#10. Par 4. Shinnecock.
The beginning hole of the inward half is a long par 4 with a wide fairway and a very large green. The green isn't terribly wide, but is quite long.
Here's a view from the tee. The understated, but super cool halfway house is on the right...
This hole is boarders the 3rd at Shinnecock and you can see the wonderful clubhouse through the trees...
From the approach. The 2nd shot plays over some bunkers down to the green kind of sunken down, hiding some front left greenside bunkers.
A closer look at the approach revealing the trouble short left...
From the 11th tee you can see the expansive length of the 10th green...
One more look from behind the green...
#11. Par 4. Plateau.
Definitely the toughest stretch of holes at The National 10-12. All strong par 4s which play in pretty much the same direction right up towards Bullhead Bay. 11 has an uphill semi blind tee shot and your approach plays back over Shrubland Road and a Principle's Nose bunker. The green is a beauty with a very distinct plateau in the front and in the back.
Here's the view from the tee...
Here's the approach from a little far back, but it does give a good view of what you have in front of you...
A closer look at the approach reveals the principles nose bunker and you can see the flag in the center of the green, in the flat between the two bunkers.
The Principle's Nose...
I absolutely love this green complex. Not overbunkered, nothing really around it but the plateaus in the greens will give you fits on getting it close with your approach or with your chip or pitch.
Here's a look from the right of the green (sorry its a little dark)
A devilish little bunker towards the rear of the green. You can see the plateaus well in this photo...
Another one from behind the green. Well placed bunker in the low area that I'm sure catches lots of shots that are overcooked from right to left coming into the green...
#12. Par 4. Sebonac.
The last of the tough 3 hole stretch of long par 4s. Teeing off just to the right of the 11th green and making your way close to Bullhead Bay. The green is a beauty with a large mound in it making things interesting.
From the tee...
From the approach. The hole location in the back of the green made it really tough to get the ball close. Great visual though...
#13. Par 3. Eden
The last par 3 at The National is the Eden template from St. Andrews. As is the case with most Eden holes, it's a pretty loose interpretation. But a very nice hole nonetheless. There definitely are some similarities to TOC Eden hole with the front bunkers and the swale behind the green, although in this case it is a bunker rather than just a swale of closely mown turf. It is wise to avoid the deep pot bunkers fronting this green, but I apparently am not very wise!
Here's the look from the tee...
Very attractive rear bunker snaking around the back of the green...
#14. Par 4. Cape.
OK... Hold onto your hats! The 5 hole finish of 14-18 at NGLA is something really really special. Not that the rest of the golf course isn't great, because it is! But once you turn around from 13 and start heading back towards the windmill and the clubhouse, it's as good as golf gets in my opinion.
The 14th hole is a mid length par 4 that bends to the right around Sebonac Inlet Road and Bullhead Bay. Here's the view from the tee. Sorry its a little blown away with the flat light in the afternoon.
My host informed me that after a good drive, players will walk over to the right along the road and admire the view. I did that and had some time to reflect. It was a nice little moment
and here's a photo of the walk...
Anyway, back to reality (sort of
). Here's the view from the approach. Such an awesome view!!! Aerial approaches only!
Closer look reveals another neat little pot bunker.
Another look at the green as seen from the 15th tee. One more reason why you need to challenge the right side with your tee shot. If you bail out to the left, a longer approach shot means you will have to carry those 3 little pot bunkers AND try and hold the green if you want to be putting for birdie. Great stuff!
#15. Par 4. Narrows.
Another breathtaking view greets you from the 15th tee. A mid length par 4 that asks you to carry the directional bunker to find the fairway and set up your approach into this wicked green.
From the tee, soak it in...
A close in look at the approach...
From the front of the green, you can see the large false front and the deep bunker to the right. You can't see much from down in that bunker. (Don't ask how I know that!)
Another look at the green from off the right shows the squared off sides and more evidence that you don't want to miss the green!
One more...
#16. Par 4. Punchbowl.
As if the last couple holes weren't good enough, now we get to experience the dramatic Punchbowl, which plays right up next to the windmill.
Here's the view from the tee...
From the approach. You can see how many humps and bumps there are in this fairway. Rarely do you have an even lie, which plays into the doubt in your mind and is magnified even more by the blind nature of the approach into the punchbowl.
Even closer to the green, you still can't see the flag, let alone where you ball might be. The directional flag in the distance behind the green is all the help you get!
Ahh yes, there's the green...
A look back. Pretty special...
#17. Par 4. Peconic
We all know this one. And really, wow, just wow!
A look to your left from the tee...
From the approach. More of a Levan style hole now that the bunker is more exposed and built up higher. Really cool
Don't hit it over the green! The bunker will catch some errant approaches and is much kinder than the entry road!
A look back at the 17th...
#18. Par 5. Home.
And what a great Home it is!! Up hill short par 5 that is usually reachable with two good shots, however not today with the stiff evening breeze right into our faces.
From the tee...
Walking up the hill...
A look at the clubhouse from the fairway...
From the left of the green with the Peconic Bay in the distance...
I must apologize for the lack of analysis on the 18th hole. There's just so much to soak in from all the views and it's hard not to reflect on your day/round when you have those surroundings.
Here's one more picture taken just before sunset as we were leaving. Lovely!
Finally, I hope you all enjoyed my thread and I hope we can keep up some banter because it's so fun to talk about!! I can't wait to go back!!