Holes with diverse angles of attack

[Patrick_Mucci]

One of the features I enjoy at NGLA is playing from different tees that present entirely different angles of attack and an entirely different feel and look.

The 10th at Pacific Dunes is one of those holes, as are the 16th and 17th at NGLA
George Bahto tells us that the 8th and 12th at NGLA were two more.

What other holes provide this variety from the TEE.

What does it take to make this feature "work well" ?

[TEPaul]

One of the best and one that Donald Ross obviously thought was very good because of this feature (since he mentioned it and wrote about it enough) is the little par 3 9th hole at Gulf Stream G.C. One tee to the right of the 8th green was used primarily from the beginning while the tee to the left of the 8th green was let go at some point. Now the left tee has been restored. For those who know this hole well, understand that the design and the theme of the hole is basically all about the direction of the wind, primarily the prevailing wind and two separated tees make it even more optional than it already was when it only had one.

[Ben Voelker]

The Harvester in Iowa has a Par 3 on the back that has two entirely separate sets of tees from two different angles.  I think it is the 14th, but I've only played there once and played the tees that were more aligned with the open front of the green, but if my memory serves me correctly, it seems that the tees to the left would make it the better hole because of the angle over the bunkers.

I think it certainly works with this hole because it essentially gives you two entirely different holes in terms of strategy from the different tees and wind conditions.  Obviously the left tees will require a draw to run it up or some sort of really soft 2-Iron.  The front tees I thought just requred a more straight forward, well executed shot.  It seems like the lake is close enough in the back of the green to punish any shot that is too long as well.  It's definitely an example of a hole that uses differently angles well.

[Mike_Sweeney]

Love it or hate it, Yale 18 has to be one of the most diverse holes for tee, second shot and approach shots.

From the back, back tee on top of the rock it is 630 for a driver or 3 wood. If playing the forward tees near 17th green, can be an iron layup or a driver and try to get it up to the first pleateau.

Second shot can be to upper or lower fairway or all the way over to the landing area in front of the green.

Approach shot can be anything from a mid iron down on the lower fairway to a wedge up top or a chip from the landing area.

If Scott is allowed to open up the area to the right of the lower fairway, it really will bring that option more into play.

Also, Sand Hills #5 with straight away and dog leg right tees should be on this list.

[Tom_Doak]

The main criteria for doing this on a course would be that the natural vegetation was low-growing, so you can set up different angles from tee to fairway without clearing many more acres of trees.  And of course you need a bit of extra acreage and a lack of parallel holes (unless they are spaced well apart as at National).

After that, you need a management and/or membership that isn't too concerned with the precise course rating and slope.

Last but not least, you need two options which are more or less equally attractive.  This is why it isn't done more often.  If one tee is clearly more interesting than another, it will get the lion's share of use, and the other will have been a waste of money to build.  I have never played that right-hand tee on the 17th at National, and I don't know why anyone would.  

[Andy Hughes]

Pat,
Number 6 at Tobacco Road has teeing areas that must be 50 yards away from each other, maybe more.  Changes the entire hole visually and playability wise.

Andy

[Marty Bonnar]

Surprised nobody's mentioned TOC #14 yet.
Surely THE ultimate diverse hole?

4 options off the tee, at least 4 other approach possibilities. All either over the low ground on the left or the high ground on the right throught the Elysian fields and the Beardies with OB all down that side.

Enough to inspire MacK to call it 'probably the best hole of its kind in existence'.

'Nuff said as far as I'm concerned!

FBD.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom Doak,

Into a good wind, which is not uncommon, playing from the right side tee on # 17 at NGLA presents a different challenge.

In addition, without a wind, or with a wind, it's harder to get the tee shot in the slot that affords a perfect view of the green.

I also wonder if the longer hitters would be tempted to try to carry the fronting bunker and mounding scheme from the shorter, right side tee.