Controversial trees that actually make the hole better

[Tommy Williamsen]

What do you guys think of the trees in the fairway at CPC 17?

The little grove of trees on 17 are fascinating. The one and only time I played it my playing partner hit the ball right behind the trees and hit a hooking three iron out over the ocean and onto the green. It was the best shot of his life. This came after he he hit ten slices on 16 into the ocean. I had to give him some golf balls so he could finish. The shot he hit on 17 was one of my golf balls.


The trees make the hole memorable but no one would ever design the hole that way today.

[corey miller]

We could have an honest difference Tommy but is does "memorable" mean good?


I would prefer that the  dozens of competent judicious golfers have the opportunity to play a shot flirting with the hazard than this once in a lifetime thrill.

[Tommy Williamsen]

We could have an honest difference Tommy but is does "memorable" mean good?


I would prefer that the  dozens of competent judicious golfers have the opportunity to play a shot flirting with the hazard than this once in a lifetime thrill.

Memorable does not necessarily mean good. I wouldn't remove the trees but I don't think the hole would suffer if they were removed.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I quite like it. I normally dislike trees affecting play on golf courses, but when a beautiful specimen tree like this is used intelligently it can be a lovely thing.

I agree with this, pretty much. Most of the time trees aren't used to good effect, but occasionally a single tree "works."

Now I'm off to find a topic discussing the trees on the left side of the 15th at Augusta National.

[Kevin Jackson]

The first controversial tree that always comes to mind for me is on the par 3 8th at Bethpage Black.  With a relatively flat putting surface, the tree forces significant thought from an elevated tee and makes the hole much more difficult. Limbs overhang the right side of the green and make it very hard for any shot other than a fade to get anywhere close to the right half of the surface.  Does it make it better? Not sure. But it does make the hole harder and less straightforward.

[Tommy Williamsen]

What the tree on the par three 13th at Golf de Morfontaine? Depending on the pin it can be in the way.

[Lukas Michel]

Metropolitan GC 17th hole. Horrible trees, but if you were going to make an argument to keep them, they make the hole more interesting by making the angle from the left (nearer the fairway trap) better.

[Tim Martin]

I like the two live oaks that are about forty yards out which may or may not front the green at number three at Kiawah Ocean depending on your angle of approach and pin position. A vexing hole for sure.