The tragedy of Yale – Hole #2
Back to the second hole after a delay following discussion of hole #1. I will bring those discussions up to the first page as well.
Hole #2 is a water-less Cape Hole where the green is surrounded by sand and terrifying slopes to the left of the green remind the player that a miss to that side will cost you dearly. The hole is a short 365 yard par 4 where stronger players will hit 3-wood or an iron off the tee. Unless the wind is with me (not the typical wind) I like to hit driver here because the approach into this green complex is MUCH less terrifying with a very short iron. The green at one time had several mounds, humps and bumps on the right side that the superintendent (Harry) bulldozed away in the name of “more accurate putting”. Of course these same mounds could also funnel a ball towards the left and closer to the hole but of course this was not considered when they were removed. George Bahto might have more to say or show us about this later on from his research and photographic enhancement. Still, the 2nd green slopes pretty hard from right to left and front to back in spots and bailing out to the right away from the deep bunker makes for a tough recovery be it from grass or the newly built right greenside bunker (this was the last of the bunkers built by Mr. Rulewich this year). The other work to #2 on the left side to “restore” bunkers and the hillside was done back at the beginning of the bunker project (1998 or 1999).
Here is what Charles Banks had to say about hole #2 (copied from
The Evangelist of Golf: The Story of Charles Blair MacDonald- author George Bahto)
“Thoughtful placement of the tee ball is crucial on the 2nd hole for the best angle into the green. Although the hole is not very long, the approach is very hazardous………The target is oriented on a severe right to left angle and is perched precariously over a steep falloff to the left………In general the green can be considered a ‘Cape setting’jutting out, seemingly into mid-air, rather then out into a body of water.” Charles Banks 1931
In his rebuttal to Golfweek magazine and Brad Klein’s article about the current status of the Yale course, Roger Rulewich claims “
The bunker renovation started in1998 AFTER reviewing hundreds of construction pictures and several aerial photos of the entire course taken since 1934 (yes, Klein got that right!) Work continued in 2000, 2001 and was completed this year.”
From this quote directly from Mr. Rulewich we can be confident that all his work at Yale was with a restoration in mind and furthermore the work would be accurate because he consulted aerials and hundreds of construction photos. Gee, I wonder why the right side bunker on hole #2 was only put back this year and not with the other work to hole if Mr. Rulewich was really restoring from the very beginning in 1998 or 1999? Mr Rulewich, I know you read this so I would please ask you to reply.
OK now let see the evidence.
Here is a blow-up of the 2nd green taken from the 1934 aerial photo. Please notice there is one huge left side bunker that wraps around towards the front of the green. This makes the approach from the right side of the fairway the preferred line of play. On the right side is a bunker that was removed long ago that extends up to the very front of the green.
Here is a scanned image from George’s book of the second hole during construction. Notice the steep slopes characteristic of Raynor. The hillside falls off dramatically down to the bunker.
I have no real problem with making the huge, deep left bunker into two separate bunkers but why in the world would he "restore" that raised mound in between the bunkers? ???Now let’s look at more of the results of the actual work done to hole #2.
This is a beautiful image of the “restored hillside”. It looks just like the construction photo now doesn't it? Thanks Roger.
This is a good one. It shows a little berm built up artificially. It will kick balls away from the bunker instead of gathering mishit balls into the bunker. I’m sure this is an original feature restored from construction photos as it wasn’t there before 1998.
Just this fall a new right greenside bunker was built supposedly to the specifications of the aerial and construction photos. Quick examination of the bunker, however, show it isn’t at the same scale in terms of its size nor does it go as far to the front of the green as the original. Thanks Roger and the committee that approved it.
OK now- How are we doing so far with our "restoration" on holes 1 & 2?