As many know I have a great love for Pine Valley, both as a place and an architectural masterpiece. Was lucky enough to sneak in the back gate as a caddie and eventually served a short stint as an assistant professional. Great experiences both!
As I await my first SS check (
) have previously identified hole #4 as my favorite of all from an architectural perspective. It has it all :a challenging tee shot both for distance and angle of attack , a beautiful setting going uphill and then down towards the clubhouse and a spectacular green that only gets better and better when the course is firm and fast. So much good stuff going on here!
Though well integrated , I have never liked the bunkers added by Fazio around year 2000 (?) As a young caddie it was one of the great forecaddie spots , particularly if you where prescient enough to leave your stronger players an option as to what to hit off the tee. You see if the wind was right or the course was firm driver was often the wrong club. You could hit it too far if straight as it required cutting the corner a bit. It was so fun to give the "safe sign" to your player as they waited apprehensively at the bottom of the hill after hitting the tee shot.
The insertion of the bunkers at the top of the hill took away an angle for all but the longest hitters, and are a very penal reward for a well struck shot from the tee. They also take a great anticipatory result on a course with very little quirk as to bounces. You generally can't fake it at PVGC as the immortal words of Bernard Darwin attest to
So if we are very lucky they will someday just vanish and all will be well with my favorite hole again!