Hollywood's 12th and 13th..Strategy

[NAF]

On the Heinz 57 hole (#12), Geoff Childs pointed out something very interesting to me.  With the bunkering from the tee, it looks like one would want to hit a low fade or power fade and find the right side of the fairway.  One must carry the cross bunkers potentially with this strategy.  This route also will receive a longer drive.



That at least is what I thought from the tee as the optimal way to go.  Then upon reaching the green, it actually looks like the complex is set up better to receive a shot from the left side of the fairway or where one must slot a shot in because of the leftside cross bunker constellation.  It actually seems to be a better risk reward angularly to go short and left instead of long and right.  It gives a head on approach.  I have not seen that strategy often employed..Geoff thought the hole almost employed a LEVEN like strategy..

On the next hole #13, the angular change (sharp dogleg right) leaves another intriguing decision on how close to play one's tee shot given the cross bunkering--Rees Jones added some bunkers on the far end of the dogleg which shortens the shot versus hugging the inside of the dogleg which appeals to certain pin placements.. Again, very decisive thinking is necessary here.



One caveat, from the old aerials the trees guarding the dogleg on this hole seemed to be in existence.  I wonder if Hollywood would ever take them out (heavens forbid my heresy) and give a look at the hole. There is no way that green complex which is nasty would receive a driver...but it would tempt many into possible oblivion.

I was fascinated by the "wave' like nature of H-wood's great 18 complexes.  

My only questions upon playing there were what work Dick Wilson did and why do they have so many ornamental trees, pines and pampa grass bushes.. They have an even more tremendous course without those trees.. But maybe the members like it that way..

[Mike_Sweeney]

Noel,

I have never seen Hollywood. Are these pictures indicative of the property, or is there movement in the land out there?

[Steve Lapper]

Mike,

   For the most part, Hollywood sits on a fairly flat piece of land. It is relatively close to the Ocean and thus not endowed with considerable elevation changes. That said, there are some gradual elevations (I'm unable to say whether or not they are natural or were a product of serious dirt moving ...inclined to think the latter).

Noel makes a very good observation about the deception and decisive nature of the approach shots to many of the Hollywood greens. The greens do a wonderful job of defending par and often will handily deflect any shot that fails to respect their shapes. Their speeds are usually kept swift, but not extreme and usually demand that you leave the ball beneath the hole if you wish par or avoidance of bogey or worse.

On the tree issues; a new regime, led by a friend of mine, is about to assume the mantle of leadership down there and the past "beautification" will most certainly cease and re-examination of tree density is likely to occur in the not-too-distant future. The course, IMHO doesn't have that ominously dense tree canopy feel found so often on Northeast parkland tracks. #12, illustrated by Noel's pix, probably is the most densely forested hole (forces you to contend with the Heinz 57 bunkering) out there, though I would certainly agree with Noel that they have way too many ornamental trees that are only a decade or so away from shading out much of the roughs.

Hollywood is almost always underrated relative to it's other NJ kin. It is a great course with a great future and I suspect will seek to draw a little more attention to itself in the next few years.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Noel,

The answer to your question lies in how you've been playing for the previous eleven holes.

Alot also depends upon whether you're playing match or medal play.

A prudent golfer will hit the drive they're most likely to execute properly, and that particular drive will determine how they play the hole.

A creek and out-of-bounds sits along the entire right side of the hole, hence, golfers without a good deal of control shouldn't risk flirting with the right side.

I've always found that a dry ball, a safe ball is better than a wet ball or out-of-bounds ball, and as such, unless you're playing very well and can shape your shots at will, flirting with the right side isn't the play of choice.

Big drives, hit straight can find the rough and center bunker complexes.

On # 13, it again depends upon the amount of control you've had over your game for the last 12 holes.

A nice draw, hit at the left corner of the far fairway bunker is a good shot to hit with a 3-wood or a driver, if, your clubs are listening to you and your confidence is high.
Otherwise, bailing out center to right and safe is the play.

Mike Sweeney,

You're missing something if you haven't played Hollywood, it's terrific.

There is a nice roll to the land, a roll that's far more pronounced on the back nine.  Elevation changes occur on
# 10, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 18.  The front has some elevation changes on # 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9.
 
The golf course is less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean and thus gets a good breeze.

The green complexes are probably the best in the State.

[Ian Andrew]

NAF,

The green on #12 requires a long iron to a tough to hit green, which favours an approach from the left. I also agree with Pat's take on the trouble, take it down the left for that reason too.

I found #13 a simple lay-up for position, with the driver being nearly impossible due to the trees. Liked the hole, but position seemed to be everything from the tee.


Steve,

While there is a lot of man made features like #4 (wow) and some of the mounding complexes, the land still has plenty of natural roll.


To all,

I've mentioned it before, Hollywood could be my favourite of all Travis's work, but it is certainly atypical of most of his bunker work. The greens are excellent with the roll in front of 6 and the lower back pin on the 9th being personal favourites.

[Steve Lapper]

Roll yes....elevation no, but it hardly matters as the course is wonderful to play, challenging to game, mind and spirit and vexing as all hell with the flat stick in your hand.

Hollywood, like another NJ classic, Mountain Ridge, is a marvelous example of "sporty meets challenging." These are clearly my favorite types of tracks!

[Greg Stebbins]

On #12, I like to drive to the distance where the fairway is very wide.  If you notice on the picture, at about 250-280 from the tee, the fairway is about 70 yards wide.  I think that people tend to overthink the tee shot.  

As far as the angle goes, the green is large enough that most modern players won't be affected by the angle unless they drive in the rough.  This is the reason why I think the best play is to give yourself the best margin of error off the tee (the tee shot is more downhill than the picture indicates).  

On #13, the tendency is to try to cut the corner a bit, but it is really not necessary as a ball straight down the fairway will only leave about 100 yards.  The biggest challenge for me is to control the spin on the approach as the back to front pitch makes it very easy to spin the ball off the green with a wedge.  

Hollywood is one of my favorites.  It will be even more special if the tree removal happens.  The course gets very closterphobic at times, especially on the 8th tee.  This takes away shot options and the effect of the wind.  

[AndrewB]

On #12, I like to drive to the distance where the fairway is very wide.  If you notice on the picture, at about 250-280 from the tee, the fairway is about 70 yards wide.  I think that people tend to overthink the tee shot.

250-280 ...  what's that, about a 3 iron for you Stebbins?

[Greg Stebbins]

Downwind?? Maybe    

Are you going to be around to play Ridgewood over thanksgiving?  I only have a few weeks left as a member!