I just got out to Shoreacres for the first time since the renovation work (which is across the board outstanding). I was particularly taken by the Road Hole. It is gorgeous and a blast to play.
This is the fourth MacRaynor I have played this year (Chicago GC, Camargo, Blue Mound being the others) and sixth overall (NGLA, Piping Rock in previous years), and I cannot recall a better Road Hole in the bunch. Further, I cannot recall playing a better Road Hole homage in the U.S. by any other architect either.
I took some photos to illustrate the elements that make it so compelling to me:
The ravine makes for a beautiful and fun-to-tackle stand-in for the maintenance building, especially now that the trees have been cleared back so far.
There is out of bounds right, but still a little bit of room to get lucky if the tee ball doesn't get up top onto the fairway. Recoveries from down below are no bargain, but fun to take on.
The Road Hole bunker is much deeper and nastier than it appears in this picture, and holding the green (especially with today's front pin position) takes real touch from there. They have widened the fairway left and it continues all the way around the left side of the green into a really cool runoff area.
The angle and shape of this green is the closest I have seen to the original at TOC. In this view from back left, the bunkers used to stand in for the road are visible. In speaking with the Superintendent Brian Palmer, greens are running at peak speeds of 13+ - with the wind blowing and that speed, this green must be impossible to hit.
For me, all of the devilish elements of the original are there, and they are beautifully done at Shoreacres. Is there a better Road Hole? Bring on the arguments...