TEPaul,
I'll have to look at it again when I next visit, but that location is the ideal location to construct a dual tee, one for the 7th hole and one for the 13th hole.
You may recall that I suggested that CBM attempted to craft two distinct approaches into the 13th green at NGLA, one replicating the approach to # 7 at TOC and the other replicating the approach to # 11 at TOC.
The extending and melding of a back tee on # 7 with a new tee back and left of the 12th green for # 13 (replicating the approach into # 7 at TOC) would be the ideal configuration.
Simply playing # 4 as a par 4 is NOT a viable solution since it allows the golfer, the long hitter, to simply ignore CBM's wonderful right side bunker complex amongst the faux dunes. Extending the tee returns that complex into play, as it was always intended.
What you DON'T understand is that flying that complex provides the golfer with the ideal approach angle into that diagonal green, whereas, if the golfer has to drive left, rather than over it, his angle of attack is into the diagonal green, not along its axis which makes for a far easier approach. That green is about 43 yards deep, meaning that the golfer who flies the "hotel" bunker complex has that entire 43 yards at his disposal on his approach, whereas, if the drive is forced left, the golfer doesn't have the entire 43 yards of green to work with, he must attack the green from a less desirable angle into a much narrower target, probably 10 to 20 yards at most, and, he must contend with the "road hole" fronting bunker and the deep bunker at the entire right flank of the green, which, from that angle is the back of the green.
I realize, that without your faithful companion, Coorshaw, you're at a loss to understand these blatant and nuanced differences created by extending the tee back towards Whites Lane.
Today, a carry of less than 250 clears the entire right side "hotel" bunker complex
Taking the tee back 20-30-40 yards would radically alter play and return the play of the hole to CBM's intended strategy.
In my monthly conversation with CBM, I mentioned that you were opposed to my suggestion.
To which CBM responded, "What the "F" does he know ? He's a farmer from Philadelphia and a fanatical Merion/Flynnophile, tell him to stay on the west bank of the Delaware and leave the sophisticated design concepts to us. Next he'll be telling everyone that I had little or nothing to do with Merion"
