Why Are There So Few Great Uphill Holes?

[peter_p]

    High Pointe #14 (Hog's Back) is a very good uphill hole with the green in a perfect defensive position at the top of a hill with drop offs all directions.
    In general I think different views come from the player vs architect standpoint. If you want to attack (player view) you want to see what the defenses are, and the downhill view prevails. If you want to defend (architect's view) you want the defenses hidden, thus the uphill view. Most people think of great holes from the playing perspective.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Jim Lewis,

You are right about one thing. I have played NGLA only once. When I played I was travelling alone so they took me out to the 5th tee to join a threesome in progress. For the next 14 holes, I thought the course was great, everything it is touted to be on this site. After the 18th I went back and played holes #1-4 by myself. After the thrill of playing holes 5-18, I must say that 1-3 were a letdown.  

My only complaint with #1 was that I could not see any reason to hit a driver, and I have a bias against openning holes that take the driver out of your hand. I think I would like the hole better if it fell later in the round. Maybe I'll appreciate it more if/when I play it again.

I've never hit anything but driver on that hole.
I aim at the rightside bunker and try to draw it to the leftside opening leaving me approach shots where I can use putter to L-Wedge.[/color]

BTW, I've been waiting for Tom Paul to offer this zinger, but since he has failed me, I'll try my best T Paul imitation. Here goes. Patrick, after playing Pine Tree and Garden City as much as you do, all holes must appear to be uphill to you, except those that seem downhill.

GCGC has a little more undulation in the terrain then meets the eye.  Pine Tree is rather flat except for a few green sites, like # 5 or # 6.[/color]

[Jason Tetterton]

One of my favorite uphill holes, #15 "High" at the Palmetto GC in Aiken, SC.  The hole probably has an elevation change of 60+ feet.  It measures 298 from the tips and a mere 257 from the men's tee.  It's a very good example of a risk / reward hole.  Most players in the Palmetto Amateur try to drive the green, but a shot hit too far to the right can be unplayable and a drive too far to the left can be hindered by a group of Pine  trees.  And laying up for a wedge shot is no bargain either, as the green has a bit of undulation and can be difficult to putt.

[jeffwarne]

Jason,
#15 at Palmetto also has a green that runs away from you.
#13's a pretty good uphill hole too

[Brent Hutto]

Not to mention #18. It's not so uphill as #15 but is probably the "easiest" of the three that have been mentioned. I think #18 is also an attractively-contoured hole unlike #15 which is more of a ugly brute that you have to treat with some respect or it will bite you.

I love uphill holes although a handful of them on a course are plenty. Pasatiempo, for instance, is pushing its luck with the unrelenting uphill-ness in my book. But an uphill hole with a green that runs away from you and is also a short Par 4...that's getting about as good as a golfer could ask. That said, I wouldn't want to face more than one a day if I'm keeping a scorecard.