News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.


John Kavanaugh

Erin Hills #2
« on: November 05, 2007, 10:26:42 PM »
I would hate to meet the man who on one side of his mouth says this tee shot is overkill while expounding the virtues of hidden almound joys of other modern wonders like found at Friarshead.  The green reminds me of the 14th at Bandon Trails with the exception of being well done.  Tee shot is so good I can forgive the green...plus the green is a great place to view the third tee options.

CHrisB

Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2007, 10:39:19 PM »
Agreed. The first hole is nice, but when you turn the corner on #2 and see the green and the 3rd hole beyond, that's where Erin Hills really takes off in my opinion.

Mike McGuire

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2007, 11:26:53 PM »
IMHO ...The tee shot is very good. To get a view of the green you must hit your tee shot what appears to be way left over a big dune.

The dilemma is the green opens up better to a short drive where the approach  is blind. A long tee shot over the dune rewards you with a clear view but a poor angle at a tiny inverted green.

If a normal green is a dinner plate , the #2 green at Erin hills is an upside down soap dish.

A good example of modern quirk.


K. Krahenbuhl

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2007, 07:40:53 AM »
Do you think this green will continue to remain as is over the years or will it be changed in hopes for tournament golf?

Rob_Waldron

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2007, 07:48:10 AM »
Is it true that the green on Hole #2 at Erin Hills was inspired by the 4th green at Alverthorpe Park, the 9-hole chip & putt course in Abington Township, PA???

It has to go!

John Kavanaugh

Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2007, 07:53:51 AM »
I think it woud be fine for tournament golf but needs to be changed for everyday play.  When public golfers hit short irons to blind holes where the ball rarely remains on the green ball marks do not get repaired.  I can not see a green this size in this configuration surviving on a public course.

How does the size of this green compare to the very small ones at Pine Valley?

K. Krahenbuhl

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2007, 08:06:24 AM »
I would say they are similar in size...#2 at Erin Hills may be the smallest at around 1800 sf.
« Last Edit: November 06, 2007, 08:09:18 AM by Kyle Krahenbuhl »

John Kavanaugh

Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2007, 08:19:49 AM »
I was very impressed that in no instance did I see where the architectural integrity was comprimised in favor of the public golfer.  I do hope that #2 green can remain intact as is for many years to come.

JESII

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2007, 08:30:00 AM »
The question is...as Kyle K asked...will it be comprimised for tournament golf?

When has a design been comprimised for the public golfer when there wasn't profit motives driving the decision?

Eric_Terhorst

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2007, 09:56:52 AM »
It's an interesting 3-shot hole for most players.  Or to put it more succinctly:

I don't think many golfers have the skill or have earned the right to hit that green in two...Those who do got a break in life..so what?

Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2007, 10:42:36 AM »
That was the one hole on the course I really just hated.  The tee shot is okay, if awkward, but the green is just a zit in the middle of a large bowl, and for a short hitter it must be approached blind, to boot.

I disliked it so much that it took me until #5 to have a chance of liking a hole again.

The eighth green at Pine Valley is 3200 sf, though it is two-tiered so it plays much smaller than that.

tlavin

Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #11 on: November 06, 2007, 10:45:26 AM »
That was the one hole on the course I really just hated.  The tee shot is okay, if awkward, but the green is just a zit in the middle of a large bowl, and for a short hitter it must be approached blind, to boot.

I disliked it so much that it took me until #5 to have a chance of liking a hole again.

The eighth green at Pine Valley is 3200 sf, though it is two-tiered so it plays much smaller than that.

Down goes Frazier...er...Whitten.

JESII

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #12 on: November 06, 2007, 10:52:29 AM »
That was the one hole on the course I really just hated.  The tee shot is okay, if awkward, but the green is just a zit in the middle of a large bowl, and for a short hitter it must be approached blind, to boot.

I disliked it so much that it took me until #5 to have a chance of liking a hole again.

The eighth green at Pine Valley is 3200 sf, though it is two-tiered so it plays much smaller than that.

You sure about 3200 ft?

I don't think it's more than 30 feet wide at any point, and it sure isn't 35 yards long...

If you are right and the green on #2 is barely more than 50% of the size...that's a damn small green.

What do you think about what Mike McGuire says about the preferred angle being in that short/blind spot?

John Kavanaugh

Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2007, 10:55:08 AM »
Tom,

Do you think it is fair to mention this hole along side the 14th at Bandon Trails?  If I was only 94 yds out at Erin from the blue tees both holes could be similar for the very long player.
« Last Edit: November 06, 2007, 04:43:41 PM by John Kavanaugh »

Dan Moore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #14 on: November 06, 2007, 11:04:30 AM »
Taken from behind and to the right.  The blind approach Mike refers to comes from the left on a line with the bush on the side of the mound.  Tee is behind the glacial mound on the right.  Unlike Mike I prefer the straight on approach where you can see the green.  As a blind driveable par 4 for the pros I would love to see them struggle trying to make birdie here.  Most will probably think they should be two under after this hole.  

"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

Mike McGuire

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #15 on: November 06, 2007, 11:34:17 AM »
Maybe Im off on the angles but this is how i remember it. The green is so narrow - 24 ft- and elevated so its nice to get lined up on it. An approach from the long drive area has to deal with the green side bunker - long.



CHrisB

Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #16 on: November 06, 2007, 12:22:04 PM »
That was the one hole on the course I really just hated.  The tee shot is okay, if awkward, but the green is just a zit in the middle of a large bowl, and for a short hitter it must be approached blind, to boot.

I disliked it so much that it took me until #5 to have a chance of liking a hole again.

I have no problem with #2 at Erin Hills. A blind shot to a small target is a little awkward (but still fun), but the green complex is not overly severe, so it's not like the short hitter will rack up a 10 if his shot bounds over the green or falls short.

In a match play context, holes like #2 at Erin Hills and #14 at Bandon Trails are no issue--just one hole in an 18-hole match (and at Erin Hills it comes early in the round so it certainly won't be a decider of the match).

In a stroke play context, sometimes par has to be made with a chip and a putt instead of two putts, but on such a short hole that may be hard to take mentally.

In the end, Erin Hills may be like Cruden Bay in the sense that there are some great holes out there, and a couple of awkward (some would even say bad, though I wouldn't) holes. But there are no boring holes at Erin Hills.

But that's the kind of golf consumer I am--thrill me, wow me, confuse me, maybe even irritate me--just don't bore me.

Jason Mandel

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #17 on: November 06, 2007, 12:27:58 PM »
The 2nd green is wayyy to severe.  If they  had just made the green a punchbowl, similar to what Gil hanse did at the 3rd at Applebrook, everyone would be talking about how great of a hole it is.

It makes no sense the way the hole currently is now.

Jason
You learn more about a man on a golf course than anywhere else

contact info: jasonymandel@gmail.com

Jim Franklin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #18 on: November 06, 2007, 12:33:11 PM »
I made birdie there so I love it. I had a flip LW and hit it to 2 feet. Everyone else in my group made bogey or worse. What's not to like?
Mr Hurricane

Dan Kelly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #19 on: November 06, 2007, 12:38:13 PM »
I think the green is really cool.  

Only time (and the market) will tell.
"There's no money in doing less." -- Joe Hancock, 11/25/2010
"Rankings are silly and subjective..." -- Tom Doak, 3/12/2016

Jim Franklin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #20 on: November 06, 2007, 12:38:36 PM »
Good point Shivas and I still want to thank you for telling me this is a "must play" during my Chicago trip. It certainly is not a course you see everyday.
Mr Hurricane

Phil McDade

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #21 on: November 06, 2007, 01:21:02 PM »
That was the one hole on the course I really just hated.  The tee shot is okay, if awkward, but the green is just a zit in the middle of a large bowl, and for a short hitter it must be approached blind, to boot.

I disliked it so much that it took me until #5 to have a chance of liking a hole again.

The eighth green at Pine Valley is 3200 sf, though it is two-tiered so it plays much smaller than that.

Tom:

What are the virtues of Pine Valley's 8th (generally a well-regarded hole) in comparison to EH's 2nd, given that both effectively have about the same amount of green size (half of a two-tiered, 3,200-sq ft green is smaller than EH's 1,800 sq ft.)? I've played neither.

Dan Moore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #22 on: November 06, 2007, 01:55:12 PM »
As a blind driveable par 4 for the pros ...

What's so driveable about 360 into the prevailing west wind?

I'm assuming it would be set up no longer than 338 and they would be fools if they didn't.  

Mike,

We may be perceiving the angles differently.  I thought the straight on angle was farther to the left where you placed the long drive.  Having pushed my drive far to the right each time I have played that hole I may be wrong.  

We played the blue 333 yard tee here.  Not a significant difference at 19 yards compared to the green but keeps the bunker in play on the right while needing a longer club to carry the mound on the left.  
« Last Edit: November 06, 2007, 02:47:44 PM by Dan Moore »
"Is there any other game which produces in the human mind such enviable insanity."  Bernard Darwin

John Kavanaugh

Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #23 on: November 06, 2007, 04:49:38 PM »
I recall being 94 yds out and seeing the top of the flag.  I don't think a 240yd drive is asking too much to eliminate a blind second.

Ken Fry

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Erin Hills #2
« Reply #24 on: November 06, 2007, 05:03:41 PM »
I've been thinking a lot about #2.  Although I didn't play it well, I didn't have a prolem with it.

When you crest the hill, it struck me as strange that a course touted as being so natural had a green complex that looked completely manufactured.

At first I thought the size of the green may be an issue for a public course.  A typical midwest course will do between 20,000 and 30,000 rounds per year, but I'm not sure Erin Hills will reach that number.

If the course is geared to elite players, this hole will play as nothing more than a fairway wood and small wedge.  Be precise, be rewarded.

Ken

Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back