Do you like the 10th at Alpine?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mike Cirba,

I tend to  hit my driver straighter then the other clubs in my bag, so it made sense to do so at # 10.  My ball flight with my driver was a draw, so it made even more sense.

But, I can see how a lefty who draws the ball could be terrified when standing on that tee.

[NAF]

Many tournaments at Alpine start on the 10th hole and with driver in your hands from the tips (I hit 3 wood from the member tees) it is scary for someone who is not straight with their driver.. Slice it and I'm hitting 3 off the tee already in the tournament or over draw it and I'm blocked out unless I hit a big hook and we aren't even talking about the green yet.

From my second picture (tx PT for posting) you cannot imagine how much a putt moves right to left on that putt from the right side of the green.. You would have to aim at the middle of that mound mogul to have a chance at sinking that putt. It is very Augusta esque and you are putting from a steep area as well.  The vortex is almost impossible to see with the naked eye (the steepness is not).  So now you can see how it is possible to hit a putt down the fairway although it did not happen to me all season.

All in all I think Tillie thought this was a sick hole but I'd hate to see it altered anymore. I find it quirky and fun, in fact Matt Ward even enjoyed playing it his last time around.

[Matt_Ward]

NAF:

I've always been a big fan of Alpine given its pedigree as a Tillie layout. I just think that a very gentle tweaking of the green would ensure more pin locations without sacrificing the nature of what the green / hole is about.

Mike C:

The original version of the 10th was much more daunting than what you see today. The hole was literally an uphill bowling alley and don't be fooled to believe that shots that went left would somehow bonce back to the fairway -- that happens only in the movies.

I played many a high school match years ago and watched as one player after another proceeded to make a DB, TB and even a few QUADS!!!

The issue with the 10th is reconciling how to handle the scale of play that exists. For the low handicap player you can "club down" at Pat mentions but for the average player the hole is really a bit unfair. Why? It's more than likely that their tee shot with the driver will failto carry an appreciable distance and assuming they in fact are straight they will be looking at a shot of no less than 200 yards STRAIGHT UPHILL to a green that looks as big as the hood of my car!

Let me also mention the fact that any approach that misses to the sides of the green will require pure Seve like ability to recover. I've also seen shots back up off the green if your approach isn't deep enough.

I'd have to say that the 10th is truly unpredictable because good play and poor play may not be treated in some consistent manner. Does that take away from the course? Clearly, Tillie needed a hole to take the player to the rear of the property that is the back nine today. I think a slight tweaking of the green would help and possibly adding a new forward tee position for those players who can easily be intimidated by the sheer climb.

FYI: If they are ever need a downhill ski ramp the 10th at Alpine would be a good spot to consider!