Architectural Abnormality!

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

In the latest sign that the apocalypse is upon us, I played Wicked Stick in Myrtle Beach a few days ago on a trip with a large group of customer/vendors.  And no I did not have any input on the course selection thank you very much.

About the only chuckle that I got while surviving the 19degree windchill and the atrocious golf experience was when I arrived at the 14th tee box to see something I have (thankfully) never seen before.  Aparently they have had trouble with people cutting the corner on this hole so they have planted a farily large tree (oak I believe) right in the front right of the elevated tee box.  That is correct, here you have these series of tee box pods strung along the side of a lake and the second one from the back now has a large tree coming right out of the flat manicured top of the tee box.  This now means that the entire right side of this tee box can never be used for teeing, and I guess it does accomplish its goal in that you have to play to the left more over the lake and directly at some bunkers that guard that side of the fairway.  But right in the tee box? ? ? ?

If you had to do something there, how about at least regrading that side of the tee box to look like slightly sloping  ground and dont continue to mow it as though it is tee box it just looked ridiculous.

Anyone else seen such abominations lets hear them, I am sure there are some good ones.

[A_Clay_Man]

You know your big when they put up a tree to stop you and then name it after you. Such was the case on the 18th hole at Kemper Lakes. The crescent moon dogleg left par 4 with water everywhere was doable as the crow flies. So, they put up the Norman tree. I was fortunate enough to see Michael Jordan go for the green just prior to planting Mr. Norman. He came up short and took his shoes and socks off to play out of the water.

[A.G._Crockett]

This actually goes much farther back, I think to a PGA and Lon Hinkle (I think!) many years ago.  The PGA put up a tree overnight during the tournament, or at least after the practice rounds.  If memory serves, players were hitting over an adjoining hole!  I'm sure somebody on the site has a better recollection of the details of this than I do...

[Michael Whitaker]

Turboe - I'm not familiar with the hole in question. What was the motivation for planting the tree? Were they trying to make the hole play more difficult, or were they trying to prevent a potentially dangerous shot?

[Doug Wright]

AG,

It was the 1979 US Open at Inverness. Lon Hinkle took a shortcut through an adjoining fairway and made a birdie 4. The next day, with a newly installed 25-foot spruce tree blocking the shortcut, Hinkle defied the barrier and birdied the hole again!

More Stupid Trees, I guess..

[Steve L]

The 17th at Inverness - playing down the 8th fairway cut down the length of the hole significantly...  The "Hinkle Tree" was planted under the cover of darkness between the 1st and 2nd round...

At least they used an Oak at Wicked Stick rather than a chain link fence - small consolation...

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Yes it was done to keep you from cutting the corner of this dogleg right (which has houses sticking out into play) and I am sure that the owners had raised a stink since day one.  The design of the hole enticed you to play that way.  Water more in play down the left and a series of bunkers in play if you played down the actual corridor straight.  Cut the dogleg a little and you took all of those out of play and probably ended up with a much shorter approach.

Just looks strange how they did it.

[Rick_Noyes]

Does Wicked Stick still have John Daly's name attached to it?

[Turboe.]

Yes it does, and they pump the heck out of the Daly connection.  Lots of his momentos in the clubhouse display cabinets.

[Forrest Richardson]

We see stuff like this all the time. It proves that even the smallest of change should involve an architect -- to at least consult and perhaps drop by for a drink or two as compensation.