The 17th at Muirfield is generally regarded as one of the finer par-5's in the area, and perhaps in the world. It certainly has great bunkering, in particular the 3rd of 4 in the cross hazard, squeezed into a fold in the turf and hidden from view until you are almost in it. From there, it becomes the only thing in view, with 5 foot revetted sides topped with another 3 feet of slope around it, all inclining your ball not to get out...ever. Unfortunately, I don't think any player will go in it this week, as the cross hazard is not much of a carry after a firm tee shot and not worth the risk of carrying after a bad one.
The hole is also the prime viewing area for the tented village complex, which blew me away when I saw it. It really hits home how big the golf industry is when you walk into the equipment exhibition and are surrounded by huge flat screen TVs with ads and historical footage, not to mention the clubs and the paraphenalia.
The hole plays to about 550 yards, so the players (except a couple?) will have a wood in their hands on the second shot into the green, nestled in a flat between two mini-dunes, both with a pot bunker cut into the face. The cross hazard obscures the view of the putting surface, but the flag will be visible. 11 bunkers in all steer the safe player out to the right off the tee, and the cross bunkers at 100-140 yards from the green force a carry or a lay-up on the second strike. The hole would normally play slightly downwind. If the second carries far enough, it could catch a slope some 30 yards short of the green and trickle up to the front, but it must be straight, a difficult task with the wind slightly across from over 200 yards out.
Tragically, the cross bunkers work much better strategically for the length of the average to good player than for the big fellas, but they are absolutely beautifully settled into the ridge cutting across the fairway. Another interesting feature of the lay-up shot is the flat just in front of the four cross bunkers, where your ball will disappear but not go in the bunker. A pleasant surprise it is when you end up in the flat and not playing your third out backwards. They are those type of bunkers...
The green itself is probably the flattest on the course, but many times players misread it on birdie putts. I would not expect three putts at all here, though, even though it has been done before by Jacklin, I believe. It is surrounded by what looks like a mediocre berm, but it it is much more natural looking than the 18th at New Luffness, if you are familiar with its green (Anyone who has driven to Gullane should be).
A solid hole, altogether, although if I were a pro, I would think long and hard about 3-wood off the tee to find the fairway, as the length will not keep you from a straight forward birdie if you keep hold of your nerves and your ball against breeze. By the way, the weather today was drizzle again, with negligible wind....bummer really.
Here are the photos, which could really be better, I'm afraid.
The tee shot, which should be aimed at the right side of the far left tent. A draw around the corner would be appropriate.
A view of the bunkers often encountered by the tee shot.
The corner of the dogleg, 275 from the tee.
The view from the landing area.
Two views of the cross hazards, one from the front, the other from the left.
You can see a sliver of the deep bunker of which I am so fond.
Just clear of the hazards, some 95 yards from green center.
The green complex from short left.
And the putting surface itself, looking back down the hole. Bit of a pear shape.
