#9 Bandon Dunes - 14th TOC St. Andrews

[Slag_Bandoon]

 I've been pondering a possibility for some time but wanted to see the course at Bandon again before asking...  with the abandoned fallow original practice center at Bandon just to the right of the par five 9th fairway BD, if it's not being used, how about a second or widened fairway?  They'd have to lower the containment ridge mounding so you wouldn't clobber folks in your own group coming back across but the opportunity for this land gives the imagination a tickle for a big fatty like 14 at The Old Course in St. Andrews.  Or a Lido-ish hole, sans water. The arena mounding around the green right would have to be changed and some bunkering adding to the right fairway to add danger to the direct line but the land is there for a GREAT hole.  What say the mad dreamers of GCAtlas?  Worthy?

  I forgot to ask when I was there what the plans were for that land.  I heard last year they were thinking of a Croquet Field but ...(?)  

  www.bandondunesgolf.com/.docs/pg/hole9.html      shows the hole from above

  This obviously is only an imaginary mental exercise but if anybody is in the know of what's happening with that land, please chime in.

  

[Jerry_Sofitel]

I'm not exactly sure what they are doing with that hole but your plan would seem to make little practical sense. I foresee irrigation problems, erosion issues due to the traffic and probably some adverse effects the aesthetics of the hole if your plan were implemented.

Hey, I'm all for imaginative use of space but your idea is a little far-fetched, to put it lightly.

[Slag_Bandoon]

your plan would seem to make little practical sense. I foresee irrigation problems, erosion issues due to the traffic and probably some adverse effects the aesthetics of the hole if your plan were implemented.

your idea is a little far-fetched.

  My actual plan is copyrighted, this is, as I said, only an exercise of the imagination.  
I don't see irrigation problems though but I can't refute your view on that.  Erosion, once the grass is in would be less trouble from traffic as the green would be approached from several angles and the fairways, theoretically would get half the use they get now.  Adverse effects of aesthetics? well that could happen but I think the options of the new hole would make it a more memorable hole and one more interesting to play over and over and over.    What if they had two greens as well?  Or moved it right?  Let's brainstorm this one.

  Idea is far-fetched?      Kind words, thanks.

Welcome to GCA Jerry. Where thee hail from?

[Jerry_Sofitel]

Vancouver Country Club is where I call home.

And I wasn't looking for a fight.

Next time you should let us know that you only want favorable responses, for us new guys who are used to dealing with men of thicker skin.

[Michael Dugger]

Hey Slag, I thought that was a fairway up there.  If not, how come my ball kept going there??

[Slag_Bandoon]

Jerry, I no fight. I already have trouble chewing food.  

  I'm not unsettled or offened by what you said and I tried to be tactful with my responses but as I am not a writer, only play one on tv monitor, I may not come across as I intend. Please pardon my limitations.   I did try to answer WHY I may have disagreed to your stated doubts.  Have you played Bandon Dunes?  I am also not trying to dog the original hole as I support this place with as much zeal as can be stood by most mortals.
  

[Slag_Bandoon]

Michael, that's sort of how I came up with the idea.  

[Michael Dugger]

Oh, and Jerry S., your attitude sucks!

Why don't you get your ass back behind the computer and tell us WHY you think Slag's idea is a poor one.  Something a little better than "Erosion issues" and the rest of that cap you came up with.  While I can understand that you are new to this forum, around here you need facts to back up your position.  Another thing, believe it or not, Slag Bandoon knows a thing or two about GCA and IMHO thinks these things through before opening his mouth.  Something you should consider doing in the future.  

[Jerry_Sofitel]

mdugger:

Don't think I don't appreciate your efforts to serve as the board's bodyguard, but I think Bandoon is quite capable of defending himself. And since you sound like a bit of an ignoramus I'm sure he'd appreciate you going back to counting your toes while the big boys hash this out.

I would be more than happy to get into the myriad logistical issues presented by Bandoon's proposal if he hadn't divulged his efforts to copyright his plan. If he offers to make it my intellectual property as well as his, I'll brainstorm away.

But I don't work for free.

[Michael Dugger]

I'm not the GCA bodyguard, but I do know someone who will break your cankles for the right price!  

Why does Slag's idea suck, Jerry Sofitel?  

Please flex that big ol' brain of yours for our amusement.  You said that you don't work for free.  I am willing to pay.  I found a couple of old cheetos in the cushions of my dogs bed last night.  I'm suspecting that's about all your knowledge is worth.  

[Larry Bud Melman]

 I've been pondering a possibility for some time but wanted to see the course at Bandon again before asking...  with the abandoned fallow original practice center at Bandon just to the right of the par five 9th fairway BD, if it's not being used, how about a second or widened fairway?  They'd have to lower the containment ridge mounding so you wouldn't clobber folks in your own group coming back across but the opportunity for this land gives the imagination a tickle for a big fatty like 14 at The Old Course in St. Andrews.  Or a Lido-ish hole, sans water. The arena mounding around the green right would have to be changed and some bunkering adding to the right fairway to add danger to the direct line but the land is there for a GREAT hole.  What say the mad dreamers of GCAtlas?  Worthy?

  I forgot to ask when I was there what the plans were for that land.  I heard last year they were thinking of a Croquet Field but ...(?)  

  www.bandondunesgolf.com/.docs/pg/hole9.html      shows the hole from above

  This obviously is only AN IMAGINARY MENTAL EXERCISE but if anybody is in the know of what's happening with that land, please chime in.

  

The top three rules of humor by Larry Bud Melman...

Always laugh at your own jokes so everybody knows it's funny.

Keep repeating the joke until everybody laughs.

Explain the joke.

[Slag_Bandoon]

Shamefully, I resurrect this thread out of the shallow grave of Page 2, in the hope that someone may know the answer to the land use of old practice center there and whether the original propositon of widening the 9th fairway at BD is a valid one.    (May I suggest reading only first two posts as this thread did fray off topic)

  "Roll the stone away
   From the dark into ever-day."   IA
    

  
  

[JohnV]

I have to agree with mdugger that I used to think it was a fairway.    I've played it that way a few times and it shortens the hole, although it does leave a blind second.  If they aren't going to use it for something else, perhaps it wouuld be neat to expand the fairway and add an alternate route.

[Doug Wright]

Slag,

I think your idea has a lot of merit. Take out the mounds on the right side of the existing fairway, rework the green or greenside right to make it more dangerous to take the "direct" route, throw a minefield of bunkers (including a "Hell-type bunker for good measure) into the open right area and you'd have one helluva hole.

BTW my caddie told me to hit it over there to the right of the fairway the first time I played it a year ago. I thought he was nuts, did it anyway and it worked pretty well--avoided the nasty fairway bunkers altogether. Last month it looked like it had grown over some over there so a less attractive play, and the purist in me told me to play it the "traditional" way  anyway.  

All The Best,

[Pete_Pittock]

Slag,
   Good idea, but the only time I've been there is looking for wayward shots of JohnV. Opens up possibility of moving the tees further back towards the road crossing. They'd need to make some changes to weight options on 2d shot. Seems like the best angle of approach for a third shot is the left side of the fairway.