Reverse. 2nd

[Sean Walsh]

Now it starts to get interesting.  This will be a devilishly difficult hole.  At my reckoning a long approach will be required over rough and bunkered ground to a smallish (for TOC) section of green.



A slightly blind drive.  The shorter route is to drive left, plenty of space out to the right though. As shown below.




A view of the pin in the distance. Red flag.


Light Rough and bunkers between fairway and green


Imposing bunker protecting the approach from the safe drive.  But the gap between it and the OB is shown for those coming over the shed.


As with a lot of holes on the reverse they don't look half as dangerous looking back.  Also shows there is a little more room between bunker and OB than you would think.

And the link to Jeremy's article

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinionglenn3.html

[Andy Hughes]

(Sean, just whispering so as not to disturb anyone, but this is an enjoyable series you are doing. I have nothing to add, so please, carry on!)

[peter_p]

Is long a good option on the second shot?

[Michael Christensen]

this is great......you are doing a fabulous service for us playing in this event.......have only been to St Andrews once (for 95' Open)...have never played it

these pics give me a better prespective of what I am getting myself into.......452 yard par-4....YIKES!

[Sean Walsh]

Peter,

If you have the power long is a safe bail out.  I wouldn't think it will get you much closer than playing to the middle left of the original 2nd green.  I'd be then happy to have a go at 3 putting from there.    Also if you miss your direction (i.e left) long then OB is an even greater fear.

For me this hole is a par 5.  even more so than the Road Hole that it mirrors.  It will take two fabulous shots to be anywhere clost to the pin for most golfers.  For me it will take two fabulous shots to be within 40 feet and not in a bunker.  

[Marty Bonnar]

this is great......you are doing a fabulous service for us playing in this event.......have only been to St Andrews once (for 95' Open)...have never played it

these pics give me a better prespective of what I am getting myself into.......452 yard par-4....YIKES!

Christensen,
you're fooling no-one, bub!
If you think you can wheedle a coupla strokes out of me and Bennett, you'd best think again!

Sean,
this is very cool. What's REALLY struck me so far are the revtoc hole backdrops. So different (Obviously!) to the normal and thus quite disorienting. Aaargh!!!!

Three weeks tomorrow. Mmmmm, Dufffffff!!!!

FBD.

[Jim Nugent]

Would it be feasible to hold the Open Championship on the Reverse Course?  Would that favor the same players, i.e. Tiger, as much?  

[Bill_McBride]

We'll see soon enough, but I'm wondering if there are areas of the Reverse course where a normal drive -- say 220 to 260 yards on the centerline -- winds up in rough, or worse yet, gorse?

And I'm also wondering how much experience the caddies will have had with the Reverse......

[Sean Walsh]

Bill,

From walking it the drive isn't the problem.  There is some light rough but unless you are terribly unlucky it is little worse than the fairway (apart from the loss of distance).

Where the reverse does pose some problems is at the green end.  There are a few places where if this was the normal routing there would be comprehensive gorse removal and some more fairway prepared.

Re the caddies.  In short probably a few days a year, and that's the experienced ones.  I do know that there is at least one caddie who has done a yardage book.  I dropped into the caddie hut today but they didn't have any yardage books available.  I am however on the case and will endeavour to track one down.