Greensite Marking Poles (fairway marking poles too)?

[Jason Blasberg]

In seeing Ran's review of Royal County Down the number of large marking poles (not the little barber poles) suprised me, especially those marking greensites.  Are these poles good things and under what circumstances should they be used?

For instance, we have many blind approaches at Engineers, 5, 6, 16 and 18 for the most part.  

Here's the approach to 6:



Here's the wicked contouring you cant see short of the green:



18:

Here's the tee shot you cannot see the green or really determine the centerline of the fairway.  Is a marking pole, similar to those at Royal County Down and the Alps holes out there advisable to both determine the green location and the fairway.  Since 18 is fairly straight one pole would serve to mark both.



Here's the green.



Large sized marking poles, yes, no, not just at Engineers but anywhere?  And I'm not talking about the little 150 marker barber poles.

[Mark Chaplin]

Jason - Can I assume Engineers is a private club? If so markers shouldn't be necessary as the members know where the greens are and guests are with a member.

99% of GB&I courses permit independent visitors who obviously need to know where they are going. They help to speed up play and I for one would complain if I had no clue where I was going on my first visit.

Those who've visited Prestwick know how helpful the marker is on the Himalayas.

[Matthew Hunt]

A lot Of Courses in my Area have these Poles not just RCD(I live in Newcastle) Kilkeel uses it for all blind approchs.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Jason,

  It's difficult to say a definitive 'yes' or 'no', because one could then open the door for adding marking poles behind all blind greens and/or blind shots.  

  My personal take on it is that, if I was at Engineers, which is a private club, and if I was playing the golf course, on first play, I would ask the caddy or my host for a line or a particular tree as an aiming point.  

Was Engineers built and/or designed with aiming poles?  I have never been there.  

 
 

[Geoffrey Childs]

Jason -

The tee shot on 18 is fine.  It reminds me of one of my favorite tee shots at Bethpage Black, the one on #11. The slight discomfort of having to choose a line relative to somewhere in the distance rather then having it framed by a tree or a bunker is part of its difficulty and charm.

The best "poles" I can think of are the ones that mark the deep pot fairway bunkers at Garden City. Rather then acting as aiming points those suckers tell you to stay away!

[Jim Sweeney]

Yuk. Hate 'em.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

The best "poles" I can think of are the ones that mark the deep pot fairway bunkers at Garden City. Rather then acting as aiming points those suckers tell you to stay away!

Geoff-

  Is that what those tall flags are utilized for?  I have seen them through the fence on several holes, but haven't been on-grounds in person...

[Geoffrey Childs]

The best "poles" I can think of are the ones that mark the deep pot fairway bunkers at Garden City. Rather then acting as aiming points those suckers tell you to stay away!

Geoff-

  Is that what those tall flags are utilized for?  I have seen them through the fence on several holes, but haven't been on-grounds in person...

Yes- Instead of blind hazards they use those poles/flags.  Its almost worse then being blind because they remind you of a place you don't want to visit. You will not be yelling for your ball to get into those bunkers.

[Jason Blasberg]

Geoff:

I actually think the poles at GCGC are cheating a bit.  The hazards are blind for a reason and they are intended to sneak up on you, however the greens and fairways are intended to be found, thus markers make more sense for the latter.

I've developed my favorite trees, etc., however there's still a lot of walking up to look at the green, etc., and I still do it everytime . . . I kind of think the large aiming poles at RCD look cool . . .

They've never been at Engineers, at least not in the 1920s and 30s aerials I've seen.

[Dave Bourgeois]

Jason,

I like the fact that Engineers did not have poles for aiming.  There was a certain level of excitement and adventure when hitting a shot.  Walking to some of the greensites (like 16 for example) was sort of like waiting to open a present.  Now that present could be a great bottle of scotch, or it might be a lump of coal or something.  The bits of discomfort over hitting to those areas, and even into some of the more severe greens, is part of what makes it a great place.  I don't get that feeling playing Maple Moor in Westchester!