Have you ever played The Old Course?

It's a bit of a cliche that "every true golf enthusiast needs to make a trip to play at the Home of Golf". I was just wondering how many have actually made the pilgrimage to St. Andrews and played the Old Course?

I wouldn't go as far as to describe any of my trips as pilgrimages, but I'm lucky enough to have visited St Andrews a few times and have played the Old Course on five separate occasions. I'm going to drop a bombshell and say that I don't honestly consider it a truly great layout, but the history and the uniqueness of the course mean that it's always a memorable experience.

[quote name='mat562' date='21 January 2010 - 04:52 PM' timestamp='1264110720' post='2195731']
I wouldn't go as far as to describe any of my trips as pilgrimages, but I'm lucky enough to have visited St Andrews a few times and have played the Old Course on five separate occasions. I'm going to drop a bombshell and say that I don't honestly consider it a truly great layout, but the history and the uniqueness of the course mean that it's always a memorable experience.
[/quote]

I agree. It may not be the best course ever, but it is my favorite. The feeling that you get when you play it is unreal, with the history of it. Having said that, it's a pretty easy course if the wind is not blowing.

I agree with Mat, you have to play the Old Course at least once in your lifetime.

For a golfer there is no place on earth like the town of St.Andrews, I love it.

[quote name='mat562' date='21 January 2010 - 01:52 PM' timestamp='1264110720' post='2195731']
I wouldn't go as far as to describe any of my trips as pilgrimages, but I'm lucky enough to have visited St Andrews a few times and have played the Old Course on five separate occasions. I'm going to drop a bombshell and say that I don't honestly consider it a truly great layout, but the history and the uniqueness of the course mean that it's always a memorable experience.
[/quote]

I've heard this same thing from quite a number of people. Had it not been the "home of golf" they said it wouldn't really have been worth traveling over. I would still like to play it though.

[quote name='mat562' date='21 January 2010 - 04:52 PM' timestamp='1264110720' post='2195731']
I'm going to drop a bombshell and say that I don't honestly consider it a truly great layout
[/quote]

I wouldn't call that a bombshell -- it's actually quite fashionable to say that without the history, it's not that great, and a lot of people say they prefer the New or Jubilee to the Old. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that it's often difficult to see where you should hit it from the tee, and many of the hazards don't reveal themselves until you get to the green and look back.
I've only played it once, but I can see how it has stood the test of time. Just in the one time around, it's easy to see the strategic nature of the layout, and how it can play completely differently from day to day based on the conditions. I loved it both as a test of golf and for the history and atmosphere, and I'd love to be able to play it all the time to get to know and understand it better.