Gentlemen,
I accept it as a given that the modern golfer can ascertain distances to the pin reasonably accurately if they so desire. I was more interested in what are the best tricks being deployed by golf architects to keep us off balance and had the aforesaid been actively finessing this deception since yardages were so accessible and, if so, how? Maybe I didn’t phrase my original question as clearly as I could have. I thought the responses might indicate the sort of terrain that GCA members find the most challenging and deceiving. I would find that interesting if a general consensus had emerged. I wonder......was that last sentence oxymoronic?!
Colin
Hi Colin,
I don't think anything has changed in that regard. The same techniques are used with or without yardage markers. Here are some:
- Unusually large or small greens
- Lack of defining bunkers around greens
- Lack of mounding or other backdrops around greens - in short, "framing"
- Use of folds in ground to provide a line that ties in with the green in the distance. i.e. the use of "dead" ground
- Aligning of bunker heights / lips to green lines in the distance
- Situating "approach" bunkers 30 or 40 yards short of green and tying in lines (see above two points)
- Semi-hiding landing areas or green surfaces
- Clever use of natural dips and mounds
- Lack of defined mowing lines on fairways
Back on topic - I'm relieved.