Topics seem to have drifted a bit from the philosophical that I enjoy here, althought kudos to Tommy for the Art of the bunker thread.....
I had one of those golfer/architect discussions the other day that I thought I would share. At a remodel project, a local player asks if we can/should remove some more trees, and we go around the course. ( For the record, tree mitigation ordinances here are steep, meaning I am not inclined to use any more budget than necessary removing trees needlessly.)
AT a long par 3, with reverse redan characteristics, he thinks a tree midway down and the right side of the hole prevents him from hitting his normal hook, and he his not sure the redan bank will be enough to keep him on the greens with his hook. (No, this question did not come from Bill V. ie, Redanman, but it well could have! Also, I haven't actually seen it, but I suppose from his description it is not always a gentle hook, but rather, the runnin' beauty big dog hook, so prevalent here in Texas)
Is requiring a particular shot pattern simply uncomfortable to a player, or is it unfair?
Later, on a short par 4, There is a lake left on a cape style hole. There is a stubby tree - easily cleared with the required short iron - on the right front of a 70 yards long green, placed in valley, which allows for richochet shots from either direction. The player says, "With the lake left, you have told me prime position is the right side. And yet, from there, I have to come over the small tree when the pin is right, especially, which I can do, but its uncomfortable, and I have just hit the perfect tee shot, and I can't go directly for that pin."
The discussion of the dilemma or option we try to create by rewarding a risky shot by the pond falls on somewhat deaf ears. We in fact do not want to reward timid play away from hazards, and in fact, did allow options from the right by creating the kick in banks.
Is it merely uncomfortable that he must play over the tree from the safe fairway position, or unfair? Similarly, uncomfortable or unfair not to hit right at the pin w/o inventing a shot from that portion of the fairway?
On another project, the design potentially includes a lake, which require aiming out over water to let the wind bring the ball back to the fairway - not in the prevailing wind, but an off season wind. (Shades of the Road Hole) Is this an acceptable design feature, if we can make the fairway wide enough to accomodate a shot, or should the lake be stricken from the design?
Is the occaisonal tee shot starting over a penalty hazard like OB or water merely uncomfortable, or is it unfair?
Here are some other design concepts I have heard argued either way. Are these merely uncomfortable, or blatantly unfair?
A greenside bunker shot with water on the other side?
Lay up tee shots on long par 4s and reachable par 5's?
Downhill lies for long iron shots, especially to uphill greens?
Tees aligning other than straight down the fairway?
Short putts that require aim outside the hole?
Bunkers that require playing out backwards from some positions?
Reverse slope greens on long iron shots?
Carry hazards, if they are out of my range?
Sorry to overdo the post, so feel free to comment on one, all, or any number in between.
