Hiding in plain sight

[Thomas Dai]

What would be some examples of features on golf courses where something sneaky and tricky is right there in front of you yet is so cunningly created and/or positioned either by nature or by mankind or a combination of both as to be hiding in plain sight?
Such could be either something that makes a hole or a shot more interesting/challenging or it could be something that makes playing a hole or a shot easier.
Atb

[Tommy Williamsen]

What would be some examples of features on golf courses where something sneaky and tricky is right there in front of you yet is so cunningly created and/or positioned either by nature or by mankind or a combination of both as to be hiding in plain sight?
Such could be either something that makes a hole or a shot more interesting/challenging or it could be something that makes playing a hole or a shot easier.
Atb

There are plenty of examples of holes similar to this, but number one at The European Club causes consternation as to distance. The shot into the green is uphill and generally into the wind. There are two bunkers about ten yards or so short of the green, which makes the green seem closer than it is. The dunes behind the green are set back, making the green appear farther away than it is. I have played the hoe dozens of times and my miss is generally short, even though I know that is my tendency.

[Matt Schoolfield]

To me the best "hiding in plain sight" design I can think of is placing a fallaway green with a fronting bunker, that sits after a ridge that players can barely get over.

The thoughtless player will try and catch the downslope to add that little bit of distance, leaving a downhill lie into the fallaway green. The thoughtful player will lay up to the top of the ridge to maximize the amount of height and spin they can get to hold the green.

[Michael Felton]

Not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for, but this is the 6th hole on the course I grew up on:





It's a Colt course in Surrey. I think this is one of the best green surrounds. The bunkering to the left stands out and looks troublesome (it is for me at least) and it pushes you out to the right. To the right of the green are some mounds and the green slopes from right to left, so if you miss the green to the right you have an awkward chip to a green running away from you. So many courses have bunkers both sides of the green and that keeps you centered. When the green is bunkered one side only it makes it harder to hit the green I think. The front bunker is around 30 yards from the green - that's really not a good place to be.

[Ira Fishman]

The tree on number 4 at Mid Pines. It is the subject of one of the best threads on here ever.

[Bradley Anderson]

Is it fair to say that the most illusory sleight-of-hand that the golf course architect has up his sleeve is the diagonal orientation of the green?

[Kalen Braley]

Any green that can incorporate this concept into it.  I've played a few and heard Pebble has a few of these.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_hill

A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill, mystery hill, mystery spot, gravity road, or anti-gravity hill, is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces an illusion, making a slight downhill slope appear to be an uphill slop

[Simon Barrington]

Any green that can incorporate this concept into it.  I've played a few and heard Pebble has a few of these.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_hill

A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill, mystery hill, mystery spot, gravity road, or anti-gravity hill, is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces an illusion, making a slight downhill slope appear to be an uphill slop

Ah-ha!

The old "Electric Brae" effect as per the OG by Culzean Castle just north of Turnberry, Ayrshire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvJybXg1EeQ

[Ira Fishman]

Any green that can incorporate this concept into it.  I've played a few and heard Pebble has a few of these.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_hill

A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill, mystery hill, mystery spot, gravity road, or anti-gravity hill, is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces an illusion, making a slight downhill slope appear to be an uphill slop

We have one on our course. I have played the green hundreds of times and still cannot “learn” that it slopes front to back, not back to front. It is maddening.

[Kalen Braley]

Any green that can incorporate this concept into it.  I've played a few and heard Pebble has a few of these.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_hill

A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill, mystery hill, mystery spot, gravity road, or anti-gravity hill, is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces an illusion, making a slight downhill slope appear to be an uphill slop

We have one on our course. I have played the green hundreds of times and still cannot “learn” that it slopes front to back, not back to front. It is maddening.

I know the feeling. 

Was playing a local course years ago and had what appeared to be a gentle breaking 20 footer that I figured had 6-12 inches of break, which ended up being at least 10 feet.     Although I at least had the direction correct even if I completely boned the magnitude.

[Michael Felton]

Any green that can incorporate this concept into it.  I've played a few and heard Pebble has a few of these.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_hill

A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill, mystery hill, mystery spot, gravity road, or anti-gravity hill, is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces an illusion, making a slight downhill slope appear to be an uphill slop

We have one on our course. I have played the green hundreds of times and still cannot “learn” that it slopes front to back, not back to front. It is maddening.

I know the feeling. 

Was playing a local course years ago and had what appeared to be a gentle breaking 20 footer that I figured had 6-12 inches of break, which ended up being at least 10 feet.     Although I at least had the direction correct even if I completely boned the magnitude.

10th green on Walton Heath Old always gets me. I look at a 15 foot putt from the right side of the green towards the middle and I'd swear it's breaking at least a foot right to left. Hit it and it breaks a foot left to right. 

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