My surprise birthday present- Sawgrass and Bay Hill

922 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 9 yr ago by watty
watty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Gotta hand it to my wife. Completely surprised me, had help from several people, all kept a secret from me, and I just found out today I am getting on a plane Tuesday and playing TPC Sawgrass and Bay Hill. I won't bore you with emotional babblings of how much this means to me and how special it makes me feel, but I will do the standard thing around here and ask for any tips or insider info on the courses. And I can't wait to report back with pictures and stories!
Aggie1391
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Lucky man!
BreNayPop
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Sweet!!!
bagger05
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Play the courses on Xbox. Not joking at all.
watty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I'm doing it right now, actually.
LeFraud
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Awesome, sounds like a keeper. Rule #1 (on the courses)
RAMF 95
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
What an awesome gift! What an awesome girl!

[This message has been edited by RAMF 95 (edited 7/21/2014 7:12a).]
Jrod05
How long do you want to ignore this user?
agsalaska
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Hit the ball straight.
Funky Winkerbean
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Post a pic of your wife.
watty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Sawgrass round complete. Shot a 91. So hot and humid I thought I was going to die. Couldn't ever figure out the speed of the greens. My lines were good but I left every putt short. Lots of grain affecting speed.

The course is way different than how it looks on TV and Xbox. Can't really describe it but it just seems totally different. It's a lot of fun. Very hard. There are big enough landing areas off the tee, but you are penalized if you aren't precise. Rough was very difficult. I definitely understand now what people mean when they talk about that course and why the Players is such a prestigious event. It's a ball striking test from start to finish.

17 and 18 also look different in real life. 17 wasn't really intimidating at all. Lack of crowd, I guess. 18 also wasn't nearly as scary visually as I thought it would be. It actually feels like you have plenty of room. Granted, I still bailed out right and made bogey but it didn't feel scary like I thought it would.

Forecaddie did a great job for us all day. Facilities and service are top notch. Course is top notch. Greens were smaller in person than they seem on TV.

[This message has been edited by watty (edited 7/24/2014 5:05a).]
92TXAG
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Chipotlemonger
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Jrod05
How long do you want to ignore this user?
USGA77
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Hope you get a photo with Arnie at Bay Hill!
bagger05
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
So I guess you got safely aboard on 17? I saw an article in Golf Digest about that hole where they had someone out watching during a normal day of play. I think it was an astonishingly high percentage of balls that went in the water. Maybe close to half?
watty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Yeah I got on in the center of the green with a wedge. I was the only one in our foursome to stay dry. It's really not a hard shot.

Just finished Bay Hill. Shot a 91. Played well for the first 8 holes then had a rough stretch (started on 10). Made par on 6 which is a great hole. Made double on 18 which really made me mad.

Both courses look way different in person than on TV. Bay Hill really can't compare to Sawgrass. I realize they are different styles of courses, but for the most part Bay Hill just felt like a really nice country club course. I was actually surprised that it's a Tour stop, while playing it. It didn't feel like a championship level course. That said, it was not in its best shape and I'm sure that they have it much better during tournament time,plus I'm sure they grow the rough out and speed up the greens. Either way, the design didn't stand out, other than a few holes. Not sure how to say what I'm thinking but it just didn't have much character or nuance. Just not memorable.

Still was a blast to play it. I feel like you learn a lot about golf simply by playing Tour courses. And I've only played a few, so this was a great experience. I should have broken 90 both days but I'm still happy with a couple 91s.

Side note: Florida in the summer is the most miserable place on earth. I was born and raised in Texas and have played golf in both Texas and Las Vegas summers, but Florida easily was the most uncomfortable. There was basically no wind either day, and the sun and humidity were like nothing I've ever felt. The amount of sweat I produced was frightening. I always thought we had it the worst in Texas, but I have changed my mind for sure.
HouAggie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Did you play Dye's Valley at Sawgrass or just the Stadium Course?

It's obviously not the same experience, but I thought Dye's Valley was significantly more difficult.

But unlike you, I thought that the tee shots on 17 and 18 lived up to the intimidation hype. I played them both into a strong wind with some driving rain, but I think they'd have been intimidating without it...especially 18 tee. There's just so much water staring at you.
watty
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I just played Stadium. Maybe it helped that there was just a light helping breeze.
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.