The 11th hole—
Teeth o' the Wind—at Roy Kizer in Austin is one of the most formidable water holes one is ever likely to play.
Playing 464 yards from the tips and nearly always directly into prevailing winds, this cape style par 4 forces the player into two risk-reward decisions whether played as a two or three shotter. Unlike the 18th at Sawgrass, the water isn't an overt bastard from tee to green, but it does heavily influence strategy and especially risk assessment on both the drive and approach or lay up.
From the tee, the player is invited to challenge the waste bunker that separates the fairway from the water on the left. Only a well-struck draw (for righties) is likely to find this fairway, and only the longest hitters will be able to carry the last half of the waste bunker and face a second shot of around 200 yards or less.
Anything right is a very unappealing proposition not only because it lengthens the hole, but also because it brings into play the Bermuda rough-covered mounding that frames the right side all the way up to the green complex. With probable hook lies and water left, anything right off the tee turns this hole into a de facto three shotter...or a miraculous two shotter, considering the run-up possibilities from the right side of the green.
After a courageous and successful drive, the player still has a lot of work to do, as any shot at the pin requires a carry over an inlet of water on the left that threatens to within 25 yards of the green. If that weren't enough, a fronting bunker on the left side awaits valiant attempts (typically from 175–225 yards away) that get rejected by the prevailing winds.
To top it off, the green complex is situated at a sharp dogleg left from the fairway, and this results in a sublime "tucked away" effect that further protects the hole, strengthens the cape feel, and really makes this hard-to-reach green memorable.
The bottom line? Having a go at this all-world par 4 requires not one but TWO excellent shots of the risk-reward, carry over water, heart-in-throat-with-anticipation variety. A second shot that finds this green is one the player will surely remember long after his round is done.