Chambers Bay Hole 9

[Anthony Gray]

  Par 3   227 from the tips       Love it or hate it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Anthony

[Scott_Burroughs]

The view of the course from the tee:

[Garland Bayley]

I think this is a good hole. Many fault the hole for being a drop shot hole! I ask why that is a fault, and they tell me because it makes club selection difficult. These same people will tell you that wind is an asset for a course, and part of the reason for this is that it makes club selection more difficult.    

In addition to the ability to play different strategies on your approach to this hole, it has one of the best scenic views in all of golf.

Finally, it adheres to John Kirk's Unified Theory of Golf Enjoyment, "the time between shot and result is the key. "

EDIT: Here is the link to John's theory. http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,17958.0/

[Anthony Gray]

  With repeated plays the club selection is not a problem. The tee ball stays in the air for ever which is nice. Fun hole.

  Anthony

[JC Jones]

Isn't the 10th at PacDunes a "drop shot" hole?

[Tom Yost]

Something three of our foursome discovered, the seemingly safe left hillside bailout tends to propel the ball onto the green but the big ridge on the left of the green sends the ball down into the front bunker.

[Kalen Braley]

There are several terrific examples of drop shot holes...I don't think that alone is a reason to be critical of a hole.

[JC Jones]

There are several terrific examples of drop shot holes...I don't think that alone is a reason to be critical of a hole.

I agree

[Garland Bayley]

The two valid criticisms that I accept are that they created the weakest hole on the course, just so they could create #9, and the walk from 9 to 10 is longer than one would like.

[Richard Choi]

The only good part about #9 is that it leads to the #10 holes which is just wonderful.

It is not in character with the rest of the course and the greensite is just a repeat of #15 and #17. If this was an uphill par 3 with unique strategy, it would have brought up the entire course by a couple of notches.

[Sean Leary]

Isn't the 10th at PacDunes a "drop shot" hole?

From one tee box it is. But not WAY downhill like this.

I have always thought they were pandering to the view to create this hole, which is WAY out of character with the rest of the course. I just wish that they had done something different with 8 and 9 using the land by the practice area. It is what it is.

[Matt_Ward]

Can someone pipe in on what the general wind pattern is for the hole -- and how much of a dropshot is one facing -- looks like 20-30 feet from the photos?

Also -- fair to say -- the toughest pin is in the left rear tight to the mound ?

[Rob Rigg]

When I played the course (twice) the wind was either coming from slightly right to left across the tee box or strongly from the right across the tee box - not sure if that is normal or not.

I think the drop is more like 60 feet - the ball is hanging in the air for a long time - which is kind of fun.

The first time, it is a bit nerve racking because of club selection but after that it's not a big deal - as has been mentioned. The views are spectacular and the green can be pretty tricky to putt, it's fun that you can try and work your ball to an area and have it release back onto the green.

I still think it would have been better to tee off from the 8th down into the valley where the range is and play towards the 9th green and then have a par three that brings you back towards the 10th tee.

The 8th and 9th are not terrible holes by any stretch, but I think they are the weakest link on the course, and could have been better.

I would imagine that most golfers, visiting CB only once, would really enjoy the positive aspects of number 9.

[Garland Bayley]

Can someone pipe in on what the general wind pattern is for the hole -- and how much of a dropshot is one facing -- looks like 20-30 feet from the photos?

Also -- fair to say -- the toughest pin is in the left rear tight to the mound ?

Matt,

You keep asking wind direction. The answer has been given over and over again by the local guys that there is no significant wind to deal with, and that depending on weather patterns the wind, when it exists can come from different direction.
I believe it is 80-100 feet depending on tee.

[Matt_Ward]

Garland:

Just to clue you in - most courses have a prevailing wind pattern of one type or the other. No doubt it can change with the key seasons -- at Bandon the winter wind comes from the southerly directon and reverses itself for the summer months -- at The Rawls Course the prevailing pattern is usually out of the southwest. Clearly, such things can change but often times the pattern is fairly predictable one.

Guys:

80-100 feet of drop would mean the hole playing about 2-3 clubs less than at sea level for that distance.

What is the square footage of the green?

Toughest pin location?

[Anthony Gray]

    Matt,

  They say No 8 is 100 fet up so No 9 would be close to that. Definatly the drop affects club selection but after a couple of plays you figure that out. That is why I would like them to alter tees for the US Open. The wind would be into your face.

  Anthont

[Garland Bayley]

    Matt,

  They say No 8 is 100 fet up so No 9 would be close to that. Definatly the drop affects club selection but after a couple of plays you figure that out. That is why I would like them to alter tees for the US Open. The wind would be into your face.

  Anthont

Anthony,

Given the weather of the area, it is highly likely there will be no wind there during the US Open as there was no wind there the day we played together.

[Matt_Ward]

Square footage of the green ?

Toughest pin spot ?

Anthony:

Thanks for your most helpful answer on the wind direction question -- clearly you get it.

[Anthony Gray]

Square footage of the green ?

Toughest pin spot ?

Anthony:

Thanks for your most helpful answer on the wind direction question -- clearly you get it.

  Matt,

  In the US Open I think we are going to see alot of pausing on this tee and caddy/player discussion.

  Anthony

 

[Scott Weersing]

I think the tee box is too high. I think they could have created several lower tee boxes.

But when I compare this hole with no. 10 at Pacific Dunes, then I think that both of the holes are great. The problem is that No. 8 at Chambers Bay is weak while No. 9 at Pacific Dunes is world class.

They could have put in a lower green on no. 8 at Chambers Bay and then a lower teebox for no. 9. That would improve the layout.

[Garland Bayley]

The only good part about #9 is that it leads to the #10 holes which is just wonderful.

It is not in character with the rest of the course and the greensite is just a repeat of #15 and #17. If this was an uphill par 3 with unique strategy, it would have brought up the entire course by a couple of notches.

If 17 and 3 had played uphill to balance the downhill of 15 and 9, would that make 9 better? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to say 15 and 17 are a repeat of the 9th green? It appears at 9 first.

Since all four par 3s all play downhill now, how is 9 not in character with the rest of the course?

[Alex Miller]

From the pictures, 8 and 9 look must more manufactured than the rest of the course. Obviously the whole course is a production of extensive shaping and earth moving, but these holes don't look quite as finished IMHO.

The rest of the course seems to have many more quirks within the fairways greens, and directionality of the other holes.

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