If you think St. Andrews can make the ball do strange things (the OP that is, not you jeffdos924), wait until you try Oakmont with tournament greens, that's very interesting. I'd maybe have hit a 4 under there the other day but FIVE putted 2 greens, once after 2 straight birdies. Annoying as hell but my own fault, not the game slapping me for hitting birdies.
The previous comment about starter clubs is very true, they have a wider margin of error, even struck perfectly they can still hit the ball several degrees offline.
Don't think the game is out to get you, it has it's faults but it does play pretty damn fair in my experience and it's a great way to spend a couple of hours after a day at work.