[Jason Topp]

At Kingston Heath hey built an extra par three hole that allows them to take one out of play for maintenence purposes. 

I could see benefits, particularly on a course with a core of players who play all of the time and if the hole was a high quality hole such as the one at Kingston Heath.

Is it an impractical idea? 
I can think of many US courses with alternate greens or a 19th hole for settling bets but cannot think of a course with an extra hole in the middle of the round that can be rotated in and out of play.

[George Freeman]

I believe Erin Hills in Wisconsin has an alternate hole (par 3?) so that the Dell can be removed from the rota...

[Tom_Doak]

Jason:

There are quite a few new courses in America which have a 19th hole which could be used as you describe, although most members would object to finishing on a par-3.

That said, I think that someone who's trying to build a "great golf course" should stick to 18 holes, and that architects in general should not build in an extra hole which raises the question of what is the best configuration -- nor should they encourage future construction.  Kingston Heath gets a pass on this because the extra hole is new and visitors don't really think of it as integral to the course -- it's just an extra, much the same as the alternate tenth green at Riviera that nobody wants to play when they visit.

Does having an extra hole mean much from a maintenance standpoint?  It's not like you can aerify one hole per day for a month.

[JESII]

Sadly (so I am told) the 15th was out of play in favor of the extra hole the day I played Kingston Heath...not the the fill-in was a poor hole, but #15 is widely regarded as one of the better 3's around.

[Jason Topp]

Sadly (so I am told) the 15th was out of play in favor of the extra hole the day I played Kingston Heath...not the the fill-in was a poor hole, but #15 is widely regarded as one of the better 3's around.

Unfortunately I think  Phillip Gawith had the same experience.

[Garland Bayley]

I read The 7th at St. Andrews over the weekend. The author described putting in such a hole with the green (I don't remember the exact words) in the center of the 12th fairway. Is anyone able to explain this to me? Certainly the author didn't convey the actual situation did he?

[RJ_Daley]

We have a course here in my area built about 5 years ago that has 2 extra par 4s of about 350-390 yards.   It was done as a two hole loop of practice holes in conjunction with a very nice practice facility, not just to have extra to put in a maintenance rotation.  But, they have used it as such in a maintenance rotation.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Pat Ruddy built 20 holes at The European in Ireland because he said it was a shame not to use such excellent golfing ground. The Northumberland also has spare holes for use in winter, sparing the golfer from having to go to the bleak far end of the course in bad weather. Seaton Carew has 22 holes, giving the option of two different configurations, both excellent courses. Locally, Dunham Forest has a spare hole, Sandiway, too. Birchwood has an alternative green for the first hole (in the Japanese manner). My own course, Wilmslow, in winter sometimes takes the par-3 14th out of action, replacing it by reinstating an old green on the (normally par-5) 13th as a par 4 and playing a short par 3 to the present 13th green. It's not ideal, but it is necessary in long periods of damp weather - and we get those! Royal Troon in winter often takes the Postage Stamp out of play, replacing it with a FAR HARDER (Yes!) par 3 from the usual tee played to a hidden green behind and below the big mound which is to the left of the normal green.

[Eric Smith]

World Woods in Brooksville, Florida has some extra holes, practice holes, that are really nice.  The whole complex is really nice.  Those practice holes are better than alot of golf courses!  I can't say enough about the place.  Hope to get back there in October.

[Melvyn Morrow]

I think there is only one option regards more than 18 holes and again we
must look to St Andrews for the answer. The Old Course had an addition 18 holes added in 1895 called The New Course. This is the only practical way of adding holes. History has taught us of 12, 22, and 23 holes are not acceptable to golfers, so why are we looking to repeat past mistakes.  Today mistakes cost a bunker full of money, why not just stick to the tried and tested methods.

The 19th is a watering hole – just keep your hands off.   

[Kalen Braley]

I've really only heard of these type of holes, which are usually par 3s, as bet breakers at the end of the round.

If you got the money and the space, why not build an extra hole.  But I wouldn't use it in the normal rotation unless it was very cool.

[rjsimper]

Luana Hills on Oahu has "Pond" between the 10th and 11th that often fills in...
Honolulu CC has something like 21 holes if I recall correctly?

When we played there two holes were introduced to the course - talk about screwing with your membership.

[Doug Sobieski]

Hickory Hills in Grove City, OH (by Jack Kidwell) has two 3rd holes, both par 3's. Depending upon which is in play, you either go straight left or straight right when exiting the 2nd green. You can't see either hole from the  other, so if you only played the course once, you wouldn't know the extra hole existed.

They are both pretty good holes. I'm not sure if I prefer one over the other.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Two examples in the Bay Area.

Sharp Park had a 90 yd practice hole that (unfortunately) became part of the regular course when storm damage took its toll on the course.  It is now the 8th hole, with a listed yardage of 91.

Tilden Park has a downhill hole of approximately 80-90 yds that is right after the 2nd hole.  It has been out of service for as long as I can remember, but it is still maintained such that it could be placed in service if needed.

[Lou_Duran]

Hal Sutton's course in central Texas, Boot Ranch, has two 9th holes.  The one ends at the clubhouse and is used if the golfer wants to play only nine holes.

Doesn't Riviera have a couple of extra greens (10 and 16?) for some relief to the regular ones?

I've read about courses with two sets of greens, mainly in Japan, I think, for different seasonal grasses.   

[Garland Bayley]

Chambers Bay has two configurations of #5 and of #6. #5 has a green off the left edge of the fairway that can be used as a drivable par 4 green, and behind that green are a set of tees that shorten and reroute #6.

[Tom Jefferson]

The GREAT Dunes Club in the Myrtle Beach area has, I believe, an extra hole, a par 3, midway on the back nine that is used as a substitute hole when needed.

Tom

[Mike_Clayton]

Jason,

Kingston Heath did the 19th for a three  reasons.

They were resurfacing the greens doing six a year for three years.They used temporary greens at all the long holes but there was no place to put a temporary in at the short holes.

In the winter especially the 10th hole got pretty well worn - small green and a short iron - and they liked to 'rest it'

In winter it is easier to get a field around off two tees and they can switch the order to play the 7th (by the clubhouse) as the 10th. They leave 10 out and play 19 as the 2nd and go to 12 as the 3rd.

[Sean_A]

Pennard has a wee par 3 that has been used extensively during the renovation muck up job to the par 3 2nd. 

Melvyn - I don't buy that all courses need to follow a 9/18/27 etc pattern.  In fact, I am hoping as part of thinking outside the box that courses are built which use the land well whatever the final number of holes.  I often thought that 14 hole courses would work.  Though I freely admit that the only odd course I know of in this way which does work is Shiskine.  I can think of others that would be better if they dropped holes from the course.  Golspie comes to mind.  The 14th & 15th add no value to that course and I would be more than happy to go right from the 13th to the 16th.  In fact, when you stand on the tee for #14 and then look over to #15, then look at the 16th, I would be surprised that anybody would choose the 14th.   

Ciao

[R_Paulis]

La Cumbre CC located next to Santa Barbara has an alternative green on a par 3 on the back. In addition to the "island" green option, there is a longer hole played to the green located right of the island. I seem to remember different tee boxes for the different greens.

The members I played with preferred the longer hole option, although I am not sure why. Both holes appeared to be available most of the time.

I was lucky enough to live next to the La Cumbre and have a view of the course for a couple of years.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Sean

History is an important part of our lives, yet so many ignore what it tells us.

Basic mistakes are made over and over again, but to some that maybe regarded as progress, to others stupidity. Adjust the number of holes
on a course, but don’t complain about running cost or green fees.

I for one believe that we have an ideal choice of either 9 or 18 holes.
I see no need for change.

Climate change, construction and maintenance costs will all come out
in the wash, meaning more expensive Green Fees. Someone has to pay and guess who, the poor old golfer.

As for not liking a hole, that may just be your opinion, others may enjoy it.

[John Kirk]

Stanford University GC has a simple 19th hole, a short, uphill par 3, that gets put into service from time to time.  The San Francisquito Creek cuts a wide swath through the property.  When the water level rises in winter, the creek will sometimes damage one or more holes.  In particular, the par 3 14th hole occasionally goes out of commission.

[Sean_A]

Sean

History is an important part of our lives, yet so many ignore what it tells us.

Basic mistakes are made over and over again, but to some that maybe regarded as progress, to others stupidity. Adjust the number of holes
on a course, but don’t complain about running cost or green fees.

I for one believe that we have an ideal choice of either 9 or 18 holes.
I see no need for change.

Climate change, construction and maintenance costs will all come out
in the wash, meaning more expensive Green Fees. Someone has to pay and guess who, the poor old golfer.

As for not liking a hole, that may just be your opinion, others may enjoy it.

Melvyn

It is hard to understand why 9/18 holes is ideal when these numbers came into existence by chance.  I believe there is plenty of evidence to suggest that either the game needs to be more time efficient (which is a trend I don't see happening) and/or the construction of non-traditional configurations for the number of holes be considered.  I could be wrong, but I honestly believe that if a course is compelling (in whatever way) than the number of holes on offer becomes a minor issue.  As I said, 18 holes is a number grabbed from thin air.  There is no logic to support it as an ideal number.  Its true that history is important, but history has to start with the first day.  Besides, besides, building courses of 14, 12, 7 or whatever number of holes doesn't threaten history.  I think it harks back to the true origins of the game when the number of holes didn't matter so much.  Courses were courses and the idea of a standardized number of holes wasn't important.  I would argue that it still isn't important except in demonstrating how limited the modern view of the game can be. 

Ciao

[Doug Sobieski]

I just remembered that Cassique (Kiawah Island/Tom Watson) has a unique routing with two distinct 4th holes. It also has two 5th holes, although one plays to one of the 4th greens, i.e. if you play the left 4th hole, the 5th is a par 3 that plays uphill to the other 4th green. If you play the right 4th hole, there is a different 5th hole that you play. On paper it sounds really strange/gimmicky, but I thought it worked great in terms of the variety you would face daily there.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Sean

The 9 & 18 hole courses came about as the ideal size of a course after many years of playing various lengths and holes. It was through history that these materialised, not just plucked out of the air.

Some of the early members of clubs complained about length and holes.
Due to lack of land, early courses had fairways crossing each other, some limited to 6 holes. This is not a new idea, it was around 150 years ago, it’s
just that some are now bring it in under the maintenance umbrella – it is old and out of date, IMHO it is not cost effective in the long run. 

The 9 & 18 came about after many years of trying various lengths. I for one am not advocating that we should go back to 6, 12 or 23.

I may be alone in this.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()