Pat,
No arguments about #6 at Alpine being a terror, I cannot tell you how many times I have been even par thru 5 and hit that hole and doubled or tripled. Also no argument on #8 being our hardest par 3..
I guess I just find #7 pretty dull until you get to that section 150yds from the green where it drops precipitously and leaves you downhill lies for a third pitch..The truth is though about 240yards from the member tees and 270 from the tips is a usually unforseen ledge that gives your drive about 30yds extra of roll and allows you to hit a wood or low iron if you choose that takes the whole downhill lie out of play if you are accurate..you will end up in the rough short of the bunkers that front the green with a tiny pitch.
The only people I see in those bunkers they put in on the right are our women members (due to the placement of the tee) and people who hit bad slices..True it is OB right but those bunkers really don't save you as they used to grow the rough up there and you wouldn't bound into the woods on most shots..The rough was more penal as well than the bunkers. I would rather they put in a diagonal bunker or something akin to a Woking #4 complex because the tee shot is boring other than the view. I want to think about something off the tee but perhaps Tillie realized (as I think he did) that Alpine is too tight a track for fairway hazards and that is why he didnt put one in.
I just think for the money the membership spent for those bunkers we could have had a better hazard or something more strategic on the hole. But as you and I have discussed many times our club is run by consensus.
Just my idea, and I know I am wrong at times..Still love the idea of Woking style bunkers..Debate is good for golf
TEPAUL-thanks, now I must read up on Herr Behr..