I was glad to get out and play with Matt because I had yet to play the course with someone who really bombs the ball (although I should note that DavidKelly, who likes to take my money at Rustic, was close to him on more than a few drives). We had a very enjoyable round, and a really appreciated his comments and observations. Likewise, I appreciate his written summary of the course. As always, he is detailed and fair, and all of the comments, both positive and negative, have some merit. At the very least, Matt has given us something to talk about regarding Rustic, other than the the unabashed praise that many of us offer.
On the 5th hole, I mentioned in jest to Matt that I don't think anyone should be allowed to comment on a course until they have played it at least 10 times. This has some merit at Rustic, which is very subtle, especially with regard to the wide fairways and the advantages and disadvantages of the different angles of approach to the greens. While I lack Matt's skill and experience as both a golfer and as a golf course analyst/critique/reviewer, I will try to address some of his comments from the persective of a hacker who has played Rustic more than a few times.
The 2nd hole is a good long par-4 of 457 yards, however, the "bathtub" bunker needs to be placed more in the middle of the fairway so that the golfer must negotiate his way either around or over. The existing bunker position favors too much towards the right side and therefore becomes less of an issue than it otherwise might have been.
I like the bathtub bunker where it is.
--First, as David Kelly has mentioned, it serves a practical purpose of encouraging the golfer on the second tee to play away from the 5th green, which is in-play from the 2nd tee (ask Gib.)
--Second, the bunker threatens the golfer who chooses to ignore the best angle of approach and tries to shorten the hole by hitting directly at the green (most pin placements favor a far left tee shot, which lengthens the hole and brings o.b. into play.) Incedently, Matt's tee-ball on the 2nd miraculously ended up just right of the bathtub and just left of the companion "cut" bunker (which is about 10-15 yrds right of the bathtub), leaving him a short approach (150 yds) from a less than ideal angle.
--Third, and perhaps most importantly, the bathtub and its companion both come into play on the 5th hole -- thus completing the picture that Matt paints of this fantastic par five. After a few times hitting "the wall" many golfers play away from the left and left-front of the green (which is protected by the wall) and toward the right and right-back of the green. This brings both the cut and bathtub bunkers into play, and adds yet another dimension to what Matt calls a "superb par-5."
The 3rd and 12th holes. I am inclined to agree that these two holes do not present much risk to those that go for the green from the tee. Both holes invite the golfer to go for the green and both offer very little downside, especially for the golfer who works the ball from right to left. While both holes offer plenty of trouble left and long (3: nasty bunkers, 12: a tightly mown slope), I have seen very few drives miss left or long (more on 3 than 12). This is perhaps because of the ample landing and approach area just right of each green. (The bunker well right of the third green is more likely to catch an errant "safe lay-up to the right" than an drive intended for the green.) That being said, these holes are great fun the way they are. And, as Tommy noted, a drive on or just off these greens certainly does not guarantee an eagle or even a birdie. If Gil et al. were to tinker with these holes I would encourage them to do so in a manner which added risk only to the most aggressive tee shots, without disturbing the wide open feel of the right routes.
Holes 9 and 10. I agree that the drives are very similar and and somewhat uneventful (this is also noted by Lynn, above), but I strongly disagree that the challenge is lacking on the second shot. Take 9. Depending on the flag, positioning is everything. For example, Matt's second shot was well right of the green, and Matt hit a very nice and creative third shot to get close to the right side pin. While Matt's shot was not easy, he was in the perfect position from which to approach that right-middle pin. If that pin were were anywhere else, the difficulty of his shot would have increased exponentially. (Gib had a similar experience, running it close from about 100 yds. to a very difficult back-left pin -- I recall that Gib was on the left side of the fairway, which is the ideal angle for a run-up to that pin.)
Hole 11. There is a big bailout right, but I disagree that going way right actually helps the golfer, especially on a left pin. First, as noted above, sticking close to the trouble shortens the hole. Second, I think the ideal approach to a left pin is from the LEFT side of the fairway, not the RIGHT, as Matt states. This is because of the spine that bisects the green from front to back. Approaches landing on the right side of the spine are likely to stay on the right side of the spine, leaving a very difficult putt. (I may be wrong-- I was distracted by my own troubles-- but I believe Matt's shot from the right side of the fairway stayed on the right side of the spine, leaving a very difficult putt.) Shots that carry the spine are likely to hit its downslope, may not hold the green, and may kick into no-man's-land.
In fact, while it is counter-intuitive to want to approach a green from the same side as the pin placement, this is often the ideal angle of approach at Rustic, because of the vertical features that exist in the middle of many of the greens (See, particularly, 9, 11, 13, and 18.)
The 4th hole. If this is the worst of the par 3's, this is great praise indeed for the other one-shot holes. At first glance, the hole doesn't appear to be much-- short, wide open in front, grassed all the way, ample green-- a hole my mother (a permanent 36 index) would love. But the 4th has proven to be one of the more interesting holes on an interesting course. The trouble seems to be caused by the hump in the middle of the green, which kicks short shots to the front and/or left, and often kicks shots to hit to the middle-back over the back of the green. I have seen more variety of shots and clubs on this tee than any other at Rustic. (I try to hit the ball low and well short of the green, hoping to kick off the downslope of a shallow swale and roll onto the green and over the hump.) I have rarely seen this hole birdied, except on extreme front pin placements. The 4th exemplies that difficult balance in golf architecture-- building a non-threatening and playable hole for the hacker, while challenging the accomplished golfer.
Long par 4's. Except for 11, they all play down-canyon. I've never thought this was a problem, since I tend to lump long par 4s with par 5s. By my count, five of the long holes play up canyon and five play down canyon.
Tommy and Brad M: I have no idea what Matt shot, but I have no doubt that Matt could shoot a much lower score with a few more laps around the track, especially once he got used to the subtle tilt of the land reeking havoc on almost every putt. But, it is worth summarizing what I have heard many accomplished golfers say after playing the course: They really like it, think it is great fun to play, but feel that it lacks challenge for the skilled golfer. They also feel that they could have gone much lower than they actually scored. It is a testament to the subtleties of the course that very few of these golfers shoot the scores that they think should have.
Thanks for your comments and company, Matt. Hope to play with you again soon. And keep up your detailed reviews, they provide a great service to the sight.
-David