Another Great Par 3–Western Gailes

In my new book, “PARdon Me”, there is a chapter on the best par 3’s that I have ever played.  I managed to miss a very good one, so we offer an additional gem in this blog post.  The hole is the par 3, 183 yard hole at Western Gailes Golf Club in North Ayrshire, Scotland just north of Prestwick, Royal Troon and Turnberry. Western Gailes is a classic 18 hole links with nine holes out and nine holes back with spectacular views of the Firth of Clyde.  When you play Western Gailes, no matter what, you are going to encounter wind that will effect every shot that you play.  The tee shot simply has to hit the green or you will need the touch of a magician from the well bunkered and spinachy rough that guards the green.  There is no room for error and the views of this linksland hole are simply spectacular.

The Canadian Open

The Canadian Open has taken a page out of the Phoenix Open and established a stadium like venue on the 14th hole designed to recognize the Canadian national pastime of ice hockey deemed, The Rink.  The Rink is designed to be unapologetically jingoistic as the fans break into the Canadian national anthem in support of the Canadian participants.  I’m sure that the Canadian Open doesn’t appreciate comparisons to the raucous amphitheater like structure of the 16th hole at Phoenix, which can house as many as 20,000 fans.  The Rink is distinctly Canadian and a fun way to support and recognize the Canadian participants without a lot of disruption that can usually occur in Phoenix.  Unlike the beach balls and beer cans in Phoenix, I didn’t see any pucks flying out of the crowd.

The tournament was a close affair where at one point, 22 players were within 4 shots of the lead on Sunday.  Sam Burns came out of the pack to take the lead with a 62 but was caught by Scot, Ryan Fox with a closing birdie on the 18th hole.  Fox would prevail in a four hole playoff where Burns missed opportunities to win–such is golf and Fox emerged with his first PGA Tour victory.

Pre US Open Comments

Oakmont CC will pose a stern test for the upcoming US Open that begins next Thursday.  Long time professional and very successful tour player, Bill Ford, predicts that if it rains the winning score will be in the 5 under par area and if it doesn’t rain, he believes the winning score could balloon to 5 over par.  The iconic venue will be ready with fast large greens, rough and bunkers that will challenge the very best players in the game.  Oakmont requires excellent shotmaking–length off the tee is not necessarily going to be a significant competitive factor.  Ford advises that competitors that are not hitting fairways are going to have a very difficult time here.

The biggest  pre-US Open news is the recent spectacular implosion of Rory McIlroy who seems to have lost the plot at the Canadian Open, where he was a past winner.  McIlroy missed the cut with a second round 79 including an 8 on the par 4, 5th hole.  The culprit could be ascribed to the controversy and publicity over his driver.  I find these type of discussions to be media hype to create discord for the player–the rules makers will get it right and McIlroy and others will comply with all the appropriate equipment rules.   McIlroy is the best driver on tour, but in the second round–that particular club left his skill set.  It is so improbable as to how one of the best players in the world could win the Masters, compete well at the PGA and then completely collapse at an event where he is a former champion.  Such is the game of golf, which effects all of us in some way similar to McIIroy’s experience.  Just when you think you’re on top and can’t miss a shot, bad things happen and then continue to multiply.  There is no room for error or miscalculation at golf’s highest level, so McIlroy took his licks in stride knowing full well that he will have to rediscover the magic over the weekend.  McIlroy left abruptly for his home to Florida to pick up the pieces-he has the rest of the weekend to figure it out before he comes back to Pittsburgh.  I think he’ll figure it out by Thursday morning, but it won’t be an easy task.  Golf is a crazy game, sometimes it takes five minutes to cure a swing problem, other times it seems like it can take months to figure it out.  It will also be interesting to see if Bryson DeChambeau can get his iron play dialed in to compete at Oakmont while maintaining his ability to bomb his drives.  DeChambeau hasn’t been able to take advantage of his driving with indifferent iron play at the Masters.  Bill Ford would probably state that those drives had better be in the fairway as five inch rough isn’t going to get it done.