11th at Bandon Dunes

[PThomas]

I love most everything about the whole place, but this is one hole that I just don't get...a huge fairway to hit it, and a pretty difficult approach shot....just kind of a blah hole to me

am I missing something

[Eric Olsen]

I think 11 is a great hole. The preferred drive is up the left side, since it makes the approach run the length of the green, which slopes from front to back, yet there are the fairly deep fairway bunkers up the left side, and a drive up the right side of the fairway results in a much narrower target, again sloping front to back, and brings the dreaded bunker into play.  The green also has a fair amount of slope to it.  

[Tom Huckaby]

Paul - did you play it into any significant wind?

Hard to call it blah then - it is one beasty bitch.

Put me down more with Eric on this.

TH

[Tim Pitner]

Paul,

Yes, you are.  I think #11 is one of the best holes at Bandon Dunes.  Eric mentions most of the particulars (there are a lot of interesting shots around the green).  In addition, it reminds me more of the courses on the Open rota than any other hole at the resort.  Maybe it's the pot bunkers and the gorse but, to me, it screams links golf.  

[rjsimper]

I think it's a good hole.  The green is shallow if you bail out to the right off the tee, and you can run it through the fairway in that direction.  Up the left, as mentioned, are bunkers that almost take 4 out of play.  The elevated green is difficult to hit unless there is NO wind - into the wind it's tough to gauge, and downwind it's tough to hold, as the ball is coming in from a shallow angle when landing on the elevated green.

[PThomas]

yea, played it in lots of wind Huck, and it's hard, I agree with that, but difficulty is does not necessarily make a hole great in my book

so far everyone agrees with you, which they should probably be concerned about

[Sean Leary]

That hole has tee boxes that can go way back depending on the wind. I think the uphill second shot is excellent, particularly to a back pin.  14 is the hole that I really like...

[JohnV]

I also think that 11 is a very good hole for most of the reasons stated by the others.  

It is also the only real long par 4 on the back 9.  10, 14 and 16 are more options and strategy while 17 usually play pretty short due to the winds and the downhill nature of the tee shot.

[Tom Huckaby]

Paul - well of course hard does not equal great as I see things either.  I just can't see a difficult hole like that, with a definite preferred side, as being "blah."

Man you and shivas have REALLY high standards in golf holes... don't know if you saw it but he poo-poohed #12 Pasa...

I guess I need to get out more to get to a place where holes like these are "blah."  Or maybe not.

 

[PThomas]

Paul - well of course hard does not equal great as I see things either.  I just can't see a difficult hole like that, with a definite preferred side, as being "blah."

Man you and shivas have REALLY high standards in golf holes... don't know if you saw it but he poo-poohed #12 Pasa...

I guess I need to get out more to get to a place where holes like these are "blah."  Or maybe not.

 

Huck - you and the others have made some great comments about 11's strategic value...maybe what I meant to say is that I just don't like it as much as the other holes at BD...for ex, 10 there offers multiple options which I like, etc

I missed SHivas' commenst about Pasa 12..I remember 11 is the all-world uphill 4, but 12 is ? (forgive me, I've only been there once)

[Tom Huckaby]

"don't like it as much as the other holes at BD" is a FAR FAR FAR different thing from calling it "blah."

I can definitely live with anyone calling it their least favorite par 4 on that golf course.  

But blah?

Good lord do I need to get you guys to Santa Teresa.  Snobbism is not a nice disease.

 

TH

ps - 12 Pasa is a downill shortish par 4, mirror image of 11 only shorter and with no terrifying barranca to go over on approach.  It has lots going on for everyone except shivas.

[PThomas]

Snobbism is not a nice disease.

 

another quote for the ages!  I'm honored

[Tom Huckaby]

I thought you might like that.
 

But seriously though, we so often discuss only the greatest of golf courses in here, man I think it gets very lost that there is a LOT of very basic golf out there, on which one can have fun for sure, but which really is just there for basic, cheap play with no aspirations to greatness.  I've played three local munis in the last month in match play, all of which are just fine, but all of which would KILL to have a hole like 11 BD or 12 Pasa.  So I get quite chagrined when I see holes on these great courses poo-poohed....

Methinks we need to take a step back and realize how great these great courses really are.

Rant over.

 

[PThomas]

I'm here to help you with those rants of yours Huck

pls remember at the beginning I said I love most everything about the place - including Bandon Trails and even its water hole which some on here almost described as Dante's Inferno! - so my comment about 11 is almost like suggesting improvements to the Mona Lisa...even played a bit of teh SHeep Ranch last time which was fun

I truly look forward to seeing what Mr. Keiser will accomplish with his 4th course

[Tom Huckaby]

Paul - OK, you're forgiven - it was just bad timing and you had no control over that.  And there is value to trying to dissect the best - absent that this place wouldn't exist.

So sorry man.  You just would laugh if you saw the courses I've been playing.  

TH

[John Kavanaugh]

Here is a link to the hole...the bunker scheme is amazing and proves the fairway ain't so wide if you want a good angle to the green.

http://www.bandondunesgolf.com/bandon_hole11.cfm

note:  I wouldn't post under my real name either if I was going to make such idiotic observations...blah, are you insane..

[PThomas]

Paul - OK, you're forgiven - it was just bad timing and you had no control over that.  And there is value to trying to dissect the best - absent that this place wouldn't exist.

So sorry man.  You just would laugh if you saw the courses I've been playing.  

TH

no need to apologize Huck

and John, well if I'm idiotic then it takes one to know one, I guess

[John Kavanaugh]

and John, well if I'm idiotic then it takes one to know one, I guess

Exactly...That is why we post under our real names.  When you introduce yourself to Mr. Keiser he may be interested in your (real) opinions.

[PThomas]

i've said before that I try not to reply to your comments John, so I'm stopping here again

what a surprise:  you missed the part where I said people have made great observations about its strategic value, etc

[John Kavanaugh]

I love most everything about the whole place, but this is one hole that I just don't get...a huge fairway to hit it, and a pretty difficult approach shot....just kind of a blah hole to me

am I missing something

Yea I missed the compliments...Please keep your word this time and don't respond...unless you want to reveal your identity that is...