At the end of the day I can't believe I didn't get out to see this course in seven years, even going twice - twice! - to Whiskey Creek in that time. Clearly they have marketing issues, as the word of mouth is not great on the course. It deserves better, and those who are fans of Tom Doak and Mike Strantz owe it to themselves to see this place.
The key to unlocking the fun is playing up one set of tees (which the mgt has done already for you via tee tricking). That may be the secret formula to discovering fun yet challenging courses: under 6,300 yards, slope 134.
Playing up one set of tees of course is "right answer" for many courses, notably those of the mad genius Strantz, and those who ignore or refuse such common sense only prove the adage that "common sense" is sense that's held in common.
And thus: Mike, that hole is the 4th, and I shudder to think of hitting to that green with anything more than a 9 iron!
Although: the bunkers to the left all have been grassed in, and the surrounding rough prevents many balls from running too far astray. Additionally, the enormous size of many greens out there give the thinking golfer a way to play every hole.
Sean,
That bunker on the left forces you to deal with the center bunker if you hit down the hill on your tee shot. Very few will be able to carry it, leaving the rest of us to decide how much to challenge it, as we surely are not so foolish as to go at that center bunker. The other bunker over there I agree could go. The bunker on the right on the other hand is there I think to frustrate the short drive.
You really should see how many of those bunkers have been grassed in - your kind of place!
Doug, I will try to post a few more pics of that hole this weekend, it's quite a ride from front to back - a five-foot swale plus who knows how much total front to back elevation change! But I would love to see those banks shaved down. And notice how that front bunker has a thick "protective" collar: do you want the bunker there or not!?
Patrick,
The ties behind 2 green, who knows? The ties on 11 green, maybe as a bulkhead (water is really low in pic). So I could do without those, and a number of others out there.
16 is a different story, as they lie directly in the path of the intended play. They provide a psychological "do or die" intimidation similar to water, but with a milder result. I whiffed my approach and it hit a tie fronting the green, and bounced a few feet back into rough between bunkers. It didn't go far at all; I think the ties literally have been softened, too!
I just love the use of the ties on the drive, the angle and play of the fairway. Combined with the waste area front and the bunkers back, this is an "eye of the needle" hole, yet one allowing dispensation of recovery.
And looking at that view from the tee, isn't it neat to see a hole that calls for a certain shot shape, does it without a tree or water, and provides a bailout option? And given its angle to the right, isn't it great for a slice-prone golfer to experience the thrill of successfully executing a demanding tee shot?
Some may say the ties provide a framing, but as they are in play and theaten a legitimate punishment for the hubristic, not to mention skinnying up that fairway (pucker up!), why not?
Mark