New York 紐約長島Smithtown Landing golf course!~下集

New York 紐約長島Smithtown Landing golf course!~上集
https://www.peargolf.com/article/new-york-niuyuechangdaosmithtown-landin...

下集開始。

而果嶺，這是我認為這個球場裡最難搞的地方，它的果嶺不大，但非常難推，因為速度超快，平時的力量/距離都會過洞2步的距離。推到後面3洞才抓到妹嘎。再加上它們的果嶺有不少斜坡，把難度拉到最高。它們的草紋不同位置會有很大差異，所以我今天很多的推桿，都是從洞口邊滑過。我都推到無言了。現在是還多球場才開場沒多久時間，所以果嶺狀態還不是最好，需要到5、6月才會是最棒！我自己也需要再打幾場球，調整動作和打法，才能進入球季的打球打透透模式。

有一兩個洞的果嶺，推起來球還會跳，所以感覺果嶺的修整還沒有很好。本著自虐的體質，後面還會再來打，好好回味台灣那種把你搞到變態的難度。但這是可以克服，至少後面幾洞我已經可以掌握果嶺的速度和草紋風格，推起來才比較有信心。基本上打這個球場，精準度和落點位置是標配，少一個都讓你做三輪車。18洞打藍梯是6200碼，不長，但自虐的挑戰，球道、果嶺的高度落差，把你整到信心都不會寫。

尤其後面9洞天氣轉變，刮起風影響球的方向和距離，我還可以標準桿上果嶺都是靠我的經驗值。因為很多果嶺都是砲台設計或是果嶺高度高/低於於球道，對於距離的估算是要經驗去計算，同時風勢會有不同風向，所以我加個10多碼，有時加到20多碼的距離來進攻，都是穩穩的放上果嶺。當然，這種球道左右狗腿配合地形上下坡的無良設計，如果一路driver打起，一定是到隔壁洞去，導致我幾個洞開球只能用球道木，把球放上球道，再進行攻果嶺。無腦的直衝，一定讓你找不到果嶺回去。

今天前9打Callaway Quantum，低彈道，很有殺傷力。球都在230～260碼，非常穩定，就是我的菜。後9用Titleist GT2，在220～250碼。主要打在桿面偏上和下的位置，甜蜜點絕緣狀況，所以距離沒有炸裂出來。而Quantum大多在甜蜜點位置和附近，距離配合上彈道就連滾帶爬的在250碼+。另一個是我的3木也是超常發揮，彈道和距離都穩定，只要200碼+距離，就靠它送上果嶺。

鐵桿也是我這幾年來最穩定，基本上距離的第二桿都要用到我7號鐵在150碼+-10碼的距離，但地形和風勢，我大多都用6鐵來進攻，也因為打多一點距離，可以穩穩的把球給放上果嶺。會這樣應該是我現在對於距離、地形和球桿的判斷上已經升級，動作的穩定性讓我擊球的紮實性提升，所以距離可以更穩定的發揮。以往會有側旋問題，今天真的只有一兩球稍微fade的，但對上果嶺的位置是沒有落到edge或外面。

總結來說，這個球場非常適合你去練習長桿和鐵桿的準度。球道和果嶺都很硬，完全不像美國球場風格，可以吃土吃草。這個球場也會放在我的口袋名單，微調自己的打法或策略，我會來這裡磨磨自己的技術。如果是半調子的球友最好別來，同組的college student就是打到失心瘋，球亂飛，而且球場起風，難度平方。他們2個一個打到15洞，一個16洞就撤了。

因為真的變冷，加上前面一組4個韓國人打的很慢，同組的其他人都等到冷掉，球自然亂飛。一樣，我也靠經驗，我知道必須保暖和吃東西來增加能量，所以等到我開球或打第二桿，我就是穩穩的送上球道和果嶺。今天這場球就是練身體、動作和調整到golf mode，如果沒有這場球的加持，我狀況和動作可能還沒辦法調到正常模式，一下子讓動作的細節都做出來，比往年的狀態要更好。後面再陸續分享其他球場和使用Ping G440，Taylormade Qi4D的下場心得。

The greens here are the toughest part. They’re not big, but super fast. My normal speed would go 2 feet past the hole easily. It took me until the last three holes to finally get the speed dialed in. Plus, there are a lot of slopes on the greens, which makes them even harder. The grass grain changes a lot depending on the spot. So many of my putts today lipped out. I was speechless.

The course just opened not long ago, so the greens aren’t at their best yet. They’ll probably be perfect by May or June. I also need a few more rounds to get my swing and feel back into full golf season mode.
A couple greens even had bumpy spots – the ball would actually jump while putting. The conditioning still needs work. But because I’m a masochist, I’ll definitely come back again to enjoy this evil, twisted difficulty that reminds me of Taiwan.

At least by the back nine I started to figure out the green speeds and grain, so I had more confidence on the putts. Overall, on this course, accuracy and landing position are mandatory. Miss those and you’re riding the struggle bus. We played the blue tees – 6200 yards, not that long, but the elevation changes and slopes will destroy your confidence.

Especially on the back nine, the wind picked up and affected both direction and distance. I still managed to hit most greens in regulation thanks to experience. A lot of the greens are elevated like punchbowl or plateau style, so judging distance takes real course knowledge. I was adding 10-20 yards depending on the wind and still sticking them.

With all the doglegs and uphill/downhill lies, if you try to bomb driver all day you’ll end up in the next hole. So on several holes I had to hit fairway wood off the tee just to keep it in play, then attack the green from there.

Front nine I played the Callaway Quantum – low ball flight, really penetrating, 230-260 yards, super consistent. That’s my ball. Back nine I switched to the Titleist GT2, 220-250 yards. I was hitting a bit high on the face and low, missing the sweet spot, so it didn’t explode off the club. The Quantum was mostly on or near the sweet spot, so it carried and rolled nicely past 250.

My 3-wood was also money today. Stable flight and distance. Anything 200+ yards, I used it to reach the green.
Irons were probably the most stable they’ve been in years. My second shots were mostly 150 yards ±10, so normally 7-iron, but because of terrain and wind I used 6-iron a lot. Being able to trust my distance control and club selection has improved. My contact was solid, and I only had one or two slight fades all day – none that missed the green.

Overall, this course is perfect for practicing accuracy with your long clubs and irons. The fairways and greens are firm – not like typical soft American courses. It’ll definitely stay on my list when I want to sharpen up my game and strategy.

If you’re a mid-level player, I’d think twice before coming. The two college kids in my group basically lost their minds – balls flying everywhere. When the wind picked up, the difficulty doubled. One quit after 15 holes, the other after 16.

It got cold, the group in front (four Koreans) was super slow, and everyone was freezing and hitting it worse. Me? Experience saved me – I made sure to stay warm and eat something for energy. Whenever it was my turn, I was able to put it on the fairway or green.

Today’s round was basically body conditioning, swing tuning, and getting back into golf mode. Without this round, I probably wouldn’t have gotten my timing and feel back so quickly. Actually ended up feeling better than last year at this time. I’ll share more course reviews and my thoughts on the Ping G440 and Taylormade Qi4D as I play them.