Short game test

[johnk]

Imagine you are offered the following bet:

Your and your opponent will play an 18 hole round - with each player starting each hole from a spot chosen by his opponent that lies within 5 yards of the green.

In other words, on each hole, you choose the most difficult spot you can within 5 yards of the green and drop your opponent's ball.  He then has to play from that spot and keeps score until he holes out.

I came up with this idea at Pasatiempo, and was trying to think of a good over/under number for a 10hcp player with a decent short game.  My guess is that it would be hard to break 60.

Simple example of why I think that.  On #18, I'd drop the ball in the back bunker, close to the front lip.  Getting down in 4 would basically be a par from there.

So the question is: Can you think of a course with a higher par for this game than Pasatiempo?

[ed_getka]

Kingsley Club and Lost Dunes come to mind immediately. Given that Tom Doak's stated goal is to not 3-putt on LD's greens, just imagine starting off from a tough lie.
   

[Ted Kramer]

I'd take the over if the line was 60 for a 10 handi all day long.
And to answer your question, Augusta would destroy a 10 from the toughest areas around the greens.

-Ted

[Geoffrey Childs]

Winged Foot - either course
Crystal Downs
Prairie Dunes
Friars Head
Alpine CC

[Dave_Miller]

Winged Foot - either course
Crystal Downs
Prairie Dunes
Friars Head
Alpine CC

You can add Pine Valley and Merion to this list.
Best
Dave

[George Pazin]

Winged Foot - either course
Crystal Downs
Prairie Dunes
Friars Head
Alpine CC

You can add Pine Valley and Merion to this list.
Best
Dave

Oakmont as well.

You could probably add a bunch of Florida and Phoenix courses, if you drop into water or desert.

[Tom_Doak]

Pine Valley would be the hardest BY FAR.  If you're playing in the afternoon once the greenside hazards have seen some traffic, you could shoot a million.

Lost Dunes is not even close.  Yes its greens are severe, but most of the areas around the greens are gentle ... I often get up and down from off the greens.  Par for me there would be about 45.

Crystal Downs would be very tough if the greens are fast; I could put you in a few places where it would be very difficult not to chip or putt off the front of the green and down a bank.

[Mark_Fine]

Pine Valley would be brutal, however, Winged Foot West is one of the toughest up and down courses in the country bar none.  If you short side yourself, you're done.  

[Rob_Waldron]

How about Pinehurst #2? When the ball was dropped 5 yards from the green it would always end up about 20 yards away!