I was having an opportunity to walk a leisurely 9 holes after work yesterday in perfect weather when I started thinking about the 2nd hole at my club, Hanse's French Creek.
It's a beautiful downhill slight dogleg right - probably the best hole on the course. It's a long hole with two huge fairway bunkers that take up 2/3 of the fairway about 110 yards from the green.
But just before the very wide but fairly narrow depth green is a large swale. It's probably 10 - 15 feet deep and about 25 yards wide from front to back. It occupies 80% of the 40 yard wide fairway. This swale does not carry water - it's all closely mown fairway.
Here's a picture from a long way away, and the swale is just past the bunkers
To me, it's genius. It effectively captures anything hit short and plays almost like a "half hazard". The shot to the green from the swale requires imagination and skill with the wedge. It takes what would be a routine approach shot and makes it quite dramatic.
Pacific Dunes #16 is another fine example fine hole with a strategic swale.
Is the swale an underused feature these days? Think about courses you play, and think of a place where a similar swale may have added to the hole's quality.