An interesting par 3

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

This hole is very, very difficult.  Not sure whether the hole is good, great, mediocre, or bad.  

[Tim Gavrich]

A golf course I've aways wanted to play (I believe).  Often compared favorably to its "unhealthy," more dramatic distant neighbor and counterpart.

A course with a lot of pines, but a few prominent maples.

[Jason McNamara]

Robert, unless you want to have a quiz of sorts going here, could you please ID the hole and course?  Thanks.

[Mike Benham]

This course is the Pits    

And yes, the hole is as tight and claustrophobic as the pictures show.

[Rich Goodale]

This course is the Pits    

And yes, the hole is as tight and claustrophobic as the pictures show.

Mike

Was it designed by John McEnroe?

Rich

PS--there is a very similar looking hole at an extremely obscure 9-hole course on the Scottish island of Skye.  I drove by it once, and next time I do I'll get the 6-iron out of the boot and give it a go.

[Kalen Braley]

No doubt, talk about your tight holes.  It appears to be a longish par 3 with nowhere to go but straight.

When intially viewing the first photo, I couldn't tell that the farthest most green patch was the green so I assumed it was a longer hole with a blind drive over the dirt hill with the yellow pole being the aiming point. It does indeed look like a difficult hole.

[JESII]

Based on the third picture, it's wide open in front...what are you patsies crying about?

Rich,

Assuming your hole is similar...what club will you hit after the 6 iron?

[David Stamm]

GULP!!!!!!!!!

[CHrisB]

OK, so this is the 4th hole at The Pit just outside of Pinehurst, NC--it is ~230 from the back, and there are also tees at ~160, ~120 and ~100. It is a very difficult shot from the back tee but not overly severe from the other tees.

I found this hole (like the rest of the course) weird but fun. The higher you hit it, the wider the hole plays, so I didn't mind the 230 yardage as you can hit a wood/hybrid up in the air instead of a lower-flying long iron.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

i'm with Chris..that hole looks simply cool...I would love to play it...but perhaps not in a strokeplay event!

The terrain and vegetation reminds me of the healthland courses around London...that hole would fit right in at The Berkshire courses.

[Mike Benham]

This course has some interesting features, including a par-5 that has a similar narrowness to it for the approach shot, with dunes on either side of the green similar to the first fairway at Tobacco Road (but on a much smaller scale).  

As this par 3 shows, there are these little dunes in certain areas but the ground around them is very flat ... strange ...


Robert -

I'm not sure I would classify this hole as "very, very difficult" ... there are no bunkers, the green is flat and no forced carry (except from the back tee if I recall correctly).  

Yes, it is long at 220 from the back tee but it may be a hole that is easier for the short and straight hitter vs. the long and wild guy ...

Mike

[Michael Blake]

Looks pretty penal for the mid-handicapper, even if played from the "correct" (160yd?) set of tees, and absolutely brutal from the back tees.

Seems like the only place to "miss'" is straight and short.

Those mounds or chocolate drops or whatever they're called look contrived.


What's the hole's handicap?  I can see a wide range of scores on that one.

[CHrisB]

As this par 3 shows, there are these little dunes in certain areas but the ground around them is very flat ... strange ...

Mike,
That is because the course was built over the remains of a sand quarry, and so there are these rows of sand spoils that are dispersed throughout--the ones separating #8 and #9 are bizarre but others have a neat and unique look (and function).

So my guess is that the mounds you see weren't really created by the architect by building them up as much as by whittling them down.

[Mike Nuzzo]

Barney won't like the fan...

It would help if they cleared some of the trees on the right.

[Peter Pallotta]

Just from the pictures, it looks to me like a good golf hole. Assuming that the entire site/course is well treed, it's a hole my eye would expect to see at some point in the round. It looks natural to me, and I like the simplicity of the flattish green. I maybe should defer to Robert, who I assume has played it and who calls it a very hard hole; but I think it might look harder than it is; with that generous and uncomplicated landing area up front, I could hit more club and swing easy and controlled, like a low punch shot. Anyway, I do think most courses could 'contain' at least a couple of holes that look/play like this, or their equivalents (depending on the site).

Peter

Edit - re: Chris B's post, I'd be playing it from ~160. I'm not sure why the large difference between the back and middle tees; I guess the site, but I'd think 180 might keep it more 'consistently' hard across the board

[Bill Brightly]

Obviously, the hole is over-treed. Dead-give-away is the huge fan on the green because the putting surface gets no air and probably minimal sun.

The mounds around the green are interesting. Break out the chain saw, let the grass grow, and pretty soon you'll have a golf hole!

[Bill Brightly]

And move the cart path out of play near the green. This is not drive-by service!

[Scott Weersing]

The hole can't be that hard.

What would make it harder?

Uphill. This hole does not appear to be uphil.

Green. The green is flat. Let's see one that is crowned.

More trees. What about a big oak tree guarding one half of the green?

Wind. I doubt there is much wind in the forest.

[Brock Peyer]

I played the Pit this Spring on a golf trip, I had played it once before about 12 or 13 years ago.  It is a fun course, not one that I would want to play a lot but it is very different, kinda a kindler, gentler pre cursor to Tobacco Road.  There are a few holes and places on the course that really feel claustrophobic but it works for the course.  The course was built out of a pit of an area where they removed a lot of the sand when the NC highway system was built.  

If you are taking a trip to Pinehurst, Maplesgolf is a fairly new package company and they have some nice condos at the Pit.  The guys that I took really enjoyed it.

[Chris Cupit]

Barney won't like the fan...

It would help if they cleared some of the trees on the right.

Unless you wear out the Stihl you'll need a much  bigger fan(s)!  What they have now is kinda like pi**ing off of the Titanic

Twenty-five years ago or so I played this course with my dad.  As a junior all I remember was having fun playing golf with my dad--I do remember it was a "neat" golf course but couldn't remember a single hole--don't remember this one either.

[Chris Cupit]

Today, I'd say this hole pretty much sucks
But, I hate crappy ass pine trees.

[Mike Hendren]

Give me this hole over any of the 75,000 par threes in this country with a forced carry over water tight to the green.  I can pitch out of pine trees - with the same golf ball.

Mike

[Adam Clayman]

This hole is completely forgettable.

I know I have.

[Sean_A]

I don't understand how folks think the tree intrusion is fine.  The hole almost looks unfinished from the tee.  Sorry, the chainsaw is required for this hole.  

I have thought about playing the Pit, but I have seen few attractive photos of the course.  In general folks seem to like the place.  I went to the website - very annoying experience because they don't list a green fee or at least they don't make it terribly obvious what the fee is.  Leaving out important info in a info document isn't a way to get my business.  

Ciao  

[Paul Carey]

I liked the hole from 160 but not 230.  It is way too severe for that distance.  The cart path should go.