Hole #4 is a par 4
410 from the black tee
362 from the green tee
This hole takes the golfer to the ocean for the first time, and it does so in grand fashion. The first year we visited, the green tee was back on the black tee box. During our two subsequent visits, the tee markers were up on the green tee box. I think the hole is more interesting from further back. First, the fairway is almost entirely blind from the 400 yard tee. It is extremely intimidating for a first time player despite the fact that the carry is not at all difficult. Second, it makes club selection more difficult on the tee. From the green markers, you are just trying to hit your 210 club to the dogleg to have a decent look at the green. From the black tee, many players will need to hit driver to have a reasonable approach.
Playing the blind tee shot makes the hike through the long grass to the fairway very rewarding. As you make your way to the fairway, the ocean comes into full view. For the next three holes, you will be playing on the clifftops, though in reality the beach is much less in play on these holes than it is on their counterparts at Pacific Dunes. 4, 5, and 6 provide some thrilling golf nonetheless.
The 4th fairway tightens up near the dogleg, though there is still plenty of room to play on the entire hole. The long grass to the right of the fairway (if you cut the dogleg too close) has become less penal over the years in my opinion. It seemed like a ball there was almost certainly lost in 2003, but we've since found and played out of that area multiple times on our return trips.
The green has some nice movement to it. There is a pair of bunkers guarding the left side of the green, but for the most part Kidd lets the green (and the surrounding views which blow the first time player away) defend itself.
The view from the back tee. It hardly appears that one is playing to a golf hole from here, though the carry isn't that substantial.
The view is much less intimidating from the normal green tee location. He the fairway can be seen, as can the fairway bunker on the outside of the dogleg.
The view of the approach from the middle of the fairway
The approach from the right side of the fairway
A view of the green from the long grass on the right side of the hole
The green from the fairway
A closer view of the green, and a look at Alan's ball. The cool part of this story is that this is the result from 250 yards out, and he made the birdie. The less than cool part of the story is that he has 250 remaining to the green after his tee shot.
Two views of the green taken from the right side with #12 in the background
A shot from #12 looking at the 4th green and the coast
Looking back up the fairway from behind the hole
