Prairie Dunes Pictures

[John Sabino]

I recently had the chance to play Prairie Dunes and was very impressed by the 8th hole. I have seen pictures of the hole before, and never really appreciated the elevation change in the hole before. See the pictures below, especially the one with the golfer in the shot for perspective





I also really liked the 12th hole with the large cottonwood trees protecting the approach to the green. It is hard to get a true appreciation of how large they are, see the golf cart in the picture for perspective. They force you to play the hole smart by either laying back off the tee or by having to pitch a shot below the trees to a well guarded green.



Finally, I really liked the 2nd hole, pictured below, a testing par three early in the round.



Joe

[PThomas]

thanks for posting Joe

I never get tired of see pics of that great course

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Look! It's the 10th green at Gulph Mills!

[Lou_Duran]

The three hole strecth of 8, 9, 10 is among as good as any I've played or seen anywhere, including PBGL's 8, 9, 10 (which though on an incomparable site on cliffs flanking the Pacific, all run in the same direction with a left-high to right slope toward the Ocean).  PD's #8's has many options off te tee as well as on the approach, and #9 may be the most underrated hole on the course.  I would prefer #10 with some of the natives removed to improve visibility, but it is among my favorites par 3s anywhere, though #2 there may be actually a better short hole.    

[Sean Leary]

Lou,

I preferred #2 to #10.  One of things I found interesting was that all 4 par 3's play slightly uphill. I can't think of any other course with 4 uphill pars 3's.

[Lou_Duran]

Sean,

Me neither.  And all but #10 have similar western orientation.

[Adam Clayman]

Lou, #11 deserves mention in that string, I thought.

#12 was not all that, IMO

#13 and 14 were also excellent holes.

[Sean Leary]

I thought 11 was the best of the Press holes.

I liked new tee box on 13. It improved that hole considerably making it a longer tee shot into the prevailing wind.

12 needs the cottonwoods for protection to make the player think off the tee.  If they were taken out, everyone would just blast driver downwind at the green.  It took me 4 tries to lay back far enough to have a open shot to that green..

[brad_miller]

Quote from TD, it took me a while but the 12th is one of my fav holes. That second shot isn't easy and this might be Press's best green.

"No course can possibly make a great first-time impression for all 18 holes.  Some holes have got to be less "wow" than others, that is the nature of planet Earth.  When you know you've got a great course is when you go back the second or third time, and you realize those holes are pretty darned good in their own right."

[Sean Leary]

Redanman,

It does give you options because if you hit driver between the trees you can get past them, and you have a short pitch to the green. However if you hit it left or right, you are in trouble.
The farther back you are, though the easier it is to go over them or through the gap.