[JSlonis]

I have a renovation plan on the table in which there's a proposal to build an alternate green for a par 4 hole.

Which are the world's best 'alternate green' holes? The 8th and 9th at Pine Valley immediately come to mind. But, do those alternate greens actually make for better holes than the original greens presented, in your opinion?

Again, how 'bout others?

Jeff,

The alternate green on #9 at Pine Valley works pretty well but can't compare to the left green that was redone by Maxwell. The Maxwell green is one of my favorites on the course. As for the alternate right green on #8, I doubt it's a fan favorite. It doesn't compare at all with the original left .  

[Adam Clayman]

I have a renovation plan on the table in which there's a proposal to build an alternate green for a par 4 hole.

 

Jeff, I will ask again. What is the justification for the proposal?

[Jeff_Mingay]

I completely agree that there's no reason to build an alternate green unless it's going to be the equal of the other green. You definitely don't want golfers to be disappointed that the hole's cut on the inferior green the day they happen to be playing. (Though it's a bit different at a private club.)

Sorry Adam, did I miss your question earlier?

Anyway, I don't know if there's 'justification' for my proposal. But there's an unused piece of this particular club's property that presents interesting opportunity to create a hole with two greens. This would involve preserving the existing green and installing a new one, left of the current green. The powers-that-be at this club were quite excited about this possibility when I originally pitched it. So now I'm looking into more details. As stated above, I certainly want to be sure that we don't create a hole where people are disappointed if the hole is on one green instead of the other.

I think the only think I have going for me in this case that Riviera's 10th and Pine Valley's 8th and 9th holes don't is that we're also proposing alternate tees at the same hole. So. more like the 11th hole at Devil's Pulpit, this siutation will likely be more like alternate holes than alternate greens.

Thanks for all the responses.

[Ally Mcintosh]

I think the only think I have going for me in this case that Riviera's 10th and Pine Valley's 8th and 9th holes don't is that we're also proposing alternate tees at the same hole. So. more like the 11th hole at Devil's Pulpit, this siutation will likely be more like alternate holes than alternate greens.

Thanks for all the responses.

Hi Jeff, if you're looking at alternate holes, you could also look at the par three 11th at Lahinch with the old MacKenzie one shotter generally used in the winter and the new Hawtree one used in the summer...

[Bill Seitz]

Jeff,

The 6th hole at the somewhat recently built Golf Club at Harbor Shores (Benton Harbor, MI) has an alternate green which lesser players can use instead of playing to a longer green with a forced carry over a ravine.

This sounds similar to the greens at the par four 18th at Blackwolf Run - Meadows Valley (also the ninth for the composite championship course).  The "easy" green plays short of the river, while the standard green plays over the river on the approach. 

[Steve Wilson]

JMEvensky,

I'm remembering an alternate green late (hole 15 or 16) in the routing of the Old White, but I'm not sure that it survived Lester George's restoration.  I never played to the alternate green and so can't speak to its merits vis-a-vis the regular green.  Of course, since I was only there for four days, perhaps I played to the alternate green and can't speak to the merits of the regular green.

[JMEvensky]

JMEvensky,

I'm remembering an alternate green late (hole 15 or 16) in the routing of the Old White, but I'm not sure that it survived Lester George's restoration.  I never played to the alternate green and so can't speak to its merits vis-a-vis the regular green.  Of course, since I was only there for four days, perhaps I played to the alternate green and can't speak to the merits of the regular green.

You may be right--I haven't been there in 15 years.Maybe Lester will see this and set us straight.

[Pete_Pittock]

They took out the alternate green on #5 at Chambers Bay. The experiment with #1 at Bandon Dunes didn't last very long. Dan Hixson is building a course at Silvies Ranch which will have more than one routing. I don't know if that will include alternate greens.
Tumwater Valley in Olympia WA had a par 3 with two greens, don't know why.

[Greg Tallman]

One of the Greenbrier courses has a 4-par with alternate greens but I can't remember which hole or which course.

Not any longer, 16th Old White is the hole you are thinking of and the hole was changed a lot in the work by Lester George. From what I can tell the lake was enlarged, tess moved to the right a bit and the left green option taken out of play. Looks like 17 tees would now play over the old left green on 16.

Lester can chime in on how wrong I am as I am going off of memory from 20 years ago and TV coverage of the tour event.

[Austin Wade]

#8 on the Talon course at Twin Eagles in Naples Fl has two greens. The short green plays a 120 yards shorter than the long green.  The short green is a slight dog leg right, and is possibly drivable for some.  The long green is a beat of a whole with a demanding approach over a hazard.  Both greens are in play on any given day, and its up to you and your group which hole to play.  As I understand it the long green is used by most, with many of the seniors opting for the shorter hole. 

It was annoying for our group since we immediately assumed we were playing to the short hole, and hit our drives accordingly.  Once we reached our tee balls we realized there were two greens. 

I have never seen the alternate green in play at #12 on Pine Barrens. 

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Another unique one that I got to see for the first time a month or two ago is the 18th hole at Manufacturer's G&CC in Philly.  It has two alternate greens one is a second shot that plays as a slight dogleg left green par 4, the other green is another 150 yds (aproximately) up the hill near the clubhouse making the hole play as a par 5.  That is the first time I have seen that.

There are holes on each one and you can choose which way you want to play the hole.

Any of the Philly contingent on here have a feel for which green is the preferred one for most of the members?

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