"Fairway extension" Greens

[Mark_F]

Are there many great holes that have greens that are merely an extension of the fairway, and thus play havoc with judgement of distance?

What holes?

Is this a good feature, and if so, why isn't it seen more often?

What type of hole best lends itself to this type of green?

[mike_malone]

 One thing i have always loved about #10 at Rolling Green is this feature.It is a 200 + yard par 3 that rises slightly.The front of the green is at the same level as the fairway.The usual shot is a runup from the right side.Because there is no elevation change at the green,players feel comfortable with this shot.However,it is mostly guesswork as to  how hard to hit it or how far the ball will roll.
   This is a great feature,particularly when many of the other holes require loft into the green.I think this gradual rise lends itself best to this feature.

[rgkeller]

Such greens are a feature of Garden City GC.

Holes three, seven, ten, eleven, thirteen and fifteen are the most prominent "extensions" although all greens except five,  twelve and seventeen are built onto the pre-existing contour of the land.

The odd occasion when the course plays hard and fast brings a particular joy to the playing of the six holes above.

[A_Clay_Man]

There's a great one on the 18th at Pajaro Valley. Seemless and falling away from the fairly level fairway, is also quite deceptive. You know its a great green when you just cant help yourself from trying a few more balls, when golf is concluded.

As for the "right" kind of hole to purposely use this feature?
Las Campanas (sunset) starts off with the concept but JN uses that to build towards the all-water carry on 18. Wild Horse uses it on almost every hole as does Sand Hills. (That says a mouthful)

 I have to say that Riverview's frontnine (1954) has this seemlessness on every hole and it works nicely. Hopefully Mario's low mowing the green surrounds, will bring these green's real genius to light. I was fortunte to meet a friends dad out there on Sunday and he told me he had grown the grass on one of the holes back in 54'. He and his buddie remembered the course and confirmed for me that these oval greens used to be about  5 feet larger, all the way around the circumference, which would bring them closer to the small burms, which were used more for shot-making than are today. .

[SPDB]

When Merion recaptures the fairway around the short right bunker on #5 (now in process), this hole will very much be a fairway extension green, and all measure of difficulty will be brought into play by challenging the bunker in order to stop the ball on the green.

I cannot wait to see this hole in action at the US Am., especially with a pin on the high right side of the green. These guys are going to have fits.

[DMoriarty]

Glad you brought up this topic.  I was contemplating a related thread, which I will forego for the time being.  

But perhaps you could clarify what you mean by "greens that are merely an extension of the fairway."  Ground contours?  Differentiation in mowing heights?  Similarity or difference in the grass type?   All of these or none?.  

Assuming I understand what you are talking about, how about the 9th at NGLA . . .






Rustic has a few of these greens as well . . . 17 greens by my count.  

[rgkeller]

Too bad the ninth green at NGLA is framed by the trees.

Could have been a heck of a hole.

[Mark_F]

D Moriarty,
 
I mean greens that are the same level as the fairway, obviously mown shorter, but not below or above the fairway, or banks, crowns or plateaux. Something were it would be a fine question of judgement as to where exactly you wanted to land your shot, because you could never be sure whether the point you were aiming was green, or thirty yards short.


I guess grass type depends upon climatic conditions and usage, and i doubt whether they would work well if the fairway before and after was flat.