Cap Cana

[Steve_Roths]

Here is a link to the first of three Nicklaus courses at Cap Cana.  I don't know how to clip a picture and drop it in here.  But here is my question about the third picture on the right.

Do you need any fairway bunkers on this hole?

It looks like a fun hole.  You can either go for it across the water or play safe out to the left.  Why do you need the bunkers on the right to prevent the riskier shot?

http://www.nicklaus.com/design/capcana/071206.php

[Tom_Doak]

Steve:

I looked at the picture expecting to be able to tell you why Jack wanted a fairway bunker in that spot, but I can't tell you.  He does like to add bunkers to create additional "options" but I can't see how another option is created there.

There are some priceless quotes on that web page though.

[JMorgan]

That wind looks wicked.  

[Bryan Izatt]

It appears to be a picture of hole #2; a 600 yard dogleg right par 5.



Seems to be two options.  Play it out to the left toward the pot bunker as a three shoter; or, play it right over the bunker complex and then go for it in two over the water.  

I suppose the right bunker complex is to provide some risk off the tee for taking the short route.  On the overhead view, there appears to be a lot of room over the bunker, and before the water.  The pot bunker could capture long hitters who pull it left,  or maybe it's a target bunker for playing the left option.  The far bunkers, left and right appear to be in the second shot landing area, with the right one perhaps saving running second shots from going into the ocean.

If there were no bunkers on the hole it would probably look like hitting it into a football field with no definition of lines.  Looks less interesting to me.

[John Chilver-Stainer]

My guess is you have the option to take a « risk and reward » shot over the bunker to allow you the oppurtunity for another « risk and reward » shot over the water to the green. The 2 pot bunkers mark the « safer » and « longer » route around the bay.

What if the bunker had been LEFT rather than right – and a little longer so that :-
1) the neanderthals were forced right and then confronted with the « risk and reward » over water – thus their manhood would be challenged and they would have no choice but to lose a few balls if they catch a slice or overcook it (assuming the green isn’t very deep.)

2) the normalos can chunk it up in front of the bunker and then carry on over the bunker and round the bay to get their double bogey.

[Steve_Roths]

Brian,

Thanks for including the pictures and the editing.  

I by no means am trying to bash anyhone on this at all.  I am just trying to expand my knowledge of strategy.  And, I really like the hole and the challenge of going across the water at the hole.  

I just didn't get the double challenge of the hole.  It doesn't make complete sense to me to have to carry bunkers to be left with a tough shot.  I would guess you want to tempt the player in that direction and punish them for trying to take the easy route.

Now in the second picture with no bunkers couldn't you use a small bunker splitting the fairway.  Going left equals safety and going right equals a shot at glory....

[Bryan Izatt]

Steve,

You're welcome.  I'm too tired to put a centre line bunker in, but it might work better strategically.

John,

From the diagram of the hole, it looks like maybe 300 to the water on the right, so in your scenario the normalos could go that path and then go left around the water, and then right to the green.  I'm guessing the left to right third shot is not as long as the first and second.  The camera foreshortens the distance.

I'd prefer Steve's centre line bunker approach better, although I suspect the normalos could still play right, left, right.  The old military golf approach.  Assuming they have some directional control and don't do the left, right, left instead.

[Greg Tallman]

Remove the large bunker and leave the middle pot bunker and you accomplish a couple of things:(If the water is 300 as stated then the carry over the large bunker is not a problem for the guy considering going at it in two)

1. Force the shorter hitter who cannot carry the center pot bunker to consider from which side he wishes to play his next shot. Not as obvious as one may think and perhaps different choice based on one's typical ball flight.

2. Give the aggressive player at least something to think about rather than an 80 yard wide fairway with no penalty for a poorly struck tee shot. This assumes the pot is say 28o from the tee and 20+ yards from the assumed aim point for the aggressive play