Spectacular Sand Hills! (Photo Tour - 18th Hole Now Posted)

[Jim Colton]

Matt,

Not unheralded from my perspective. I think the 11th may be the best hole on an already great back nine. It's an excellent strategic hole from one set up as well.

[Matt Bosela]

Matt,

Not unheralded from my perspective. I think the 11th may be the best hole on an already great back nine. It's an excellent strategic hole from one set up as well.

You're probably right, Jim.  Harris and I played the tips all six rounds so the tee shot was relatively routine - just aim at the two bunkers down the right side toward the meat of the fairway.

If we moved a set up, we'd obviously be bringing the blowout bunker on the left into play and we'd have to reconsider whether a driver over the bunker was a prudent play or taking a fairway metal out instead is the proper choice.

Now I regret not moving up for a round!

[Adam Clayman]

I will never forget the first time I climbed the hill on the left side of this fairway to look for Doug Wright's ball.  Upon reaching the top I saw this ...



... and my jaw dropped and a giant smile came over my face as I uttered wow!

The massiveness of this blowout is not fully appreciated in this picture because of a lack of frame of reference. But believe me, It is HUGE.

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Greco, many people on this site have had their lives deeply and forever enriched.

[Ivan Lipko]

This thread is incredibly beautiful! Look forward to the rest of the photos.

[Sean_A]

Matt

I am enjoying this tour immensely - banter, pirating, grandstanding and all.  So many of the shots look familiar; it is amazing they could all be collected on one site.  I know C&C say they tend to lean on Dr Mac as their inspiration, but if Sand Hills isn't what a modern Colt would like in this setting I don't know what would.  The course looks good enough that I may HAVE to take up (likely a long forgotten) an invite to play there some day.  Please continue.

Ciao

[Carl Rogers]

Eric,

Here you are - I actually had already labelled this photo about a month before I played SH so I could learn about the routing before I played.

Question:  When looking at the routing plan, which direction is north?  The front nine seems to move to and fro, but the back nine have a number of almost parallel holes.
I thought that one of the strengths of let's say Muirfield was that the holes constantly change direction thus the relationship of wind to the line of play shifts from hole to hole.

[Harris Nepon]

I will never forget the first time I climbed the hill on the left side of this fairway to look for Doug Wright's ball.  Upon reaching the top I saw this ...



... and my jaw dropped and a giant smile came over my face as I uttered wow!

The massiveness of this blowout is not fully appreciated in this picture because of a lack of frame of reference. But believe me, It is HUGE.

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Greco, many people on this site have had their lives deeply and forever enriched.

If i remember correctly, our caddy told us this was one of 3 natural blowouts on the course. I can attest to it being huge, as I climbed in and out of it a few times over the 6 rounds.

[Tony Weiler]

Thanks for continuing, Matt.  I appreciate your thoughts on each hole.  What does it play from the tips, and what do you and Harris carry for handicaps?  I never really play the tips, as I get beat up enough from a box up.  Just curious as to whether a 4 handicap who hits it straight but not long would most enjoy?  We'll likely get in 72 holes, so may mix it up for each round (maybe wind dependent). 

[Gene Greco]

Tony:


    When assessing the yardages don't discount the elevation (3500 ft) and the advantages in carry distance which that brings - about 6% greater carry.

From the diamond tees, which is the better walking course, it is about 6900 yards.
From the squares, it is about 6400 yds.
Double diamonds are 7100 yds.
Circles are 5200.

So the 4 hncp who hits it straight but not long should be able to play the 6900 yd tees due to the extra carry distance one gets at that elevation. Be sure to try to play the tee on #5 from in back of the 4th green unless you are into a 35 mph wind.

Of course, as you noted, iplaying golf at Sand Hills is 98% of the time about what the wind is doing.

[Jerry Kluger]

I believe you should consider 10 and 11 together to understand and appreciate part of what makes SH great.  Both are par 4s that play in the same direction but you have to remember that the wind is constantly changing.  10 is long and at least for me, you don't always see the green surface when hitting your second shot because the fairway goes up and the green is down below.  I believe it is designed for a runup shot and it has a significant tilt to it.  11 is opposite in many respects - you need to keep the ball left because the fairway drops off significantly to the right but that blowout is left.  Again, you cannot see the green surface but that is because it is significantly elevated and is basically a shelf where shots on the edges roll down the closely mowed sides.  They both have such an incredibly natural feel to them that you understand why C & C needed to do a minimal amount of dirt moving to create the course.

[Tony Weiler]

Thanks, Gene.

[Scott Szabo]

Tony,

I'm about a 5 handicap, not overly long off the tee, and I had no problem at all from the tips.  There were no carries at all that were close to being too much for me from those tees.  I did enjoy playing the squares, as it made the holes play much differently off the tee as well as the approaches.  It was almost like playing a different golf course.

Case in point the 11th hole.  When we played it twice from the squares in my first visit, I had a little flip wedge in and birdied it both times.  From the tips it was more like an 8 or 9 iron (with no wind) then a 4 iron into the wind.  Totally different hole, and no birdies to boot.

I would certainly second Gene's recommendation about the tee on #5.  Great hole from that angle, bringing the right hand bunker directly into play.  Much more straightforward from the square tees.

[Steve Strasheim]

Great thread!

Thanks fellas.

[Harris Nepon]

Tony,

Matt's gone for the next few days, so I'll answer for him.

Matt is a 1 and I play at a 3.

The tips don't play as long as the yardage says. The elevation plus how firm the course is you get enough roll that you won't have difficulty with the length. Not sure why we never tried the other tee decks, but I would recommend you follow Gene's advice and play the different blocks.

[George Freeman]

Approach from Left Side of Fairway

Does the 8th green slope back to front as much as it looks??

[Adam Clayman]

George. The very rear and wings slope to the front. All of the bunkers influence these slopes. That's why the middle does not because the center bunkers back side has a contrary influence. One of the greatest shots I've ever witnessed illustrated this perfectly. Corey Crandall, the first super, hit a great drive only to yank his approach intop the left side bunker. The pin was on the front of the far right wing. His bunker shot came out perfectly towards the back of the green and started to roll all the way across the entire boomerang. The ball flew maybe 7 yards and rolled probably 75 feet with a decaying orbit all the way into the hole. It was easily the greatest birdie ever on that hole and started off a day full of fireworks that climaxed with an eagle on 16 from 145 yards out to a front center pin. Truely amazing!

[George Freeman]

...Corey Crandall, the first super, hit a great drive only to yank his approach intop the left side bunker. The pin was on the front of the far right wing. His bunker shot came out perfectly towards the back of the green and started to roll all the way across the entire boomerang. The ball flew maybe 7 yards and rolled probably 75 feet with a decaying orbit all the way into the hole...

Now that is fun golf!

Thanks Adam.

[Gene Greco]

Gene,

I would be remised if I didn't follow up on a question I've asked other folks that frequent great courses.

What do you remember about your first round at Sand Hills, and what sticks out from your last round?  I'm interested in how great courses evolve.  And I'm a major beard puller!  

Ben:

    Nothing has changed from my first experience at The Sand Hills to my last, which was this past weekend.


                                                           The place is timeless.


The first time I played it I was alone waiting for friends to arrive from the west coast. I played the first two holes and then...

...stopped.


It was midweek and I was the only one on the course so I put my bag down (no caddies hired there yet) and sat down at the back of the 2nd green.

I simply sat there and gazed at the vast expanse behind this green at what surely must be the edge of this world, completely overcome by what I had just experienced on those first two holes.

I had to allow some time to pass because I knew if the holes were to continue in this fashion that I would in all likelihood be playing the greatest course in the world. I wanted to soak it all in as I didn't know if I would ever be allowed back again or make the trip to this remote locale.

So I sat there for an hour.

I also thought about other things besides golf, assuredly a fine spot for reflection, which highlighted then as it does now the spiritual nature of a visit to the Sand Hills Golf Club.

I continue this practice today, periodically breaking away from the group during post round refreshments, usually as the sun is setting and play a 6 or 9 hole loop, what I term "church nine," walking on the most peaceful ground  this earth will offer.


I left three days ago.

And the place haunts me.

It haunted me in exactly the same manner and intensity 14 years ago as it does this very moment.

It haunts me during the winter months.

And when I sleep.

And when I allow my mind to run adrift for a few short moments during the day.

For me it is the most compelling golf course and land on which a golf course rests in the world.


And obviously others feel the same.

I just had someone text me saying June 11th wasn't good for him NEXT year and to PLEASE include him and try to arrange our golfing retreat  on any day but that one.

And he is one of many.

One of many who has had a spell cast by some golfing ground in the middle of nowhere.






    

[Matt Bosela]

Gene,

Beautiful post - the only way I can follow that up is to say I'm back from my vacation and will be resuming the tour later tonight!  Thanks to all for your patience but I can assure you the photos and holes that remain are worth the wait!

[Tom Huckaby]

Gene, as you know, I feel much the same.  But you worded it far far far better than I ever could.

Interesting too, I have certainly told you before, and certainly discussed it in here... but without prompting from you or anyone... my church nine (referenced in this or maybe some other recent thread), it all hit me back of 2nd green also.  I too stayed there a long time.

I guess all this is what's so hard to explain to those who see this, or want to judge it, just as a golf course. 

It's just the most special place to me on this planet. 

[Ben Sims]

Gene,

Thanks for your answer.  One of the most special feelings I've ever had in my life was standing on the 10th green of Old Macdonald (preview round in 2009) and wondering how I had gotten there and how this golf hole had gotten there.  Not necessarily the nuts and bolts, but in the years leading to that moment.  I suddenly felt very small and that was just fine with me. 

[Scott Szabo]

Gene,

You do have a wonderful way with words.  We can all sense your passion for the Sand Hills Golf Club and I for one am glad you found a club you can call home.  I too share your love for the place as no course I've played to date has moved me the way Sand Hills does.  I just don't have the poetic ability that you do to be able to describe it.  I'm glad you stop in from time to time on this thread to share stories with all of us.  It brings back memories of my two trips that will last for a lifetime.

Scott

[Tony Weiler]

Gene,

I would be remised if I didn't follow up on a question I've asked other folks that frequent great courses.

What do you remember about your first round at Sand Hills, and what sticks out from your last round?  I'm interested in how great courses evolve.  And I'm a major beard puller!  

Ben:

    Nothing has changed from my first experience at The Sand Hills to my last, which was this past weekend.


                                                           The place is timeless.


The first time I played it I was alone waiting for friends to arrive from the west coast. I played the first two holes and then...

...stopped.


It was midweek and I was the only one on the course so I put my bag down (no caddies hired there yet) and sat down at the back of the 2nd green.

I simply sat there and gazed at the vast expanse behind this green at what surely must be the edge of this world, completely overcome by what I had just experienced on those first two holes.

I had to allow some time to pass because I knew if the holes were to continue in this fashion that I would in all likelihood be playing the greatest course in the world. I wanted to soak it all in as I didn't know if I would ever be allowed back again or make the trip to this remote locale.

So I sat there for an hour.

I also thought about other things besides golf, assuredly a fine spot for reflection, which highlighted then as it does now the spiritual nature of a visit to the Sand Hills Golf Club.

I continue this practice today, periodically breaking away from the group during post round refreshments, usually as the sun is setting and play a 6 or 9 hole loop, what I term "church nine," walking on the most peaceful ground  this earth will offer.


I left three days ago.

And the place haunts me.

It haunted me in exactly the same manner and intensity 14 years ago as it does this very moment.

It haunts me during the winter months.

And when I sleep.

And when I allow my mind to run adrift for a few short moments during the day.

For me it is the most compelling golf course and land on which a golf course rests in the world.


And obviously others feel the same.

I just had someone text me saying June 11th wasn't good for him NEXT year and to PLEASE include him and try to arrange our golfing retreat  on any day but that one.

And he is one of many.

One of many who has had a spell cast by some golfing ground in the middle of nowhere.






    

Wow, I'll be here soon.   Looking forward to the rest of the photos, Matt.

[Matt Bosela]

12th Hole - 417 Yards Par 4

The 12th is a straightaway par four with much more room than you think on the right side in the landing area.  Despite the very wide fairway, positioning is crucial off the tee, as the fairway features a spine that runs essentially right down the middle of the landing area toward the green.  This means even a slightly wayward drive will fall down into a lower bowl and take away precious views of the green and the flagstick.  There is a very cool and unique bunker feature about 100 or so yards short of the green on the left, basically a serpentine trench that is very shallow but likely hassles anyone who goes long off the tee or short on their second for that matter!  There is also a large and imposing bunker complex right of the green, with a putting surface that features subtle breaks but is very quick near the rear portion with a slight falloff area to the back left.

Tee Shot


Approach from Center of the Fairway


Approach from Right Center


Late Day view of Trench Bunker in Left Rough


View from 13th Tee (Right of 12th Green)




View from Behind Looking toward Right Greenside Bunker, with 13th Hole in Background


Looking toward Left Side of Green and Swales just off the green


View from Behind Looking Back toward Fairway, with look at great topography


Long View from Behind Looking Back down Fairway


Gorgeous Late-Day View of the 12th from the 13th Green

[Adam Clayman]

Due to the demands of the tee shot and the pinching of the fairway, would this hole classify as a type of bottle?