Cypress Point's (relatively) tame greens

[KBanks]

Tom,

I think the yardage on 15 for women is 120, so your calculus of the carry seems right. However, the ladies tee to the left is more elevated than the men's tee, and there was a breeze partially against that day. (The hole is even more stunning from that tee).

I was trying to read her mind as she teed it up on 15. I imagined it as exactly how we feel as we place peg in ground on 16: you know you need a solid strike to get there. She might have just made it over with a good strike, but didn't catch it entirely solid.

On sixteen, she struck a low burner under the breeze and just cleared the chasm, but it was close enough to make it exciting.

Your Dad would have no problem handling 15 and 16 at Cypress. He can reach 15, and has enough carry for the layup yardage on 16. Upon arrival at 16, my Dad immediately asked the caddie for the layup yardage to the left. He told me later the layup there was still a thrilling shot for him.

It was way cool to tour Cypress with my Mom and Dad!

Ken

[Tom Huckaby]

That is fantastic stuff, Ken - many thanks!

And that's a very astute observation - that 15 to your Mom is like 16 to us.  Very cool.  I think my Dad would look at it that way also.  He does have to catch the ball correctly to even get it over 100 yards in the air.  He'd be thrilled to make that carry for sure.  Might this be more Mackenzie genius?  Or am I just too ready to give that old dead guy credit?  

 

What intrigues me most though is how your Dad played 16... which I THINK would be how my Dad would do it as well... he does play very ego-less golf... seems to have never met a carry he couldn't avoid....

But there does remain only one Cypress Point #16, and as thrilling as the carry to the left would be for my Dad, I just have to wonder if just this one time - just for fun - just to try to summon up some lost youth - he might reach for the driver and give one mighty swing aimed directly at the green.  If he did so I would crack up and love him more for the attempt, as insanely "hopeful" as it would be... and if he didn't and went left, well I'd also love him more for proving to be the tactical golf genius I always sell him as.

THus it's rather a win-win.

 

[KBanks]

Tom,

Your imaginative identification with your Dad on the tee at 16 CP is a great example of why I tend to agree with those who think it may well be the greatest hole in the world.

You just have a riot of emotions and thoughts running through your head as you stand on the tee and contemplate that prospect and the strategy involved.

Ken

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom,

Your imaginative identification with your Dad on the tee at 16 CP is a great example of why I tend to agree with those who think it may well be the greatest hole in the world.

You just have a riot of emotions and thoughts running through your head as you stand on the tee and contemplate that prospect and the strategy involved.

Ken

YES!

I've yet to play a hole with that causes so much emotional turmoil.  To me that's part of the greatness.

TH

[Marty Bonnar]

so much emotional turmoil.
TH

Rest assured,
my turmoil was purely rectal.

Re 15th tee. I recall Nancy being sent off up the hill to the left while we enjoyed the fence. She swears blind that her carry from there was as tough as the guys. Anyone walked up there?

MB.

[KBanks]

Martin,

I went up to the ladies tee with my Mom and her caddy to watch her play. Your Nancy is right. The yardage is nearly as long as from the men's tee, and the shot is all the more intimidating as you can see the chasm and its depth all the more clearly from the higher elevation. It would have to be one of the all time drop shot par threes from that tee.

Ken

[Stan Dodd]

On the first dayof the member guest the tee for the men is up there.  Still a great hole but it plays 20 yards shorter.