[Mike Hendren]

I enjoy holes where the drive is into a wide expanse but the approach transitions into a narrower, tree lined corridor.  Exhibit A would be the 14th at Cypress Point Club and others would include the 15th at Kingsley Club and the lesser known 7th at Doak's Quail Crossing. 

Do you like such holes and why? 
Other examples?

Mike

[Bill_McBride]

Could that be a subset of the Macdonald template hole, the "Bottle" hole?

If so, #8 at NGLA is certainly a premier example.  There's it's bunkers rather than trees that shrink the target as you get closer to the green, but it's the same principle.

[JC Jones]

I like them because I am most wayward with my driver and increasingly more accurate the shorter the iron in my hand.  I was going to point out #15 at Kingsley when I read your first sentence but see you have also noted it.

I would not limit, however, these types of holes to those that are tree-lined.  I think with proper bunkering (or other hazards), the feeling of narrowing can also be accomplished.  I would point to #6 at Seminole and #18 at Harbour Town as examples I have recently played.

[Fred Yanni]

The 15th at PV comes to mind - I always describe the hole as if one is looking through a telescope backwards.

Its a great 3 shotter and the landing area for each shot becomes more and more narrow - great great golf hole.

[Ronald Montesano]

The 14th at Stonehouse comes to mind as a wretched example.

[Sean Leary]

5 at Bandon Dunes I like a lot.....

[Mike Wagner]

# 10 @ Chambers Bay - great hole.

[Jim Sweeney]

There's one at Bandon trails- don't know the number- uphill par four- maybe 11?

[Kyle Harris]

Huntingdon Valley features of few of these, most noteworthy being the 6th and 7th.

I sometimes wonder if the funneling affect makes the hole a bit "easier" to read as it focuses the eye of the golfer on to the target.

It's not so much a preference but I wonder if the exact opposite (having a tee shot come out of a funnel toward a green in a wide expanse) would have a bit more of a psychological affect on the golfer, especially as it pertains to hitting the approach shot on the necessary line. In the two above referenced holes, aiming for the correct part of the green is quite important to nestling the ball in a good position to make a putt. The "frame" of the funnel tends to help the golfer after subsequent plays.

[Sean Eidson]

As a higher (16) handicapper, I'll tell you that I HATE these holes.  They're totally stuck in my head and I dread them for the entire round.

The 5th hole at Bandon (pre-gorse removal) was a total kick in the junk for me, especially with any wind.  Who wants to hit driver, wedge, wedge?

The other hole many here have played that kills me is 16 at Ballyneal.  A dreadful pain to try and go through that corridor.

I play sometimes at Washington Golf &CC, a Donald Ross course in Arlington, VA.  The 15th there is a par 5, about 420 yards, but it's a hard dogleg left, with a creek down the left and crossing 150 out.  From there, it's a blind shot up a 30 foot hill through a 25 foot gap in the trees.  My typical play is right with a three wood, 50 yard layup to the creek and then hit & pray.  I think I've made a par once in about 20 rounds.  Usually, it's a 7. 

I think these holes are extremely penal and not any fun at all. 

[Roger Wolfe]

#11 at Arcadia Bluffs is a funnel created by mounds... not trees.  Like playing in the Grand Canyon!

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