I've played the one at Yale over 100 times and the one at St. Enodoc 6 times.. I don't see a comparison b/t the two and it really isnt worth comparing. I say this not to impugn the thread but if we are going to talk about this, then why not throw the Klondyke at Lahinch in too. Yale's Alps on the card looks short but at 400 yards or so where we play it, it is severely uphill and the 2nd shot is dictated by where the flag is due to the vertical spine running thru the green. You definitely have to hit driver off the tee..
St. Enodoc's hole is a 3 or 5 wood to play short of the Himalaya bunker (I've heard downwind some big hitters trying to drive the hole) and if you get your tee shot enough left you may have a peak at the hole. The 2nd is nothing but an 8 iron to wedge to an amphitheater green.
I just think they are nothing alike as St. Enodoc's 6th is not an Alps and remotely not similar to any Alps I've really played..
Noel,
St. Enodoc's 6th is 416 yards from the white tees(378 metres)but not uphill like Yale's 400 (all the way back)
I'm guessing if you hit 5 wood-8 iron-wedge, you were on the visitors tees, the ground was extremely firm, or you were downwind.
No one's disputing the quality of either hole, but to dismiss the verticality of that giant bunker to an average member at St. Enodoc from the 416 yard member tees,would be a mistake in my opinion. If he hits it 220(which most amateurs don't), he's still got 196 in over a HUGE hill.(if he's playing the yellows he's still got 180 left as the hole is 400 yards from the yellow tees.
The same golfer wouldn't be playing from 400 yards at yale, but rather 350-granted the uphill nature of that hole and difficult approach would cause him to struggle to hit and hold the green as well, but I doubt he would be nearly as visually intimidated.
The 12th at Yale is one of many excellent holes at yale, but I doubt many (even on this thread) remember it as distinctly as well as the 6th at St. Enodoc, which is instantly recognizeable for anyone who's ever played there.
While you may dismiss St. Enodoc's hole for lack of a fronting bunker and a bowled approach, other's may dismiss Yale's Alps for lack of a distinctive Alps landform.
For the record, I happen to really enjoy uphill holes and really liked this paticular hole at Yale.
Both great holes-this may go down to the wire.
Subtlety vs. in your face-two different uses of different terrain (as you said maybe not the best holes to compare)