Reverse Road Holes

[Jay Mickle]

I have played a number if reverse Redans but can't remember or failed to recognize reverse Road Holes. What am I missing?

[Adam Lawrence]

Frank Pont has one at Swinkelsche in the Netherlands

[MCirba]

There is an odd one at Grand Cypress New course in Orlando.

[Bill_McBride]

There is an odd one at Grand Cypress New course in Orlando.

Agreed on "odd."   Definitely designed for the Nicklaus game in the '70's. 

[Bret Lawrence]

Yale's 4th hole has a reversed Road Hole Green.  The tee shot however, is not reversed.  Does this qualify?


Here is a shot of the 4th from the right of the green.






Bret

[Matt Frey, PGA]

To further illustrate Bret's point, I've borrowed some photos from Joe Bausch's collection:

[BCrosby]

MacKenzie/Jones wrote that the 5th at ANGC was inspired by the Road Hole. It plays, however, more like a reverse RH.


Bob

[Thomas Dai]

Here's a MacKenzie Road Hole copy I posted about recently including photos. Crackingly good green this copy.


http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62148.msg1476380.html#msg1476380


Atb

[Jim_Kennedy]

A short flyover to complement Matt's photos of #4 Yale:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXSb5BMHHxY&feature=youtu.be&t=24

[BCrosby]

I don't understand what is Road Holeish about the Road Hole at Yale.


Part of the glory of the real RH is that to open up the green (and avoid the RH bunker) you want to place your drive as close as possible to the OB/stationmaster's garden on the right. A scary shot.


On the 4th at Yale, why would I want to flirt the water on the right? Given the configuration of the bunkers at the green, why wouldn't I simply bail out left, to the safe side of the fw, to get the easiest approach into the green?


What am I missing?


Bob

[Bill_McBride]

I don't understand what is Road Holeish about the Road Hole at Yale.


Part of the glory of the real RH is that to open up the green (and avoid the RH bunker) you want to place your drive as close as possible to the OB/stationmaster's garden on the right. A scary shot.


On the 4th at Yale, why would I want to flirt the water on the right? Given the configuration of the bunkers at the green, why wouldn't I simply bail out left, to the safe side of the fw, to get the easiest approach into the green?


What am I missing?


Bob

You're not missing anything, it's more a Cape but one without the green in the hazard. 


If a deep pot bunker was placed front right, voilá, instant Road Hole.  Wonder why CBM didn't do that?

[BCrosby]

Grumble, grumble, templates, grumble, grumble.

[Andrew Simpson]

Grumble, grumble, templates, grumble, grumble.

Grumble, grumble, name tags, grumble, grumble.
I had genuine enquiry about the need to "tag" a hole as a "road hole" where to my eye they didn't have a road, a building to drive over, different green layout, different greenside bunkering, different turf and set in trees. The definition gave a somewhat vague description that perhaps included a drive over a corner, a bunker or swale to represent a road (though not necessary) and the green could be at an angle or not. Going by that the only similarities I can see with the road hole and a reverse road hole is it should have a Tee, fairway and green with perhaps the option to have a hole cut in the green! Yet some say they can't see a particular hole as a "reverse road hole"

[Bret Lawrence]

Thanks for the assist Matt and Joe!


Bob,


I don't think you are really missing anything either.  By reversing the green, but not the tee shot, the hole has a completely different strategy than the originaL.  The only reward for skirting the water is a shorter approach to the green, but you still have the bunker to deal with.  Hitting left you generally have an easier angle, but more club in.


Charles Banks wrote about this hole having inspiration from the 17th at St. Andrews and the hole was named Road, so I suppose that is what makes it Road Holeish.  It's still one of the more difficult holes on the course, regardless of this simple change in strategy.


Bret