Golf Forums - A comment in a recent review attracted my attention.......

..." A golf course designed for high to mid handicap players...."

Does one really think that Golf Course architects or designers etc.  plan that way ?

In my opinion "No", a course is designed with various challenges, many arising from natural landscape, some others created or added for more interest, etc.

A short course is probably more suitable to high handicapper but not necessarily, and a longer course may suit longer hitters providing their ball remains in play and gets the hole asap.

Any views from our Social golfers ?

More like a marketing slogan designed to attract the most likely punters to play their course! It would put me off straight away, not sure that they are doing themselves any favours.

Course designers will certainly take into account different levels of golfer playing the course and will usually look to address this through the placement of multiple tee box options. I find it hard to believe that a course designer would purposefully design a course that is not going to be attractive to the better player!

 'designed for high/mid handicappers' is a marketing ploy that is likely to backfire... 

I would ask the question - 'What makes it suitable for mid to high handicappers?  I don't think I would choose to visit a course that was advertised in such a way.  It might be an ego thing but if you do well and a course that has been designed to allow good results for mid/high handicappers how much better would you feel than if you had a good day out at a championship course?

I think we have probably all been to courses where the odds could definately favour the high handicapper, I've seen matchplays where 18 shots were the differential and the lower handicappers have come off second best.  I think we've all seen shorter courses with a low SSS where lower handicppers can flourish as well.

I prefer to play at courses which offer the best of both, a constant challenge, clever hazards BUT with a chance to score well.  I find quite a lot of courses have designed their hazards just to trap me,  One in particular has all the hazards exactly measured to my shot lengths and it is always a struggle to get round... but the challenge is there to see if I can improve..

Could the marketing slogan 'designed for mid/high handicapper' detract from the challenge or reduce the propensity for an enjoyable round?  Perhaps the course design itself is not the only factor to be considered for an enjoyable day out?

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

The comment I am referring to was actually posted by a fellow TSGer, so probably not a marketing ploy, just his/her very personal opinion/views....