[Sean_A]

Here is an example of the sort of hazard I applaud.  Its a path come waste area which bisects a fairway about 270ish off the tee on a 510ish par 5.

Would folks generally go for this type of golf?

Ciao

[David_Tepper]

Sean -

The cynic in me says that any golf club in the U.S. that had such a path would have to provide a free drop from the path or face the wrath of it members!

DT

[Peter Nomm]

I would have more of an issue with the placement of it than with the hazard itself.  Acutally, I find the hazard rugged and appealing.

But if we promote options and creativity, why then would we force a long-hitter to have to play into the same box as an average hitter by taking a driver out of his hand on a par-5? 

[Bob_Huntley]

But if we promote options and creativity, why then would we force a long-hitter to have to play into the same box as an average hitter by taking a driver out of his hand on a par-5? 

Why on earth not?

Bob

[Doug Ralston]

Perfect placement! I hit my drive about 210, best. That path seems to not come into play unless I completely flub it. 

But of course, I would be 60-70yd up on shorter tees, so .........., awful hazard! 

Sean, where is this?

Doug

[paul cowley]

Sean....I do for sure...but what you show must be primarily a pedestrian path bisecting the course......or is it a course with a flat soles only provision?

[Bill Brightly]

You really applaud that Sean?

It seems like a pedestrian path, probably to a public beach. If that is the case, not much you can do about it, but PLEASE, lets not pretend it makes for good golf.

[paul cowley]

....this new format is strange. Can you still delete a post?

I re read Seans post and he had said that the area was indeed a bisecting path....rendering my remark rather trite.

I want to, but don't know how to, delete it.

Ideas anyone?

[Joe Hancock]

Ideas anyone?

You could always claim temporary insanity. Or, you had a bad reaction between your meds and those two bottles of Malbec. Or.....never mind.

 

[Sean_A]

Peter

This is the wonder of this "hazard".  It doesn't take driver out of anybody's hand - though I am not against doing that once or twice a round.  The path can be rolled through if the ball is hit well with a draw.  One can get over the path, but end up in the crap on the right if the shot isn't shaped properly.  Of course, flat bellies can carry the path. 

There is a huge benefit in the risking getting hung up on the path because if you get over the path the green can be seen - this doesn't mean that you will like what is on offer, but the green can be seen.  Of course, its pot luck once on the path.  It may be a hack out with a wedge or a 6 iron type layup - in which case you haven't really lost anything.  Short of the path in the fairway is blind second to a narrow fairway and I have never seen anybody come close to hitting the green from back there.  In fact, its best just to layup to 150ish and trust to a very good approach or lay up again and try for an up and down par. 

Doug, the path is on the 13th at Burnham & Berrow.  I raised the question to see if folks would go for the idea and second, to see how much of a risk people think it is.  A year or so ago it was a very different choice.  The path was far more sunken and it really was a question of carrying the path, getting a very lucky bounce over or laying up.  At first I was against raising the path, but now I am not so sure the hole hasn't been made better. 

Paul

The path is a bridleway - I think.  The path was raised so walkers could more easily be seen by those on the tee.  The path is already starting to sink again. 

Bill

I not only think its good golf, I think this path is an excellent hazard which demands the attention of the golfer.  Its only sand, I can think of no reason why a drop should be permitted.  Besides, a free drop would take an awful lot of the fun out of the hole.  I spose its one of those things that strikes a divider between old time golf and modern ideas of what golf is.

Ciao   

[Bill_McBride]

Sean, is there a similar path on the par 5 #4 at Pennard?

[Bill Brightly]

Paul,

I wonder happens if you hit "modify" then delete everything you wrote?


(Nope, that won't work.)

[Sean_A]

Sean, is there a similar path on the par 5 #4 at Pennard?

Billy McB

You are starting to pick up the sort of golf I think is best!

In the old days that entire area around the current path was a sandy waste.  Now, the path can be avoided by going left, but this leaves a rough angle for trying to reach in two. 

Ciao

[James Bennett]

Sean

the first at Rustic has a similar feature, but it winds its way down the hole bisecting the fairway before deviating to the right just before the green.

I love the shallow water hazards (creeks) at Merion (and at Peninsula South in Melbourne) where a ball can be retrieved after being 'wet'.  Similar to the creek fronting #13 at Augusta.  A bit like your path, but with water added (occasionally, which is good to.  Variety is important with a hazard).

James B

[Peter Nomm]

Sean - it appears there is room to work with for the long-hitter to avoid it.  If so, then not an issue.  

The thing I don't like is taking away the option of driver on holes that require distance (ie. long par-4 and par-5s).  

[JohnH]

I like it... rustic, natural looking to my eye.  If one can bust the drive 300+, then I would think a 250+ yd go for the green is more than possible, making the lay-up short of the path an option for the big hitter.  Not seeing the hole and the green surrounds and contours, however, I'm making a speculation.

[jeffwarne]

Sean,
It's a terriffic hazard.
It's visible from the tee.
It has risk reward. It requires thought. It allows a skillful recovery.
It requires minimal maintenance. It serves a function independent of the golf course.

We caught the hole downwind and actually hit it well past that spot through the fairway in fescue.


I'm just amazed that whenever a different hazard (footpath or rocks)appears it is questioned as unfair or not "allowing for good golf"

It's significantly better hazard in my opinion than the defacto "golf course in a can " look we see so often on modern courses with wavy, pretty, inpenetrable long so called "native" grasses.

[Jason McNamara]

I like it Sean, but remind me to first swap out a wedge for my trusty rut iron.

[Sean_A]

Sean,
It's a terriffic hazard.
It's visible from the tee.
It has risk reward. It requires thought. It allows a skillful recovery.
It requires minimal maintenance. It serves a function independent of the golf course.

We caught the hole downwind and actually hit it well past that spot through the fairway in fescue.


I'm just amazed that whenever a different hazard (footpath or rocks)appears it is questioned as unfair or not "allowing for good golf"

It's significantly better hazard in my opinion than the defacto "golf course in a can " look we see so often on modern courses with wavy, pretty, inpenetrable long so called "native" grasses.

Jeff

You will know what I mean when I say the drive must be shaped properly.  Ironically, downwind the drive is tougher than say a 10 mph against.  Just getting over the path isn't enough if you are looking for a go at the green.  Too far left is a blind approach to a narrow green with a big falloff right.  Too far right (the fairway pushes balls right) ends up in nasty rough. 

Ciao

[John Chilver-Stainer]

I go for it.

These are the kind of hazards I like to see on a golf course - the ones that look they were there before the golf course came along (with some exceptions eg Electric Pylon).

The golfer has no argument if it was there first - he just has to get on with finding the best way to get the ball into the hole.

[Richard Muldoon]

Sean,
On it’s own it’s fine by me.
However on that hole is it worth the risk or even is it one hazard too many?
From memory doesn’t the fairway slope from left to right pushing any slightly pushed drive towards that horrid rough.
I lost a ball in there and then put my provisional in there for good measure.
I managed to find the provisional and chopped it out to where a good drive that crosses the path might end.
You a then left with a long shot to a very narrow target with a lot of rubbish either side. Reminded me of the approach to the ‘narrows’ at Saunton, but longer.
So to get up in 2 you need to hit 2 great shots. I couldn’t see myself taking that on in any sort of competitive golf as the risks far outweigh the rewards.
I will add that when I played the rough was brutal and the fairways very narrow, so maybe under normal conditions it isn’t so harsh.

[Sean_A]

Sean,
On it’s own it’s fine by me.
However on that hole is it worth the risk or even is it one hazard too many?
From memory doesn’t the fairway slope from left to right pushing any slightly pushed drive towards that horrid rough.
I lost a ball in there and then put my provisional in there for good measure.
I managed to find the provisional and chopped it out to where a good drive that crosses the path might end.
You a then left with a long shot to a very narrow target with a lot of rubbish either side. Reminded me of the approach to the ‘narrows’ at Saunton, but longer.
So to get up in 2 you need to hit 2 great shots. I couldn’t see myself taking that on in any sort of competitive golf as the risks far outweigh the rewards.
I will add that when I played the rough was brutal and the fairways very narrow, so maybe under normal conditions it isn’t so harsh.

Richard

You are absolutely right in that going for this green in two (even though it is very reachable) is very risky.  I always go for the drive in the winter and tend to go for it in summer unless its downwind.  Even if you are in position A after the drive going for the green is difficult.  Though if you don't go for the green and get slightly out of position for the layup then the approach is often very difficult as well.  There is a bunker guarding the right side for a lay up - just about where you want to be to take advantage of the slope of the green to the right. 

The only times I have been successful in reaching this green is by hitting a low skull like long iron which runs like a stabbed rat.  Everytime I try to throw the ball into the air it ends badly! 

Ciao

[TEPaul]

"You could always claim temporary insanity. Or, you had a bad reaction between your meds and those two bottles of Malbec."

Joe and Paul:

I don't know what to say about that footprint strewn path but I would like to hear a good deal more about this Malbec stuff.

[Jeremy Rivando]

Anyone that calls themselves a golfer would have to 'go for this sort of thing'.  It's a pathway across a hole, it provides a clear option, and if you end up on it, you hit your next shot and move along.  I also think that at 270 it's a perfect yardage off the tee.  Like Sean was saying, a ball may roll though it with the proper shot, perfect, what more can you ask.  It's a reachable Par 5 with a potential risk for the long hitter.

FYI- I'm a big fan of the Malbec's,  Joe if your sending out cases...

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