There are few current or former professionals who boast the same combination of course success and design patterns as Geoff Ogilvy.
Ogilvy won eight times on the PGA Tour, including the 2006 US Open, and is now a member of OCM Golf Course Architects (along with Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead). He will also captain the 2026 Presidents International Cup team in Medinah no. 3, a recently revamped OCM course.
Ogilvy, 48, was the guest on this week’s episode GOLF’s Subpar Podcast and discussed that recent reno, this year’s Presidents Cup and his love of golf course architecture. One question he was asked focused on his favorite courses from a design perspective.
“Royal Melbourne (in Australia) is great,” he said. “It’s quite doable for the average player. But it’s really hard for (the pros), especially when the pins are tough. … If you miss it in the wrong place, it’s a bit like the Masters, you just magnify your mistake. Every time you make a mistake, you just have more trouble trying to get back on track. Royal Melbourne does it in a very subtle way.”
Ogilvy said that while he loves Pine Valley in New Jersey — he has for a long time The highest ranked GOLF course in the world — He says it’s too difficult for most golfers, but probably the best course in the world for great players.
He is also a big fan of the Old Course in St. Louis. Andrews.
“I think (the Old Course) gets better every time you go and learn something more,” he said. “It’s shaped by nature and the way people played the game, not by one person. You can play it conservatively all day and you’ll hit 16-17 greens OK – nobody can hit 17 in two – but you’ll hit most of the greens OK. But you’ll have 50 feet all day, so then you’ll get brave and start getting brave and start getting brave and more too much. then you’ll start making birdies and think this spot is too easy, but then you’ll burn out and hit the bunker and go back to being conservative in these cycles. The higher your putt, the easier that spot is.
To listen to the entire podcast with Ogilvy, click hereor look to YouTube below.
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