chipoat:
Thanks for the clarification. I actually think you and I could compare some very similar notes on our opinion of Bay Hill. Since you enjoy the course, I'm sure I could relay some fun stories about it (like in 1992 when Kenny Knox hit his second to #17 from the middle of #16 fairway!!!) Personally, I spent most of my career there and it is the most important place to me in my life (including having my wedding reception there!!). That's why I always need to take a step back when comparing it to other courses since I am clearly biased toward the place.
Personally, I wish there was a bit more variety in the length of the par 3's (which is one of the biggest weaknesses of the course to me). Hitting four 3-irons is not my idea of fun (except at Bandon)!! I am one of few people that thinks #2 is the best par three on the course. I think that is due to the ground game (the only place on the course?) where from 225 yards the play is to bounce it in off the slope on the right.
I was driving in the car today thinking about the par fives. They have nice variety. #12 unreachable by most, #16 reachable by all, and #6 and #4 in the middle. #6 to me creates more anxiety than just about any hole I've ever played (largely because I hook the ball!). From a technology perspective, #12 is a good gauge of how far the ball is going today. In 1990, it was remarkable if someone went for that green in two. Today it is commonplace.
What I think holds the course back (aside from variety in the par threes) is the lack of variety on the second shots to the par fours. Of course this relates to the constant demand of being able to hit high long irons (or in the case of Loren Roberts in 1994, fairway woods, as he hit woods to the last three greens in the final round). Plus, there are only two par fours under 400 yards, and there is no real strategy from the tee.
Briefly, a quick story for those that know the course. In 1994 during the state amateur, a college player that was in the top 10 at the time drove it in the left rough on #9. Hitting 7-iron for his second, he caught a flier, and as he looked on in horror, his ball hit the cart path behind the green, bounced up on the roof of the lodge, and went over onto the closely mown lawn on the other side near the pool. It was in bounds. He sized up the shot by looking through the breezeway between the buildings, and promptly hit sand wedge over the building (about 70 yards) onto the fringe about 25 feet from the hole. Unfortunately the putt lipped out
Overall, I think it made sense when it fell off all of the ranking list in the 1990's. There just aren't enough "wow" holes in my opinion to warrant it anymore.
Regards,
Doug