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Michael Chadwick

  • Karma: +0/-0
CapRock Ranch's 18th
« on: September 23, 2023, 06:40:12 PM »

Gil Hanse's CapRock Ranch, like MacKenzie's Pasatiempo, finishes with a par 3. Measuring 213 yards from the tips, the back two tee boxes are forced carries over a plunging canyon rim ringed with exposed limestone outcrops. It's a stunning hole, providing a challenging shot for longer hitters, while aligning shorter tee boxes with the swath of fairway short of the green further right.



18th


All but one of CapRock's quintet of par 3s feature forced carries over the canyon, while the interior 9th is bracketed by a massive bunker left, a steep short grass fall-off right, and a center lion's mouth! Of the courses I've seen, only Cypress Point has a more beautiful collective set, yet CapRock manages to rival MacKenzie's without the aid of oceanfront. The limestone canyon is, truly, that magnificent, and while there are a number of other terrific holes in the routing, I think the par 3s are the most distinctive contribution the course makes to world class golf. 



3rd



6th



9th



16th


In general, I tend to prefer par 4s or par 5s over 3s, and after finishing the 18th and looking backwards, I noticed that there is a section of the rim not fully incorporated between 16 green and 18 green.



18 green facing behind


The 17th hole, a wonderful matchplay design, is a potentially drivable par 4 with a blind green set below a high ridge of fairway. While that green and the 18th back tees return to the canyon's edge, the 17th corridor appears to play more away from the edge rather than feature it.


Perhaps there were erosion or safety concerns, and I'm not going to pretend to know--nor criticize--why Hanse opted for a par 3 finisher. It suits the setting wonderfully, and adds a final dash of eccentricity on a course with plenty of enjoyable shaping and personality.


But just for armchair fun, and without any need to be actually safe or feasible, I jumped on a map to see if alternative holes might be imagined. Two ideas sprang to mind.


If keeping the 17th intact, the 18th could become another drivable par 4. On the screenshot below, the back tee could feature a 290-300 yard carry to the center of the green, with room for forward tees as well. Though it'd only be a 160-170 yard carry over the nearest corner of the limestone outcrop, a 250 yard drive over the center of the limestone band would leave a 80-100 yard shot into the green. It would be like flipping the orientation of Cypress 16 and adding par 4 yardage to it. A walk-back would be required from 17 green, yes, and additional fairway would need to be beyond the limestone ridge, but whereas every player is obligated to attempt the green on a par 3, a drivable par 4 would add risk and reward in matches.



18 Alternative par 4 from tee



18 Alternative par 4 looking back


Or, if you took current 17 out of the routing, I can also see a par 5 beginning shortly after 16 green. The same concept would apply as the drivable par 4, but in this case it'd be designing a hole where a 230-250 forced carry 2nd shot could result in an eagle attempt, or conservatively play the 2nd away from the green to the right and pitch onto the putting surface for a birdie putt. That hole, in my mind, would blend characteristics of Pasatiempo 11 or Pebble 8, but on the scale of a par 5. The aggressive line would be to hug the canyon edge as close and deep as possible, and successfully doing so would give the player greater advantage over a more conservative opponent.



18 Alternative par 5 from tee



18 Alternative par 5 looking back





More to my own point, both holes would feature the length of that canyon, with height comparable to Pacific Dunes 4, as it plunges down to the river. Probably too good to be true for on a closing stretch that is already exceptional, and that's why neither hole exists, but one can dream!

Instagram: mj_c_golf

Ben Sims

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2023, 11:29:45 AM »
Michael,


How many of CapRock’s two and three shotters have a forced carry to the green? Thanks.




MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2023, 12:03:05 PM »
The rumor I've heard (not to be confused with fact) is that Hanse Design was hoping to put the green where the clubhouse is, potentially creating one of the world's most dramatic finishing holes.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2023, 05:12:38 PM »
We just hosted Lord and Lady Redanman here in Bonnie Scotland for a few days last week. As is customary, the big fella and I love to pore over snaps of recent plays. His shots of CapRock were stunning, intriguing, exciting and very beguiling. The delightful photos of golf holes set in glorious isolation in the vastness of that landscape are beyond belief.
Just lovely,
F.
The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Joe Bausch

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2023, 07:19:07 PM »
A comprehensive photo tour of CapRock (in the style that I've become known for, FWIW!) from a May 2023 visit is at this link:

http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/CapRockRanch/index.html
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Michael Chadwick

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2023, 05:53:26 PM »
Michael,


How many of CapRock’s two and three shotters have a forced carry to the green? Thanks.


Ben--none.


Mike Cirba--interesting that there may have been discussion about the clubhouse location site. Nonetheless, the 18th green's location is still compelling. I just can't help but notice the unused space along the canyon rim between 16 green and 17 green. It doesn't come into play on the 17th except for the worst of left misses.


Looking at it from above, a par 5 beginning after 16 green and continuing to present 18 green visually reminds me of two holes: The tee shot of Pebble 6 (flipping the orientation of the cliff), followed by a go-for-it in 2 shot resembling Pebble 8 (but longer). On paper that sounds like a world-class hole!   


I suppose what I'm getting at is a question of routing. The choices that were available to Gil, the limitations that may have been imposed--whether by stakeholders, permitting restrictions, the structural integrity of the ground, etc.--and the resultant decisions made. Unfortunately, we can't get that kind of context without Gil or someone close to the project chiming in, which I doubt will happen here. In either case, it's not appropriate to speculate on why CapRock's routing is what it is. 


I think my lingering wonderment of whether the canyon could've been more fully incorporated in the routing does, though, raise an architectural topic for us to consider. For our discussion's sake, are there other great courses (because CapRock is great) where you might have had questions or uncertainties about the routing? Or, conversely, courses where the routing is so spectacular that it enhances what otherwise was designed?


At a place like Merion, for example, it's hard for me to believe how sensational the routing is given the site. The routing surpasses what I'd expect, and in doing so, makes the course even better. On the other end of the spectrum, there are surely courses where the holes by themselves may be compelling, but the routing leaves much to be desired. Many cart-riding resort or residential community courses may fall into this bucket. Diamante Dunes comes to mind as an example where, despite my appreciation for many of its holes, I wondered whether a better routing might've been possible.


Or, maybe more directly affiliated to my OP, have you played any courses--good or bad--where you imagined an alternative hole you'd rather play than what's actually on the ground?
Instagram: mj_c_golf

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2023, 07:56:23 PM »
Michael,


Great questions.


Allow me to suggest that a fantastic (if possibly frustrating) mental exercise is to imagine the 18th tee roughly close to its current location but the green at cliff's edge in the center of the clubhouse, with that building slightly north, and then work backwards.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Mike Worth

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2023, 04:47:18 PM »
I played Caprock Friday before last (15 Sep), and also a few holes (15-18) on the Sunday that followed. Unfortunately, the timing didn’t work out to play a full 18 on Sunday.


Anyway, although I was vaguely aware of the routing issues discussed, I wanted to share my thought that in 10 years people will still think the course is incredible but the “alternative“ routing thoughts will have faded.


How many hundreds of courses are out there that could have had alternative routings where no one really thinks about that at all? I think people tend to enjoy amd appreciate what is there.



« Last Edit: September 26, 2023, 04:58:35 PM by Mike Worth »

David Kelly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2023, 12:44:13 PM »
When I was there it was mentioned to me that some of the canyon ledges were considered too structurally unsound to utilize as part of golf holes.  I was surprised that the right side of #6 passed inspection.
"Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent." - Judge Holden, Blood Meridian.

MCirba

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2023, 01:00:19 PM »
Just occurred to me that Boston Golf Club ends on a par three, as well.
"Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent" - Calvin Coolidge

https://cobbscreek.org/

Adam G

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: CapRock Ranch's 18th
« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2023, 06:01:05 PM »
It does, and Gil has just significantly expanded the green. BGC 18 will be a much better hole come April.

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