Differing difficulty of a hole due to which side of the tee box is used

[Brad Wilbur]

I'd love to hear examples of where moving the tee box from one side of the teeing area to the other markedly influences difficulty of play.                                             At my primary course, there is a 350 yard par four that has a 30 yard wide diagonal fairway   To reach the fairway on this desert course, the golfer can aim left, and be faced with a 195 yard carry, or aim right and only fly the ball 130 yards.  The interesting part is how siting the tee box on the right side gives the player a much more benign view than when the tee is moved 12 yards to the left side of the tee box.  The left side brings the OB left of the fairway much more into the thought process, along with greater views of desert and much less vision of grass.  The tee shot to carry the right side now is 135 yards; unfortunately there is only 30 yards of depth before one encounters a 20 foot high pyramidal pile of rocks that blocks vision for a 220 yard carry to the green.

[Brett_Morrissy]

 Brad, I've noticed on my home course (Beach) that some of the shorter "white" tees push the players further toward the major ground feature, dune/ridge, which angles further away from best line, and takes that preferred line out of their line of vision - to its detriment IMO. So the GCA has provided the main tees the preferred lines and sight lines, effectively designed  the holes with these tees as primary. This is only prominent on 4-5 holes where the angles for the shorter tees are forward and right.

[Michael Felton]

The 3rd hole on Bethpage Blue is a par 3 of around 195 yards from the tips I think. There is a tree on the left side that pokes out a fair bit. From the right edge of the teeing area, you can hit a fade (my stock shot) and still hit the green. From the middle of the teeing area, you have to hit a draw to get to the left half of the green and a fade will be in trouble, wherever you start it (either in the tree or in trouble on the right of the green). Minus the tree it would be a tough par three. With the tree, it's nigh on impossible for someone like me to play the hole well.

[Mark McKeever]

14 at Bethpage black has  a very wide tee box.  The more the markers are set on the right side, it becomes more of a forced carry over the cavern front right bunker, especially with any pins on the right side of the green.  The bailout left into the fat of the green leaves a scary putt too....

Mark