PAT at Methodist

[murray002]

I recently took the PAt at my home course and missed it by 4 shots. The course is pretty easy so you had to shoot a 75 on a par 71 course twice. I noticed that the methodist course is tougher with a lower par. Has anyone passed or tried the PAT at the MEthodist course?

[PreppySlapCut]

I thought it was the same relative number everywhere, found using some formula based off the slope/rating?

[Bryant]

excuse me for my ignorance but what's a PAT test?

[birdieboy52]

[quote name='murray002' date='17 July 2010 - 01:59 PM' timestamp='1279393152' post='2582003']
I recently took the PAt at my home course and missed it by 4 shots. The course is pretty easy so you had to shoot a 75 on a par 71 course twice. I noticed that the methodist course is tougher with a lower par. Has anyone passed or tried the PAT at the MEthodist course?
[/quote]


Where is the Methodist course and are Catholics and Jews allowed to play it?

[gboldman23]

[quote name='birdieboy52' date='21 July 2010 - 10:35 PM' timestamp='1279769715' post='2591714']
[quote name='murray002' date='17 July 2010 - 01:59 PM' timestamp='1279393152' post='2582003']
I recently took the PAt at my home course and missed it by 4 shots. The course is pretty easy so you had to shoot a 75 on a par 71 course twice. I noticed that the methodist course is tougher with a lower par. Has anyone passed or tried the PAT at the MEthodist course?
[/quote]


Where is the Methodist course and are Catholics and Jews allowed to play it?
[/quote]

Good joke.

It's in Fayetteville, NC.

My cousin works in the golf business and took his PAT there (I believe), pretty sure he passed it on his first try as the kid has some game.

[irishfight4it]

I passed it at Methodist "downback." I found it easy, but I play more proficiently than most. I went to Methodist, and most of the kids there don't like playing PAT downback because it is a difficult track. Even at 6,000 yards the tiny greens and bermuda rough make scoring difficult. Also, it is a walking only course, that is a tough hike to boot. But, Methodist has 2 golf courses, the other being King's Grant Country Club, just down the road from school. Many of the students prefer playing the PAT there.

[Dizz]

I thought the minimum requirement was 151... which would mean the course rating was 68. I think it also depends on what kind of player you are... I've played with guys that will shoot 77-78 at a course rated 68 and the same guys will shoot 78 on a course much harder. You might do better on a tougher course where you don't need to shoot 150 but something like 154-156. When I passed it, it was on a very easy course where the target score was 151. I had a friend, whos a decent player miss the the target there but later shot 77 in a section event at a course rated 6 strokes harder. It really just depends on your game IMO.

[oboylerules]

I went there back in 02. Awesome course, if you want to look at pictures, go to methodist.edu, and follow the links to the sports and then to the PGM program. The walk will have your calves burning and drink plenty of water. It has some crazy uphill/downhill walks. Also, it is a two day deal because of the walking factor. Good luck!

[hayzooos]

Unless they've changed it in the last 5-6 years, the number to pass the PAT is double the rating +15. So you need to be a legit 7 handicap (ish) and playing to your ability that day. I took the test a few years back just to see if I could do it and passed my first time by shooting 152 on the number (79-73).

Most places will set the courses up pretty easy. Just over 6,000 yards and pins mostly in the middle of the greens. They want people to pass them, so they don't usually make them that tough in terms of course set up, like tucking pins, growing rough really long, etc.

My only piece of advice is to use the first 18 as a "don't blow it" round. Play it safe, eliminate the doubles, remember where the pins are and what clubs to hit off each tee. Then, for the second 18, if you need to go low, you can get more aggressive as you know where to miss, etc, but you shouldn't need to if you follow the first part of this suggestion.

Good luck the next time around!!!

Bryant - The PAT is the Player Ability Test. 36 holes back to back. It's step number one to go into the Professional Golf Management (PGM) program.

[hayzooos]

And FWIW, I would think it would be harder to pass on a par 71 course. Players of greater ability thrive on par 5s, and you will obviously have one less on a par 71 course.

[Bryant]

[quote name='hayzooos' timestamp='1279836388' post='2593295']
Unless they've changed it in the last 5-6 years, the number to pass the PAT is double the rating +15. So you need to be a legit 7 handicap (ish) and playing to your ability that day. I took the test a few years back just to see if I could do it and passed my first time by shooting 152 on the number (79-73).

Most places will set the courses up pretty easy. Just over 6,000 yards and pins mostly in the middle of the greens. They want people to pass them, so they don't usually make them that tough in terms of course set up, like tucking pins, growing rough really long, etc.

My only piece of advice is to use the first 18 as a "don't blow it" round. Play it safe, eliminate the doubles, remember where the pins are and what clubs to hit off each tee. Then, for the second 18, if you need to go low, you can get more aggressive as you know where to miss, etc, but you shouldn't need to if you follow the first part of this suggestion.

Good luck the next time around!!!

Bryant - The PAT is the Player Ability Test. 36 holes back to back. It's step number one to go into the Professional Golf Management (PGM) program.
[/quote]


thanks

[freddy1682]

[quote name='hayzooos' timestamp='1279836388' post='2593295']
Unless they've changed it in the last 5-6 years, the number to pass the PAT is double the rating +15. So you need to be a legit 7 handicap (ish) and playing to your ability that day. I took the test a few years back just to see if I could do it and passed my first time by shooting 152 on the number (79-73).

Most places will set the courses up pretty easy. Just over 6,000 yards and pins mostly in the middle of the greens. They want people to pass them, so they don't usually make them that tough in terms of course set up, like tucking pins, growing rough really long, etc.

My only piece of advice is to use the first 18 as a "don't blow it" round. Play it safe, eliminate the doubles, remember where the pins are and what clubs to hit off each tee. Then, for the second 18, if you need to go low, you can get more aggressive as you know where to miss, etc, but you shouldn't need to if you follow the first part of this suggestion.

Good luck the next time around!!!

Bryant - The PAT is the Player Ability Test. 36 holes back to back. It's step number one to go into the Professional Golf Management (PGM) program.
[/quote]

The formula is still the same. It's the course rating multiplied by 2 (drop any decimals) and add 15. A course with a rating of 69.7 would have a target score of 154. The minimum yardage for males is 6,000, but it can not be from the championship tees. It must be from the middle tees and the pins need to be generally set in the middle of the greens. This isn't up to the course or the head professional. It is mandated by the PGA of America. I'm a certified PAT examiner, and I can't believe how many players will shoot numbers in the 90's during these things. When I passed mine, I never even hit a driver. It's all a mental challenge. It's not that they want everyone to pass, but that it must be a FAIR test of ability. As much as I might like to, you can't tuck pins and max out the yardage and call it a FAIR test of ability.

[hayzooos]

I hear ya. I was amazed at how badly people did when I took mine. I passed it the first time I took it (79-73) right on the number, but there were guys there I knew were better players than I was (or so I thought )and they had rounds in the upper 80s. I kept the driver in the bag most of the round as well, as I had never played the course before.