What features make for a good sucker pin location?

[Michael Huber]

I played a pretty enjoyable round last weekend and took notice that quite a few greens had devililshly located pins. 

It got me wondering: beyond the obvious features (two tiered greens, close to bunkers, etc.) what makes a good sucker pin location? 

What are some of your favorite suck pins? 

[Mark Manuel]

Michael,

Interesting question and it raises two thoughts for me.  The first is on what makes a good sucker pin.  For me it is knowing that I am shooting for a sucker pin.  Standing behind my approach I can see all the trouble and understand that I am taking a risk when I make the decision to shoot for the flag.  It can be any of the things that you mentioned, but it needs to be visible.  The second is more related to architecture.  How much thought do architects put into creating those pin positions?  Was the 12th at Augusta designed around that right pin position?  Or was it more a matter of circumstance?

Mark

[Ronald Montesano]

suckers to shoot at the flags...

[Blair Mancini]

The first is on what makes a good sucker pin.  For me it is knowing that I am shooting for a sucker pin.

I completely agree, Mark.  The thing about a sucker pin is knowing that it's a sucker pin.  It's easy to see bunkers, water, high rough and whatnot, but it's another thing completely to know the subtle dips and bumps on a green that also make a hole location "sucker."  I often find that when I play a course for the first time I shoot at a lot more flags, get up to the green, notice I have a 10 foot downhill snake for par or birdie, and immediately think that I'll never make that shot on my next round at the course.  Sucker pins benefit the player knowledgeable with the intricacies of a course.

At least that's what I think

[Tim Gavrich]

To me, the best sucker pins are those that look vaguely accessible but are emphatically dangerous in reality.

I think the Road hole may have some of the best examples of sucker pins.  When all the pundits are saying "don't you dare hit it pin high" but players try to hit it pin high anyway and end up on the path...sucker pin.

[Adam Clayman]

Sharp drop offs, on one side, along with short grass, are features that can cause a sucker pin.

Others I've seen are small lobes of green space, with nastiness and/or OB nearby.