[Carlyle Rood]

The following is the third hole of what I call the "East Nine" at Atlanta Country Club.  These nine holes were routed by Willard Byrd (I presume) around 1964; but, they were never constructed.  Instead, a residential subdivision was developed in its place.

Throughout the semester, I'll be "renovating" these nine holes.  I actually haven't graded this hole yet; but, my instructor wanted me to demonstrate how I intended to illustrate it while I began adjusting contours.  It will be interesting to see how this hole evolves after softening the fairway contours.

I sort of goofed a little on the shadows; but, hopefully I'll improve with practice.  I should probably credit Tom Doak (or Don Placek?) with the trees.  I borrowed the hatch pattern from their rendering of The Harmony Club.  I think I may have to adjust their scale.  They seem a little too fine for my rendering.  They look excellent on theirs.

I found Byrd's routing on a newsletter for ACC when it first opened.  It didn't identify any bunkers, so I've added my own.  The left fairway bunker likely isn't reachable from either tee; but, it should invite golfers to aim at it.  The bunkers closer to the green are intended to capture balls before they disappear down the steep slope.  I probably should have put a bunker on the inside of the landing zone.  The slicers may be choking their guts out on the tee shot.  Frankly, you slicers need less bunkers and more practice time!  

[Mike_Cirba]

Carlyle;

Respectfully, I think I would have taken the exact opposite approach.

Generally, I am not in favor of target bunkers that are out of play, so the one outside the driving zone is eye candy at best, superfluous at worst.  Why not give the aggressive driver trying to cut the dogleg something to concern himself with instead?

I'm also not a big fan of "saving" bunkers, that are there simply to prevent a player getting into worse trouble.  In this case, there is plenty of room to the left for the player trying to play conservatively...why not give that player something to chew on rather than a easy safe layup?

Remove the right hand saving bunkers and now you've created a real problem for the guy going for it in two.  He knows that if he leaks it right a bit, he might be in BIG trouble as his ball cascades down the precipice and all of a sudden his eagle opportunity has turned quickly into scrambling to avoid a double.

I'd put those same bunkers in the left hand landing zone, which psychologically works to force all levels of  golfers either short, or right (towards death).  

Get in their head, Carlyle.  Don't protect them from themselves...make them think and rise to the occassion.  

Thanks for listening.  

[Carlyle Rood]

Generally, I am not in favor of target bunkers that are out of play, so the one outside the driving zone is eye candy at best, superfluous at worst.  Why not give the aggressive driver trying to cut the dogleg something to concern himself with instead?

I think the barranca on the inside is menacing enough.  The milder parts of its slopes are around 20%.  I should add a scale to the drawing.  Those are 2' contours rather than 1', so the slopes are understated.

I'm also not a big fan of "saving" bunkers, that are there simply to prevent a player getting into worse trouble.  In this case, there is plenty of room to the left for the player trying to play conservatively...why not give that player something to chew on rather than a easy safe layup?

Perhaps my "saving" bunkers belong behind the green?

Remove the right hand saving bunkers and now you've created a real problem for the guy going for it in two.

Now I'm wondering if the bunkers short and right may make the hole too easy for people going for it in two.  They can fire away without penalty.  If they're left, it may kick right on to the green.  If they're right, the bunkers will catch the ball and permit a straightforward up-and-down for birdie.

This sort of feedback is excellent.

[Mike_Cirba]

Carlyle;

Thanks for your feedback.  Glad to hear it's the kind of thing you were looking for!

C'mon all...anyone else have thoughts on what one can do to a sharp dogleg par five to make it interesting?  You only have holes like 13 at ANGC as inspiration!  

[Andy Hughes]

Fascinating post Carlyle.
Have you considered a small, gathering bunker maybe 60 yards short and a little left of the green, along the lines of the pond short of the of the 5th green at Mid Pines? Force the player to make a choice of going for it, laying up or playing to the side.

[Bill_McBride]

Carlyle, the "slicers" do have one advantage on this hole - the downslope attacked from the angle of a fade looks to provide a serious turbo boost!  

I also like the idea of a central bunker forcing either a layup or again a cut down the left side around the bunker.  You certainly wouldn't want to mess with that downslope short right absent those bunkers.  I agree completely with the removal of those saving bunkers.  Let the errant shot require a hack out of the gorse and heather!

So two sturdy fades might get the non-hooker home in two!  That would be a rare par 5.

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