The Optional Fairway Alleyway Option

[Matt_Ward]

One of the more interesting design aspects I have noticed among some of the newer designs is the usage of what I call the optional fairway alleyway option.

Here's how it works.

At Morgan Hill (Easton, PA) and at Dismal River (Mullen, NE) they have holes at the 17th and 11th respectively, that provide a "wide" fairway primary landing area but there is a strip that extends beyond the cut-off for those seeking an additional gain in yardage and with that a shorter approach.

However ...

The strip area is considerably narrower than the main landing area and requires a higher degree of skill to gain the advantage sought.

At Morgan Hill the downhill 17th is listed at reoughly 420 yards from the tips. The cutoff area is quite savage because if you fly too far the ball is deader than Elvis. The strip provided is off to the right and is fraught with danger as OB pinches in from that side and the area to the left is quite undulating with mounds and the like.

At Dismal River the 11th plays about 435 yards -- goes slightly uphill and then plunges downhill with the green in the distance. In a somewhat similar fashion the main fairway area is quite wide and you can avoid the alleyway if you choose. For those going right the width of the fairway narrows considerably and there is danger for the slightest pull / push tee shot.

I like the design scheme because unlike the forced lay-up the architect has not taken the driver out of the player's hands and you can decide for yourself how far and from what angle is your best play.

Kudos to Kelly Blake Moran and Jack Nicklaus for two superb holes. I apologize in not having any photos to show what I have written. Be curious to know of other such holes with this design element.

[RJ_Daley]

Matt, I've seen a few of them.  But, my question is; do these slawson cut-off sort of dual fairways with the more precarious narrow short cut, work better on par 5s where the cut-off is a clear invitation to position for a go at it in two, or the longish par 4s to gain a shorter iron or angle to green advantage?

BTW, when I try to utilize these short-cut, narrower, more fraught with danger alley's, I usually wind up cutting off my slawson. (rip Johnny Carson)  

[Matt_Ward]

R J :

No doubt the par-5 holes can be a big plus -- it can also be used for the short par-4 type holes where the thought of driving the green is a possibility for those who dare.

The two holes I mentioned are just well done from a design perspective. The one at Morgan Hill simply B-E-G-S you to hit the big stick but the smarter play is for a lay-up that leaves you a mid-to-short iron approach.

Those with length should not be given free passes or be held in check through some sort of straightjacket / assbackward design scheme. That's why I like the optional alleyway aspect -- it provides the most options for all different types of play.

[SL_Solow]

Matt;  this is really an extreme case of risk reward architecture.  The trick in executing this stratagem is to make the advantage gained from taking the risk commensurate with the penalty received if you fail.  In other words match the risk to the reward.  Pete Dye uses this technique with various degrees of effectiveness at the River Course at Blackwolf Run.  The Par 5 8th has a wide fairway layup area requiring an uphill shot over bunkers to a partially hidden landing area.  The bold player can try to reach the green or have a short chip which is unobstructed if he goes for a narrow fairwaywhich flirts with the right side boundary.  It works pretty well.  Number 10, the much photographed triple fairway par 4 has a very narrow direct route (guarded by trees on the left and the Sheboygan River on the right) to the green which may be driveable for long hitters.  The risk is extreme.  The further left one goes, the easier it is to hit short grass but the approach becomes longer and less visible.  I can't recall seeing anyone choose option 1 with success.

[Adam Clayman]

Does Riviera's 8th fit?

How about Pradera's 7th?

Shel, Thanks for letting me now know I'm a bold playah. I loved the new eight on The River Course for exactly the reason you cite.

[Jim Sweeney]

Lassing Point in No. KY has an interesting variation on this theme.

The sixth hole has side by side upper and lower fairways. The lower is wide but a longer tee shot runs out of room. Laying back hides the green form view.

Thwe upper fairway is very narrow with OB in play to the left, However, a successful long tee shot to the upper opens the length of the green for the approach.

The slope between the fairways is maintianed as rough.

[Dan Herrmann]

How about Bulle Rock (Dye) #9?

There's a finger of fairway way over to the right across the large water hazard.  This encourages the long hitter to go for it off the tee, but it leads to quite a difficult angle to the green, even though it's only a 50 yard shot.

I think Dye is playing with the player's mind here.  To me, the only play is into the "real" fairway to the left of the water.  You have a much longer 2nd shot, but a much more receptive green.

[Matt_Ward]

Adam:

The 7th at Pradera is a well done hole, however, long hitters need not tempt disaster with a play down the right fairway -- one can still get home via the left side -- I did that during my visit to the course this past August.

My posting of this thread was to provide an alternate attack angle that provides clear and distinct benefits versus taking the more cautious route. One taking the cautious route would not be able to receive the same benefits in being successful with the more daring play.
 

[Chris Perry]

1st tee shot at Devils Pulpit.

[Geoffrey Childs]

Matt

You forgot to mention that the 17th at MH can use its irrigation system in the winter as snow making equipment and it would be better served.  The hole is another of the many ski slopes on the course.  I don't think it works and I think its a terrible golf hole.

I look forward to seeing DR at some time but I'd hardly think the terrain is at all comparable with that nasty site for golf at Morgan Hill.

[Steve Burrows]

Just for argument's sake:

I'm not sure I see too much difference in THEORY between this option and the options presented to us by the hard par, easy bogey, "US Open" style layouts that have fallen so out of vogue in the recent past.  The initial landing area for the latter being smaller, of course, (which is the BIG difference), but then pinching in, allowing the bolder, or more skilled player bang driver right through the shoot to give himself a shorter shot into the green.

Agree?  Disagree?

[Matt_Ward]

Chris P:

Good call on the Pulpit -- I can remember playing it not long after it opened and seeing how daring a shot it takes to play down the right side with the H20 hugging that close.

I'd also mention the 6th at BB as another that comes to mind. Only issue is that the USGA opted not to include fairway height grass during the '02 Open -- hopefully that will change for the '09 event.

Geoff:

Let's be clear before I respond -- you are not a fan of Morgan Hill and I can understand your position -- just don't agree with it.

The 17th at MH is downhill -- I said that in my original post -- when I mentioned the hole. In my mind, that's what makes the option aspect even more unique because downhill holes can often be fairly simply in what they expect of players.

The 17th at MH doesn't give away much -- you earn it if you decide to make the bold play. The fairway does end abruptly down the right side and the alleyway is sufficiently wide enough to tempt the big play. I also like how the OB pinches in from the right side to really add a bit of daring for such a play. That's what makes the hole there a bit more unique than a similar hole you face earlier in the round at hole #11.

To Moran's credit the green is also well done. It's not circular in shape and provides a specific opening for those who can take advantage of it from the fairway.

Geoff, my linkage of holes was not based on their overall topography but on the design element of the alleyway fairway. I like it when it's used because it still rewards power but doesn't automatically put those who opt for the other option at a considerable disadvantage that cannot be overcomed.

[Geoffrey Childs]

Matt

To each his own but I think you need to wake up and smell the coffee again. You've been on the road too long. I think it is a bad golf hole.  #11 that you mentioned is far worse then that. Yes - I think Morgan Hill has a few superb golf holes and Kelly should be commended for getting that much out of the property.  Other then those few holes the place should be blown up or converted into a winter site for the extreme games.

[Matt_Ward]

Geoff --

Regarding "smelling the coffee" I can say the same in return. You pan the course but there's no specific and direct comments. The amount of pitch on the property is demanding -- don't doubt that but if you think the overall impact of the property is worthy of the "extreme games" you are barking up the wrong tree -- with all due respect.

I can name more than few superb holes on Morgan Hill and save for the likes of the 11th and the drop-shot par-3 12th which was used to segway to the tremendous stretch of holes starting with the par-5 13th -- the bulk of Morgan Hill works quite well. In fact, if anything, I think some of the weakest holes are on land which is relatively flat -- like the par-3 9th.

You must have missed the unique green Moran created at the risk / reward 1st hole -- the split fairway at the 2nd -- the ribcage green at the 3rd -- the daring tee shot presented at the dog-leg 4th and the superb chain reaction bunker at the uphill dog-leg right par-5 5th. The uphill 6th is also well done because few times do architects present uphill holes in their designs.

If anything Moran did a stellar job in getting the most out of the property and only in the minority of cases did the totality of what you find there become a issue of concern.

For those so inclined to walking as the key component for any course they prefer -- I can certainly understand what the feelings would be for places such as Morgan Hill. I don't place walking as an equal item as other do -- provided the use of carts is not so onerous as to take away from the round itself.

What's interesting -- I used to think the concluding hole was less than what it should have been. That's not the case now.

You're right Geoff -- to each his own.  

[Geoffrey Childs]

Matt

I get my coffee from Peet's mail order.  It makes Starbucks seem like sewer water and the aroma is just wonderful.  The Kenya and Arabian Mocha Sanani are my current favorites. What's your brew?

No one will ever convince me that Morgan Hill should not be blown up and used for a ski resort. The 17th hole is far from the worst of the lot but it does not work.  Some times your tastes in golf (and maybe coffee) surprise me Matt.

[peter_p]

Hogan's Alley (#6) at Carnoustie, or do you consider that is just one fairway?

[Doug Siebert]

I'm not sure I see the difference strategy wise between this and a double fairway where the other fairway offers clear advantages but is narrow and fraught with danger.

Plus on a par 5 if you need the alley to give it a go in two the danger better be significant, otherwise what is to stop me from trying it and if I miss and end up in the thick rough I can still wedge out and still have a wedge left to the green -- not in all that much worse shape than if I'd just laid up off the tee and then hit an iron to lay up for my third.

Maybe I need a pic or two to see what I'm missing?

[Matt_Ward]

Doug S:

Likely, you would need a picture to further clarify what is being stated.

The optional fairway alleyway allows the player to get both closer AND have a better angled into the target. Those who lay back to guarantee the fairway option must then up the ante with the next play.

That's what the two examples I mentioned do.

Geoff:

My golf tastes are a bit more pragmatic than the narrow "it only can be designed in this way always" formula that a good number of people follow here on GCA.

I salute Kelly for taking a difficult piece of property and providing for anb array of top tier holes -- maybe instead of concentrating on coffee brands -- you may wish to see what type of eye-glasses are available as people age.

I don't doubt that not every hole at Morgan Hill is a winner -- but the ones that are less so are clearly in the minority from my perspective. Moran had to segway from one part of the property to the other and the repetitive drop-shot 12th is one clear sacrifice. He did much better with the downhill par-3 7th which is well done -- especially with the far right pin area.

The uphill holes are also done well -- something many architects eschew because they don't want to "burden" golfers. Good examples of that type include the uphill par-5 5th and the par-5 13th -- which is very well done. The uphill par-3 14th is also a winner -- I mean how many times do you have hole of this type being designed today that works very well.

I can appreciate differences in opinion but I'd have to see the detailed counter analysis to see if it indeed flies. If you think what Moran has done is not your "cup of tea" then I would recommend skipping a good number of Jim Engh designs that are layed out on some equally demanding terrain.

[cary lichtenstein]

I remember Kinlock having 4 or 5 of these.