The PGA Tour's final event in 2021 is upon us.
And for this here course primer, we get to pull double duty, as The RSM Classic uses a two-course setup at Sea Island Resort.
The Seaside and the Plantation courses are in play, and golfers will tackle each course once to start the event. Those making the cut will finish up both weekend rounds at the Seaside course.
The Seaside course, then, gets the ShotLink treatment and comprises three-fourths of the rounds for those playing all 72 holes.
What should we expect this week?
Sea Island Resort (Seaside) Course Information
Par: 70
Distance: 7,005
Average Green Size: 7,200
Green Type: Bermuda
Stimpmeter: N/A
Sea Island Resort (Plantation) Course Information
Par: 72
Distance: 7,060
Average Green Size: 6,100
Green Type: Bermuda
Stimpmeter: 11.5-12.5
Historic Event Information
Past 5 Winning Scores: -19, -19, -19, -21, -17
Past 5 Cut Lines: -3, -4, -2, -3, -5
With winning scores flirting around 20-under par and with subpar cut lines, we need to make sure that our golfers have the ability to make birdies. That's pretty obvious, but it's a key aspect of the course this week. Avoiding bogeys won't be enough to make a real run at the title this week.
Hole-by-Hole Breakdown
| Sea Island Resort (Seaside) | Par | Yardage | vs Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 417 | 97% |
| 2 | 4 | 415 | 96% |
| 3 | 3 | 204 | 104% |
| 4 | 4 | 429 | 100% |
| 5 | 4 | 409 | 95% |
| 6 | 3 | 179 | 91% |
| 7 | 5 | 582 | 103% |
| 8 | 4 | 368 | 85% |
| 9 | 4 | 452 | 105% |
| 10 | 4 | 418 | 97% |
| 11 | 4 | 425 | 99% |
| 12 | 3 | 223 | 113% |
| 13 | 4 | 408 | 95% |
| 14 | 4 | 442 | 103% |
| 15 | 5 | 565 | 100% |
| 16 | 4 | 407 | 94% |
| 17 | 3 | 192 | 97% |
| 18 | 4 | 470 | 109% |
| Total | 70 | 7,005 | 97% |
| Sea Island Resort (Plantation) | Par | Yardage | vs Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 373 | 87% |
| 2 | 4 | 382 | 89% |
| 3 | 3 | 219 | 111% |
| 4 | 5 | 623 | 111% |
| 5 | 4 | 473 | 110% |
| 6 | 4 | 452 | 105% |
| 7 | 3 | 156 | 79% |
| 8 | 5 | 529 | 94% |
| 9 | 4 | 481 | 112% |
| 10 | 4 | 327 | 76% |
| 11 | 3 | 216 | 110% |
| 12 | 4 | 409 | 95% |
| 13 | 4 | 437 | 101% |
| 14 | 5 | 550 | 98% |
| 15 | 4 | 365 | 85% |
| 16 | 3 | 158 | 80% |
| 17 | 4 | 350 | 81% |
| 18 | 5 | 560 | 99% |
| Total | 72 | 7,060 | 96% |
Okay, so in total, the Plantation course is full of long and short holes, but the Seaside course has just two outliers (a long par 3 and a short par 4).
The mix of hole lengths on the Plantation course still ultimately leads to a shorter course overall for a par 72; there are five short par 4s but also two long par 4s.
Key Stats for The RSM Classic
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
- Driving Accuracy
- Birdie or Better Rate
- Strokes Gained: Putting on Bermuda
There's a pretty clear trend in driving accuracy being relevant at this event across the two courses.
None of the past winners -- Robert Streb (in 2015 and 2021), Tyler Duncan (2020), Charles Howell (2019), Austin Cook (2018), Mackenzie Hughes (2017), Kevin Kisner (2016), Chris Kirk (2014), Tommy Gainey (2013), Ben Crane (2011), and Heath Slocum (2010) -- were exactly long hitters.
Datagolf shows above-average approach shot distributions from the 100-to-175-yard ranges; a lack of long approach shots puts an emphasis on shorter hitters.
Golfers With Course History at Sea Island Resort
These golfers have gained an average of 1.0 strokes per round across the two courses in play this week among those with at least two starts here since 2012, via FantasyNational.
- Matthew NeSmith (2.0)
- Kevin Kisner (2.0)
- Alexander Noren (1.9)
- Webb Simpson (1.8)
- Austin Cook (1.5)
- Corey Conners (1.4)
- Chris Kirk (1.4)
- Charles Howell (1.3)
- Henrik Norlander (1.2)
- Brian Gay (1.2)
- Robert Streb (1.2)
- William McGirt (1.1)
- Graeme McDowell (1.1)
- Andrew Landry (1.1)
- Kyle Stanley (1.1)
- John Huh (1.1)
- Jason Day (1.0)
- Andrew Putnam (1.0)
- Tyler Duncan (1.0)
- Patrick Rodgers (1.0)
- Vaughn Taylor (1.0)
- Camilo Villegas (1.0)