Brad Miller's post about the 9th at Quaker Ridge has me wondering if there isn't an architectural feature that is often missing in modern design that might do quite a bit to restore challenge to the game for the best players.
The 9th green at QR features a diagonal tongue of green that is situated "front right", and which is protected by deep bunkers fore and aft. I'm not sure exactly how many paces it is across, but it's quite narrow and any hole located in that area is exceptionally demanding.
Interestingly, when the pin is placed there, the bailout area becomes the back left portion of the green, which is wider and more accommodating. Still, getting down in two putts from there is a challenge, but rather doable.
Is this an example of the type of hole that is eminently playable for the average golfer, but can be quickly "turned up" in terms of challenge for the best players?
What other holes do we know that have those type of demanding green tongues? One that comes to mind is the original 8th green at Pine Valley, which was lost over the years.
Why don't we see more of this feature in modern design? It certainly seems to be the type of thing that would tempt the better players, yet provide an "out" for others less aggressive or talented.
It seems to me that greens could be created with all sorts of "extended" features, that could provide almost unlimited options. Yet, almost universally, greens tend to be shaped in some type of generally circular fashion, when there are so many other possibilities that don't seem all that challenging from a maintenance or "wear" perspective. For instance, what's wrong with a green with tentacles, or fingers reaching in different directions?