Bstark, I like the description of #9. Because there is sandy waste between the end of the fairway and the green, is it worth trying to drive the green? Since the green is very sloped, dominated by the "ant hill", it seems short (20-50 yard) shots would be very difficult there. I'm wondering if the percentage play is to lay back to full wedge distance, so much so that other options aren't worth trying, unless you're a member fooling around and learning your home course.
Billy McBride, I'm not as big a fan of the #7 green as you are. That middle right pin sitting on a shelf is a birdie/bogey pin. If you miss two yards left of your target, the result is an 80 foot uphill putt, nearly impossible. I probbaly have it in for #7 because I've pushed my second shot out into the big sand hazard twice. I love the greens at Friar's Head; it's just that #7 with all its undulation, is not one of my favorites. I like the greens at 1, 5, 8, 15 and 16, for example. I think everybody agrees that 5, 10, 14 and especially 15 are fantastic golf holes.
I'm trying to prompt some opinions about the overall test that Friar's Head presents.
1. Does it test the player's ability to judge uphill/downhill approaches?
2. Does it test the player's ability to play off uneven lies?
3. Does it test the player's ability to play in the wind, and is the turf firm enough to amplify the need for trajectory and spin control?
4. Does it yield a broad complement of putts and short shots?
5. Does the course design suggest curved shots (draw, fade) in both directions?
A great course should do these things. Here are three characteristics I see at Friar's Head:
A. I believe the design suggests several long iron shots, at holes like 3, 4 and 13, more than the typical golf course.
B. Many greens have significant back to front cant, and as a result...
C. The course yields many long uphill putts.
To me, Friar's Head has an intangible synergy, just a real good feel to the round out there. It doesn't blow you away, just a nice, fast-paced rhythm to the golf there. Some of the holes are visually unspectacular compared to other great courses studied here.