[Will E]

Does it have to be #10 at Riviera? Are there any others that come even close?

[SPDB]

A viable contender could be #1 at NGLA.

[Ted Kramer]

#1 and #18 at TOC have to be considered . . .no?

-Ted

[PThomas]

haven't been there  -- yet-- but the 14th at TOC, I think

[Don_Mahaffey]

Of the holes I've played.
Most options off the tee, probably the 10th at Riv. Most options from tee to green? Has to be the 14th at TOC

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Paul, Thats an excellent one, and never should it ever be compared to the 10th--they're two entirely different golf holes.

(I say this because the 14th and the 10th are on my Favorite Three list!)

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Before the latest surge in technology the 17th at TPC Scottsdale was a very good second to 10 at Riviera.  There are some really interesting humps and bumps on the greenside right area and the green has some interesting contours as well.

[TEPaul]

NGLA's #8 (Bottle Hole). For a long hitter there are four distinct options staring you right in the face on the tee and that's pretty rare. How does the hole accomplish that architecturally?

It basically uses Max Behr's "line of charm" concept by placing about a 75 yard long diagonal bunker scheme right in the middle of a 65 yard wide fairway with a string of in-line bunkers that're about 4-5 steps wide with a perpindicularly placed bunker at the end of that in-line scheme that's 13 yards wide. So a long player, at least, actually has 4-5 distinct tee shot options--eg short right in front of the bunker scheme, short and left over them, long right, or long left over them, or directly over the last perpindicular bunker which is out there about 270 yds. (not to mention consideration of the "principles nose" bunker that is inside that fairway out over 300+ yards from the tee).

You can't have many more tee shot options than that.

[Doug Wright]

#5 at Sanctuary?

BillV/Redanman: Huh

[RJ_Daley]

How about a well done bite-off, with second shot to caped green?

Take 10 at Riv, how many conceivable options.  Iron short right-not too great of an option for second shot that can't be stopped on green.  Iron short left, offers some safety but still a difficult short iron to get it stopped on green for second.  mid fairway metal straight up gut, shorter pitch but tough to stop on green.  Right to left mid fairway best option from left side into longer middle of sliver crowned green.  Left to right fairway metal, pretty much dead to stop second shot on green.   Long and left, good up the gut chip onto green.  Perfectly laid on left side of green, chip or putt up middle.  Long at the hole -fools gold maybe comes up short in front bunker.  Just plain long, back bunker or swale - no good.
Really, aren't there about 3 decent options on 10 Riv.?

Now, what about the 18th at TPC Sawgrass?  Might there be at least as many options off that tee trying to set up the kind of second shot opportunity that is most favorable; or even three shot strategy to that green?

[Jeff Fortson]

#12 at TOC is another with many options


Jeff F.

[James Bennett]

An earlier question was why we don't see more of these 'option' holes.  Certainly, the increased width required for such a hole can be a limiting element.  However, it also takes a certain imagination from the architect to (initially) build and the membership (over subsequent years) to retain such a hole.  Clubs often get overtaken by the 'its too easy for the good player' and the 'our course isn't tough enough' mentality.  

How many great option holes do we see on TV golf, where the options and alternatives are seen?  The more we see, the more golfers will value them.  Perhaps we could see a couple of great holes in Tour events played from different tees on Saturday and Sunday, and have the resulting strategy explained by the good commentators .

For an option hole to work, the right balance of risk/reward and option has to be available for most players, ie players of different abilities require an alternate route that they could each take.  Depending on the weather, the tee location for the day (and the hole location for that matter), the player should be required to make a decision between competing options.  That keeps such holes (and courses) interesting for year-round play.  But, if the hole is perceived by some to be too easy, or too hard for a lesser player (whatever that means), then you can expect some undesirable amendments to that hole from the Committee.

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