What architectural feature

[Sean_A]

dislodges most golfers from their comfort zone ?

Which AF dislodges YOU from your comfort zone.

OB is not to be considered as it's not an architectural feature within the confines of the golf course.

As a corollary, what green speed takes you out of your comfort zone ?

Pat

I don't know what dislodges me most form my comfort zone.  That seems to change on a weekly basis. 

However, I will mention a feature which isn't used much these days, but was once a very prominent design concept.  I suspect the use of front to back greens has lost so much favour with archies because golfers get uptight about it.  More is the pity.

Ciao

[Jaeger Kovich]

1. I think centerline hazards in the drive zone off the tee drive make most golfers uncomfortable. (Just played a hole like this today and my home course has one as well. They don't know what to do! Q: "Where do I aim?" A: "Pick a side, or aim down the middle and hope you dont hit it straight!")

2. Greenside bunkers that are set 10 yards off the green. They are great for maintenance crews because you can get bigger mowers in there to take care of the rough, but I hate that mid-range bunker shot!

3. Slow greens kill me. I just switched from a custom short putter to a belly putter because I am not good putting from long distance. PS: worked great today, even on slowish greens!

[Bradley Anderson]

Putting up or down a two tiered green.

Down hill lies to a green that is above you.

Hitting from a bunker with another bunker between you and the green.

Hitting from a bunker with another bunker on the other side of the green.

[Jason Connor]

As despised as they may be here, if you really want to take the average golfer out of his comfort zone, I'd say build an island green.

Not that I'd ever do that.

[Trey Stiles]

Par 3
Early in the round
Short Iron
Down Hill
Narrow Green
Cross Wind away from the water
Left Water / Bulkhead all the way to the green surface

Yes , I'm thinking about a specific hole .... The bad news is that it's on my home club and it's got my number

[A.G._Crockett]

A midlength dogleg (especially right) that requires driver but slopes to the outside of the dogleg.  Especially if there is serious trouble to the outside.  (I'm sure this is because about half of my driver fade attempts are double-crosses.)

As to green speed, I don't mind fast unless the greens weren't built for the speed they are playing.  I don't like slow greens; it exposes my putting stroke for what it really is.

[Wade Whitehead]

Complexities in the layup area of an unreachable par five always put me on the defensive.  Smartly placed bunkers or hazards or even sidehill contour can really make that shot a challenge and can cause a great deal of uncertainty on a shot many players take for granted.

It's interesting to observe how many folks say slow green speeds give them fits.  I've read many times that slowing down greens on the PGA Tour might make them more of a challenge, and might bring new players into the mix.  This thread might reinforce the notion.

WW

[Richard Choi]

Random tall "fescue" (which is more like thick rye grass) that border both side of the fairways.

Nothing ticks me off more than a ball that barely trickles into this stuff. Especially when it is blind from the tee as now you need to walk BACK to the tee (but i doubt that most people do).

[Paul Carey]

You may think I am crazy.

I believe a hazard (water) behind a green with a back pin is a more uncomfortable shot than over a hazard to a front pin.  I find I am sure of how much I can carry a shot over a hazard but I get very uncomfortable with a back pin with a hazard or trouble behind.  I usually hit the shot well short of the back pin...afraid to be too aggressive.

Obviously it is more relevant with a club shorter than a six iron.

PC

[Patrick_Mucci]

I'm shocked.

Other than Jeff Brauer, no one seems to feel that water flanking one or both sides of a hole gets golfers out of their comfort zone.

How can OB be that objectional and a lateral hazard in the same position acceptable ?

[Jason Walker]

Pat, you asked for what architecural feature most takes golfers out of their comfort zone.  I can't think of anything more than a forced carry off the tee over water.  I didn't see anything posted that in my opinion would offer more of a challenge for the AVERAGE golfer.

[Charlie Goerges]

I'm shocked.

How can OB be that objectional and a lateral hazard in the same position acceptable ?

Because of stroke and distance.

Of course any situation which could cause a lost ball should cause equal strain (e.g. dense forest undergrowth, impossibly thick "gunsch" etc.)

[Buck Wolter]

For me partial blindness is often worse than completely blind. Seeing part of the fairway or green and having to guess what is lurking is harder than just picking a spot on a hillside and trying to hit over it.

[Patrick_Mucci]

I'm shocked.

How can OB be that objectional and a lateral hazard in the same position acceptable ?

Because of stroke and distance.

What's that got to do with acceptance, it's a penalty, far more of a penalty than bunkers, blind shots, etc., etc..

Of course any situation which could cause a lost ball should cause equal strain (e.g. dense forest undergrowth, impossibly thick "gunsch" etc.)


Water flanking the entire hole is far more dangerous than dense forest flanking the entire hole.
I've hit lots of balls into the woods that bounced back out into the fairway and/or rough.
I've never hit a ball into a pond/lake that bounced back out into the fairway and/or rough.

[Kalen Braley]

I'm shocked.

Other than Jeff Brauer, no one seems to feel that water flanking one or both sides of a hole gets golfers out of their comfort zone.

How can OB be that objectional and a lateral hazard in the same position acceptable ?

One is drop and re-load, the other hopefully you have a much closer next shot!!

Thats why the long carry over gunch/water/whatever is the worst because effectivly its just as bad....and unlike OB, you have to challenge it as opposed to just keeping your ball straight.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Kalen,

You  wouldn't like The Medalist, especially with a wind out of the west.

[Kalen Braley]

Kalen,

You  wouldn't like The Medalist, especially with a wind out of the west.

Pat,

As a high capper right now, there are probably a fair amount of courses I "wouldn't like".     But that being said, I'm sure there are plenty of tough courses that I would enjoy getting my butt handed to me, especially some of the classics like a Oakmont or PV.