Changes at St Andrews

I just wandered if anyone had any opinions about the changes to the Old Course. I have the fortune of it being my home course and dont like the fact that both 12 and 14 have been lengthened. My problem isnt the extra length, but that they actually now jutt out into the fairways of the Eden course which is a very good course in itself.

The course is immaculate, the greens look great and the rough is long- I just hope it blows so that the players find out what its like for the locals in a normal monthly medal!

Wont make a squits worth of difference unless the wind blows, then it will be interesting.

The extra length gives Tiger more of an advantage on the field. I think Tiger takes it.

I hope it's as windy as all get out.

In another thread somewhere, I had noticed that someone had talked about changes to bring scores down (or is that up?). I think adding length is a band aid - and it hurts the green fee player. I think, if they want to really hurt those PGA guys, grow 8" rough or better. Make them pay for leaving the fairway.

And irrigate the **** out of the bunkers. 8(

I'm jealous as I've never had the pleasure of playing the course but I'll go with the previaling opinion that unless the wind blows, which doesn't look likely given the weather forecast, it will be a chipping and putting contest for the big hitters. I don't see Tiger being too far off the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon.

I lovely quote from Mickleson
"You may as well just put water in there. It's a one-shot penalty if you go in."

Talking about the pot bunkers- surely thats the idea of a bunker- not the piddly little things you get in America and parkland golf!

I agree. I think that a player should be effectively penalized for finding the bunker. I also think that rough should be nice and high and thick - another penalty that only the most skilled (and/or lucky) players will have a chance at avoiding another stroke. I'd love to play some of the courses in Europe.

I played Taboo in Gravenhurst, ON, and they have some deep greenside bunkers. I had the pleasure (and truly, for me, it was) of having to hit out of one. I loved the challenge of having to get over a 4 foot lip, but still have my ball not fly into the opposite bunker. (Long story short, I had to hit back out onto the fairway, and chip up - my sand game was horrible at the time).

Still a favourite memory, and would love the opportunity to play it again.

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A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Band Aid? Wasn't that Geldof and his bunch of do-gooding cronies who are sure to get their come-uppence?

As for rough, the guys complained about it at Carnoustie the other year. It amazes me how they knock it 170 yards out of the rough and land it in 20 of the pin. Maybe they should play the courses I do, then they'll know what rough is.

Bunkers - The Open is always played on a links course so a perfect tee shot, if there is such a thing in links golf, will probably land around, or in, a bunker because of all the undelations those type of courses have. Links courses have the ability to throw up an unfancied winner such as Ben Curtiss or Paul Lawrie every now and again. Bunkers are also good at raisig the unpredictability in golf but I think they should reward good shots and punish bad ones, though golf is not a fair game.

and Monty ... Dear old Monty ... one of our finest generals