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Most difficult hole?

• DarSum 1,440 Posts

  Sat, May 14 2011 7:53 PM

  For me, since becoming Legend, it is no doubt STA #17. Oak #9 is pretty much a par almost every time unless you muff a bunker shot or accidentally carry it on the green. BPB #15 has never been too bad and actually plays easier (closer tee box) as a Legend. It's a birdie hole 50% now probably. Kiawah #17 is always fun now too. Especially with a right to left wind. Butt pucker time. Actually, pretty much every hole on K's backside sucks from the blacks. I just avoid it now.

  JalaBar, regarding the G10s, they are in another league compared to the Raptors. I played the best Raptors since right after I joined last year when I was able to buy them. Before all the levels were implemented. I really liked them. But what I found odd was if you miss on the side the wind was blowing you were in big trouble. I'm not sure how you aim (arrow or play the meter for wind) but with the Raptors if you aim with the arrow, say STA 20mph left to right wind, and miss ever so slightly on the right side of the meter the ball would almost take off in flight in line with the pin and sail. Not to mention the higher trajectory of the G10s compared to the Raptors. I'm not saying the Raptors are bad clubs. It's just the G10s are just that much better, IMO.

  As far as the meter speed, it took me a couple days to adjust but what's nice is now all my clubs have the same speed, minus my putter. So I'm not always late on my driver or early on my irons. Just something to think about.

• JaLaBar 1,254 Posts

  Sun, May 15 2011 6:55 AM

  Darsum - I tend to use a combination of aim and wind.  I'll move the target where I want the ball, then use the meter to straighten the wind.  With the more drastic winds like SA, I may use a combination so I don't have to use the meter as much.  However, when I upgrade, I may end up using more aim with the Driver and Woods, as I won't have as much control over the meter as I do with the Rapture long clubs.  Easier to hit the ding than an imaginary line 4 pixels left of the ding (or whatever is needed).

  I know what you mean with the meters.  Right now, every club but my wedges has the same meter, which I love.  But, I have to be longer from the tees, so I am going to bite the bullet and upgrade my Driver and Wood.  I prefer the R9s for the increased forgiveness, and if I am comfortable with them, I may try the Tour Preferred irons.  But, I feel like I can do what I need to with the Rapture irons if I am longer from the tee (or fairway on par 5s).

  If I play the R9 Driver and Wood with my current set.  I will have two meter speeds.  One for my Driver, Wood, and wedges, and a slower one for irons and putter, which I feel are more precise clubs.  Don't get me wrong, the wedges are precise too.  But with Driver or Wood, a slight miss may mean the difference between center cut and left or right side of the fairway.  Because of the small distances, a slight miss with the wedges may mean a difference of 6" or 1'.  But with the irons, a slight miss may be the difference between a 2' and a 15' putt, and with the putter, almost always means a missed putt.

  If I play the R9s and start to feel really comfortable with them, I may try the Tour Preferred or G10 irons.  Right now, my plan is to stick with the Raptures, get the R9 Driver and Wood, and play it until I get to 88 and the longer TM R11 Driver and Wood.  I also plan to go back to 4 wedges (counting PW) when I upgrade my Driver/Wood, as I drive over 85%, and won't need the Hybrid so much when I am closer to the greens.

• JaLaBar 1,254 Posts

  Sun, May 15 2011 6:58 AM

  Also, doesn't the higher trajectory mean more action from the wind?  So a slight miss with a high trajectory would seem to have more chance of sailing off with the wind than the lower traj shots.

• Cleworthy 3,468 Posts

  Tue, May 17 2011 11:54 AM

  Maybe someone has already suggested this but it would be great if WGT would publish data on all the holes' average scores vs. par by player tier.  That would put to rest all the discussion about which holes are the hardest.

• TarheelsRule 5,563 Posts

  Tue, May 17 2011 6:13 PM

  JaLaBar

  The higher the shot obviously the more the wind influences it.  However the G10's do seem to bore though the wind pretty well and you can always use a punch shot when you need it, esp at St Andrews.  I've played them for a while and plan on keeping them until something so much better comes out that I feel the need to go with them but right now I don't see anything.  For courses like BPB, Oakmont and Congressional you have to have longer irons with higher traj to play, the Raptures are great in terms of meter speed but the distance and esp the traj kill you going forward, esp from the Legend tees.

• bearclaw27 553 Posts

  Tue, May 17 2011 6:53 PM

  Cleworthy:

  it would be great if WGT would publish data on all the holes' average scores vs. par by player tier.

  Dude...You are asking alot...It seems that there are only a coupla guys who write and/or debug code for wgt, and they have their hands filled...

  They are busy resolving existing bugs, and trying to release new courses...At this point, increasing the functionality of the existing product seems like a stretch...

• Cleworthy 3,468 Posts

  Wed, May 18 2011 6:53 AM

  I am sure you are right bearclaw.  One can wish though.

• Yappy22 733 Posts

  Thu, May 19 2011 7:33 PM

  I played  Oakmont RG today and was 4 under and boged 8. I was upset with myself so on #9 I was about 195 yds. from the hole for my second shot . I did my calculations for yds,elevation ect. Took my new TM 2.0 burner 4 iron and went for the pin with full backspin. It landed about 2 feet from the pin and stayed there.  Wow. I birdied the hole. I think I'm going to play this hole different in the future.

• TarheelsRule 5,563 Posts

  Mon, May 23 2011 5:47 PM

  Wow you must have been into the wind there, I can't get it to stop without a big wind into my face and I'm normally content to just play for an up and down par from the bunker.  I have played left and short of the pin lately, not an easy two putt but as easy as the bunker at least for me.

• PeterHopper 1,315 Posts

  Tue, May 24 2011 1:00 PM

  I'll add a shout for some holes not on the tough two courses.

  Par 3s 8 and 11 at STA front pin. Just silly with the clubs WGT gives us to play. Especially with the bunker on 11. You end up with a near miracle putt for birdie. How can you go over that bunker and stop it near the hole - you can't with the irons we have.

  Par 8 at Kiawah. Such a precise shot to get this rolling close to hole and not past (and in the fringe. If you leave it on the top there's too much break to get it in the hole, and then a dodgy 3 footer with break for Par. If you miss that ding right, you are not on the grren, and the flop or other doesn't go near the hole.

  Par 4 9 Kiawah. All depends on how far you have left on your second shot. A tidy ounch might get you fairly close. Generally, you are saving par rather than pushing for birdie. Same on 18.

  Par 4 4 and Par 3 5 Kiawah. Back to back pars isn't a bad result through here. Kiawah has some dodgy putting right on the pin, and takes luck and concentration to not lose a shot. Pin position on 5 is a baitch. Just left of the ding with BS and slightly choked 190 might get you close.. Very satisfying to get that birdie putt in from 20 feet away to the right. Overcook your drive a touch and you are more than 20 ft past on the left.

  Par 4 13 and to a lesser degree par 5 14. Another example of happy double pars. Getting the approach close to the pin while avoiding fescue or bumker is a real art. The ball will tend to go long or roll left leaving a very hard birdie - generally par. The par 5 depends if you can hold that second shot on the top of the green. With wind behind put away the 3WD and then it's pure judgement on the 210 iron.

  17 at STA is infamous, but play a lot of rounds and it become easier. You have to play the drive right and hope for fairway or light rough and go through the gap between bunker and fescue for your second shot. Been getting some birdies here. Wouldn't have said that a few months back.

  2 at STA. Cleveland Wedges help. As long as you stay out of the fescue, you should par this hole - even if you are not close to the pin.