HOLE PAR YARDS COURSE
1 5 550 Sand Hills Golf Club
2 4 368 Pine Valley Golf Club
3 4 428 Oakmont Country Club
4 5 600 Merion Golf Club (East)
5 4 353 Crystal Downs Country Club
6 4 368 The Camargo Club
7 3 106 Pebble Beach Golf Links
8 3 126 Royal Troon Golf Club
9 4 486 Royal County Down Golf Club
OUT 36 3,385
HOLE PAR YARDS COURSE
10 4 315 Riviera Country Club
11 4 455 Oakland Hills County Club (South)
12 4 469 Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
13 5 510 Augusta National Golf Club
14 3 210 Royal Portrush Golf Club
15 3 143 Cypress Point Club
16 3 219 Cypress Point Club
17 4 461 St. Andrews (Old)
18 5 543 Pebble Beach Golf Links
IN 35 3,325
TOTAL 71 6,710
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Hole #18 - Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA - 543 yards Par 5
The closer to any Dream 18 MUST be the 18th at Pebble Beach. There is just something about this hole, that makes it feel like the way a golf course should end. Normally, I do not like par 5s as finishing holes. By way of example, the 18th at Sebonack is great, but it just seems a little anti-climatic to have a three shot par 5 as a closer. There are several outstanding par 4 closers, such as Oakmont, Merion and Carnoustie, but what they make up for in difficulty, is lost by the fact that you just can't squeeze out as much strategic value in a long par 4 as you can with a par 5. Thus, after much thought, Pebble is really the only choice here.
The teeing area is fantastic (although a little too low to qualify as one of my top 5 tees in golf). However, the drive has all of the strategic merits of a classic cape hole, with the Pacific Ocean taking the concept to a whole new level. The further left you hit your tee shot, the shorter the shot into the green (which is reachable in two). The safer play to the right turns this into a three shot hole. For those who try to keep the option of going for the green in two in play, but take a safer line, two trees in the middle of the fairway become a factor.
As a two shot hole, the strategic merit is unmatched off the tee with anything left being in the Pacific, and anything right killing any chance of reaching the green in two. Assuming you find the fairway, the second shot needs to stay right of the Pacific, but left of the front right greenside bunker as well as a specimen tree that is just to the right, and short, of the bunker.
As a three shot hole, the 140 yard long bunker on the left of the fairway (as well as the Pacific Ocean) must be factored into the lay up, as does the OB right. From the proper layup position, the lip of the front right bunker obscures most of the right side of the green, and the ocean still protects the left side. Also, the tree just short and to the right of the green will cause problems for any layups that were too conservative in favoring the right side (but staying in bounds).
In my opinion, only the 13th at Augusta is in the same class as the 18th at Pebble in terms of strategy and beauty.
Next best: Oakmont, Merion (East), Pine Valley, Carnoustie, Olympic, St. Andrews (Old), Shinneock Hills, National Golf Links of America
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Winged Foot (West)
The teeing area is fantastic (although a little too low to qualify as one of my top 5 tees in golf). However, the drive has all of the strategic merits of a classic cape hole, with the Pacific Ocean taking the concept to a whole new level. The further left you hit your tee shot, the shorter the shot into the green (which is reachable in two). The safer play to the right turns this into a three shot hole. For those who try to keep the option of going for the green in two in play, but take a safer line, two trees in the middle of the fairway become a factor.
As a two shot hole, the strategic merit is unmatched off the tee with anything left being in the Pacific, and anything right killing any chance of reaching the green in two. Assuming you find the fairway, the second shot needs to stay right of the Pacific, but left of the front right greenside bunker as well as a specimen tree that is just to the right, and short, of the bunker.
As a three shot hole, the 140 yard long bunker on the left of the fairway (as well as the Pacific Ocean) must be factored into the lay up, as does the OB right. From the proper layup position, the lip of the front right bunker obscures most of the right side of the green, and the ocean still protects the left side. Also, the tree just short and to the right of the green will cause problems for any layups that were too conservative in favoring the right side (but staying in bounds).
In my opinion, only the 13th at Augusta is in the same class as the 18th at Pebble in terms of strategy and beauty.
Next best: Oakmont, Merion (East), Pine Valley, Carnoustie, Olympic, St. Andrews (Old), Shinneock Hills, National Golf Links of America
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Winged Foot (West)
Hole #17 - St. Andrews (Old), St. Andrews, Scotland - 461 yards Par 4
Like many of the world's great courses, the Old Course has several holes that could be included in any dream 18, and several that were close to being included in my Dream 18, most notably the 1st, 14th and 11th holes. However, the Road Hole, as the 17th is called, is in a league of its own, even on this list. This hole presents the three most harrowing man-made hazards that I am aware of. First, your tee shot must be hit over a hotel in order to be on the proper line! Second, this hole has, without question, the single most difficult sand trap in the world (the single greenside bunker known as the Road Hole Bunker). And third, a gravel road runs adjacent to the rear of the green with a several thousand year old stone wall on the far side of the road (both of which are in play).
The first man-made hazard, the hotel, is a relatively new addition to this hole. However, for over a hundred years, a railroad shed had to be carried off of the tee. As such, for more than a century, the tee shot on this hole has been blind (although the shorter hitter can see the fairway to the left if he chooses to play this as a three shot hole). Any push off of this tee will hit either the shed, or the hotel and be OB. If you favor the left side too much, you will end up in heavy rough and have almost no shot at hitting the green in two. Assuming you are fortunate enough to drive the ball into the fairway, a mid-iron into a sliver of a green awaits. Like the 12th at Augusta, the green on this hole is set at a 45 degree angle from the line of play, this time, from front right to back left. The angle of this green, like the 12th at Augusta, is the key to the hole as it is the reason why so many people (pros included) end up in the Road Hole Bunker or on the road over the green. If you try to play to the front right of the green, but pull it, you will end up in the Road Hole Bunker. Conversely, if you try to carry the bunker and play for the back left of the green, but push it, you will end up on the road. Without the angle to the green, it would simply be about distance control. Instead, it is about both distance control AND direction.
The Road Hole Bunker is probably the deepest bunker of its size on the planet. There is very little room to maneuver in there, and you are either up against the sod wall or very close to it. As a result, it makes for perhaps the most difficult bunker shot in golf, which is often repeated after the first attempt to get out of the bunker fails.
The road itself is unique for obvious reasons, but its proximity to the putting surface is astounding. If your ball is on the back of the green, very likely, you will have to stand on the road to read your put. Also, the fact that the green is raised a couple of feet above the road means that even a ball trickling over the green will likely end up on the road. Anything hit firmly over the green will end up next to the wall which requires very bold and interesting recovery skills. Aside from being one of the most unique and famous holes in the world, it is also among the best.
Next best: Cypress Point, Pine Valley, National Golf Links of America, Crystal Downs, Sand Hills, Merion (East), Prairie Dunes, Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits (Straits), Kapalua (Plantation)
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: None
The first man-made hazard, the hotel, is a relatively new addition to this hole. However, for over a hundred years, a railroad shed had to be carried off of the tee. As such, for more than a century, the tee shot on this hole has been blind (although the shorter hitter can see the fairway to the left if he chooses to play this as a three shot hole). Any push off of this tee will hit either the shed, or the hotel and be OB. If you favor the left side too much, you will end up in heavy rough and have almost no shot at hitting the green in two. Assuming you are fortunate enough to drive the ball into the fairway, a mid-iron into a sliver of a green awaits. Like the 12th at Augusta, the green on this hole is set at a 45 degree angle from the line of play, this time, from front right to back left. The angle of this green, like the 12th at Augusta, is the key to the hole as it is the reason why so many people (pros included) end up in the Road Hole Bunker or on the road over the green. If you try to play to the front right of the green, but pull it, you will end up in the Road Hole Bunker. Conversely, if you try to carry the bunker and play for the back left of the green, but push it, you will end up on the road. Without the angle to the green, it would simply be about distance control. Instead, it is about both distance control AND direction.
The Road Hole Bunker is probably the deepest bunker of its size on the planet. There is very little room to maneuver in there, and you are either up against the sod wall or very close to it. As a result, it makes for perhaps the most difficult bunker shot in golf, which is often repeated after the first attempt to get out of the bunker fails.
The road itself is unique for obvious reasons, but its proximity to the putting surface is astounding. If your ball is on the back of the green, very likely, you will have to stand on the road to read your put. Also, the fact that the green is raised a couple of feet above the road means that even a ball trickling over the green will likely end up on the road. Anything hit firmly over the green will end up next to the wall which requires very bold and interesting recovery skills. Aside from being one of the most unique and famous holes in the world, it is also among the best.
Next best: Cypress Point, Pine Valley, National Golf Links of America, Crystal Downs, Sand Hills, Merion (East), Prairie Dunes, Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits (Straits), Kapalua (Plantation)
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: None
Hole #16 - Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, CA - 219 yards Par 3
Don't let my mancrush on the 15th hole fool you, this may very well be the single best golf hole in the world. The tee shot combined the beauty of the 15th at Cypress, with the all or nothing heroic challenge of the 14th at Royal Portrush. The combination is unmatched in the world.
Much has been written about the ability to hit your tee shot to a fairway that is well left of the green. This fairway is absolutely required, for without it, the hole would be unfair for the shorter hitter. What makes the hole so great strategically, however, is the fact that just short of the green, the fairway is squeezed to five yards wide by two bunkers, and the ocean, on either side. Thus, if one decides to lay up, he must commit to laying up. There is no option to hit a "safe" shot when going for the green, as anything short will be in the bunkers or, more likely, the ocean. As a result, once the decision is made to go for the green, it is an all or nothing proposition. A "good miss" is likely to have the same result as a bad miss-- re-teeing.
The area sounding the green to the rear turns a spectacular looking hole into a breathtaking hole. These bunkers are not likely to come into play off of the tee (as they are 240+ yards away from the tee), but they do come into play for anyone who laid up off of the tee and is guarding against hitting short on their second shot. That being said, they are primarily there for an artistic purpose, and they serve that purpose well. If I could only play one more hole before I die, this would be the hole that I would choose.
Next best: Merion (East), Shinnecock Hills, Oakland Hills (South), National Golf Links of America, The Club at Black Rock, Bandon Dunes, Sand Hills, Pine Valley
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: None
Much has been written about the ability to hit your tee shot to a fairway that is well left of the green. This fairway is absolutely required, for without it, the hole would be unfair for the shorter hitter. What makes the hole so great strategically, however, is the fact that just short of the green, the fairway is squeezed to five yards wide by two bunkers, and the ocean, on either side. Thus, if one decides to lay up, he must commit to laying up. There is no option to hit a "safe" shot when going for the green, as anything short will be in the bunkers or, more likely, the ocean. As a result, once the decision is made to go for the green, it is an all or nothing proposition. A "good miss" is likely to have the same result as a bad miss-- re-teeing.
The area sounding the green to the rear turns a spectacular looking hole into a breathtaking hole. These bunkers are not likely to come into play off of the tee (as they are 240+ yards away from the tee), but they do come into play for anyone who laid up off of the tee and is guarding against hitting short on their second shot. That being said, they are primarily there for an artistic purpose, and they serve that purpose well. If I could only play one more hole before I die, this would be the hole that I would choose.
Next best: Merion (East), Shinnecock Hills, Oakland Hills (South), National Golf Links of America, The Club at Black Rock, Bandon Dunes, Sand Hills, Pine Valley
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: None
Hole #15 - Cypress Point Club, Pebble Beach, CA - 143 yards Par 3
In my opinion, this is the most beautiful hole in the world. The 16th is more difficult and more heroic, but it is not more beautiful (barely). Also, as much as the 16th is exhilarating to play, this hole comes first in the round, and is probably the most artistically bunkered hole in the world. Combine that with the setting hard against the Pacific Ocean with white caps splashing all around you, and it is just unbeatable.
The hole itself requires a short shot to a modified-kidney shaped green that is surrounded by bunkers. The ocean does not come into play unless you top it off the tee, but is distracting nonetheless. The green is gently contoured and as such, will give up birdies. Among the Dream 18, this is probably the easiest hole.
Next best: Pine Valley, Royal County Down, National Golf Links of America,Turnberry, Shoreacres
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Seminole, North Berwick (West)
The hole itself requires a short shot to a modified-kidney shaped green that is surrounded by bunkers. The ocean does not come into play unless you top it off the tee, but is distracting nonetheless. The green is gently contoured and as such, will give up birdies. Among the Dream 18, this is probably the easiest hole.
Next best: Pine Valley, Royal County Down, National Golf Links of America,Turnberry, Shoreacres
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Seminole, North Berwick (West)
Hole #14 - Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, Northern Ireland - 210 yards Par 3
Like Augusta National, Royal Portrush narrowly missed inclusion in my Dream 18 previously (5th hole), but it was worth the wait. Like most of the holes in the Dream 18, there simply is not another hole in the world like the 14th at Royal Portrush. Both the tee and the green are perched 50+ feet above the wild fescue-covered dunes to the right. The view from the tee is spectacular as most of the course can be seen, as well as the Irish Sea to the right. The shot itself is uncompromising as anything short or left will be in heavy rough 50 feet below the green (and still in play!). There is a small collection area just left of the green that offers some safe harbor for a "good miss," but too far left and you are in heavy rough with little chance for an up and down. The green is fairly large, but looks like a speck on the horizon from the tee, and contains modest interior contours to ensure that the challenge of the hole is not over even if you hit the green. It is one of the great tees in golf, and one of the most awe-inspiring holes in the world.
Next best: Shinneock Hills, St. Andrews (Old), Crystal Downs, Pine Valley
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Royal Dornoch
Next best: Shinneock Hills, St. Andrews (Old), Crystal Downs, Pine Valley
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Royal Dornoch
Hole #13 - Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA - 510 yards Par 5
This is what happens when one of the most strategic par 5s in the world is combined with one of the most picturesque settings in the world. This hole has options everywhere and beauty everywhere. The tee shot is hit over a large section of Rae's Creek to a fairway that cants from right to left with a small creek guarding the inside of the dogleg to the left. The perfect tee shot is long with a draw, but if it doesn't draw, the shot will run through the fairway into the trees at the outside of the dogleg, eliminating the option of going for the green in two. Over-cook the draw and it will hook into the creek on the left (or trees to the left of the creek). A well placed drive will almost certainly have a hook lie for a shot into the green that favors a fade over a creek if you want to attack this short par 5 and go for the green in two. Good luck with that.
Assuming you lay up, the rolling fairway slopes severely down toward the creek for the last 75 yards or so, which requires you to lay up well short of the hole if you choose to lay up. That means you now have a 100 yard+ approach with the same hook lie issue. If your layup goes too far, you have a hook and a downhill lie that you need to finesse over the creek. You'll need more than luck to pull that shot off.
The green is set across the creek and is surrounded by four bunkers to the rear and left of the green. The creek that fronts the green also guards the right side as it meanders past the green. The green itself is fairly large (which allows it to accept long second shots), but also has significant interior contouring which make any eagle or birdie putt a challenge.
Next best: Pine Valley, Pacific Dunes, Cypress Point, Bel-Air, Merion (East), Crystal Downs
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Oak Hill (East)
Assuming you lay up, the rolling fairway slopes severely down toward the creek for the last 75 yards or so, which requires you to lay up well short of the hole if you choose to lay up. That means you now have a 100 yard+ approach with the same hook lie issue. If your layup goes too far, you have a hook and a downhill lie that you need to finesse over the creek. You'll need more than luck to pull that shot off.
The green is set across the creek and is surrounded by four bunkers to the rear and left of the green. The creek that fronts the green also guards the right side as it meanders past the green. The green itself is fairly large (which allows it to accept long second shots), but also has significant interior contouring which make any eagle or birdie putt a challenge.
Next best: Pine Valley, Pacific Dunes, Cypress Point, Bel-Air, Merion (East), Crystal Downs
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Oak Hill (East)
Hole #12 - Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, NY - 469 yards Par 4
The 12th hole at Shinnecock Hills is like many on the course, and especially the back nine, in that its fairway is draped over rolling land which passes a cluster of bunkers as it heads toward a magnificent greensite which peels of at its edges like a potato chip. A stout drive is required to reach this green in regulation, and the view from the elevated tee is one of the finest on the course and the world. Wind plays a huge factor on the tee shot as, like most fairways at Shinnecock Hills, which requires the golfer to take special care to determine the correct line as the fairway angles away from the tee so that if you misjudge the line, even a well struck drive can land in the rough short or long of the angled fairway. Truly a classic.
Next best: Augusta National, San Francisco, Oakmont, County Louth, Shoreacres
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: None
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: None
Hole #11 - Oakland Hills Country Club (South), Birmingham, MI - 455 yards Par 4
The eleventh hole at Oakland Hills is unique in the way it uses the landforms that the hole was placed upon. The tee shot must carry, or go around, a small hill about 250 yards off of the tee, and then the green is nestled between four bunkers and offset by some specimen trees in the saddle of another hill, well above the fairway. The first hill is what sets this hole apart, although the second hill is what makes this hole so beautiful, and difficult.
In order to take the shorter route to the green, thereby leaving yourself a shorter approach shot, you must carry a small hill that is to the left of the visible fairway. Beyond this hill, about 270 yards from the back tee, the fairway snakes to the left and continues in a straight line toward the hole. As a result, the shorter tee shot must be hit to a portion of the fairway that is offset to the right, leaving a more awkward angle to the green, and a much longer, semi-blind approach. In order to have a clear view of the green, you must hit a blind tee shot over the hill on the left. It is a very interesting hole in that neither the tee shot, nor the approach, are blind depending on which route you choose from the tee, but in order to hit this green in regulation one of your two shots MUST be blind. Very cool. The cherry on the sundae as far as the tee shot is concerned, is a group of three bunkers that lie at the end of the "right" fairway, 280 yards away from the back tee. The great thing about these bunkers is that if you try to carry the hill on the left and hit it far enough but too far right, you will find one of the three bunkers, making a par nearly impossible, and if you play the safer play from the tee to the right part of the fairway, these bunkers require the big hitter to hit less than driver and leave himself with a longer, and semi-blind, approach.
As for the green complex, it is one of the best on a course that ,collectively, has some of the best green complexes in the world. The green has a back to front tilt and sits in the saddle of a large hill. This makes the approach uphill and difficult, and also makes recovering from the left or right of the green extremely difficult. Hitting over the green is dead. Once on the green, both the notoriously fast Oakland Hills green speeds, as well as the tilt of the green, make putting a real challenge from anywhere other than below the hole. Although you can score a big number on this hole, it plays more like a par 4 1/2 in that a drive caught in the rough of the hill or in a fairway bunker, still leaves a chance at par, but more likely will lead to a bogey, whereas a well struck tee shot gives you a good chance at par, but not a great chance at birdie. Also, any errant approach will likely lead to a bogey as well. Truly a great golf hole, and among the most under-rated hole on this list, and in golf.
Next best: Augusta National, Merion (East), Shinnecock Hills, The Club at Black Rock, Pacific Dunes, St. Andrews (Old), Royal Troon
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Ballybunion
In order to take the shorter route to the green, thereby leaving yourself a shorter approach shot, you must carry a small hill that is to the left of the visible fairway. Beyond this hill, about 270 yards from the back tee, the fairway snakes to the left and continues in a straight line toward the hole. As a result, the shorter tee shot must be hit to a portion of the fairway that is offset to the right, leaving a more awkward angle to the green, and a much longer, semi-blind approach. In order to have a clear view of the green, you must hit a blind tee shot over the hill on the left. It is a very interesting hole in that neither the tee shot, nor the approach, are blind depending on which route you choose from the tee, but in order to hit this green in regulation one of your two shots MUST be blind. Very cool. The cherry on the sundae as far as the tee shot is concerned, is a group of three bunkers that lie at the end of the "right" fairway, 280 yards away from the back tee. The great thing about these bunkers is that if you try to carry the hill on the left and hit it far enough but too far right, you will find one of the three bunkers, making a par nearly impossible, and if you play the safer play from the tee to the right part of the fairway, these bunkers require the big hitter to hit less than driver and leave himself with a longer, and semi-blind, approach.
As for the green complex, it is one of the best on a course that ,collectively, has some of the best green complexes in the world. The green has a back to front tilt and sits in the saddle of a large hill. This makes the approach uphill and difficult, and also makes recovering from the left or right of the green extremely difficult. Hitting over the green is dead. Once on the green, both the notoriously fast Oakland Hills green speeds, as well as the tilt of the green, make putting a real challenge from anywhere other than below the hole. Although you can score a big number on this hole, it plays more like a par 4 1/2 in that a drive caught in the rough of the hill or in a fairway bunker, still leaves a chance at par, but more likely will lead to a bogey, whereas a well struck tee shot gives you a good chance at par, but not a great chance at birdie. Also, any errant approach will likely lead to a bogey as well. Truly a great golf hole, and among the most under-rated hole on this list, and in golf.
Next best: Augusta National, Merion (East), Shinnecock Hills, The Club at Black Rock, Pacific Dunes, St. Andrews (Old), Royal Troon
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Ballybunion
Hole #10 - Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, CA - 315 yards Par 4
The tenth hole at Riviera is remarkable for a number of reasons. First, it is perhaps the greatest short par 4 in the world, yet it is built on uninspiring land that exists, literally, at every course ever built. As a result, this hole could have been built anywhere, yet a hole of this nature does not exist anywhere else in the world. What makes this hole great is the number of options off of the tee. You can go for the green, lay up just short, lay up well short and to the right, lay up well short to the left. The best play is probably a 3-wood to the front left of the green, but if that shot is pushed to the right, or finds the bunker left, a par is going to be difficult to achieve. Another astonishing fact about this hole is that there is no out of bounds or water hazards to impact play, and yet the penalty for hitting your tee shot in the wrong place seems to be just as severe.
The hole itself plays a mere 315 yards and dead straight. However, based on the angle of the green and both the greenside and fairway bunkering, it does not look or feel like a straight hole. A massive cross bunker 170 yards off of the tee is the first thing you will notice about this hole, and this bunker plays a big role in the strategic merits of the hole. It is only about a 200 yard carry, but the bunker plays a big role psychologically and also gives some challenge to the short-right layup play. As the fairway snakes around, and to the left of this bunker, it meanders back to the right in front of another fairway bunker, offset to the left of the direct line of play to the hole, at the 250 yard mark. This second fairway bunker dictates play for both the short and long left layup options. Because of the tilt (to the back left) and angle (from front left to back right) of the green, the preferred angle to the green is from the left. In order to be in position "A", a shot of between 270 and 300 yards is necessary. If you can't thread the needle, you will have to carry your tee shot 270 yards to clear the left bunker, yet keep it less than 300 to avoid going through the fairway and beyond the green into thick rough. Any big layup will need to have a carry of 200 yards to get past the large cross bunker but stop short of 250 yards to stay out of the left bunker. The really short hitter can play short, or to the left of the cross bunker, leaving between 75 - 150 yards to the front of the green, or the big hitter can try to go for the green, which is open to the extreme front left about 285-300 yards from the tee. Of course, if you go for the green and miss short or right, you will be lucky to make par, let alone birdie.
As can be glossed from the technical style of this hole review, this hole abounds with options. More importantly, each of these options is challenged in its own way (hit it between here and here, rather than simply, hit it less than x). Plus, the angle for your approach becomes increasingly difficult for each shorter route chosen from the tee. So the decision to be more aggressive off of the tee is rewarded if you are able to execute the shot.
Next Best: Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills, Pine Valley, Bel-Air, Pasatiempo, Sebonack, Prairie Dunes, National Golf Links of America
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Winged Foot (West)
The hole itself plays a mere 315 yards and dead straight. However, based on the angle of the green and both the greenside and fairway bunkering, it does not look or feel like a straight hole. A massive cross bunker 170 yards off of the tee is the first thing you will notice about this hole, and this bunker plays a big role in the strategic merits of the hole. It is only about a 200 yard carry, but the bunker plays a big role psychologically and also gives some challenge to the short-right layup play. As the fairway snakes around, and to the left of this bunker, it meanders back to the right in front of another fairway bunker, offset to the left of the direct line of play to the hole, at the 250 yard mark. This second fairway bunker dictates play for both the short and long left layup options. Because of the tilt (to the back left) and angle (from front left to back right) of the green, the preferred angle to the green is from the left. In order to be in position "A", a shot of between 270 and 300 yards is necessary. If you can't thread the needle, you will have to carry your tee shot 270 yards to clear the left bunker, yet keep it less than 300 to avoid going through the fairway and beyond the green into thick rough. Any big layup will need to have a carry of 200 yards to get past the large cross bunker but stop short of 250 yards to stay out of the left bunker. The really short hitter can play short, or to the left of the cross bunker, leaving between 75 - 150 yards to the front of the green, or the big hitter can try to go for the green, which is open to the extreme front left about 285-300 yards from the tee. Of course, if you go for the green and miss short or right, you will be lucky to make par, let alone birdie.
As can be glossed from the technical style of this hole review, this hole abounds with options. More importantly, each of these options is challenged in its own way (hit it between here and here, rather than simply, hit it less than x). Plus, the angle for your approach becomes increasingly difficult for each shorter route chosen from the tee. So the decision to be more aggressive off of the tee is rewarded if you are able to execute the shot.
Next Best: Augusta National, Shinnecock Hills, Pine Valley, Bel-Air, Pasatiempo, Sebonack, Prairie Dunes, National Golf Links of America
Most likely to take its place, but have not yet played: Winged Foot (West)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)