Actual distance of LPGA courses

[dhc1]

Does anyone have any specific information as to what the actual playing distance is for a specific round (preferably at sea-level)? My guess is that it's meaningfully below the listed distance as tournaments (rightly) want to add a bunch of risk/reward holes and that shortens the course quite a bit even though they list the (clearly-wrong) distance on TV. Thanks in advance.

[hdr_ric]

~6400 yards.

 

sometimes less.

 

on occasion more. For instance, that course they play at Indian Wells or wherever the Dinah Shore tourney is located is 6700 supposedly. But it doesn't play that length at ALL. Desert course, super firm runway fairways...

[North Texas]

~6400 yards.

 

sometimes less.

 

on occasion more. For instance, that course they play at Indian Wells or wherever the Dinah Shore tourney is located is 6700 supposedly. But it doesn't play that length at ALL. Desert course, super firm runway fairways...

 

I honestly don't know how firm and fast they get the fairways for the Dinah Shore. I did play it last year a couple of months prior to the tournament and it was anything but fast and firm. Played extremely long.

 

Playing it again 3 weeks from today.

[dhc1]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I'd love to get actual data from a specific tourney, preferably by hole (e.g., which exact tee box they actually played from).

 

The first domestic tourney is March 14-19 in Phoenix which is listed at 6548 yards. Maybe someone will be able to take a look at how they specifically set up the course over the four days and see if it's close to that. It's really hard for me to tell on TV unfortunately although I believe that they don't play the stated hole distance frequently.

[KYMAR]

Let's say your suspicions could somehow be confirmed. They claim 6450, but they're really playing from 6280. Now what?

[dhc1]

Let's say your suspicions could somehow be confirmed. They claim 6450, but they're really playing from 6280. Now what?

 

Kymar,

 

I think we'd have a factual basis on which tee box most amateurs should play from as LPGA players swing speed is pretty close to amateurs and we'd finally put to rest the whole 4 handicap vs. LPGA players, which IMO is just ludicrous but there is a corresponding level. I think the basic bid/ask spread is +2 to scratch, which is quite impressive at either end IMO.

[masamitsu]

~6400 yards.

 

sometimes less.

 

on occasion more. For instance, that course they play at Indian Wells or wherever the Dinah Shore tourney is located is 6700 supposedly. But it doesn't play that length at ALL. Desert course, super firm runway fairways...

 

Played the Diana Shore tourney course back in October and played the tourney tee boxes. I'm not long and I didn't think it played that long. Hit driver and hybrid (19*) into 18.

[North Texas]

~6400 yards.

 

sometimes less.

 

on occasion more. For instance, that course they play at Indian Wells or wherever the Dinah Shore tourney is located is 6700 supposedly. But it doesn't play that length at ALL. Desert course, super firm runway fairways...

 

Played the Diana Shore tourney course back in October and played the tourney tee boxes. I'm not long and I didn't think it played that long. Hit driver and hybrid (19*) into 18.

 

Do you remember how far you had for the 2nd shot? It's 531 from the tournament tees.

[Tcann32]

I played Magnolia Grove last year, and the LPGA either goes through still, or was going thru there, and I played it from the orange (?) iirc on the color, and that's what the starter said the LPGA used. It was upper mid 6000's, and that's what I assume they would generally be playing. Fun course, and a nice yardage for a manageable challenge.

 

Regardless of their distances, I never forget the fact that they are more efficient ball strikers, and that's pretty impressive.

[Texsport]

Longest LPGA driver is Joanna Klaten at 280yds, Lexi Thompson 2nd at 277 yes, #1 player Inbee Park at 250yds, #2 player Lydia Ko at 247yds.

 

There is a lot of roll to LPGA fairways and rarely fairway bunkers.

 

Texsport

[Tcann32]

Let's say your suspicions could somehow be confirmed. They claim 6450, but they're really playing from 6280. Now what?

 

Kymar,

 

I think we'd have a factual basis on which tee box most amateurs should play from as LPGA players swing speed is pretty close to amateurs and we'd finally put to rest the whole 4 handicap vs. LPGA players, which IMO is just ludicrous but there is a corresponding level. I think the basic bid/ask spread is +2 to scratch, which is quite impressive at either end IMO.

 

That is insane if people think that's true, IMO.

 

I'm not a 4, but I'm not far off, and the majority of my rounds are played in the mid-mid high 6000's, and I've never come close to shooting -4, -5, regardless of distance. I mean, if you take a look at most score cards, it's not like there's a 10 stroke spread from the middle tee's to the back tees, and often times a longer layout is more receptive to better players.

 

I've also played with several people who are better than 4 handicaps, and they don't put up those numbers either.

[masamitsu]

~6400 yards.

 

sometimes less.

 

on occasion more. For instance, that course they play at Indian Wells or wherever the Dinah Shore tourney is located is 6700 supposedly. But it doesn't play that length at ALL. Desert course, super firm runway fairways...

 

Played the Diana Shore tourney course back in October and played the tourney tee boxes. I'm not long and I didn't think it played that long. Hit driver and hybrid (19*) into 18.

 

Do you remember how far you had for the 2nd shot? It's 531 from the tournament tees.

 

Just a hair over 200 to carry the water. I will say that we got ton of roll when we played even in Oct. I don't recall it playing close to 531.

[Texsport]

Not many amateur players have good short games - which is where more than half of amateur strokes are utilized.

 

Really long hitters often don't score much better on short courses because they have to bag the driver, for the sake of accuracy, thereby losing a bit of their distance advantage.

 

Scratch amateurs and pros do score much better on short courses because they don't bag the driver and hit wedge 2nd shots to many greens.

 

Texsport

[hdr_ric]

~6400 yards.

 

sometimes less.

 

on occasion more. For instance, that course they play at Indian Wells or wherever the Dinah Shore tourney is located is 6700 supposedly. But it doesn't play that length at ALL. Desert course, super firm runway fairways...

 

Played the Diana Shore tourney course back in October and played the tourney tee boxes. I'm not long and I didn't think it played that long. Hit driver and hybrid (19*) into 18.

 

Do you remember how far you had for the 2nd shot? It's 531 from the tournament tees.

 

It doesn't play that distance - and that they move it up at least one day each year so "everyone" can go for with a drive in the FW.

 

Didn't Arya hit 2 iron, 5iron on Saturday last year (sunday she rinsed one quick left). Or was that two years ago, I can't remember.

[KBong]

~6400 yards.

 

sometimes less.

 

on occasion more. For instance, that course they play at Indian Wells or wherever the Dinah Shore tourney is located is 6700 supposedly. But it doesn't play that length at ALL. Desert course, super firm runway fairways...

 

Played the Diana Shore tourney course back in October and played the tourney tee boxes. I'm not long and I didn't think it played that long. Hit driver and hybrid (19*) into 18.

 

Do you remember how far you had for the 2nd shot? It's 531 from the tournament tees.

 

Just a hair over 200 to carry the water. I will say that we got ton of roll when we played even in Oct. I don't recall it playing close to 531.

They alternate tee boxes on the 18th at the ANA.

They play it over 500 yds Thurs & Sat and under 500 yds Fri & Sun.

 

It's also a bit of a dog leg left.

 

I find that most doglegs, assuming you put your tee shot in the right position, play shorter that the posted yardage.

[KBong]

Does anyone have any specific information as to what the actual playing distance is for a specific round (preferably at sea-level)? My guess is that it's meaningfully below the listed distance as tournaments (rightly) want to add a bunch of risk/reward holes and that shortens the course quite a bit even though they list the (clearly-wrong) distance on TV. Thanks in advance.

It would be near impossible to determine unless you attended the event and went to each hole.

The set-up the course different on each day.

 

Most of the time the commentators just say the yardage that was originally posted for the hole....not accounting that the tee block has been moved up unless it's too obvious to ignore.

 

Most LPGA coverages also don't cover the front 9....so there's no discussion how those holes are played that day.

[dhc1]

Does anyone have any specific information as to what the actual playing distance is for a specific round (preferably at sea-level)? My guess is that it's meaningfully below the listed distance as tournaments (rightly) want to add a bunch of risk/reward holes and that shortens the course quite a bit even though they list the (clearly-wrong) distance on TV. Thanks in advance.

It would be near impossible to determine unless you attended the event and went to each hole.

The set-up the course different on each day.

 

Most of the time the commentators just say the yardage that was originally posted for the hole....not accounting that the tee block has been moved up unless it's too obvious to ignore.

 

Most LPGA coverages also don't cover the front 9....so there's no discussion how those holes are played that day.

 

I agree - although i think they ignore a lot that are obvious. I'm hoping that someone is at an event or is a member at an club with an event where they know exactly what they play.

 

come to think of it, I'm not sure why the LPGA doesn't share this and wonder if it's important to them to appear to play from longer distances (which would be silly in my view as it's against the "Play It Forward" concept).

[farmer]

That LPGA vs 4 hdcp thread is the longest, dumbest thread I've ever seen on this board. Courses at every professional level are set up a little differently for each day. A 7400 yd course on the Big Tour doesn't play that length every day.

[elwhippy]

When they played the Ladies Open at Royal Lytham the tees were in front of the men's yellow tees so under 6400. The biggest issue was they couldn't handle the really deep bunkers...not enough club head speed and height to get out of a 12 foot deep pit.

[AdamSecrest]

The USGA reports course statistics for each day of the US Opens. The yardage listed for the US Women's Open tees at CordeValle is 6762. USGA reported the playing yardages to be 6783, 6694, 6715 and 6718. The listed yardage for the 2016 US Open tees at Oakmont is 7254. USGA reported the playing yardages to be 7274, 7179, 7170 and 7229.

 

So for both men and women the "typical" set up is a playing yardage of slightly under the yardage for the US Open tees. I assume this is the case for other PGA and LPGA tournaments.

[North Texas]

~6400 yards.

 

sometimes less.

 

on occasion more. For instance, that course they play at Indian Wells or wherever the Dinah Shore tourney is located is 6700 supposedly. But it doesn't play that length at ALL. Desert course, super firm runway fairways...

 

Played the Diana Shore tourney course back in October and played the tourney tee boxes. I'm not long and I didn't think it played that long. Hit driver and hybrid (19*) into 18.

 

Do you remember how far you had for the 2nd shot? It's 531 from the tournament tees.

 

Just a hair over 200 to carry the water. I will say that we got ton of roll when we played even in Oct. I don't recall it playing close to 531.

They alternate tee boxes on the 18th at the ANA.

They play it over 500 yds Thurs & Sat and under 500 yds Fri & Sun.

 

It's also a bit of a dog leg left.

 

I find that most doglegs, assuming you put your tee shot in the right position, play shorter that the posted yardage.

 

It can play as short as 485 and, while it can be played longer than 531, I doubt that they ever do. And, like you mentioned, it plays a little under those yardages due to a slight dogleg.

[North Texas]

Talking about Mission Hills CC, where they play the Dinah Shore/Kraft Nabisco/ANA LPGA major, one of the things that I find interesting about the course is how it is definitely not a lady-friendly course for the average female golfer. Plays almost 5700 from the Red (shortest) tees. Way too long for the average female golfer who might drive the ball 150-175 at best.

[Bad9]

Let's say your suspicions could somehow be confirmed. They claim 6450, but they're really playing from 6280. Now what?

 

Kymar,

 

I think we'd have a factual basis on which tee box most amateurs should play from as LPGA players swing speed is pretty close to amateurs and we'd finally put to rest the whole 4 handicap vs. LPGA players, which IMO is just ludicrous but there is a corresponding level. I think the basic bid/ask spread is +2 to scratch, which is quite impressive at either end IMO.

 

As long as there is a make ego, especially golf ego, that argument will never be put to rest. Its more than about pure distance anyway.

[Shilgy]

Not sure what the point of a thread like this is other than a bunch of guys trying to say the lpga is not that good. I know in Phoenix they played the old Ping event at Moon Valley at 6600. Currently at Wildfire it is about the same. For instance the second hole is a 550 yard par five. ALWAYS played from that tee, never up, and a few of the women reach in two.

[North Texas]

Not sure what the point of a thread like this is other than a bunch of guys trying to say the lpga is not that good. I know in Phoenix they played the old Ping event at Moon Valley at 6600. Currently at Wildfire it is about the same. For instance the second hole is a 550 yard par five. ALWAYS played from that tee, never up, and a few of the women reach in two.

 

Anyone trying to say that the LPGA is not that good is sorely misinformed or simply ignorant.

[wobgon]

I played the course where they play the shop rite tournament. We played the tips and it seemed to me to be the shortest course i have ever played.....I believe the course is called sea view.

[wobgon]

Not sure what the point of a thread like this is other than a bunch of guys trying to say the lpga is not that good. I know in Phoenix they played the old Ping event at Moon Valley at 6600. Currently at Wildfire it is about the same. For instance the second hole is a 550 yard par five. ALWAYS played from that tee, never up, and a few of the women reach in two.

 

Anyone trying to say that the LPGA is not that good is sorely misinformed or simply ignorant.

I do not think anyone on who takes the time to post on a golf forum would think that LPGA players are not good.....I think many would say that they play on fairly short courses.

[hdr_ric]

Not sure what the point of a thread like this is other than a bunch of guys trying to say the lpga is not that good. I know in Phoenix they played the old Ping event at Moon Valley at 6600. Currently at Wildfire it is about the same. For instance the second hole is a 550 yard par five. ALWAYS played from that tee, never up, and a few of the women reach in two.

 

Anyone trying to say that the LPGA is not that good is sorely misinformed or simply ignorant.

I do not think anyone on who takes the time to post on a golf forum would think that LPGA players are not good.....I think many would say that they play on fairly short courses.

 

Ha, you would be surprised. There are some dumbos on here. Check out the LPGA vs 4 handicap or LPGA vs college player threads for evidence.

[North Texas]

Not sure what the point of a thread like this is other than a bunch of guys trying to say the lpga is not that good. I know in Phoenix they played the old Ping event at Moon Valley at 6600. Currently at Wildfire it is about the same. For instance the second hole is a 550 yard par five. ALWAYS played from that tee, never up, and a few of the women reach in two.

 

Anyone trying to say that the LPGA is not that good is sorely misinformed or simply ignorant.

I do not think anyone on who takes the time to post on a golf forum would think that LPGA players are not good.....I think many would say that they play on fairly short courses.

 

And I would say that, comparatively speaking, they play a longer course than the men do for how far they hit the ball.

[hdr_ric]

Not sure what the point of a thread like this is other than a bunch of guys trying to say the lpga is not that good. I know in Phoenix they played the old Ping event at Moon Valley at 6600. Currently at Wildfire it is about the same. For instance the second hole is a 550 yard par five. ALWAYS played from that tee, never up, and a few of the women reach in two.

 

Anyone trying to say that the LPGA is not that good is sorely misinformed or simply ignorant.

I do not think anyone on who takes the time to post on a golf forum would think that LPGA players are not good.....I think many would say that they play on fairly short courses.

 

And I would say that, comparatively speaking, they play a longer course than the men do for how far they hit the ball.

 

The short hitting ladies definitely do.