I have been recently going through much the same thought process. There is so much to consider and much pertains to the lay of the land. Here is my specific example and what transpired this week. I have nine hole course in Cordaba that will open in our upcoming spring, October. The first hole is the most difficult and the first shot off the tee the most demanding shot on the entire course. The other eight set up perfect in my opinion and there was almost nothing of dirt movement in the entire eight holes. Alternative routing where easier first holes were incorporated caused the rest of the routing to suffer greatly and as a result increased dirt movement throughout and losing the natural effect which was my priority. So it depends where you put your priorities. Too make matters worst, the first landing area has a steep slope to it. We had to cut into the mountain to get additional width, create a retaining wall where we cut into the mountain and we ended up adding much more dirt in the landing area than we used for the entire rest of the eight holes. A well struck slightly off centerline drive will trickle it way down to a creek bed and complicate the second shot, an unjust penalty for a well struck drive. I have looked at the landing area from all angles and it scares me because it is the first hole and the first shot, if it was the seventh I would be ok with it. The course has three par fiveīs and two of them, can be played as alternative par fours to mix and match and create variety within the nine holes, two par fours can also be played as Par 3īs.. The holes is 600 yards form the back and can be played also as a par four of 460 but a part of the landing as a par four is blind, not good for a first hole either. At the end of the first landing area, par five is a shelf that drops down about twenty feet and the rest of the hole is at that elevation. From that point the hole is a strong first hole, par four of around 380 yards, all natural like the remaining eight holes. Good golfers that have walked the property love it but are wondering why the first is so tough and the owner has conveyed these general comments to me. So now, what we are considering is eliminating the back tees and the first two hundred and thirty yards and the filled landing area, retention wall ect and making this an easier par four starting hole. The current back tees are situated below the hotel and next to the ninth green and putting green. So we will lose the proximity of these areas and golfers will be required to walk from the ninth green or the putting greens, some 250 yards to get to the first or tenth tee. Not an ideal situation either. Conclusions, if you want to keep it natural, work with the lay of the land, perfection will hardly ever exist, something out of perfect will find it ways into the overall scheme and we will be called on it as a result. What would you do? Obviously the owner is confused and disappointed that we spent so much money on trying to make this particular hole work and I am now considering giving back to him the entire area, for two acres of additional real estate, which he kind of likes. Anyways, I wonīt make a final decision until after opening but just in case we will proceed with the possible zoning change. So any input is welcomed. Donīt want to hijack the thread..maybe it should be a sperate thread???