The next, attention-worthy aspect of the ongoing CCB restoration would be fairway width. In one respect, this is the most fluid of the elements, as it is not always dependent upon permanent structures. I'll explain. Bunkering, lowered tees and expanded putting greens are mostly fixed, whereas mowing lines and grass heights are not. After a season or two of play, the superintendent, professional and committee members can discuss future steps and implement them in short order. My goal is to recognize holes where fairway width is of greater attention, based on to restorative work performed, physical trace of hole and
Holes 1, 2, 4, and 9 on the front side are dogleg-drive holes. Holes 3, 5 and 7 are not (6 and 8 are the par threes.) On the back, holes 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18 are dogleg-drive holes, while holes 10 and 11 are not (12 and 16 are the par three holes.) By dogleg-drive, I mean holes where the dogleg occurs before or in the drive zone, forcing the golfer to make a decision on driving club and angle of attack. Failure to decide/execute properly on either count results in a less-estimable circumstance for the playing of the subsequent shot. In this post, I'll look at the front-nine driving holes. I plan to address the back-nine driving holes in a subsequent commentary.
Holes 1 and 2 restored bunkers on the inside of the dogleg. Both previously played as simple holes and birdies were common, due to the weakness of the drive. Better players could go through the dogleg, directly at the green and have 50 yards in to these par fours. That one plays left to right and two plays right to left were of no importance. With the reclaimed, inside-corner, bunker nests, coupled with lowered and extended teeing grounds, the bomb over the corner is now an option for a brave and capable few. Impediments to a poor drive line await on the far side of the first fairway (left-side mounds) and the second fairway (right-side bunkers), so long and through is not ideal.
The 4th hole is Kevin's Bane, as two focal trees overhang the right side of the drive line and reduce the drive play to a fade. I'm not a fan of this type of protection, although there is a contrary, reduction-to-a-draw on the 15th hole (more on that later.) The left side of the 4th hole drive zone is lined with bunkers shared by the 5th hole. I would like to see the fairway mowing line on that side left alone, but expanded up the right, so that balls that go into the overhanging trees have a decent chance at a manageable lie. The hole is quite long for its par (which still matters to some), qualifying as a half-shot hole, yet it is manageable if you play it properly. Once past the drive zone, the hole runs straight for over 250 yards and is quite wide in what used to be the landing area for the second shot. Given its current length-to-par ratio, opening up a driving line along the right will not make it play that much easier. The 2nd and 4th holes have some unique element (wind, a bit down-grain/hill/something) that brings shots to the rear of the green with ease. The hole is a manageable 5 and a tough 4.
The 9th hole saw the elimination of a large tree along the inside corner during the storm that claimed 500+ trees half a decade ago. Since no one drives through trees, that arboreal loss brought strategy back to the hole. The tree used to force tee balls left, toward rough, border bushes and oob. The restoration placed a four-bunker sequence along the inside corner of the dogleg-right hole, making the drive line a critical decision. The hole plays a good 40 yards longer than the other dogleg right (one) on the front nine, so a longer iron or hybrid will be used to come into the green. The putting surface is quite narrow and is well protected.