Low Hanging Fruit?

[John Goodman]

Those who know Teeth of the Dog better than I (I have played it a total of twice, both last week, and I thought it a fine course though not a Doak Gourmet choice):  why is it that three of the seven ocean holes are par 3s?  I don't have an opinion on the routing per se, just a suspicion - maybe Dye went for the low hanging fruit a little bit on the ocean holes?  I liked Teeth a lot but I thought more than once as I was playing that it seemed to lack a little something.  Teeth was beautiful and a fine test but it made me appreciate Pebble a little more . . .

[wsmorrison]

I am firmly in the camp of thinking less of Teeth of the Dog than Doak, Jim Coleman and a host of others.  I played it three times and didn't find it all that compelling.  The water holes were nice but not so outstanding as I would hope due to the lack of variety that you refer to.  I haven't been there in years, and I don't plan on it either.  It was nice but if I were to rank, it would be way down my list of favorites.

[mike_malone]

 Is the water on the same side for each of the par threes ?

[Tom_Doak]

Wayne:  You are also firmly on the side opposite of Pete Dye.  The two of us can take you any day.

John:  It's a matter of linear footage.  No matter how much coastal frontage an architect is given, it's pretty common to include a number of par-3's on the coast, to try and maximize the number of oceanfront holes.  Just to cite a couple of other examples:  Cabo del Sol has the back-to-back 3's on the front (6 & 7) and the 17th on the back; Cypress Point, obviously; Pacific Dunes has 10 & 11, although I did also put two very long par-4's on the water.

Pebble Beach's stretch of great par-4's along the water is the exception, rather than the rule ... then again, none of us has had as much coastline to work with as Pebble Beach.

[Andy Troeger]

This is probably partially why all the par threes at Whistling Straits are along the lake too.

[mike_malone]

 I read where Dye was asked to "build me a Ballybunion" at Whisting Straits. The par three variety and routing at Ballybunion puts the ones at WS to shame. WS are built for "resort" golf; get all the sizzle you can.

[wsmorrison]

Tom,

I may be on the opposite side of you and Pete Dye (which certainly figures), but that's alright as we don't have to agree all the time.  I did not have a high regard for the course when I played it.  I will admit that I last played it about 5 years ago and my appreciation for architecture has hopefully become more informed since then.  However, I was underwhelmed by the course in a general sense and found crossing the airport runway a serious detraction and far short of quirky.

I may be wrong, but aren't all the seaside greens played parallel to the water?  Are any of them perpendicular with the green by the sea?  It didn't seem that way.  I also didn't like the caddies constantly cheating by moving the balls out of traps and from behind trees and bushes, especially since they were my competition's shots that were improved.  I take it the caddies cheat on behalf of their players so as to get a bigger tip.  I was not amused.

Where do the two of you want to take me by the way?  If it is golfing, I am at your command.  If it is for knocking some sense into me, well I think I'll pass.

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