I haven't really seen anyone mention the fact that players will be teeing off on this par 3 as their first hole due to the split tee system now used for the first two days.  It is an exacting tee shot which should prove even more challenging for the first shot of the national championship.

John,

It is a private residence.  That's the house that Hogan referred to when he said #10 is like "hitting a 4 iron into some guy's bedroom".

Mike,

You've played it once.  Try not to make conclusive statements based on one visit.

I think there should be a bit more receptivenes to this green to make it "great". It borders on "goofy".

Mike:

What specifically, in its current state, makes you think the 10th green "borders on goofy"?  Admitedly, I've only played it a few times and am far from an expert, but I have found the 10th green to be a very fair.

 Andy,

   The ridge that runs through the green which is discernible in the photo is the main culprit in combination with the ridge coming off the front left bunker and the falloffs to the left and the right. It seems to shed balls. I think people are taken by the eruption of the green out of the land. It looks neat I'll agree but doesn't make it up to that top pedestal for me.

Mayday,

Don't you think the pros will be able to hold an 8 iron on that green with few problems..

 I look forward to watching that. I will pay attention to the pin placements now. But golf courses are for several levels of capability not just pros. WFW isn't a TPC course.

I look forward to watching that. I will pay attention to the pin placements now. But golf courses are for several levels of capability not just pros. WFW isn't a TPC course.

WFW ain't afternoon tea either...

 John,

   Of  all of the highly regarded courses I have played WFW seems to depend more on the maintenance to prop up its "brutal" image. When you played there did you find that to be the case?

  Wayne,


    Golf courses are made to be played. So, the architecture comes alive through the choices golfers make during the round. Do you think Tillinghast designed WFW so that  a pro in a major championship would layup everyday on a par three?

  Is that bad design or incorrect maintenance?


      For the most part good maintenance goes practically unnoticed . It enhances the architecture. But sometimes bad maintenance hurts the architecture.

     WFW seems to be ,for me, in a special class where the maintenance supports an image of "toughness".  

     This appears to me to compromise the design to SOME extent. It is important because the course is at the very top in rankings.

          I think the history of the course and its reputation affect people's perceptions.

   I just play the course and come up with impressions.


    For the record I decided being long was my best option here. I did that and hit a good chip; I don't remember whether the putt went in but quite a few did that day.

I'd love to hear what guys on this site think of articles like this.  Any comments would be appreciated?  

Mark --

It is a rare occasion when I don't want to re-edit, in whole or in part, an article I've read.

It is a very rare occasion when I don't want to re-edit a golf article I've read.

It is an extremely rare occasion when I don't want to remove a sports-article lede that talks about Greek mythology.

It is an extraordinarily rare occasion when I don't want to remove (or radically truncate, while crying out in pain) an extended-metaphor lede referring to Odysseus and the Sirens -- particularly in an article about golf-course architecture.

You guys have achieved all of these occasions for me. Good work.

Dan

Dan,
Tom and I will take that as the ultimate compliment, thank you!!   I hope people who get the magazine read the article and feel as you do.   Maybe later I'll post a few others to see what the group thinks.  I think Mayday would enjoy the one on trees  

Mark --

The bad news is: Almost no one ever feels as I do!

I think of my favorite E.B. White line often: "I am a member of a party of one."

But it's still a good article!

Dan