[Tom Huckaby]

5 is a wonderful hole, no doubt. But after reflection I think 6 is a bit better. The tee shot requires a proper line in order to get the "kick" to the left that can yield an addtional 30-40 yds of roll of hit properly. If a tee shot goes too far left, then the 'kick' effect is negated but it sems natural on the tee to try and sling it around the corner to shorten the hole, which is not the case.

PAGING MIKE BENHAM
PAGING MIKE BENHAM
PAGING MIKE "6 IS AN EASY BLAH HOLE, A GOOD PLAYER SHOULD MAKE 4 EVERY TIME" BENHAM....

 

I concur with you, David.  I think 6 is a very cool hole and in the end may well be better than 5.  But as you can guess, Mike and I have had this discussion before...

TH

[George Pazin]

Interesting that you say it doesn't get better than the 15th - I like the look of the 16th and 17th better. Hope I make it back out there someday.

Thanks for sharing.

[Tyler Kearns]

Hole #9 looking back

Almost all the pictures I have seen of this hole are from the tee. I had always figured the green sloped from left-to-right, but never imagined it was as severely tiered as this, thanks for posting.

TK

[Nick Church]

It may just be me, but....The shot of the hill in the background of #3 and #11 vaguely remind me of the surrounding hills that Strantz used at Tobacco Road.  I wonder if he was thinking of Cypress when he built that kind of contrast into Tobacco.

[Ash Towe]

Chip,
Great pics.
It is nearly a year ago I played this wonderful course with Ed Getka, Tom Huckaby and Rick Schefchik.  Thanks for the memories guys.

[Kyle Henderson]

SFGC and CPC, eh? You live well, Mr. Gaskins. Thank you for sharing the photos. They'll have to tide me over for some time I fear.

Oh puuuulease Mr. Sand Hills, Ballyneal, Dismal River trifecta.

 

Guilty as charged. Any other year and I would have had a leg to stand on...

[Mike Benham]

PAGING MIKE "6 IS AN EASY BLAH HOLE, A GOOD PLAYER SHOULD MAKE 4 EVERY TIME" BENHAM....

A "green light special" is what I called it ...

Is "better" harder?

Is "better" more risk reward?

Is "better" easier?


I consider hole #6 to be a more birdie-able hole then #5 ...

The difficulty on #6 is the tee shot and that is only for the aggressive golfer who can hit the ball a fair distance, who might be tempted to sling a hard draw around the corner.  For those who have average distance, like Mr. Huckaby, it is a 3-shot hole and therefore using a 3 wood or driver from the tee is not much of a difference.  Pick the club that you can hit 220-230 down the middle past the bunkers on the right.

A simple layup leaving a short iron for a slightly downhill approach to a relatively flat green.  It really is a birdie hole, much more so then #5 ...

As I have written, "as you scale the dune to the 7th tee, pause for a moment to reflect upon the first 6 holes. 3 par-5s, a medium length par-4 and a straight forward par-3, you should be even par, perhaps 1 or 2 under at this point.  As you proceed through the next few holes, you will wish you were."


Ps:  Any semi-proficient golfer who sees a sub-500 yard, waterless, with no forced carry par-5 is thinking of birdie as they stand on the tee box ... simple enough ...

[Brent Carlson]

Simply fantastic photos and course.

Thanks for sharing.

[James Bennett]

Chip, great photos. Was the 17th enshrouded by fog?

yep...i couldn't see the end of the tee box.  made for a neat hole, but not a very good photo. 

James B

[Tom Huckaby]

PAGING MIKE "6 IS AN EASY BLAH HOLE, A GOOD PLAYER SHOULD MAKE 4 EVERY TIME" BENHAM....

A "green light special" is what I called it ...

Is "better" harder?

Is "better" more risk reward?

Is "better" easier?


I consider hole #6 to be a more birdie-able hole then #5 ...

The difficulty on #6 is the tee shot and that is only for the aggressive golfer who can hit the ball a fair distance, who might be tempted to sling a hard draw around the corner.  For those who have average distance, like Mr. Huckaby, it is a 3-shot hole and therefore using a 3 wood or driver from the tee is not much of a difference.  Pick the club that you can hit 220-230 down the middle past the bunkers on the right.

A simple layup leaving a short iron for a slightly downhill approach to a relatively flat green.  It really is a birdie hole, much more so then #5 ...

As I have written, "as you scale the dune to the 7th tee, pause for a moment to reflect upon the first 6 holes. 3 par-5s, a medium length par-4 and a straight forward par-3, you should be even par, perhaps 1 or 2 under at this point.  As you proceed through the next few holes, you will wish you were."


Ps:  Any semi-proficient golfer who sees a sub-500 yard, waterless, with no forced carry par-5 is thinking of birdie as they stand on the tee box ... simple enough ...

Funny how said golfers then fail to make that 4 they so have in their mind.

And btw, I have reached that green in two, smart guy.  How?  By pulling off the proper tee shot, over the right bunker, gaining the speed slot, getting it way down there.  It still took a hell of a good second shot though.  And a hell of a drive.

"Green light special" my ass, I say.  Those who look at it that way invariably hit their drive too far left and are blocked by the trees... or flare it right and are dead... or three jack on what is a pretty difficult green.

No my friend, this is a great golf hole requiring both thought and execution.  "Green light special" diminishes it far far far too much.

TH

[Tom Huckaby]

The wise Silver Fox and I have discussed this offline, and come to agreement on a rewrite of his post... yes, this was a matter of national importance worthy of our time and efforts.... 

How's this:

As you scale the dune to the 7th tee, pause for a moment to reflect upon the first 6 holes. 3 par-5s, a medium length par-4 and a straight forward par-3, you should be even par, perhaps 1 or 2 under at this point.  But you're not, and you are wondering why?  Mackenzie's genius has played out as seemingly attackable golf holes don't play out that way.  As you proceed through the next few holes, you will wish you had saved those strokes.

Any comments?

[Mike_Cirba]

Nice pics...

No wonder Huckaby got so visually excited about the course! 

[Tom Huckaby]

Nice pics...

No wonder Huckaby got so visually excited about the course! 

Mike, I'm just happy you left that at "visually."

And I am frightened to think about what pictures of shivas at Rock Creek might show...

 

[Mike_Cirba]

Rock likely being the operative word.

[Chip Gaskins]

It may just be me, but....The shot of the hill in the background of #3 and #11 vaguely remind me of the surrounding hills that Strantz used at Tobacco Road.  I wonder if he was thinking of Cypress when he built that kind of contrast into Tobacco.

Believe it not I had that same thought on #9.  Something about it looked like Tobacco Road to me.

[Chip Gaskins]

SFGC and CPC, eh? You live well, Mr. Gaskins. Thank you for sharing the photos. They'll have to tide me over for some time I fear.

Oh puuuulease Mr. Sand Hills, Ballyneal, Dismal River trifecta.

 

i have that same trip in 9 days...except substitute Prairie Dunes for Dismal River and add Priarie Club....then the clubs go in the closet for the year

Guilty as charged. Any other year and I would have had a leg to stand on...

[Chip Gaskins]

Chip, great photos. Was the 17th enshrouded by fog?

yep...i couldn't see the end of the tee box.  made for a neat hole, but not a very good photo. 

James B

so that is what it looks like.   luckily i hit the fairway left of the tree.

[Chip Gaskins]

Funny how said golfers then fail to make that 4 they so have in their mind.

And btw, I have reached that green in two, smart guy.  How?  By pulling off the proper tee shot, over the right bunker, gaining the speed slot, getting it way down there.  It still took a hell of a good second shot though.  And a hell of a drive.

"Green light special" my ass, I say.  Those who look at it that way invariably hit their drive too far left and are blocked by the trees... or flare it right and are dead... or three jack on what is a pretty difficult green.

No my friend, this is a great golf hole requiring both thought and execution.  "Green light special" diminishes it far far far too much.

TH

#6 was my only birdie of the day.  driver, 3 wood to little valley in front of the green.

i personally think the #6 hole is a lot like #10 at Augusta National.  that fairway bunker on the right looks a whole like the original MacKenzie bunker in the fairway at #10.  both holes a speed slot and turn downhill right to left.

[Tom Huckaby]

Well now Chip you are sure ruining my points made off line to Mr. Benham... your birdie on 6 is one of few reported by GCAers. 

And of course it certainly CAN be done.  If played cautiously and correctly, the hole can be had - which really was Mike's point more or less.  It is a "birdie hole" for the better player, at least in his thinking.

But it also can sure jump up and bite you, more than you would think.

TH

[Curt Coulter]

Thanks for the great pix as it reminds me of my day there in February of this year. It was
typical February weather, rainy and cold, but we actually saw lightening and had to scramble
for cover while on #7...we went to the maintenance barn. After looking at the radar, I saw there
was a narrow window b4 the next cell coming through and I decided to skip 8-12 and go to 13 so
I could play the finishing holes, and boy was it worth it! We were allowed to walk back out and view the holes we missed but it is not the same as playing them.

I have been playing at Oakmont for 31 years so I know good golf courses, but I liked this course better than PV b/c it offered more variety. Obviously you cannot put an ocean on PV and CP was blessed w/a perfect setting, but Cypress has some Pine Valley-esque holes, as well as the ocean
holes as well as some Pinehurst-esque holes, which to me makes for an even more amazing day.
But why should we have to choose one...they can be 1a and 1b.

Keep it in the short grass.

[Nick Church]

It may just be me, but....The shot of the hill in the background of #3 and #11 vaguely remind me of the surrounding hills that Strantz used at Tobacco Road.  I wonder if he was thinking of Cypress when he built that kind of contrast into Tobacco.

Believe it not I had that same thought on #9.  Something about it looked like Tobacco Road to me.

Yes, sir... I think it's just the abrupt scale of the hill in relation to the playing areas. 

Not a complaint by any stretch... it's just what immediately came to mind.

Thanks for giving me some validity that I'm not crazy 

[Kalen Braley]

Huck,

You still haven't answered the fundamental question though....why do you think #6 is a better hole than #5.  I will stipulate the tee shot on 5 is more interesting and strategic....after that though, #5 blows it away in terms of options.  And 6 green is good, but 5 green is diabolical with all kinds of trouble to get in, even if you are on the gren...

P.S. I saw someone in our group make an all-world recovery when they were stymied left of the green.  This involved using a backstop and alot of imagination....I think it was a par saver IIRC.

[Tom Huckaby]

Kalen:

I said "in the end may well be a better hole than 5."  I am not convinced it is, I said it may well be.

They are both great holes to me.

TH

[Bob_Huntley]

Thanks for the great pix as it reminds me of my day there in February of this year. It was
typical February weather, rainy and cold, but we actually saw lightening and had to scramble
for cover while on #7...we went to the maintenance barn. After looking at the radar, I saw there
was a narrow window b4 the next cell coming through and I decided to skip 8-12 and go to 13 so
I could play the finishing holes, and boy was it worth it! We were allowed to walk back out and view the holes we missed but it is not the same as playing them.

I have been playing at Oakmont for 31 years so I know good golf courses, but I liked this course better than PV b/c it offered more variety. Obviously you cannot put an ocean on PV and CP was blessed w/a perfect setting, but Cypress has some Pine Valley-esque holes, as well as the ocean
holes as well as some Pinehurst-esque holes, which to me makes for an even more amazing day.
But why should we have to choose one...they can be 1a and 1b.

Keep it in the short grass.

Curt,

Forgive me, but please don't use short hand writing in your posts, it makes me have to think.

Thank you.

Bob

[Mike Hendren]

My only quip is why do they have ball washsers...

For Hillbillies, though I once fell off one.

Hope you are well.

Mike

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