Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Chris Buie on November 20, 2014, 12:57:38 PM
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I was looking for something else and stumbled across this photo:
(http://golfclubatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ccofb.jpg)
What a fascinating hole.
I think the photo is from JNagle.
Anyway, it made me wonder what other exceptional holes he might have out there.
I babbled on a while back about a couple of holes in the Pinehurst area which I thought were worthy of being pointed out.
12 at Mid Pines:
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,43112.0/ (http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,43112.0/)
8 on the original Pinehurst No. 3
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44652.0.html (http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44652.0.html)
The esteemed Ian Andrews wrote about the 4th of Seminole.
http://ianandrewsgolfdesignblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/4th-at-seminole.html (http://ianandrewsgolfdesignblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/4th-at-seminole.html)
Ran wrote a terrific piece on the 5th of No. 2.
http://golfclubatlas.com/the-best-of-golf-the-fifth-at-pinehurst-no-2/ (http://golfclubatlas.com/the-best-of-golf-the-fifth-at-pinehurst-no-2/)
Which ones do you think should be noted?
(And btw, apologies if a thread like this has been done before.)
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Buie, last things first. That image of #6 at Country Club of Buffalo is distorted. The green is not that small nor that distant. The hole is ungodly unique and quintessentially natural, so it is unforgettable and distinct.
This is a gargantuan task, mi amigo. With so many holes on so many courses, you're asking us to select Lope de Verga or Shakespeare's most distinctive verse.
You've come to the correct place.
I'm going to nominate the 11th at Teugega. It will come up in a few days on my current MPT (Montesano Photo Tour) of that esteemed club.
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I'll nominate 13 at Franklin Hills.
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/DETROIT/FRANKLIN%20HILLS%20CC/096.jpg) (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/DETROIT/FRANKLIN%20HILLS%20CC/096.jpg)
#2 at Grosse Ile is very good and a bit of a different take driving up to the flat (for the long hitters) - superb green with OOB directly to the rear.
Jeepers, the 10th at Grosse Ile is damn fine as well. The drive looks innocent enough down a fairway which appears to be flat...until one reaches an area approximately 175 yards from the green. The hole then dives through a valley then up to meet a plateau green somewhat stepped into a mildly rising hill. Again, the green is a stunner.
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/GROSSE%20ILE%20G%20and%20CC/070.jpg?t=128855405) (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/GROSSE%20ILE%20G%20and%20CC/070.jpg?t=128855405)
Playing uphill for its entire 330 yards (from the tips), the 4th at Mid Pines is reachable, but a high number is there for the ill-advised golfer. Many tee shots will roll to the extreme right side of the fairway leaving a heroic shot to anywhere on the green, although a back hole location as seen in the photo is especially dicey.
(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/Mid-Pines%20GC/007_zps010701d0.jpg?t=1383419336) (http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/seanrobertarble/Mid-Pines%20GC/007_zps010701d0.jpg?t=1383419336)
Ciao
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I'll go with the 3rd at Wannamoisett as the best hole--might actually be my favorite hole in golf
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Thanks Ronald. That hole looked like a pretty tough target!
I look forward to seeing the Teugega hole.
You're right it's a big question! Maybe it will be manageable if we focus on the truly exceptional instead of the very good? But anything people feel like pointing out is fine with me.
Terrific Sean. I hope the Franklin Hills one is a shorter hole otherwise it looks like playing it would be a Keystone Cops comedy routine.
Regarding the 10th at Grosse Ile, I love those hole that seem innocuous but then it slowly dawns on you that there is more going on than you thought.
Thanks Chris DeToro!
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Chris
The 13th at Franklin is a drive-wedge type hole...very difficult as only the right shot will do.
Ciao
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S,
Excellent choices. All holes are personal favorites of mine :). Will be at mid pines next week
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That picture of the 6th at CC of Buffalo is indeed a distinctive hole, but it might not even be the best par-3 on that course. The long par-3 8th, with a ridge 40 yards in front of the green, was a really cool find, too; in fact the 16th hole at CC-B would be the best par-3 on the vast majority of courses.
The 6th and 11th at Glens Falls CC would also make my list of Ross' most distinctive holes. Perhaps the 17th at Monroe, too.
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9 at Charles river and 4 Shennecossett get my vote. Both are fascinating volcano par 3's.
Mark
(http://i59.tinypic.com/9bhxzb.jpg)
(http://i57.tinypic.com/30ib6t0.jpg)
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Chris, It occurs to me that the #6 at CCBuffalo just photographs that way. I'm looking through images I have of the hole from the ridge to the left, to the right and from the tee, and they all make the green look "wafer thin." Fortunately for those playing it, it is not quite that gaunt. I always tell my golfers to play to the front with an 8 iron...usually a club they can manage.
Here are some images from the tour I did last year on GCA. The last image is from the 13th fairway, looking up at the rear of the green.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club6-1.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club6-2.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club6-3.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club6-4.jpg)
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I'd nominate No. 3, a par 4, at Linville Golf Club. Link below might get you to a picture of the hole. Long par 4, no bunkers, two steam crossings, severely sloping green. According to the club's website: "Greatest 100 Holes of Golf (Par 4 third hole) — Golfweek." https://www.google.com/search?q=linville+golf+club+no.+3&client=firefox-a&hs=9lu&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=nts&biw=1600&bih=773&tbm=isch&imgil=sNlFcTknTMKBTM%253A%253BdzLGtoTFCto-mM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.golf.com%25252Fphotos%25252F50-best-holes-us%25252Flinville-no-3&source=iu&pf=m&fir=sNlFcTknTMKBTM%253A%252CdzLGtoTFCto-mM%252C_&usg=__CyqBVDJwcY7U7p8g26is6XT_jUM%3D&ved=0CD4Qyjc&ei=eE1uVLjbHevZsAThjoCgBA#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=sNlFcTknTMKBTM%253A%3BdzLGtoTFCto-mM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.cdn.turner.com%252Fdr%252Fgolf%252Fwww%252Frelease%252Fsites%252Fdefault%252Ffiles%252Fimagecache%252Fnode-gallery-display%252Fgallery_images%252FLinville3_CourtesyofBetsyAustin.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.golf.com%252Fphotos%252F50-best-holes-us%252Flinville-no-3%3B690%3B500
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A par 3:
#11 at Essex...a great uphill par three of 175 with hazards on all sides but the front edge, and a wickedly sloping green. During the last Mass. Amateur there, several of the state's best agreed the play was to hit it short and chip up the hill every round!
A par 4:
#13 at Salem...a club-down tee shot to a fun valley fairway...then uphill to a mind-bending tabletop green with two tiers and 4-5 different sections to frustrate approach shots, almost all of which come with a wedge in hand!
A par 5:
#13 at Winchester...dual fairway off the tee, the right side is narrower but offers a nice view of the narrowing second shot, and the left is wider but more sloped, and leaves an awkward angle for the second. The third is a tight short iron to a small back-to-front green. Many of Ross's par fives have been neutered by longer-flying golf balls, and many of them take up less-interesting pieces of property.
How about some great Ross par 5s? Anyone? Buellar?
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#1 at Charles River, 1 at White Bear Y Club, 9 at Wannamoissette , 5 at Beverly all come to mind.
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It should be noted that Ross (or his minions) was arguably best known for building very good non-distinctive holes and stringing them together with smart routings. Distinctive holes are perhaps the exception rather than the rule. I'm working on a distinctive 18. So far all I have is the dual fairway 7th at Holston Hills.
Bogey
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11 at Oakland hills south
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#'s1 & 11 at Plainfield CC
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Not sure it's a "best" hole, but the Battleship hole at Bald Peak is certainly distinctive. Picture from an earlier thread that doesn't quite do it justice:
(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x42/nages04/bald-peak-12th.jpg)
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Par 3: the15th at Teugega
Par 5: the 13th at Oak Hill cc East (I do not believe that the hole has been changed markedly by those who followed Ross)
Par 4: #17 Teugega
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Going local here... Raleigh CC par threes number 3 and 17. Not overly long but can be really tough!
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Wannamoisett #3 gets my vote also. I love #6 at Holston.
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#2 at Franklin Hills and #16 at Barton Hills
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J Crisham,
I am surprised you picked the 1st hole at WBYC, I have always felt that the 12th hole at WBYC was way more unique, more then anythng I have seen on a Ross course. It takes three photos to prove my point, none of which I have in my possesion now.
Imagine with me a perched green site falling away at 3-4%. A landing area just short of the green allows you to land on the approach so that the ball dribbles onto the green pad. Very unusual approach and one that I wish I could use for inspiration somewhere on a new design.
My second vote would be the 14th green site at WBYC
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Bogey, consider the 9th green at Kahkwa. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the front punchbowlesque putting surface rare for a Ross course?
It should be noted that Ross (or his minions) was arguably best known for building very good non-distinctive holes and stringing them together with smart routings. Distinctive holes are perhaps the exception rather than the rule. I'm working on a distinctive 18. So far all I have is the dual fairway 7th at Holston Hills.
Bogey
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J Crisham,
I am surprised you picked the 1st hole at WBYC, I have always felt that the 12th hole at WBYC was way more unique, more then anythng I have seen on a Ross course. It takes three photos to prove my point, none of which I have in my possesion now.
Imagine with me a perched green site falling away at 3-4%. A landing area just short of the green allows you to land on the approach so that the ball dribbles onto the green pad. Very unusual approach and one that I wish I could use for inspiration somewhere on a new design.
My second vote would be the 14th green site at WBYC
Jim, I have no disagreement with your selections-at WBYC so many dandies to chose from. How about the 2nd hole? How cool is that one? May be the sportiest course Ross designed IMO - every hole is fun and somewhat unique.
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Mark,
I completely agree with your take on 4 at Shennecossett. A very good not-obvious choice.
I am going to nominate some another not-obvious ones:
17 at Sakonnet Golf Club (Little Compton, RI)
par 4 - 275 yards
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/913/hNBMnZ.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/540/vwGAQm.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/673/O7fFma.jpg)
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I failed to mention #16 at Teugega, in my zeal/zest to jump on #11.
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Andrew, that looks like a sweet, tempting par 4!!
MM
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Andrew, that looks like a sweet, tempting par 4!!
MM
It really is.
A. It's very difficult to judge the right distance for a layup off the tee. The tee shot entices you to hit too much club which would put you on the road.
B. The green is tiny and very severe.
One of my favorite short par 4s
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My nominations are mid-west centric:
Hyde Park #3 - if someone was murdered on this green, it would be as famous as the duel hole at SFGC.
(http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r685/j_tarble/WP_20141017_15_34_13_Pro_zps69a0bbb3.jpg?t=1416578604)
Hyde Park #4 - a short-ish par 4 to a green perched way in the air. It's as bold as it is difficult and as difficult as it is cool.
(http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r685/j_tarble/WP_20141017_15_42_04_Pro_zps1172518d.jpg?t=1416578607)
Hyde Park #7 - perhaps one of the Ross's best par 3s. A hilltop to hilltop par 3 with an incredibly interesting green.
(http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r685/j_tarble/WP_20141017_16_45_58_Pro_zpsb3cf934e.jpg?t=1416578598)
French Lick #16 - another par 3. This time a very short, heavily bunkered version. With an incredible green.
(http://www.golfclubatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/FLRoss16.jpg)
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5th at Plymouth
What I like:
Incredibly long dominant four
Tee shot played over small sandy valley out to crest of the hill...
2nd shot is quite downhill to a punchbowl green
All sorts of running options available, with multiple feeder slopes
But little valley short left will kill the flown approach
Similar holes: 6th and 11th at Glens Falls
The approach on the 5th at Plymouth CC
(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1621702_671188349594676_2040145739_n.jpg?oh=2c694efde4383cecb502e7cdd0ac41fd&oe=55164978)
A look from above for perspective
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t31.0-8/10549128_810312689015574_5056851214384199723_o.jpg)
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We're on the second page of a thread about DR's best or most distinctive holes, and no one has yet mentioned Brookside. I would argue that the par 3's, specifically #7, #12 and #14 are excellent and quite distinctive, particularly #7 with its distinctive channel that runs diagonally through the green and the short #14 with its infinity-like green.
I don't have decent photos, and I don't want to plagiarize those of others (Becker and Saltzman).
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Assist to Montesano...
That picture of the 6th at CC of Buffalo is indeed a distinctive hole, but it might not even be the best par-3 on that course. The long par-3 8th, with a ridge 40 yards in front of the green, was a really cool find, too;
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club8-1.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club8-2.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club8-3.jpg)
in fact the 16th hole at CC-B would be the best par-3 on the vast majority of courses.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club16-2.jpg)
The 6th
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/nelg/nelg6-1.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/nelg/nelg6-2.jpg)
and 11th at Glens Falls CC
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/nelg/nelg11-1.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/nelg/nelg11-2.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/nelg/nelg11-3.jpg)
would also make my list of Ross' most distinctive holes. Perhaps the 17th at Monroe, too.
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Bogey, consider the 9th green at Kahkwa. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the front punchbowlesque putting surface rare for a Ross course?
It should be noted that Ross (or his minions) was arguably best known for building very good non-distinctive holes and stringing them together with smart routings. Distinctive holes are perhaps the exception rather than the rule. I'm working on a distinctive 18. So far all I have is the dual fairway 7th at Holston Hills.
Bogey
Jason, I'd welcome a photo of the hole you mention. The 7th at Mountain Ridge and 15th at Teugega are twin short uphill par threes to true punchbowl greens where the sides are steep and only the center is pinnable.
The Battleship hole at Bald Peak posted by Carl is also a dead ringer for the 4th at Memphis CC.
I've also thought that the 16th at French Lick's Hill Course resembled a prototypical Raynor Short sans the thumbprint (though I recall there's a small depression at the front of the green - perhaps only for drainage) - it evokes the 7th at Teugega as well.
Overall I think your comment has merit as we delve further into Ross' portfolio. Seems he indeed had a bag of quirk he resorted to on occasion.
JT, good call on the 4th at Hyde Park. I have it among my 18, though I hate to bump the quarry hole at LuLu.
Bogey
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10th at Highlands GC (NC). 11th and 12th at Athens CC (GA).
Bob
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Being rather late to the party I thoroughly agree with 4 and 12 at Mid Pines. Number 5 at Pinehurst #2 is a truly great par 4.
Are any of these holes mentioned par 5s? I have played a fair number of Ross courses and can't remember any of the par 5s as being exceptional.
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Jay,
In my rather limited Ross experience, his work overall seems to trend to very solid rather than distinct/exceptional. I think Bogey's earlier quote sums it up the best
It should be noted that Ross (or his minions) was arguably best known for building very good non-distinctive holes and stringing them together with smart routings.
Beverly CC has several very, very good par 5s (#2, #7) and I personally love Broadmoor's 17th. However, I would call those very good to great holes if somewhat un-memorable.
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Josh and Mike,
Every once and a while, you get that "Ross designed this?" hole, which may be the best thing about him.
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I'll nominate 13 at Franklin Hills.
One of the finest short par 4s on the planet.
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I've posted the 11th at Teugega on the other thread: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59927.msg1416237.html#msg1416237
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Cedar Rapids 14th. This green would never allowed to be built today. This is situated on top of an Indian burial mound. The hole is a 340 yard par 4.
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/rsfpar/cedar%20rapids%20cc/035_zps3c7a0fdd.jpg) (http://s37.photobucket.com/user/rsfpar/media/cedar%20rapids%20cc/035_zps3c7a0fdd.jpg.html)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/rsfpar/cedar%20rapids%20cc/034-1_zps905ed6fb.jpg) (http://s37.photobucket.com/user/rsfpar/media/cedar%20rapids%20cc/034-1_zps905ed6fb.jpg.html)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e69/rsfpar/cedar%20rapids%20cc/031-1_zps1ea21885.jpg) (http://s37.photobucket.com/user/rsfpar/media/cedar%20rapids%20cc/031-1_zps1ea21885.jpg.html)
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Josh, it looks like I've played the "wrong" Hyde Park by Ross.
Just to keep it real, I'll throw in the 7th at Mimosa Hills. Actually I'll just mail it in by copy-pasting a post made a while back:
The task off the tee is to surmount the ridge shown in the picture below. From the back tee, the ridge line is roughly 250 yards out, maybe a little farther. Ideally, the drive comes to rest somewhere around the right-third of the fairway. This offers a better angle into the green. But this ridge cants to right. Under firm and fast summertime conditions, a drive high up the ridge to the left still may hang up, complicating matters enormously. But a little too far to the right quickly becomes a lot too far to the right.
7 tee
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/MSBIII/Mimosa%20Hills%20CC/L1080131.jpg)
The ridge seen from the tee hides a second, lower ridge put to brilliant use by Ross. Together, the first and second ridges form a sideways "half-pipe." In a match between golfers of unequal length, this pipe compresses the distance between their drives: the first ridge provides a turbo boost, the second a turbo brake.
A golfer who nails his tee shot is likely to face a second shot of similar length as the golfer who slightly misses his or who is not quite as long off the tee. The technology proofing is provided by the second ridge, which requires the energy of something like a 315-plus yard drive, which under firm-and-fast conditions may not be as daunting as appears but nevertheless is not within the capabilities of 99 percent of golfers. Not sure I'd want a design to do this for many holes, but it is nice to see at least one hole that puts golfers on relatively equal footing to test (a) their woods / long irons and (b) their nerve.
7 fairway, showing the second, turbo-brake ridge
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/MSBIII/Mimosa%20Hills%20CC/L1080132.jpg)
Time for a decision. Does the golfer go for the green, which like Prairie Dunes's 5th is benched into a hillside with a ruinous false front? From the base of the second ridge, the shot is something like 210 yards.
Why not have a go? Because a third ridge, its top lopped off to present a left-to-right sloping plateau, will propel sharply to the right any shots hit short of the green. Lurking to the right is out of bounds -- with a paved cart path ready to supply the final indignity of shooing a dying shot beyond the white stakes.
This slope has an amazing and very demoralizing efficiency at transferring the ball's kinetic energy into, well, a bush.
Another, closer look at the approach to 7: note from left to right the slope directly in front of green (the "tan line" follows the slope), the cart path, the OB stakes, the bushes
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/MSBIII/Mimosa%20Hills%20CC/L1080134.jpg)
So the play is to hit some sort of draw into the slope. Two complications arise: first, the ball lies beneath the golfer's feet, and, second, over-executing this shot produces a highly-challenging, downhill pitch (or bunker shot) to a green running away from the golfer.
Laying up however offers little respite. From this plateau in front of the green, the golfer must either pitch all the way to the green or chip all the way up; any shots failing the green may well return past his feet owing to the sharp false front plus aforementioned third ridge. (When this happens the members say they've been "Rossed.")
A hole front left as shown in the picture below is very difficult.
7 green: the third ridge runs from 5 to 40 yards short of the green and sharply from left to right
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/MSBIII/Mimosa%20Hills%20CC/L1080136.jpg)
And there you have it. A 493-yard par 5 that under firm-and-fast conditions pretty much will guarantee a legitimate chance to go in two; the half-pipe pretty much ensures, under virtually all conditions and from most tees, that shot will be somewhere between 205-225 yards. The golfer who chooses to go for it must propel the ball all the way, playing up to the left if he needs use of the ground at all, risking bunkers left and right and a steep drop off long if he tries the all-carry route.
4s to 7s all on offer. Box of chocolates hole.
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Distinctive:
East Lake #6.....0ne of, if not, the first island green par 3's
East Lake #18.....rare par 3 finishing hole...really par 3 1/2 for most
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D
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Chris, It occurs to me that the #6 at CCBuffalo just photographs that way. I'm looking through images I have of the hole from the ridge to the left, to the right and from the tee, and they all make the green look "wafer thin." Fortunately for those playing it, it is not quite that gaunt. I always tell my golfers to play to the front with an 8 iron...usually a club they can manage.
Here are some images from the tour I did last year on GCA. The last image is from the 13th fairway, looking up at the rear of the green.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club6-1.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club6-2.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club6-3.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/buffalogolfer/club/club6-4.jpg)
It's been probably 10+ years since I played CCB. I remember thinking it was a good course but not great. That par three was definitely the highlight. Standing on the tee it's kind of like green is suspended in the air. Your pictures are great but I don't think they compare to seeing it in person. It's much more dramatic.
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Rob, two things happened since you played it. The storm of 2008 razed 500+ trees on the property, revealing the original vistas of the quarry land that had been shrouded by timber over time. Buoyed by this revelation, the membership retained the firm of Ron Forse to return the course to its origins. I suspect that you'd see it differently today.
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Rob, two things happened since you played it. The storm of 2008 razed 500+ trees on the property, revealing the original vistas of the quarry land that had been shrouded by timber over time. Buoyed by this revelation, the membership retained the firm of Ron Forse to return the course to its origins. I suspect that you'd see it differently today.
You're probably right. Great old clubhouse too.
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Jay,
In my rather limited Ross experience, his work overall seems to trend to very solid rather than distinct/exceptional. I think Bogey's earlier quote sums it up the best
It should be noted that Ross (or his minions) was arguably best known for building very good non-distinctive holes and stringing them together with smart routings.
Beverly CC has several very, very good par 5s (#2, #7) and I personally love Broadmoor's 17th. However, I would call those very good to great holes if somewhat un-memorable.
Josh, The set of par 5's at Beverly are collectively considered the best in Chicago . #2 and #7 are quite memorable for a few reasons. The east/west ridge line that bisects the front nine was used by Ross to affect the play of 6 holes on the front nine. The 2nd hole is the highest natural point in Chicago . The very significant drop to the fairway is pretty unusual for Chicago as most of the topography is flattish. In fact the ridge line was the border of Lake Michigan prior to the ice ages. #2 is generally the easiest par 5 unless the pin is tucked back right. #7 may be the best hole on the course and possibly the best par 5 in Chicago IMO . The tee shot most be long and straight to both carry the ridge line and allow a shot to carry the cross bunkers 100 yds from the green. The fairway narrows due to the sentinel oak trees as you progress the length of the hole. This green also is well bunkered and has some intense internal contours . As far as memorability ranking goes, the feedback I get from guests is #7,#11,#18,then #2. I believe the strength and memorability of the par 5's at Beverly are the reason it is ranked consistently in the GW classic top 100 list.
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I'm surprised to hear your feedback rankings actually. #7 of course is fantastic. It is surely one of the boldest par 5s Ross has done. I love the drive, which seems like you're hitting into a wall and as you said, the cross bunkers really make the second interesting.
In my opinion #2 is the second best, mainly based on the tee ball and that green! I'm sure #11 is memorable because of the length. But overall they are an excellent and varied set of 5s. They would be great to play everyday.
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Does the uphill 17th at Essex County Club count? The green has been changed as far as I understand, but still very distinctive.