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

[Phil McDade]

Gene:

"That's why an accurate comment is paramount so that one is not misled."

"...Mr Mihm's post as one which is misinformed and subsequently of no use to your education."

I am continually astounded that folks like yourself, who know a great deal about SHills, don't trust the ability of folks like me, who want to learn more about it, to sort out the various arguments presented on these threads and come to their own conclusions, and therefore conclude that such debates ought not take place on photo threads.

[Gene Greco]

Phil:

    I will enjoy the rest of Matt's photo tour and I'm sure you will, too.

[George Pazin]

Bill Coore said many times during his presentation at Hidden Creek that such and such "just looks like golf".

That phrase comes to mind every time I see a photo of Sand Hills.

Well, that and a lot of other phrases, most of which have been expressed on here.

[JC Jones]

Matt, thanks for forging on with the pix, much appreciated.

Fully assess?  No. But there are some courses where people spend a lifetime playing them and learn something everytime they go out. 

If you're talking about a "rating," yes.  Now, a course might go up or down 1 point on the scale with repeat play but 1 or 2 plays, to someone who has seen a bunch of courses and has a pretty good idea of things, is sufficient.

Otherwise, toss out almost all the ratings in the Confidential Guide.

Big difference between Tom D and damn near all other raters.

George,

He didn't qualify his remark and neither shall I.  Also, while we all recognize Doak to be some wonder kid, back when he saw those courses (only once) he wasn't as experienced as he is now. 

[John Kirk]

The #9 green is quite severely sloped, though it doesn't look so.  When the greens are at top speed, putting from left and long is really tough. You'd be better off missing a couple yards short and right of the green.

[George Pazin]

George,

He didn't qualify his remark and neither shall I.  Also, while we all recognize Doak to be some wonder kid, back when he saw those courses (only once) he wasn't as experienced as he is now. 

Einstein was still pretty clever while he was just a patent clerk.

Man, if that doesn't get me promoted to President of the TDBB Society, nothin' will! Woo hoo!

[Richard Choi]

On second thought, this post is not needed. Removed.

[Steve Strasheim]

"I did not realized that everyone around here had to have the same opinion on Sand Hills. That is pretty sad."

What is sad is being unfairly hypercritical of a place in order to score points on the Internet. Come on, calling Sandhills a Doak 5 is just plain outrageous, regardless of whose opinion it is.

If Ben Crenshaw, or Bill Coore were regular posters here, I'm quite certain the comments would have been more respectful. Just as they are about Ballyneal. Has Ballyneal ever been called a Doak 5?

Now, can we get back to the pics?

[Michael Dugger]

I tend to agree with what Steve S. just said.

Everyone is entitled to their preferences between the great courses of the world, but calling Sand Hills a Doak 5 REALLY goes against the opinions/feelings/thoughts of A LOT of golfers, not just those here on GCA.com

I'm inclined to think D. Mihm caught the course on a bad day.

[Gene Greco]

               By now, I can only guess that poor Matt must feel like he's on a luxury liner sailing past ships filled with Somali pirates.

Thank you for your perseverence, Matt.

[Carl Nichols]

I tend to agree with what Steve S. just said.

Everyone is entitled to their preferences between the great courses of the world, but calling Sand Hills a Doak 5 REALLY goes against the opinions/feelings/thoughts of A LOT of golfers, not just those here on GCA.com

I'm inclined to think D. Mihm caught the course on a bad day.

I've never played Sand Hills, but from everything I've seen and read, calling it a Doak 5 (or 6) seems completely preposterous to me.  Having said that, he's backed up (err, attempted to back up) his opinion with some reasons that, even if not compelling, don't seem that disingenuous to me.  Assuming that he actually, truly holds this opinion -- and remember, he wasn't even the one who mentioned it in this thread originally -- then why shouldn't he be allowed to voice it in a photo thread about the course? 

[Michael Dugger]

The fact Sand Hills resides in a completely remote destination devoid of clutter, houses, cooling towers, airports and expressways merits it AT LEAST a 7 on the Doak scale.

Even if the course was dead flat with perfectly rounds greens...

[Matt Bosela]

              By now, I can only guess that poor Matt must feel like he's on a luxury liner sailing past ships filled with Somali pirates.

Thank you for your perseverence, Matt.

  Love that line, Gene!

More holes coming tonight...

[Ben Sims]

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! 

[Matt Bosela]

10th Hole - 472 Yards Par 4

The long par four tenth features one of those heroic downhill tee shots that we all salivate over, with a pretty accommodating fairway but trouble does lurk in the form of fairway bunkers on both sides.  The ideal line is to challenge the left bunker in order to get the turbo kick down and to the right.  This fairway features tremendous undulations and a really well-struck tee ball can reach the lower portion of the fairway, necessitating a blind second shot back uphill. 

The fairway rises to a certain point about 40 yards short of the green or so but then falls again toward the open-fronted green, allowing a running approach from all vantage points.  Shots favouring the left side will also filter back toward the putting surface.  This is one of the flatter greens on the golf course but it's pitched quite a bit from front to back.

This is one of those holes where the personality changes substantially depending on the wind conditions.  Downwind, the hole can be played with a driver and a mid-to-short iron.  Into the wind, this is a bear and only the best drive will give you a chance at reaching the green with a long iron or fairway metal.

View of 10th Tee from Ben's Porch at Sunset


Tee Shot


Approach Shot from Left Side of Fairway


Approach from Right Side of Fairway


Approach from Center of Fairway about 200 Yards from Green, with clear view of green


Approach from Lower Portion of Fairway down the middle, with partially obscured view of green


A little guy passing through...


View from Behind Green Looking Back up Fairway; Note the slope on the right portion of picture

[John Kirk]

Nice photos...tough par.

A nice example of the seemingly random nature of the bunkers.  You stand on the tee, and it is not immediately apparent what line should be taken.  The bunkers are staggered, and in the past, I don't use a yardage guide (is there one?) to guide me.

Long and straight works.  Of course, sometimes you end up with that blind second from the little hollow.

Lots of long, sweeping putts at #10.

[George Pazin]

View of 10th Tee from Ben's Porch at Sunset

This is a fantastic photo, well done. If you have it full size and would care to share it, let me know (I'm assuming you reduced it for the site, if not, no biggie).

[Ben Sims]

Lt Colonel (not my boss thankfully) just walked by my desk and caught me staring at Sand Hills pictures.  I'll now quote him, "Wow, I thought St. Andrews had more buildings around it"

If I'm lying, I'm dying.

[Mike Cirba]

Contrary to rumor that I passed out in awe from looking at the beautiful blowout bunkers, this is about the precise spot I went down from dehydration walking on our 28th hole of the day.  

Thankfully, Mr. Daley was behind us with a cart, and came to my rescue.

Scary stuff indeed, and these days I drink water from start to finish.

btw...wonderful hole, and excellent pictorial essay...thanks!

[RJ_Daley]

I've been following the thread and haven't cared to get into the commentary, as anything I'd say would just be repetitive of Sir Thomas of Huckaby's peans, that we have been singing such praises since this website began more than a decade ago.  Criticisms are always interesting, particularly when it comes from a very skilled player.  But when I see a guy (no matter if he is Tiger Woods or Joe the Plumber) saying SH is a Doak 5 and reconsiders it to be maye 6-6.5, well that is such an outlier, I can only give it the weight of consideration that an outlier of any statement of said kind is worth.  Which is in my opinion... respectfully, one man's opinion in a sea of opposite consensus. 

I probably have nearly 500 photos of Sand Hills, yet I sure downloaded those that Matt has shared of the 9th in the gloaming.  That really moved my needle and captures the shear massive power of the movement of that land and haunting allure of that ground to the golfer's soul. 

I think of what a blessed man Old Tom Simonson was to spend his waning years retired from the rough and rawboned prairie cattleman's life, gazing out across that moving land scape below his usual 'burger cookies' perch; reflecting on this and that and those come to visit him.

[Matt Bosela]

Just a note to everyone - like George Pazin, if you're interested in a couple of the photos, I'd be more than happy to email a couple of my master files in full resolution (these have been cropped to fit the forum) - I know I personally plan on framing a few of these in addition to the shots I took at Ballyneal.  Just send me an email or a PM if interested.

[Scott Szabo]

Matt,

Are you going to continue with the remaining holes or have you given up on this with all the other back and forth?

[Tony Weiler]

Matt, can we please see the rest.   

[Matt Bosela]

I definitely intend to finish what I started and by no means was I discouraged by the back and forth debate within the thread.  

Work has been very busy the last week as I've had to tidy things up in preparation for another trip.

I'll try to get a couple holes up tonight and will get the rest up upon my return next week.  Sorry for dragging this out...hopefully the pictures end up being worth the wait!

[Matt Bosela]

11th Hole - 408 Yards Par 4

I think this may be one of the most unheralded holes at Sand Hills, a lovely mid-length two shotter played off an elevated tee to a pretty wide fairway that bends right to left around an immense natural blowout bunker.  The second shot is played back uphill to a plateau green that falls away on the left side into some deep bunkers while there is short grass both behind the green and to the right.  The slope on this green is deceiving and leaving your putt on the wrong side of the hole will scare even the best putters.

Tee Shot


Approach from Left Side


Approach from Left Fairway Bunker




Approach from Middle of Fairway


Approach from Right Side of Fairway


Close up View from Behind Green Looking Back


View from 12th Tee Looking Back down 11th Fairway, showing short grass chipping areas