[NAF]

I had the fortune of visiting SFGC recently and one of the things I liked about the course was the start.  The first hole is a gentle par 5 where it is almost impossible to miss the fairway, it must be 70 yards wide.  After this start, you are then faced with a big challenge at #2 as the fairway slopes obliquely right to left and is cut into a valley.  A miss of this fairway is death. I know,I missed it.  I liked this sort of intro, let you slide at the start but really challenge you with the second hole.  The routing of Tillie made this possible but I can't remember playing a course where I had such a gentle start and such a good challenge immediately following it.

[Peter_Herreid]

Wasn't this a fairly standard George Thomas approach, wide (often) downhill opener followed by a stern par-4, like a slap back to reality.  Stanford GC and Riviera, off the top of my head, would seem to begin like this.  

[tmb]

The first hole at Sugarbush in Waren, Vt has a short, dogleg right par 4. Fairway is wide and the choices range from an iron to a fairway wood off the. The second hole is a long,downhill par five. It's a blind tee shot to a narrow dogleg to the right. Miss the fairway and eight looks like a good score. Incidentally, this is a Robert Trent Jones course. It has some interesting holes. It's a challenging mountain course with a lot of lies that one does not encounter everyday.

[RT (Guest)]

NAF,

What about West Sussex's start?

RT

[John Foley]

Noel, how about Pinehurst #2? First hole is pretty benign, but the second hole really is much, much tougher (especially missing the fw on the right).

[NAF]

RT,

What made #2 at SFGC special was the orientation of the fairway and how hard it is to place it in the correct spot especially after you just had a free run at the first hole.. While #2 at WS is a tough hole with plenty of fairway movement it doesnt have that diagonal feel.

John-Understand your point, #2 is a toughie but the fairway doesnt slope obliquely and is still relatively wide although smaller than #1.  Of course your point on difficulty is spot on.

[mike_malone]

Peter Herreid
   Whitemarsh Valley,a Thomas,starts with downhill staightforward par 4 then has difficult par 4.This seems to agree with your assessment.
   tmb
   I used to play Sugarbush in the early 80's.I think they may  have switched the nines.Your description of #2 sounds like the#11 i recall.Are there  rocks at the right side of the dogleg?

[Bob_Huntley]

NAF.

I am not sure what the par is at Riviera's second hole, but it was a par 5 for members when I played there.

[NAF]

Bob,

I think we may be confused here..I was referring to #2 at Pinehurst #2..I havent seen Rivieria so can't comment..I guess the point I was trying to drive home is an oblique narrow fairway following a wide open starting hole is quite unique.. (is that a dangling participle?)

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