18 at Ballyhack is tough for a number of reasons, including:
- The prevailing wind is often into the player and is felt on the tee, but not on the uphill approach,
- The fairway (on the right side) cants enough to kick a shot to the right toward, but often not all the way to, a clear shot around the tree,
- The tree obscures any sight of the pin (from the tee) when cut on the right third of the green,
- A 23,000 square foot putting surface that yields plenty of Greens In Regulation but a high number of three (or more) putts,
- Its yardage (up to 455 yards) tempts most players to hit driver, and
- It completes a very difficult homestretch of par fours on every other hole (12, 14, 16, 18) that require all kinds of shots.
I think the hole is fair because:
- Hitting driver isn't a requirement, since the green is so receptive to a longer shot (fully open in the front),
- Bunkers (and one strategic rock on the hill behind the green) are placed to provide alignment assistance,
- The fairway cut on the right side of the hole allows the player a chance at a clean strike (which is necessary for the desired left-to-right approach shot),
- Bold green contours and depth (~65 yards) allow loads of ground game on the second (or third (or fourth)) shot, and
- The player knows what is coming, probably having seen the pin location from the staging area before the round.
Lester limbed up the tree during construction. Carl mentioned that he'd like a bit more space, which I understand, but I've always noticed that Lester is content with exactly how much he left.
I've always wished for short grass under the tree, as the rough there can get pretty thick. A shot that finds that rough is difficult to work and almost always finds the far left section of the green.
Generally, the hole plays far more difficult than most people think. In the first State Open hosted at the course (in 2014), it played more than a half of a shot over par. One of my playing partners five-putted it in the first round (having reached the green in regulation). It's the straightest par four at Ballyhack and the entire hole is pretty much in full view from the tee, so I think many player expect less than they get.
Without the tree, though, it wouldn't be nearly the same. Bomb driver, hit a shorter shot that more likely finds the proper tier, etc. I can only think of one other hole that is so straight but which was so impacted by a single tree, and that's [the old] 17 at Augusta.
WW