[Michael Huber]

Mt. Odin Golf Course is a municipal course in Greensburg, PA, and its first hole is my least favorite 450 yards (459 from the tips) in all of golf.  Like most courses in Western PA, Mt. Odin is super hilly and these hills creates lots of quirk.  Example: the first three holes are par 5s of 450, 469 and 499 from the tips.  There are no other par 5s on the course.  Anyways, I hate the first hole with such a firey passion it goes beyond words, so I'll post pictures.

The shadows were a little bit tough on the day I took this picture, but even with the shadows, this picture tells three things.  #1 do not miss slightly left, as you will end up in trees (or the road on the other side of the trees).  #2 Do not miss slightly right, as you will end up either in tall ass grass or oblivion or down on the 18th hole.  #3 It is blind.  I always cringe when an unsuspecting player uses driver on this hole. It never ends well  I personally use a 4 iron off of the tee.



And yes, the cart path is an eyesore.

After a 180 yard or so tee shot, this is what you face:



While brave men may attempt to reach this green in two, you will probably end up regretting coming up short or to the right.  As you can see, it's a pretty steep hill in front of the green.  And if you go long, you face an impossible downhill pitch to a severely sloped green from back to front.  Less brave men such as myself will hit another 4 iron of 180 yards and lay up somewhere short of those carts leaving a pitch.  



This is the pitch shot you must face.  Please note that the little man made swale/collection area/whatever you want to call it has very thick grass, so again, short is not such a good idea.  The green has two tiers and they are surprisngly quick considering the $21 weekend green fee.

Lastly, a view from the 17th tee, which is just to the right of the 1st green.  Note the narrowness of fairway and the general steepness of the course.  I'd try to explain where exactly the 17th hole goes, but its also a crazy hole and probably worth another thread of its own.



Also, please note that this is the first hole review I've done for the site.  I'm not saying this is some epic groundbreaking hole, but it certainly tortures the hell out of me.  My friends and I have spent a lot of time discussing this hole and all of its evilness, so I figured the GCA crowd would like a peak.  

[Brian_Ewen]

Is it the hole or the set up that annoys you so much ?

[astavrides]

I've played there once (when it was snowing).  I never expected to see Mt. Odin discussed and pictured on this website.  Totteridge (also in Greensburg) is public now.  Not to thread jack, but have you played it?  It was ok.  I was expecting better, but I probably shouldn't have been considering the designer.

[Dean DiBerardino]

Looks like current the green is not the original.  The original green seems to have been where the fairway pinches in around 120 yards from the current green.  Maybe a better hole then?

[Ronald Montesano]

Is there width forgiveness in the fairway?  You say 4-iron off the tee...450 minus 180 leases 270 for a second shot, correct?

It seems that there is much more fairway out there, albeit sloping massively to the right.  Why can't you hit long hybrid (for me, about 30 yards longer than my 4 iron) or three wood (about 40-50 yards longer than my 4 iron).

Have you played with drawers and faders?  Does one prefer the hole more than the other?  My guess would be the fader, who might not only take advantage of cutting a ball down the rightward slope, but also for starting it left of the green and slinging it back right.  This, of course, refers to right-sided players.

How thick is the rough below the green?  It doesn't look that bad.  Do you lose balls in it?  Are they covered up completely?  Must you hit a grass explosion?  For me, those are fun shots, although the shot that got me there does cause consternation.

Does the hole play soft, medium or fast and firm?

I love a half-shot hole...if you make five, you convince yourself it's par.  If you make four, you feel that you stole a shot.

[Michael Huber]

Brian:
What annoys me the most is that each time I play a.) I lose a ball off the tie, either into the trees or off into oblivion to the right. b.) I always three putt c.)  I'm always faced with a goof chip around the treen

astavrides:
I've never played Totteridge, but a few of my friends and my father have played it.  My dad thought it was too penal.  Another friend thought it was too penal.  Another friend (and also the best golfer) likes it, but that's because he has simple criteria when he evaulates a course.  Essentially, if the greens are fast, it's long, and its reasonably priced, he likes it.  What did you think of Odin? 

Dean:
That picture is freaking awesome.  I never knew that Mt. Odin was originally a 9 hole course. I'm not sure if you are familliar with the course, but the current 3rd hole looks a lot cooler in that picture than it is now. Thank you for posting the picture.  When was that taken?  Do you know who originally designed the course? 

Ronald:

Optimally, I think a draw off the tee would be the preferred shot of choice off of the tee.  The tree line to the left certainly intereferes with a fade. 

I chose to hit a 4 iron over say a three iron or seven wood or three wood due since I can keep the ball in the fairway easier.  The slopeyness off of the right side of the fairway, combined with the blindness, makes it really tough to find a ball that misses right.  It really is an uncomfortable tee shot, especially since its the first hole on the course. 

The rough around the green isnt exactly Oakmont level, but the lie is very awkward and the rough is deep enough that you do have to look to find the ball inside of it.  You can still bump the ball up onto the green without hitting a flop, but one foot is significantly higher than the other.

The course as a whole plays pretty fast and firm in parts and soft in other parts given the maintenance budget and the hilliness of the course.  The first generally plays firm since it has the highest elevation on the course. 

[Ronald Montesano]

My experience in this regions is limited to both Chestnut Ridge courses, VFW in Indiana, Manitto and another course between Blairsville and Pittsburgh that I forget...the common thread is one that is near and dear to this forum...leave the land alone!!!  the only one that could be considered at all forced on the land is the Tom's Run course at Chestnut and even that one shows a lot of respect for the wetlands down below.  I don't have a problem with this hole.  I think that you would appreciate it more if you improved your game...I know that makes me a jerk, but I find that the better I strike the ball, the more I appreciate the architecture.  You really shouldn't have as much trouble controlling the clubs that you mentioned.

[Matt_Ward]

Michael:

Since the 1st plays as a par-5 can you tell me where the difficulty lies ?

You mentioned you use a 4-iron off the tee -- I can't imagine the better players having any real
difficulty in getting to the hole in two blows -- is the fairway generally firm? No doubt the pitch is
rather severe but maybe you can help me understand what makes the hole so painful to you and your buds.

By the way I've played plenty of courses in western Pennsy and concur you with that interna; quirks can happen
at any number of them with such severe grades changes in the property.

astavrides:

You mentioned Totteride is now public -- how long ago did it end its private affiliation?

I played the course not long after it opened -- it seemed well connected to be another Laurel
Valley type layout with a simillar type membership.

[Michael Huber]

Ronald:

To quite honest I'm very well aware of the fact that I'm not a good golfer.  If I kept a legit handicap, I'd probably be about an 18 to 22.  Like everyone else, I'd like to play better, but I've only been playing for a few years and really do not play (let alone practice) enough to get my scores to the 80-85 range. 

Also, what did you think of Mannitto and Chestnut Ridge?  I've played both and would probably rather play Chestnut Ridge. 

Matt:

I don't particularly think this hole is all that tough.  However, it's one of those holes that will forever be an nemesis and forever cause problems.  Everyone has a hole where that just has someone's number.  I think one of the things that makes this discussion group fun is that we can share a brief description/pictoral of a hole or a course and talk about it.  In my opinion, this whole has some character and I figured I'd share it with the treehouse.

Also, re: Totteridge.  As far as I know, the 2009 season was it's first as a public course.  I don't know how strong the membership was, but the housing project surrounding the course was a complete disaster and I believe is in bankruptcy.  I can't say for certain, but I think I read that the developer was having both legal and financial troubles.

[Ronald Montesano]

I agree that Chestnut Ridge is better than Manito...I like Tom's Run, then the original Chestnut Ridge course, then Manito...the sleeper in the whole bunch is the VFW course in Indiana...it is absolutely intriguing, a blend of narrow and broad holes, a course that I would have no trouble playing again and again.

Re:  the talent level...I tend to play the tips on most courses and often ask myself why I am beating myself up...Roger Rulewhich courses typically slaughter me, as he makes driving from the tips a relentless forced carry of 245 or more...I guess I really love golf!

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