The Links Thread

What determines condition for you?

I would generally consider Royal Portrush the best conditioned links course in Ireland.

Fairways at RCD are extraordinary. Greens at Portrush shade it for me. Pure fescue.

It'd be really interesting if people could expand on what determines good conditioning for them.

Is it aesthetic, the firmness of surfaces, roll of the ball etc...

As I mentioned the tee boxes in RCD were perfectly mown and flat, with a surface better than some of the best greens I've played on.

The green surface was amazing, ran fast & true.

Fairways were perfectly defined and cut. The heather, the bunkers, whole place was immaculate

it was about 15 years ago when I first played RCD. mid November, winter rate. Course fully open, but playing forward tees, occasionally red tees on some holes.

I hadn’t played any top 100 world courses at this point, but I had played 30 or so top 100 Ireland courses. And I’d played maybe a 8-10 Irish links courses at the time too,

I’m from the area, so the Mourne Mountains don’t enthral me. That’s not being flippant or dismissive. I’ve been driving through or walking up them a lifetime. They’re a part of home. I’m not looking at them, I’m looking at the course, so to say.

I beamed a driver down the first. Then I started walking the fairway. And I just couldn’t fathom what was happening underfoot. It wasn’t normal. Walking carpet doesn’t do it justice. It was more magic carpet.

I’ve never had that feeling before or since on a golf course. When we talk about feedback from that perfect iron shot, that’s what it felt like when walking this course.

I was mesmerised.

—I’ve since come to wonder though what about its sacred position in golfing circles. It’s not an enjoyable test of golf; much too punitive and erratic for all but the best of us. Holes 14-17 are just, frankly average holes. 4 is overrated beyond words.

But I’ll never forget that feeling underfoot.