As you walk off the 2nd green down to the 3rd tee and look out a what lies in front of you, you realize that "you're not in Kansas anymore"
The view/vista is awesome and intimidating.
The golfer has little or no idea as to where the green is.
Most first time golfers think the hole is a dogleg to the right.
The golfer looks, from an elevated tee, down to a valley, with a huge hill on the other side. At the beginning of the fairway a huge diagonal bunker runs from the left to far right, with the carry getting progessively longer toward the right, the side that most seem to want to challenge.
The tee shot presents some interesting dilemas.
How much of the diagonal bunker do you want to challenge ?
Where's the wind and how much will it affect my drive ?
If you have a pin sheet (tournament) where do you want to approach the hole from ?
The hole is optically and mentally deceptive.
There's an inherent gravitational propensity to attempt to challenge the right side of the bunker. In reality an almost straight tee shot, toward the gap in the two bunkers cut into the distant hill is probably the best line.
But, there are other problems facing the tee shot.
If one's drive just carries the right side diagonal bunker, the golfer finds himself with a downhill lie, 200+ from the green and a huge hill in the way.
Drives hit too far will go through the fairway into the tall, dense fescue.
Drives hit left can find more bunkers, tall rough and be even further from the green. Drives hit to the center of this valley like fairway have between 200 and 180 to the green and a huge hill in front of them.
The hill is covered with thick fescue. It is to be avoided at all costs.
Once your drive comes to rest, a number of decisions face you.
First and foremost, where the hell is the green ?
Second, how far am I.
Third, what club will get me to the green without bringing the hill into play ?
Fourth, and it should come third, but, in the valley, shielded from the wind, most golfer forget about it. Fourth, where is the wind coming from and what effect will it have on a ball that must be hit high ?
Fifth, is the challenge that confronts me beyond my ability, and if so, should I take the alternate route to the right.
The ideal tee shot leaves one about 160 from the green on the fairway upslope leading to the fescue covered hill.
While there is a directional marker behind the green, it's a general, not a specific marker, and, your angle into the green, like looking below the surface of the water, may bend the perception of where the green and hole are actually positioned.
If one chooses to play the safer right fairway route, that fairway gets narrow, has bunkers and sits well below the putting surface, which sits at an awkward angle and slope, leaving the golfer with a very dicey recovery.
Typically, your caddy will climb the hill and position himself on the line to the hole, or, in many cases, he'll position himself on the most practical line, since, with certain hole locations, a slight deviation from the caddy's alignment to the hole can result in disaster.
Assuming that you've hit a solid approach, as one climbs the hill the anticipation of discovering where your ball ended up is exciting or nerve wracking, depending upon how well you think you executed your approach.
As you crest the hill, you can't believe what you're seeing.
The green is massive and unlike any green you've probably seen.
To the far right is an upper plateau that falls off sharply, to the left is this sloped green with bowls and ridges, with another thin plateau at the rear.
The green falls heavily to the left front corner.
Behind the green is a berm, almost a fortification, planted with rough.
It is NOT where you want to be.
What's amazing, as you clear the crest of the hill, is the discovery of fairway bunkers just short of the green.
The hill begins to descend on the far side until it reaches the green, then, the upslope begins again.
Approach shots that have missed the green are now faced with an incredible array of recovery shots to this unique green.
And, the recovery shots remain very dicey, especially when the greens are F&F. The recovery can be a very short, tricky one, or a very long difficult one.
It helps if the element of luck is on your side.
Putting on this green is a science in and of itself.
A good caddy, and that's about the only kind there are at NGLA can be of enormous assistance, especially on this hole and green.
Three and four putts are common, especially if you get above the hole.
When you climb the back of the green and head to the bell tower to sound the all clear, a bell donated by Joe Mcbride, and you look back, it's another awe inspiring view.
This hole can ruin a good score from the first two holes or it can give you a boost of confidence.
Few golfers who made a good score, leave that green without feelling that as well as they may have played, that they were also lucky.