I played Hollinwell again this week and the 18th is as good - and tough - a downhill final hole as I remember it. It’s a fantastic finish to a wonderful course.
The 18th at my home club, Huddersfield (aka Fixby) isn’t in the same class - in fact it’s an odd hole in some ways, which some think unfair - but I realised yesterday that it has a very unusual feature. Hitting a really disappointing tee shot leaves you with probably my favourite shot on the course.
The hole is a 487-yard par 5 with a steeply uphill drive to a marker post about 230 yards away. At that point, the hole drops very sharply downhill. Roll just over the crest on the right line and you can easily get a further 100+ yards of run. Land on the downslope and you will have no more than a wedge left.
That really disappointing tee shot is one which (as for me yesterday) you’re sure has made it over the hill but you find sitting right on the crest - a yard more roll and you’re hitting no more than a 6-iron with a great chance to finish with a birdie. Instead you have 250 yards left to a green sitting 70-80 feet below you. You genuinely could putt it 150 yards but, for me, it’s a 3-wood and hitting a good one and watching it hang in the air, not sure whether the distance is right or not until it lands, is a great feeling.
Yesterday? Topped it and left myself about where a well-struck putt would have finished up!