I finally am getting around to posting some pictures of the back 9 at the Golden Horseshoe. Front 9 pics are
here.
We start with the approach to the monster 450 yard par 4 10th... the tee shot is tight with the fairway pinching in about 185 out and anything that misses the fairway right is in the trees and probably unplayable. Thus, accuracy is favored off the tee, but that leaves 200-220 into this small green...
Next is the 11th green from about 150 out. A shortish par 4, this hole's nastiness comes from the huge bunker in front and a green that angles left-right away from the player. Any shot that is pulled will be way over the green and create a difficult recovery. Another interesting feature of this hole is the fairway - a huge mound slopes to the right in the landing area and the player has the choice to hit on top of the mound and keep it left, or challenge the right side (with overhanging trees). The right side is flatter, but then leaves a carry over the front bunker. The left side takes the bunker sort of out of play and adds the run-up shot as an option, but is a trickier lie.
The 12th hole is next, my favorite par 3 on the course. Raw distance is 190, but as you can see it's significantly downhill. Looming water is scary, so bailouts left are common. Still, a large ridge running vertically through the middle of the green means accuracy is a premium (where have you heard that before?) and if you miss, you better have a good short game.
View from the back of 13 tee, up the hill behind #12. 12 green is below and 16 green is across the pond. This is the best view on the course...
13 green - it's supposed to be the easiest hole on the course, but the green makes it difficult, as does the downhill slope that greets the player's approach.
13 green from the right side...
View of the 3rd shot into the monster 630 yard par 5 15th... the green angles right-left away from the player.... without a doubt, this is the hardest pin on the green.
View of the 16th from the blue tees, which is way off to the left... I actually think the gold tees (tips) are an easier shot because the green is wider. When the pin is up front like it is in this picture, it's a scary shot...
17th green... the hole itself is long and straight uphill, but I didn't get a good picture of it. Still, at 435 uphill, just reaching the green in regulation is only half the equation thanks to the different green sections...
And the finisher.... a 440 yard par 4, the college kids were driving it down there and hitting half wedges and 9-irons into the green which makes the hole just too easy. But for mortals, it's closer to a 4-iron approach. The bank on the left is shaved, so the right bunker gets a lot of play. Given that the hole doglegs left around a corner, the left-sloping nature of the fairway means that even if you block yourself out on a direct line to the green, a hard running draw still has a solid chance to get there. It's a fun shot to hit and one that, surprisingly, not too many people notice when they first play the hole.
Enjoy!