Shooting Par at Torrey Pines Bet

[stevesjs]

Some friends and I will be playing Torrey Pines for an upcoming bachelor party. Most of the guys who will be playing are not big golfers. I am probably the most serious of the bunch. I'm a legitimate 10 handicap. I'll shoot anywhere from 78-85 on a regular basis. Obviously playing from the mens tee's sometimes blue/blacks, sometimes whites.

 

My friends have been enticing me into a bet and giving me some crazy odds. Now I know for someone who has never played the course and is a 10, par on the course from any of the mens tee's is impossible. But I've been offered Par from the womens tee's with bets as high as 1000-1. Normally I wouldn't even entertain it, and certainly don't want to spend my day playing this legendary course from the ladies tees but...

 

So what's the opinion that I could play Torrey Pines South course from the ladies tees and shoot Par (73 from ladies tees at TP S)? At 1000-1 I could plunk down 10 bucks and win 10k. I'm not a super long hitter (250 Driver), 3-wood/5-wood/Hybrid are very accurate/consistent, I'm accurate with my irons 5-PW, good/crafty around the greens and an average putter.

 

The other side bet is playing from the mens tees without losing a ball whole round. Which I prob will take... I have the occasional round where I get away with this.

[jewofgolf]

Figuring the rating is about 70.0 from the red tees, it's a long shot but I think it's probably 20 to 1. I would certainly take the bet.

 

Especially if you prepare for it, you can improve those odds. What you would need to do is really focus on safe lines off the tee and hitting the middle of the greens. Don't hit driver when you don't need to. Get around or on the par 5's in 2 and get a couple of birdies there. Hit about 14 greens and avoid all blow ups.

 

Practice a lot leading up to, and I think it can be done.

[sharkiesj]

You can't do it. The greens won't allow you to make putts. Even PGA pros, who are putting on rolled and waxed greens can't even make putts out there on a regular basis. Since you'll be on nice greens, but more bumpy, I'm saying it can't be done. Not that your not good enough, it's def the conditions of the golf course IMO.

[double or triple?]

as someone who plays there every weekend, its not happening being a 10 handicap.

[NolanP]

You can easily play from any tee and not lose a ball the whole round. The wildcard is that sometimes it can be challenging to find your ball in the rough. But there is only one tiny water hazard and the canyons can easily be worked around.

 

Even I expect not to lose a ball when I play Torrey. And I lose more than anyone.

 

Edited to add: The greens are tough to putt on. But with five short par-5's to work with...

[MtlJeff]

I didn't lose a ball playing there. Unless you lose one in the rough it's unlikely to happen.

 

Id expect to shoot a good score from the ladies tees. I found the greens rolled very true. Of course our handicaps are very different. But the last time I played the ladies tees at my home course i shot 67 as a 1 index and it wasn't some crazy round.

 

There's 4 par 5's and they'd all be reachable

[One_Putt_Blunder]

No chance, none of the par 4s are really reachable for you, you might make up some ground on the par 5's. The difficulty in that golf course is not off the tee (unless the rough is way up) the greens themselves and getting up and down from the kikuyu grass is the real challenge. I mean if you are getting 1000-1 and are not risking too much $ then sure take the bet but not a likely win.

 

As far as not losing a ball. That is fairly simple to pull off around there 3, and 4 being the biggest challenge if you fight a left miss

[stevesjs]

What I'm risking more than anything is sacrificing an awesome experience of playing a course on my bucket list by playing the ladies tees. The money I'm not worried about risking, but the opportunity to fleece my friends is enticing if possible.

[kekoa]

Yup, it's not happening. Heck, I'm a pretty good 6 and know for sure I can't do it either.

[HatsForBats]

What I'm risking more than anything is sacrificing an awesome experience of playing a course on my bucket list by playing the ladies tees. The money I'm not worried about risking, but the opportunity to fleece my friends is enticing if possible.

 

Agreed. Find something else to bet on that won't mess with your golf experience. I'm sure you can come up with something.

[314_Single_Digit]

Growing up in San Diego and playing Torrey several hundred if not a thousand times. I would take that bet all day long. I do have a question are you playing North or South?

[JackpotJohnny]

as someone who plays there every weekend, its not happening being a 10 handicap.

 

This

[One_Putt_Blunder]

What I'm risking more than anything is sacrificing an awesome experience of playing a course on my bucket list by playing the ladies tees. The money I'm not worried about risking, but the opportunity to fleece my friends is enticing if possible.

 

Fair point and imo not worth ruining your only round on the south playing from that far forward. FWIW was a two last time I played it, we played the blue tees 7k yards with a +1 another 2 and a 4 index the lowest round of the day was 78 I played ok and shot 84 with a couple birdies.

[Damenace613]

I would take the "not losing a ball" bet but not the "shooting par on TP South" bet. If it was for TP North then maybe but unlikely.

 

I agree with other comments that you should enjoy the round with your friends while at TP!

 

Have fun!

[LittleLeftToRight]

Wow. You are going there for a bachelor party. Stop being so selfish (unless it is your wedding). You should take the bet only because it was offered to you and that is what real buds do. It is a crazy bet and you and your friends will remember that especially since it is at Torrey Pines. I'd take both bets personally. Don't be lame.

[stevesjs]

LOL... I don't get to the west coast often and I'm probably the only reason that we are playing this course. I would hate to blow the opportunity to play it straight up. I'm pretty serious about my love for the game and could probably work myself into a solid single digit handicap but as it stands I only play about 10 times a year.

 

It's been fun to speculate though.

[Thrillhouse]

Not happening, as a ten I wouldn't give you good odds shooting even par from the red tees at any course. Have you tried it? Everyone thinks they can shoot great scores up there but every time I see an am try it they come away saying it was way harder than they thought.

 

But at 1000-1 you might as well put ten bucks on yourself and see what happens!

[golferdrmjr]

Some friends and I will be playing Torrey Pines for an upcoming bachelor party. Most of the guys who will be playing are not big golfers. I am probably the most serious of the bunch. I'm a legitimate 10 handicap. I'll shoot anywhere from 78-85 on a regular basis. Obviously playing from the mens tee's sometimes blue/blacks, sometimes whites.

 

My friends have been enticing me into a bet and giving me some crazy odds. Now I know for someone who has never played the course and is a 10, par on the course from any of the mens tee's is impossible. But I've been offered Par from the womens tee's with bets as high as 1000-1. Normally I wouldn't even entertain it, and certainly don't want to spend my day playing this legendary course from the ladies tees but...

 

So what's the opinion that I could play Torrey Pines South course from the ladies tees and shoot Par (73 from ladies tees at TP S)? At 1000-1 I could plunk down 10 bucks and win 10k. I'm not a super long hitter (250 Driver), 3-wood/5-wood/Hybrid are very accurate/consistent, I'm accurate with my irons 5-PW, good/crafty around the greens and an average putter.

 

The other side bet is playing from the mens tees without losing a ball whole round. Which I prob will take... I have the occasional round where I get away with this.

What tees are the "Men's" tees? We play from the Taupe tees (former Blue tees) 7,051 yards, 75.3/137 and it's very tough from there. I would never waste my time playing from the ladies tees for any bet. As a 10 handicap, you're going to have to play very conservative to not lose a ball playing from the Taupe tees. A lot of people lose a ball on the third hole right away, not hard to do on that hole. Good luck! :-)

[larrybud]

Just by going with USGA odds, south course from the Gold (6152 yrd) is 70.7/129. That makes you an 11 course handicap.

 

To shoot a net differential of -10 which would put you at a 71, the usga gives odds of 84300 : 1

 

If you really want an eye opener, go to your local muni, drop a ball at the 150 on all but the par 3s, and see if you can shoot even par to what the card says.

[NolanP]

To shoot a net differential of -10 which would put you at a 71, the usga gives odds of 84300 : 1

 

Par is 73 from the ladies tees. Five par 5's.

[Thrillhouse]

To shoot a net differential of -10 which would put you at a 71, the usga gives odds of 84300 : 1

 

Par is 73 from the ladies tees. Five par 5's.

 

He's talking about the course rating.

[deadsolid...shank]

I don't think it's doable. There still won't be enough birdies to offset the one or two "worse than normal" shots, the completely chunked pitch,,the bunker shot skulled across the green, etc. The bad shot that leads to double or triple.

[DavePelz4]

Some friends and I will be playing Torrey Pines for an upcoming bachelor party. Most of the guys who will be playing are not big golfers. I am probably the most serious of the bunch. I'm a legitimate 10 handicap. I'll shoot anywhere from 78-85 on a regular basis. Obviously playing from the mens tee's sometimes blue/blacks, sometimes whites.

 

My friends have been enticing me into a bet and giving me some crazy odds. Now I know for someone who has never played the course and is a 10, par on the course from any of the mens tee's is impossible. But I've been offered Par from the womens tee's with bets as high as 1000-1. Normally I wouldn't even entertain it, and certainly don't want to spend my day playing this legendary course from the ladies tees but...

 

So what's the opinion that I could play Torrey Pines South course from the ladies tees and shoot Par (73 from ladies tees at TP S)? At 1000-1 I could plunk down 10 bucks and win 10k. I'm not a super long hitter (250 Driver), 3-wood/5-wood/Hybrid are very accurate/consistent, I'm accurate with my irons 5-PW, good/crafty around the greens and an average putter.

 

The other side bet is playing from the mens tees without losing a ball whole round. Which I prob will take... I have the occasional round where I get away with this.

 

You've got a better chance against an LPGA Pro.

 

Oh...wrong thread.

[micha]

Greens are too hard to read first time out. The rough is down so there is a chance you wont lose a ball but I don't see you shooting even as a 10.

[Shilgy]

You've got a better chance against an LPGA Pro.

 

Oh...wrong thread.

Funny you mention that. I have a friend at my club that does think he could hang with the ladies if played at 6000 yards. He's about an 8 cap. I never have understood the logic that makes people think they can play that much better than their cap just because the tees are up.

OP as others have pointed out if the course rating is 70 you're having to beat your cap by 7 to shoot even par 73. That said the odds are good enough that who cares if you lose ten bucks but if everyone else is playing further back why not play with your buds on what is likely to be your one chance to play there.

[mallrat]

You can't do it. The greens won't allow you to make putts. Even PGA pros, who are putting on rolled and waxed greens can't even make putts out there on a regular basis. Since you'll be on nice greens, but more bumpy, I'm saying it can't be done. Not that your not good enough, it's def the conditions of the golf course IMO.

 

Yeah, ummm. That's not really a thing.

 

Are you assuming that Poa greens are bumpy?

 

 

[LeftDaddy]

I am also a solid 10, and have played Torrey South several times. Here is my advice, for what it is worth:

 

1. You won't shoot even par on the ladies tees...not gonna happen.

2. Since you will likely only play it once, play the round the way you want to play it and enjoy yourself. It will cost you ~ $200 so enjoy it...and don't play the ladies tees.

3. It will be hard to not lose a ball...that rough is thick and even though you think you know where your ball is, you will likely have a hard time finding it. Plus, there are about 3 or 4 tee shots that there is some trouble to worry about. That said, to compromise, maybe you take this bet but not the other.

 

Enjoy it! I love Torrey Pines!

[DisappointingPar]

Play the course from the tees you want to play at. It is a great course and you might not make it back for a while or ever. Enjoy the round!

[tw422]

First of all are they really going to pay on a 1000-1 if you put in $10? I'd want to see money first but that's between you and your friends. Also, why not put up $100 for a $100k? You've literally got nothing to lose. Or make the bet that you can break 90 from the green or black tee's. That way you get the play the real course. Regardless I would take the bet and play from the red tee's - why not. We are talking about making $10k for playing golf.

 

Second, I think it would be a long shot to shoot par even from red tee's. I literally just played the South course on Wed of this week. I'm about a 6-7 hdcp right now and we played the green tees (6600 yds). I shot 90 an drove the ball very well. I didn't many greens and my short game is pretty good. You can miss fairways and you won't lose balls. But here's the issue - unless you hit every fairway and green it's going to be near impossible for you to shoot par. If you hit 11-12 (78-80%) fairways and hit 12-14 (68-78%) greens that means you will be trying to get up and down 6-8 times. Assuming you do that 4-5 (>70%) times you'll need to make 2-3 birdies which you could on the par 5's.

 

I don't know what your short game is like but the rough, bunkers and greens are absolutely brutal. The rough while not long is very sticky and will absolutely eat you up. The bunkers are deep and depending on the pin positions you won't be able to go at pins from traps.

 

Take the bet, go play, enjoy and make sure they show you the money before you tee off.

[WBGolf]

Do you really have friends willing to lay 10K at 1000-1?