The Drop-shot Hole

[Chris Moore]

Whenever I read about a "drop-shot" hole, there seems to  be an undertone of derision.  Are these holes generally not acceptable exercises of GCA?  Why or why not?  What holes are the best/worst drop shot holes?  I nominate No. 7 at Western Gailes for "best."

[Chris_Clouser]

Why shouldn't it be accepted?  Because it doesn't require a lot of critical thinking to analyze the hole and figure out the options presented? 

Drop shot holes are great for several reasons.  The thrill of watching your shot all the way to the green, the spectacular views that can be afforded from an elevated location, or just simply an easy way to transition a course through a steep elevation change.  All legitimate reasons to have one.  But the problem is that some architects use them for most or all par threes.  Repetition is not the answer.  But like all things drop shot holes in moderation are not a bad thing.  If so, then the Devil's Cauldron should be reviled by everyone...

[tlavin]

12 at Shoreacres is a good 'un.

[George Freeman]

Hole 3 - "Devil's Drop"  ThreeTops - TreeTops Resort, Gaylord MI

170 foot drop from tee to green.  Hole plays around 170-200 yds, but you only need to hit your 140 yd club and watch the ball plummet for about 10 seconds.  A truly exhilarating experience/shot!

[Mark_Rowlinson]

There is, of course, the opposite kind of hole, uphill and blind. There's a great example at Painswick.

[Phil Benedict]

Fourth at Whippoorwill (Banks), which is also the Short.  Generous target but recovery is treacherous if you miss it. 

[Chris Cupit]

My home club has a drop shot par 3.  It still isn't my favorite hole although Mike Riley greatly improved it.  It used to be blind

Now it is completely visible from the tee.  The drop is about 110 feet.  The back tee of 205 plays to a yardage of 165.  The green is slightly over 10,000 square feet so it doesn't look so small.  It looks like a normal size green from the tee.  The green also has some great movement which you can see even from the tee.

This links to our hole--it's a gallery that takes a few seconds to view and it's the fourth picture to come up:

www.rivermontcountryclub.com/pages/gallery2.html

[Ed Oden]

Sign me up for #7 at Pebble any day.  Short, tiny green, wind, waves crashing.  Doesn't get any better than that.

[Kalen Braley]

I've said it before...

But #9 at Lake Chabot is the coolest drop shot hole I've ever played.  Its so steep, you can't even see the green from the tee.  Your playing partner has to watch it or an off-line shot in the trees will likely not be found.

[Matt Varney]

OK so I am reading this thread and I have just a couple questions?

1. How much is too much drop to the green below?

2. Since the yardage can read long and play much shorter ala Rivermont CC what is the maximum distance you could create a drop shot par 3? Is 240 yards too long?

[cary lichtenstein]

There are some really good drop shot holes and I think Jim Engh has done a bunch.

At Lakota Canyon, the 3rd hole has a bomerrang green and the 17th has a monster 2nd level. I like the 9th, although I think the green may have settled and the slope needs to be reworked a bit.

On the other hand, Fazio really overdid it at Maroon Creek. I the first par 3 drop shot is #7, and just about every other hole is a drop shot thru the balance of the round.

[archie_struthers]

 


Merion West drop shot hole is fabulous...you can throw it on easier than hit it.......perhaps someone has a graphic?

[Tim Bert]

Someone always says it eventually, so I'll be the guy this time.  Hard to have this conversation without Devil's Cauldron at Banff Springs getting serious consideration.  The drop-shot tee shot in the 15th (formerly #1) at Banff is also pretty cool for a par 4.

For sheer elevation excitement, Sugarloaf in Maine has a couple grand drop-shot tee shots (both par 3 and otherwise), Fox Hopyard in CT has a very steep par 3, and Green Mountain National in Vermont has a few, but I wouldn't put any of these in best-of-class category even though the elevation change is more significant than many others.

[Matt Varney]

So does anyone have any pictures I took a look at the one on the Rivermont website.

What is ideal 200 yards from the tips playing 100 feet below so it actually plays 160-170?

I would love to see the Merion picture showing the drop shot short hole.  Anybody else got images from places like Devil's Cauldron and Sugarload in Maine?

[Kirk Gill]

There is a good pic of the drop shot hole at Merion West on Sean Arble's photo tour of that course, back on page 3 or so. I hope he doesn't mind if I "quote" it here:

[Tim Leahy]

I've said it before...
But #9 at Lake Chabot is the coolest drop shot hole I've ever played.  Its so steep, you can't even see the green from the tee.  Your playing partner has to watch it or an off-line shot in the trees will likely not be found.

You beat me to it, but if you like that one, make the drive to La Contenta between Sacramento and Stockton in the middle of nowhere, worth the trip just for the 13th hole, drop shot par 3, 175 from the back, at least as far a drop as Lake Chabot, great views and my most memorable par 3 anywhere, you almost have to hit several shots from the tee every visit.

No. 3 at Spyglass Hill is also a good one. Onshore wind can change the club selection at any time.

No. 6 at Torrey Pines North may be the best view anywhere.

[Carl Rogers]

I have got some pics of the 11th hole at Riverfront if someone would tell how to uplaod them.

[J Sadowsky]

There are a couple of good drop shot holes in DC - Laurel Hill has a good one, the TPC at Avenal one is famous, and even the rinky-dinky $25 muni (Langston) has a fun one.

I agree with t he overdoing it part, though.  Golden Horseshoe (Gold) has 4 very good Par 3s viewed in isolation, but they're ALL downhill drop shots.  That certainly was disappointing as a whole.  

[Phil McDade]

There is, of course, the opposite kind of hole, uphill and blind. There's a great example at Painswick.

Or back to back, as at Shiskine at Blackwaterfoot on the west coast of the Isle of Arran in Scotland. The blind, uphill Crow's Nest (#3, 122 yards), followed by the wonderful drop-shot of The Shelf (#4, 137 yds).

[Doug Ralston]

Still the best is Eagle Ridge [KY] #13. 325yd par-4 drops 240ft to a fairway the moves l-r with a stream and woods left and a rocky bank right to hold in wide shots. It is a true reachable par-4 with high risk and eagle or triple bogey are certainly within range of even a moderate hitter.

Doug

[Phil McDade]

Perhaps the most famous drop-shot hole in Wisconsin is the 8th at Peninsula State Park GC, the only state-owned course in the nation's dairyland, in picturesque Door County. All of 69 yards, to a green that's not that big, it's a question of how much you take off a wedge to not fly the green. Pic here (the trees behind the green are deliberately placed there to avoid balls flying on to the road directly behind, which is part of the park and dissects the course):

http://www.peninsulagolf.org/photo8.htm

Is the Dell hole at Erin Hills technically a drop-shot, albiet a blind one?

[Mike Demetriou]

A clever drop shot hole, it actually offers two holes to play, is found at the lesser known but still impressive Cog Hill #2 (Ravines Course).

http://www.coghillgolf.com/courses/ravines_course_hole_by_hole.asp?h=04

I don't have a photo of it, but in searching the Interweb for one, I came across some validation in an article in the Chicago Sun Times about the delays at Dubsdread:

"On a more positive note, Jemsek was delighted that his No. 2 course, Ravines, was recognized in the recently released PGA Professionals Guide to Travel. It was one of six urban courses nationwide priced at $125 or less to be honored by PGA of America selectors, who also named the fourth hole on the course as the best short par-3 in that category."

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/golf/943997,CST-SPT-local12.article

[Tim Leahy]

I've said it before...
But #9 at Lake Chabot is the coolest drop shot hole I've ever played.  Its so steep, you can't even see the green from the tee.  Your playing partner has to watch it or an off-line shot in the trees will likely not be found.

You beat me to it, but if you like that one, make the drive to La Contenta between Sacramento and Stockton in the middle of nowhere, worth the trip just for the 13th hole, drop shot par 3, 175 from the back, at least as far a drop as Lake Chabot, great views and my most memorable par 3 anywhere, you almost have to hit several shots from the tee every visit.

No. 3 at Spyglass Hill is also a good one. Onshore wind can change the club selection at any time.

No. 6 at Torrey Pines North may be the best view anywhere.

Here's another one I thought of in Reno, Lakeridge

http://www.lakeridgegolf.com/

[cary lichtenstein]

The 17th hole is the biggest drop shot I ever encountered, it is a par 4, I hit 2 tee balls, caught the 2nd one flush and had an 8 iron into the green, I think about 250 ft.

Hawaii, Lanaii, The E

[Gerry B]

As much as i like shoreacres - I agree with Shivas that it is ok but not great - In fact I played there last weekend -that being said  the hole  is situated in a great setting and is sandwiched  between 2 great holes.

The 4th at scarboro even though the yardage is 200 yds is a beauty and is a drop shot of sorts - as good as 7 is at SFGC (the duel)- Tillinghast's 4th at Scarboro is my favorite of the 2.

the 16th at Myopia is a beauty - and to add to the excitement - the ball disappears from view for awhile as the play is short of the green especially with a front pin location - the 3 one shotters at Myopia might be the best set of par 3's out there


the par 3 on the front at the Olympic Club's Ocean course is fun as well

14 at Maidstone is another gem - GREAT SETTING