Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Patrick_Mucci on September 18, 2012, 06:23:00 PM
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Sebonack, NGLA, GCGC, Westchester and a number of courses have scorecards that could lead the golfer to believe that the opening hole is a piece of cake due to it's length.
Some of these holes are drivable.
Yet, they've ruined many a round.
While the opening greens at GCGC and Westchester don't compare, in contour and difficulty, to the opening greens at Sebonack and NGLA, the holes still present an interesting challenge.
What other courses have short opening par 4's that can extract their scoring toll on the unwary or overconfident golfer ?
What courses built in the last 30 years have short, dicey opening par 4's ?
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Old Mac #1 would fit the mold.
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Old Mac #1 would fit the mold.
Alex,
How could we forget # 1 at Essex County East ?
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Cabot Links.
Shooting Star (dicey-ness depends on pin position, though).
Wine Valley.
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Ballyhack- short, dicey and delicious.
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Ballyhack- short, dicey and delicious.
Isn't that quite the opening combo platter!
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The first hole at Merion GC would certainly qualify IMO and alot of the difficulty of that hole has nothing to do with the architecture and more to do with where the tee box is located...
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Victoria GC would definitely qualify. I haven't played it but if recall correctly, there were several eagles and more than a few double bogies at last years' Aussie Masters
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The 'Hilton Hole', the opener at Apawamis. Get above the green there and good luck.
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First hole at the Country Club of Farmington (CT) is a 285 yard darling. Uphill, slightly right, with peril all around, but it's drivable. Fantastic hole.
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Old Mac #1 would fit the mold.
Alex,
How could we forget # 1 at Essex County East ?
True, however that hole is not in the same league as the others. If you get behind the trees left it's a tough par but otherwise a fairly simple opening hole.
I'd say Royal Dornoch 1 is a better example.
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Minnikahda fits the bill nicely
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One of the most criticized holes on GCA fits this mold; the first at Ocean Forest at Sea Island. A 3 wood or hybrid off the tea, then a dicey wedge to a green protected on the front by a pond (and a fairly severe shallow green). I like it, though the precision of the approach doesn't really fit my game for so early in the round.
Jamey
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First hole at the Country Club of Farmington (CT) is a 285 yard darling. Uphill, slightly right, with peril all around, but it's drivable. Fantastic hole.
Great example where just about any number between 2 and 6 can find it's way onto the scorecard. Quite a bit harder with a front pin.
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Friar's Head. Since there are no yardages, Google Earth has told me it's roughly 350 or so from the back tee.
The fw is 55+ yards wide at it's peak, but trying to judge a short iron to a putting surface that's elevated and out of view doesn't make for an easy approach. The last thing you want is to walk up to the green and find yourself having to putt back downhill. It's not an easy shot.
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I agree Pat that few courses built recently have this in evidence.
So many great examples of Golden Age courses, especially here in the Northeast.
Myopia, Woodland, Brae Burn, Oakley, Wellesley (at least in the old clubhouse configuration) are all great examples just here in Boston.
As for the last 30 years, I'm currently at a loss as for courses I've played. Crooked Stick is short-ish, but that is far from a great hole, and is probably 375 from the tips. Nor is it from the last 30 years.
I'd say Wolf Run has a very good shortish opener, but it's probably 390.
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Royal Melbourne East
Royal Melbourne Composite (#3 West)
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How about the GCA approved Westhampton Country Club? 1st hole is 340 with with water hazard roughly 50 yards short. Ideal tee ball is 200 depending on the wind into a small double tiered green. The best utility wood/wedge opener I can think of!
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Friar's Head. Since there are no yardages, Google Earth has told me it's roughly 350 or so from the back tee.
Jonathan,
The 1st at Friars Head is no short hole.
The steeply uphill nature of the approach adds to the linear yardage.
Ain't nobody driving that green.
The fw is 55+ yards wide at it's peak, but trying to judge a short iron to a putting surface that's elevated and out of view doesn't make for an easy approach. The last thing you want is to walk up to the green and find yourself having to putt back downhill. It's not an easy shot.
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How about the GCA approved Westhampton Country Club? 1st hole is 340 with with water hazard roughly 50 yards short. Ideal tee ball is 200 depending on the wind into a small double tiered green. The best utility wood/wedge opener I can think of!
Tim,
How could I have forgotten the 1st at Westhampton, a fabulous short hole with X written all over it.
It's certainly got that "dicey" quality about it.
Good call.
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Brad Tufts,
It certainly seems to be a "Golden Age" feature that became lost in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's.
# 1 at Sebonack can probably be driven in the right wind by just reasonably long hitters, but, because the wind is rarely at your back and mostly in your face or crossing, the hole can ruin your day right out of the box.
The combination of fairway slope, bunkering, dogleg, green surrounds and green make for a diabolical little hole.
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I witnessed Shooter tee off with a 3-wood over our first at Wolf Point and make a 5.
I've made many birdies and bogeys.
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St Andrews, especially for the non-professional who may not be accustomed to the tight lie or after affects of last nights whiskey and kummel!
Seriously though holes don't get much easier/simpler than that, but a hazard just short of the first on a links course is a devilish start, while it should be simple, it will give most golfers pause.
I bet there are tons of 6s there.
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How about the short opener at Fenway. It may be an easy hole for most, but could also offer a big number if misplayed with the green contouring.
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Whispering Pines opener is a short par 4 with a big left turn. There is sand all down the left and a very low key green site that can be a bear.
Dallas National has a short opener with plenty of room off the tee but the trouble is on the green, it's a large green with lots of internal movement.
The first at Dismal River plays short with the big hill that propels your ball.
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Joey,
It's certainly a short hole, but I wouldn't call it "dicey"
It certainly lulls you to sleep with regard to the next 17 holes.
LJ drove it regularly.
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For the LA Open, either tee you started on at
Riviera made you feel that you needed birdie to get off to a start.
Obviously 1 as a par five may not fit this OP, but for such an
easy hole, the "need" for birdie added to the tightness I felt.
Starting on 10 was a nightmare. Such an important tee shot, first of
the day. Still makes my a$$ pucker thinking about it!
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Carne comes to mind for a newer course. I might also put Lederach in that category - not super short, but quite dicey. Perhaps the diciest of all is from our own Adrian Stiff with his short par 3 opener at Players Stranahan. An opening wedge shot with water front and back - gulp. Definitely short and dicey.
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/PLAYERS%20CLUB%20Stranahan%20Course/001.jpg?t=1310334323)
Ciao
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Isn't there more danger when the short hole comes early but not first up? I suspect many (most?) golfers might resist temptation on a first hole whereas they might take it on a hole or two later. Scott MacPherson's Colt course at Close House has a moderate length opener (380 yds) which has trouble on both sides and a treacherous green. However, he follows it with short par 4s at the 2nd and 3rd (one playing uphill, the other, at just over 300 yards and likely downwind almost crying out to be driven) both of which are quite capable of generating a big score with very tricky green sites.
Since others have mentioned older courses, despite Patrick restricting his OP to courses built in he last thirty yers, Royal Porthcawl's opener is a great example.
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Given Pat's condition of a hole built in the lat 30 years, I'd nominate Castle Stuart. From the normal tees it is 330-360, and driveable by the better player. I saw this done the first time I played the course, with a pro, who hit it to 6 feet and sank his putt for a 4.
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Given Pat's condition of a hole built in the lat 30 years, I'd nominate Castle Stuart. From the normal tees it is 330-360, and driveable by the better player. I saw this done the first time I played the course, with a pro, who hit it to 6 feet and sank his putt for a 4.
As they saying goes, you drive for show and putt for dough.
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Has the shift in emphasis in the modern game from match to medal play been responsible for the paucity in short, dicey opening holes ?
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Has the shift in emphasis in the modern game from match to medal play been responsible for the paucity in short, dicey opening holes ?
No, Pat
Why would it be so, even if your idea of a shift in emphasis is true, which I do not think so?
Rich
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Has the shift in emphasis in the modern game from match to medal play been responsible for the paucity in short, dicey opening holes ?
Echoing Rich, I'm not sure there has been such a shift, particularly at club level. However, if we assume your premise is correct, wouldn't that encourage the sort of hole we're talking about? A hole where a player might be tempted by the opportunity of an opening birdie but, in over-reaching, suffer bogey or worse?
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Rich,
It could be so because at medal play noone wanted to see a round ruined on the first hole because it was dicey and prone to producing high scores.
Especially with the concurrent influence of TV where the ideal finish was a crescendo ending at a difficult 18th.
If the leader/s tripled the first, all the air would be out of the balloon.
If you don't think there was a shift in emphasis from match to medal play in the last 60 years when TV was coming into it's own, you're out of touch with reality.
Mark,
See the above response to Rich regarding triples and TV on first holes
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How about the GCA approved Westhampton Country Club? 1st hole is 340 with with water hazard roughly 50 yards short. Ideal tee ball is 200 depending on the wind into a small double tiered green. The best utility wood/wedge opener I can think of!
Tim,
How could I have forgotten the 1st at Westhampton, a fabulous short hole with X written all over it.
It's certainly got that "dicey" quality about it.
Good call.
It's amazing how the moat in front of the green expands from 5 yards in depth to 30 yards when you push your tee shot into the fairway bunker. Catch the ball a touch fat, and you're taking a drop. Catch it a bit thin and you're dead. In hindsight, glad I opted for drop over dead my last time there.
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Has the shift in emphasis in the modern game from match to medal play been responsible for the paucity in short, dicey opening holes ?
Echoing Rich, I'm not sure there has been such a shift, particularly at club level.
Mark,
I can't speak to the UK, but, in the U.S. the golfer is required to post every score for handicap purposes.
Hence medal play is the overriding method of play, even at the local level, and even when golfers are competing in a match.
However, if we assume your premise is correct, wouldn't that encourage the sort of hole we're talking about? A hole where a player might be tempted by the opportunity of an opening birdie but, in over-reaching, suffer bogey or worse?
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Ballyhack- short, dicey and delicious.
Isn't that quite the opening combo platter!
My hard-won bogey won the first in a four ball match at Ballyhack. Never give up!
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In the UK only competitive medal rounds count for handicapping purposes, so the vast majority of social golf is matchplay. But doesn't the lure of a possible birdie still make these holes attractive starters in strokeplay, asking the golfer to decide whether to gamble straight off the first tee?
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In the UK only competitive medal rounds count for handicapping purposes, so the vast majority of social golf is matchplay.
But doesn't the lure of a possible birdie still make these holes attractive starters in strokeplay, asking the golfer to decide whether to gamble straight off the first tee?
Sure, but at what risk ?
The "short" opening par 4 appeals to the golfer's ego.
Thoughts of birdie are prevalent, despite the golfer not yet being into the round.
On the other hand, there are always first tee jitters.
The "dicey" element says "danger Will Robinson"
Some short opening holes present the "dicey" nature off the tee, like Prestwick and GCGC, whereas others like Sebonack and NGLA have equal or greater "diciness" at the green end.
"Birdie" isn't my primary thought when I step on the first tee at Sebonack or NGLA.
My main thought, other than where to hit my drive, is to walk to the second tee at no more than par.
I don't want to start my round with a double or worse, and those scores are easy to come by on those holes, which are barely 300 yards,
Westhampton is another hole where birdie is possible, but so is a triple, although, with a good tee shot, I think that Westhampton offers a better birdie opportunity.
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Wanumetonomy gets you off and running with a 318 yd 1st and a 313 yd 2nd. Both pack their punch on and around the greens.
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Friar's Head. Since there are no yardages, Google Earth has told me it's roughly 350 or so from the back tee.
Jonathan,
The 1st at Friars Head is no short hole.
The steeply uphill nature of the approach adds to the linear yardage.
Ain't nobody driving that green.
The fw is 55+ yards wide at it's peak, but trying to judge a short iron to a putting surface that's elevated and out of view doesn't make for an easy approach. The last thing you want is to walk up to the green and find yourself having to putt back downhill. It's not an easy shot.
Patrick, Ok , I'll give you that the first at FH isn't driveable. But you did say, "some" of these holes are driveable. :)
I can't currently think of another short/driveable opening hole built in the last 30 years that hasn't already been mentioned that I've played, but I can say that the opening hole at Philadelphia CC is a short and dicey opening hole. 325 from the back tee with a green that has a large ridge running through it and the player has to contend with the eight bunkers that are along the route to the putting surface. A few of those bunkers aren't in play too much, but the three that reside on the inside of the hole are definitely in play. The last shot a player wants is to hit a 20-30 yard bunker shot for the second swing of the day.
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Its been quite a few years since I have played it and i don't know if longer tees have since been built. But I recall #1 at Old Marsh being a short, dicey hole
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I nominate Secession, especially at high tide.
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A good and relatively recent example is the first at WeKoPa (Cholla).
The hole measures no more than 350 from the tips and the tee is elevated. It's also not nearly that long on a direct line from the tee to the green. Thus it's theoretically quite driveable. However, I doubt anyone tries much.
The hole is a sever dogleg. you play off the hill down to a fairway that sits on the other side of a large waste area. It's cape-like in that you can kind of choose to just play a little iron, or a hybrid or fairway wood, with ever increasing degrees of carry and risk, though shortening the approach.
To play directly at the green, you would actually be playing blind, to the best of my memory. At the far left side of the waste area it turns to desert and mesquite and cholla trees block the view. Nonetheless, from the tee a driver hit on a good line over those trees could reach the green or find the fairway just short of it. Missing with that shot could obviously lead to a major penalty, however.
As it is mostly played, an enjoyable little pitch and putt start. But theoretically it could really be an interesting hole.
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In Hawaii, Kapalua Plantation and Princeville Prince course are two interesting starters. The Prince, espeically can get in your melon.
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The first hole at Streamsong (Blue) will be another for this category. +/- 340 yards from an elevated tee, so it's possible to go for it, but there is a lot of trouble to either side if you go that route. Wide fairway for those who play safely, although the closer you hug the left side, the better chance you have of seeing the flag for your second shot. Bail right, and the second shot is mostly blind.
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I think that the first hole at Traig could be considered dicey, though it is but a 130 yard par three. The trouble is that the green is seventy feet above the tee. Most first time players take too much club and then have to dunk it out from the rough behind the green.
I do believe Traig is one of the most delightful small courses in Scotland.
http://www.traighgolf.co.uk/
Bob
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1st hole at Beverly is short and simple but if you push the ball off the back of the green you're screwed.
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Minnikahda fits the bill nicely
got to disagree on this one.. (I know we dont see eye to eye on this course.)
Once I figured out that the best way to play the hole is just to hit a 3-wood (driver for some) and try to dump it into the greenside bunker (about 260 to the front edge) for a not that tough up and down for most pins.. I can't put my finger on it but that holes is just missing something.
I actually like #5 at Minikahda much better. The hole is a driveable but requires you to work the ball a bit and it is more penal if you miss.
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Rich,
It could be so because at medal play noone wanted to see a round ruined on the first hole because it was dicey and prone to producing high scores.
Especially with the concurrent influence of TV where the ideal finish was a crescendo ending at a difficult 18th.
If the leader/s tripled the first, all the air would be out of the balloon.
If you don't think there was a shift in emphasis from match to medal play in the last 60 years when TV was coming into it's own, you're out of touch with reality.
Mark,
See the above response to Rich regarding triples and TV on first holes
Pat
I don't think that the issue is having a round "ruined," but rather the issue of placing pressure on the very good golfer from the gitgo. In the anecdote I used (Castle Stuart), it was obvious that the very good player I was playing with could drive the green, but also hit it into the gunge on the left (or the sea on the right --unlikely for a very good player). As the anecdote said, he did both. But we were just playing for fun. If it had been tournament conditions from those tees I have no doubt that he would have hit a long iron or rescue club to the prefered distance for his scoring wedge and gotten either a par or birdie. That he got a par on the day through drive, reload, drive, putt show that there is a chance for the bold and good player to score 2 on the hole. Same, I'm sure for #1 at NGLA.
As a corrollary, I was up in Dornoch this year concurrent with the Scottish Amateur match play championship and watched many players (95% scratch and below) tee off from the 1st (very driveable hole for good players (330)), virtualy all of whom took a rescue club or iron, bascially to take the 5 out of play rather than go for the 2 or tap-in 3. This was proper risk management (even if boring) which proves that your theory that medal play is to blame for all the ills in golf does not hold water. :)
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Rich,
It could be so because at medal play noone wanted to see a round ruined on the first hole because it was dicey and prone to producing high scores.
Especially with the concurrent influence of TV where the ideal finish was a crescendo ending at a difficult 18th.
If the leader/s tripled the first, all the air would be out of the balloon.
If you don't think there was a shift in emphasis from match to medal play in the last 60 years when TV was coming into it's own, you're out of touch with reality.
Mark,
See the above response to Rich regarding triples and TV on first holes
Pat
I don't think that the issue is having a round "ruined," but rather the issue of placing pressure on the very good golfer from the gitgo. In the anecdote I used (Castle Stuart), it was obvious that the very good player I was playing with could drive the green, but also hit it into the gunge on the left (or the sea on the right --unlikely for a very good player). As the anecdote said, he did both. But we were just playing for fun. If it had been tournament conditions from those tees I have no doubt that he would have hit a long iron or rescue club to the prefered distance for his scoring wedge and gotten either a par or birdie. That he got a par on the day through drive, reload, drive, putt show that there is a chance for the bold and good player to score 2 on the hole. Same, I'm sure for #1 at NGLA.
At # 2 perhaps, but not on # 1
As a corrollary, I was up in Dornoch this year concurrent with the Scottish Amateur match play championship and watched many players (95% scratch and below) tee off from the 1st (very driveable hole for good players (330)), virtualy all of whom took a rescue club or iron, bascially to take the 5 out of play rather than go for the 2 or tap-in 3.
Why ? Because of medal play !
This was proper risk management (even if boring) which proves that your theory that medal play is to blame for all the ills in golf does not hold water. :)
Not all ills, just a few significant ones ;D
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Rich,
It could be so because at medal play noone wanted to see a round ruined on the first hole because it was dicey and prone to producing high scores.
Especially with the concurrent influence of TV where the ideal finish was a crescendo ending at a difficult 18th.
If the leader/s tripled the first, all the air would be out of the balloon.
If you don't think there was a shift in emphasis from match to medal play in the last 60 years when TV was coming into it's own, you're out of touch with reality.
Mark,
See the above response to Rich regarding triples and TV on first holes
Pat
I don't think that the issue is having a round "ruined," but rather the issue of placing pressure on the very good golfer from the gitgo. In the anecdote I used (Castle Stuart), it was obvious that the very good player I was playing with could drive the green, but also hit it into the gunge on the left (or the sea on the right --unlikely for a very good player). As the anecdote said, he did both. But we were just playing for fun. If it had been tournament conditions from those tees I have no doubt that he would have hit a long iron or rescue club to the prefered distance for his scoring wedge and gotten either a par or birdie. That he got a par on the day through drive, reload, drive, putt show that there is a chance for the bold and good player to score 2 on the hole. Same, I'm sure for #1 at NGLA.
At # 2 perhaps, but not on # 1
As a corrollary, I was up in Dornoch this year concurrent with the Scottish Amateur match play championship and watched many players (95% scratch and below) tee off from the 1st (very driveable hole for good players (330)), virtualy all of whom took a rescue club or iron, bascially to take the 5 out of play rather than go for the 2 or tap-in 3.
Why ? Because of medal play !
This was proper risk management (even if boring) which proves that your theory that medal play is to blame for all the ills in golf does not hold water. :)
Not all ills, just a few significant ones ;D
Pat
As I stated clearly above, it was the Scottish MATCH PLAY Championship that I observed in Dornoch. ::)
Slainte
Rich