I've been avidly reading Ian Andrew's series on what one of his golf courses would look like. Two of the concepts he discussed (alternate routes and bunkers inside the fairway lines) and one hole on my home course started me down this dangerous path.
A disclaimer.
I am in no way going to pursue this idea. This is armchair architecture, and really just an exercise to see if I grasp the concepts.
The hole in question is a par 4. Lengths are as follows: Black - 407; Blue - 365; White - 332; Red - 290.
View from the back of the white tee. I've tried to estimate where the 200, 150, and 100 yard markers are.
Some aerial photos of the hole courtesy of a friends Cessna trip.
The ground slopes pretty severely towards the valley and a drive past the 140 mark will run pretty much to the bottom of the hill near the 100 yard marker. However, a lot of members end up at the 150 yard marker and are left with kicking a field goal through or trying to go over two trees get to the green. My mother's strategy is to actually chip it into the fairway bunker and proceed from there.
What if the fairway bunker was brought inside the fairway line?
A player from the tee could:
1. Lay back. No longer would they have to worry about navigating the vertical hazards from the 150 yard marker. However a pushed drive could end up in the gorge.
2. Play a long drive to the wide part of the fairway (right of the fairway bunker). This is currently the shot that is called for.
3. Try and hit it to the left of the fairway bunker for an optimal second shot. This would require a long drive with a risk of fesque and trees if you pull or hook your drive in an attempt to hit it too hard.
Here are the "modified pictures." The "brownish" colour is fescue that is growing in. I just used the same colour. Brown = fescue. The pictures were actually taken during the fall of constuction. I see that some bunkers on other holes are not even built yet.
Have I got the concept?
Thoughts, feedback, discussion and suggestions welcome.