Caledonia Hole #7 oak tree

[Addison King]

Played Caledonia yesterday and absolutely loved the golf course but the giant oak tree on hole #7 left me perplexed on how the hole was meant to be played.


With a far right pin location the oak tree blocks out almost every approach shot with the exception of a ball in the left rough. The under branches of the oak tree have grown so that a punch shot is almost not an option.


Just wanted to hear others thoughts on this hole.


Best regards,
Addison

[Tom_Doak]

Addison:


I have not been there in many years, but it sounds like you should drive left, and then play left of the flag with your second.  Nothing wrong with that, is there?

[Niall C]

Tom

Now this is one of the few US courses I have played but to be honest as much as it was an eye opener for me in terms of what could be done I struggle to remember the details after so long. That said, let me play devil's advocate to what I think you are suggesting which is why should you always have a shot.

If you have the length to get up shouldn't you have at least a sporting chance to work the ball in off a well placed tee shot, even if it wasn't the prudent shot to go for ?

Niall

[JESII]

I have not played Caledonia so until a picture shows up, I am only commenting on the principle of a tree having this much impact on a hole.


I think it is a greatly underused feature/opportunity.


I like wide open vistas but the occasional specimen tree making its mark right in the middle of a golf hole is a great thing and if it makes players uncomfortable, all the better.

[Niall C]

Jim

I don't think Addison was criticising it for making it uncomfortable or because of the level of challenge, he seemed to be questioning the fact there was no shot at all. However I tend to agree, I sometimes enjoy the challenge of trying to go under or around a single mature tree provided say the low cut isn't negated by a cross hazard further on.

Niall

[JESII]

Or, as Tom implies...just take the long way and still execute 4 good shots to make a par.


I am certain there are countless holes in the UK with dunes against the corner of a green that have an identical impact on play.

[JESII]

I just looked on their website and it's a very short hole...and the tree is a modest sized Live Oak. Looks maybe 40 feet tall.


This simply seems to be saying, if you can hit your wedge over the tree, go for it. If not, better go to the left. There definitely does not look to be any room to aim for the left rough in hopes of a better angle.

[Stewart Abramson]

The further left you go with the tee shot, the more green is open for a high approach shot. From the left third of the fairway even the back right of the green is clear. The further right you go, the smaller the portion of the green is open to you. I've tried a low running shot under the branches on more than one occasion with varying degrees of success. There is still plenty of room left of the places where these two approach photos were taken. I just wasn't able to get as far left as I had intended on these days.



Caledonia #7 /url]


[url=https://flic.kr/p/FSBJo2]
Caledonia #7 gators along hazard



Caledonia #7 tree impedes approaches from right side


Caledonia #7 approach guarded by tree- back right flag

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[Ronald Montesano]

People need to consider how compact a piece of property this is. Add in the value of that tree, and how MS built this hole is laudable.

[A.G._Crockett]

I've played Caledonia many times, most recently last November.  When I've had trouble with that tree, I've always felt I was out of position; there is enough room to the left to take the tree out of play.  And hitting over it, which is very possible, is an exciting shot that, even if not successful, doesn't leave you in terrible position to get up and down.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I've played Caledonia many times, most recently last November.  When I've had trouble with that tree, I've always felt I was out of position; there is enough room to the left to take the tree out of play.  And hitting over it, which is very possible, is an exciting shot that, even if not successful, doesn't leave you in terrible position to get up and down.

I second this. I've never found that particular tree to be too troublesome - go around it or over it.

[Kyle Harris]

World Woods Rolling Oaks #6 has some lovely trees that impact play similarly. There's a diagonal line that bisects the fairway on which the ball must be placed to get to the chute.

Amazing way to defer strategy off the tee through club selection.

[Stewart Abramson]

World Woods Rolling Oaks #6 has some lovely trees that impact play similarly. There's a diagonal line that bisects the fairway on which the ball must be placed to get to the chute.

Amazing way to defer strategy off the tee through club selection.

I don't recall that hole very well as I've played it only once. From the photo I have, it looks like trees impede both sides. I prefer having an entire side open to having to thread a needle between the trees, especially one with a big bunker fronting the only available approach angle.



World Woods Rolling Oaks #6 approach