Commonwealth Golf Club: A pictorial!!! (18th hole posted)

[David_Elvins]

Dave, I agree with most of your comments about fairway width (especially 8 and 14), but its not an issue on 2. Theres a tonne of room there, and the angle really doesn't come into play until the third shot. It will be a much better hole when Mike moves the 2nd shot bunker across to the left.

Shane,

The fairway is 19 yards wide level with the second drive bunker.  Given the difficulty associated with approaching this green from the right, I don't see why the fairway needs to be this narrow.  Widenning the fairway in the drive and second shot area swould surely improve the hole.  

Here's a very rough sketch of a possibility on the left, current hole on the right.  The fact that the current right side bunker could easiliy become a centreline hazard shows you how narrow the fairway is. 

The 16th is clearly the best hole at Commonwealth and thefairway is 40+ metres wide.  This feature should be replicated wherever possible IMO.

[Shane Gurnett]

David,

For a short straight par 5, I dont mind a narrower tee shot for those who are seeking to get home in two. The way the hole is, if you choose to blaze away and finish out to the right, you have to deal with not just the poorer angle but a variable lie and a bit of rough. A reasonable balance in my view. You still have plenty of width short of the bunkers for those who choose the more conservative 3 shot route. Why does a shot par 5 need a 40+ metre wide landing area for the drive?

The holes doesn't need a second shot centreline hazard. And when the existing bunker is relocated to the left, you have a sufficiently wide fairway in the second shot landing area.

[David_Elvins]

David,

For a short straight par 5, I dont mind a narrower tee shot for those who are seeking to get home in two. The way the hole is, if you choose to blaze away and finish out to the right, you have to deal with not just the poorer angle but a variable lie and a bit of rough. A reasonable balance in my view. You still have plenty of width short of the bunkers for those who choose the more conservative 3 shot route. Why does a shot par 5 need a 40+ metre wide landing area for the drive?

The holes doesn't need a second shot centreline hazard. And when the existing bunker is relocated to the left, you have a sufficiently wide fairway in the second shot landing area.

Shane,

Width is an almost universal principle of the world's best golf courses and golf holes.  It is no coincidence that Commonwealth's widest hole is universally regarded as it's best hole. 

If you don't mind a narrower tee shot for those getting home in two on a short par 5, would you be happy for Royal Melbourne to halve the fairway width on 2W, 4W, 12W and 15W? 

the chance of holding the green from the right side rough is slim at best.  Why not make it fairway to give people the option of trying something stupid, rather than encourage a boring lay up shot from 90% of lies in the right hand rough?

I agree that the hole does not need a centreline bunker, my drawing was just an example of how much wasted space there is to the right of the hole, that the right side fairway bunker could become a centreline bunker if the hole had a width closer to that at our best   courses/holes. 

[Shane Gurnett]

Dave, once the second bunker goes from the right to the left, the second shot layup becomes anything but boring. The circumstances that apply to 2 at CGC are such that a bit of precision off the tee makes the hole far more interesting for the player contemplating going for the green in 2.

Not sure what relevance there is in quoting RM in reference to Commonwealth as the courses are very different.

I'm sorry, but I don't subscribe to the "width for width's sake" theory. It has its place, but not as a blanket theory applied everywhere. And certainly not in the case of #2 at Commonwealth.

[Kyle Henderson]

Dave and Shane, just for poops and chuckles (hands off, CGC greens committee!!!), how about a centerline bunker for the tee shot a la Hogan's Alley at Carnoustie?

Dave gets his width and Shane gets his "narrower tee shot for those who are seeking to get home in two."

[David_Elvins]

kyle,

that looks like an interesting option (if you can get it past committee!)  I think the width is the most important feature and the actual bunker arrangment would depend more on how it looks from the ground. 

[Kyle Henderson]

#17: 307 meters. Par 4.


1st time visitors will rely on their host for guidance, as the preferred tee shot on #17 is not readily apparent.


The fairway spills down to the right, with a position near the starboard trees offering the clearest line past the greenside bunker.


Perched on a small knoll, the 17th green site is exquisite. This view from the CGC website provides a decent portrayal of the surrounding contours, though the knoll appears much taller in person.


A miss into the greenside bunker will really test one’s sand play, as the green tilts toward the shaved fall-off on the opposite side.

[Tom Kelly]

View from behind the 16th green, looking back down the hole.

[Shane Gurnett]

Kyle, the 17th might be the best hole on the course. A beautiful example of architectural subtlety. A wide fairway, with no hazards to negotiate, however the best line is always down the right near the row of peppercorn trees to open up the best angle to the green. Drives to the left have to contend with the greenside bunker, the green which falls away to the right, and a devilish swale known as "Alecs arse%$#@" which drains poorly struck approach shots well away from the putting surface.

In recent years the club has trimmed back the tea tree on the lhs of the fairway in the neck to much improve the hole, however could easily go another 10-15 metres to allow a full view of the green from the tee. The tee shot should really lure the player over to that side where the poorer line in awaits.

[Kyle Henderson]

#18: 404 meters. Par 4.


The brawny closing hole can be shortened a tad with a long drive down the left, but trees along that side are likely to block the approach. Bunkers down the right protect the ideal position for players of average length.


Those unable to fire spinning moon balls at the pin must thread bilateral greenside bunkers to score well here before retreating to the clubhouse for a drink and a smile.