Is the 4th hole at Silva's Black Rock an Alps Hole?

[Mike Mosely]

I recently read the "Feature Interview" of George Bahto.  It got me to thinking that I saw an alps hole that was done well recently.  I live in Boston and got to play Black Rock by Brian Silva.  The fourth hole is a par 5 where you hit your second shot to the base of an enormous hill with bunkers carved into the face.  It's a blind shot over this bunker/hill (bunker hill:)

The fairway goes downhill at a severe angle and ends in a punchbowl green.  Although I haven't played it, isn't this like the alps hole at National?  Does anyone have a pic?

[George Pazin]

Check out the profile on this very site:

Black Creek profile on golfclubatlas.com

The 4th:

4th hole, 545 yards; Similar to some of the strategic dilemmas posed by the Road Hole, can the golfer hug Black Creek on the right with his drive and then sling a hook in that a) is long enough to avoid the eight foot deep bunker that fronts the green while b) taking the Indy turn bank behind the green and releasing across the green? What an attractive shot to pull off – for the last twenty yards, the ball will be travelling perpendicular to its original line! Good architecture is about encouraging golfers to attempt shots that they normally don’t play - and this hole is a fine example of doing just that.

[Michael Moore]

Black Rock !

[Mike Mosely]

Check out the profile on this very site:

Black Creek profile on golfclubatlas.com

The 4th:

4th hole, 545 yards; Similar to some of the strategic dilemmas posed by the Road Hole, can the golfer hug Black Creek on the right with his drive and then sling a hook in that a) is long enough to avoid the eight foot deep bunker that fronts the green while b) taking the Indy turn bank behind the green and releasing across the green? What an attractive shot to pull off – for the last twenty yards, the ball will be travelling perpendicular to its original line! Good architecture is about encouraging golfers to attempt shots that they normally don’t play - and this hole is a fine example of doing just that.

I guess that's what happens when you name two courses "Black Something!"  George, yes. Black Creek is an excellent course and also has some holes modeled after Macdonald/Raynor, but as Michael Moore points out, I meant Black Rock in Boston:)

I think Ran did a good article on both actually...

What do we think of Black ROCK?  Personally, I loved it.  I like the three bunkers on 17 that form a diagonal chain pinching the fairway.  Plus the redan is superb.

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

For my money the fourth at Black ROCK is an Alps Punchbowl with a similar design at Black CREEK.

Both are par-5s that reward a long drive by allowing players to go for the green in two.

Anthony

[Matt Waterbury]

Certainly looks like the Alps these days...




Cheers,
mjw