not include today when high winds made for a wild and wacky practice round, write both Doug Ferguson (here) and Steve Elling (here). Lawrence Donegan also files from St. Andrews and writes:

As for those who have not, they willfind the place in absolutely superb condition, even if it is a little bit greener than perhaps the R&A would like it to be. But the fairways are hard underfoot, the rough wispy – as it ought to be - and the greens as smooth as Tony Bennett's greatest hits.

That leaves just the one significant change to the course itself; the lengthening of the 17th hole by 40 yards, which places the new tee on the patch of land stolen from the neighbouring driving range.

To anyone who has never seen the Old Course before the change looks perfectly natural. On the other hand anyone who has seen the Old Course before would immediately be startled by the white stakes that run along the left-hand side of the tee.

Effectively the players will be teeing off from a place that is "out of bounds". It is not, of course, but still it is a bizarre arrangement.

As for the change itself, it met with general approval from those who played the hole yesterday, even if the enthusiasm was best measured with an atomic scale. "I don't think the change was needed,'' said Furyk with a shrug. "But now that it is there, I think it is fine."

Comments

[Wisconsin Reader]

Paul Goydos qualified today due to the money he earned for his 2nd place finish at the Quad Cities. . . Will he be able to carry his tee shot far enough on #17 to land in bounds?

[Del the Funk]

How far is the carry? Do we have another situation like we had on #10 at the Black in 2002?

FYI, this week Goydos averaged 283.4yds/drive on a wet/damp golf course, not too shabby. And he hit 91% of the fairways. I understand that damp fairways keep the ball in play but to hit that many you have to be driving it pretty damn straight. Field average was 290yds and 73% of the fairways.

[McFester]

To the laddies of the world, "Nay wind, nay gawf."

[pt]

believe in the 70 playoff the winds was clocked at 53 KNOTS!!!

i hope it blows like a mother f*&^er...that will test them and make it really interesting

[Hank]

If it gets too tough for them, play will be suspended. Yes folks, even at The Home of Golf.

[RM]

Whether the 17th should have been lengthened or not is one thing, but why does it really matter if the new tee is on ground that was formerly out of bounds? For example, I believe the 13th tee at Augusta now sits on ground that was recently not only out of bounds, but on the property of the neighboring Augusta CC. I'm sure there are many other examples. Conversely, there are many poor examples of lengthening within the proper boundaries of the course...and that fact doesn't make those changes right. The "PGA Tees" at Kiawah come to mind, they're on the property, but some still look "out of whack". So the debate should remain on the validity of the change, without regard to the concerns of real estate.

[vwgolfer]

Instead of graduated rough The USGA should employ Huge WInd machines for the next US Open.

[PABOY]

I was told Newport CC built a tee on #18 for the 1995 US Am on one of their members properties