The 9th at Cypress Point

[Joel_Stewart]

Is this a good or great hole.  Did Mackenzie design it as a driveable par 4 with the pin on the lower level?



What is the correct way to play it?

[Tom_Doak]

Joel:

I think it's a fascinating hole.

I am sure Dr. MacKenzie designed it so that it might occasionally be driven, or at least tempt players to try to drive onto the front right of the green.

At the same time, one of my most vivid memories of Cypress Point was that many years ago, when I had played the first few holes pretty well, my caddie suggested I hit a 7-iron from this tee, in order to use the widest part of the fairway and give myself a full 9-iron to the upper left hole location.  I choked on the second shot, but I think he suggested a legitimate way to attack the hole.  Few people would ever think of it ... but then some seniors might be playing to the exact same spot.

[Bill_McBride]

Joel:

I think it's a fascinating hole.

I am sure Dr. MacKenzie designed it so that it might occasionally be driven, or at least tempt players to try to drive onto the front right of the green.

At the same time, one of my most vivid memories of Cypress Point was that many years ago, when I had played the first few holes pretty well, my caddie suggested I hit a 7-iron from this tee, in order to use the widest part of the fairway and give myself a full 9-iron to the upper left hole location.  I choked on the second shot, but I think he suggested a legitimate way to attack the hole.  Few people would ever think of it ... but then some seniors might be playing to the exact same spot.

With the pin upper left, I didn't think there was any play BUT a six iron down in front of the sand.   That's a tiny gap at the bottom of the green, with a left to right slope to increase the difficulty of getting in position for a bump and run up the green.   

[Joel_Stewart]

It is a great driving hole, you can hit almost any club in your bag.

On Tuesday I hit 6 iron - wedge to the lower level.  The lower level is not flat, it has some slope which I thought was interesting.

Later tonight I'll try and post some photos, one of which is amazing which happened on this hole a few weeks ago.

This is one that I had forgot.  The tree can make a huge difference.

[Sean Leary]

I think 9 is great. 8 is the one I am not completely sold on.

[Bob_Huntley]

I've played Cypress for well over forty years and have always hit an iron off the tee for another iron to the green, top or botrtom. the penalty for hitting to the gunch right of the green can be very costly.

Bob

[Anthony_Nysse]

Photos of #9 were looked at time and time again when the 14th green site was being built at Friars Head.

[Joel_Stewart]

So here is my short story.

After playing CPC I sent a thank you note to one of the members who sponsored a foursome.  Of course I told him all about my shots which probably bored him to tears.  My story of the 9th was I hit 6 iron - wedge to about 15 feet and made the putt, yea me.

He sent me back an email telling me he was just down there a few weeks ago and hosted a PGA tour professional.  On the 9th, this pro decided to hit driver with the pin on the lower level.

Below is where the ball ended up!  Nice tap in eagle....

[Jim Nugent]

Have there been any holes-in-one at the 9th? 

[Joel_Stewart]

Jim:  Don't know?  

[Kalen Braley]

The mantra given to me before my visit was:

If the pin is high, layup to a full club approach in.
If the pin is low, challenge the green and leave yourself a short flip in approach.

I must also agree with Tom on this one, this entire hole and mostly the green complex is one of the coolest/unique/out of the box things I've ever seen on a course.  I can't even begin to describe effectively how the green slithers up the hill and to the left and just how many different shots can be played in and around this green...

Sean,  whats your concerns on #8?  I thought it was terrific as well.  Was it the blind tee shot?

[Mike Policano]

Joel, it is an excellent short 4 that demands spot on shot making. As Sir Bob points out, missing the fairway or the green punishes your next shot.  The sand dunes around the hole rarely provide a playable shot that can be controlled. It results in a surprising number of players picking up after a few hacks and walking head down to No. 10.

Cheers, Mike

[Joel_Stewart]

Joel, it is an excellent short 4 that demands spot on shot making. 

Wouldn't you agree that Cypress Point (as well as many other great courses) requires very precise golf shots. The 8th and 9th are great examples but there are many more shots at CPC that require such shots.

[Bill_McBride]

Joel, it is an excellent short 4 that demands spot on shot making.  

Wouldn't you agree that Cypress Point (as well as many other great courses) requires very precise golf shots. The 8th and 9th are great examples but there are many more shots at CPC that require such shots.

I have never played a Mackenzie where you can get away with sloppy shots.   The green complexes repel shots, and the greens themselves severely punish shots in the wrong position.

[Bob_Huntley]

Joel,

A couple of years ago Daniel Chopra hit a THREE wood from the tee to the up pin and held the ball on that tiny platform.

Bob

[Kevin Pallier]

Is this a good or great hole.

Great hole - options and interest on every shot - even a relatively short downhill putt.

[Mike Benham]

Great hole - options and interest on every shot - even a relatively short downhill putt.

And it offers a great photo op, assuming the subject holds their follow-through ...

[Kyle Henderson]

In addition to its wonderful playing options, the photos of this hole in its infancy (see Shackelford's book) are stunning. It still ties in nicely with its surrounding, if not quite as artfully as once-upon-a-time.
From the tee

Looking back from behind, 8th on the right.

[Jordan Wall]

It's a great hole.  Without a doubt.  When the pin was back left I would hit driver and try to put it into the front bunker.  A foursome could easily hit four different clubs off the tee.  Is that not the sign of a great short-par 4?

[Mike Benham]

We must have been at CPC on the same day:

[Ronald Montesano]

Is Joel Stewart a pseudonym for Bobby Clampett? Read this~just came out today:

http://www.impactzonegolf.com/the-9th-hole-at-cypress-point-%E2%80%9Cmy-story%E2%80%9D/#comment-303

[Adam Clayman]

Have there been any holes-in-one at the 9th?  

Yes.

While I've forgotten his name, he was a caddy there. He hit 3 wood.

I believe it was before the open at PB in 2000. where the man Blogged about the Open for Digest or some pub.

[Jim Nugent]

Adam, thanks for the info.  Since I'm on a roll here, I'll go for the next sort-of related question:  any holes in one at #7 at Olympic Lake? 

[Joel_Stewart]

Adam, thanks for the info.  Since I'm on a roll here, I'll go for the next sort-of related question:  any holes in one at #7 at Olympic Lake? 

Doubt it, I was a member there 17 years and never heard of one.  Now that the hole is changed, and the players are longer, its more probable.

[Kevin_Reilly]

There will probably be some chances at 1's on #7 at Olympic next year.  It has been drive-able for a long time (I saw Nick Price drive it in 1993 or 1994) and the hole is only slightly longer now than then.   I don't know for sure, but I'd imagine that there will be a good number of players in the field who are capable of carrying the ball 290 yds slightly uphill at sea level (and at coastal temps) at least based on my PGA Tour television watching the last few weeks.  I think the green itself will be less hospitable to landing close to the hole now that it is two levels instead of three, though, which will make an ace or short eagle putt less likely.