15th Hole - 469 Yards Par 4Here is yet another example of a hole where a certain feature dominates strategy all the way back to the tee, even though it doesn't necessarily come into play on that particular shot.
On the 14th, it was the front bunker that dictates how you play the entire golf hole and here on the 15th, you have an elevated green complex tucked almost completely behind a large dune that forces the player to be extremely accurate off the tee just to get a glimpse of the putting surface for their approach.
On first glance, you don't see how strategic the hole is. You have a very wide fairway and everything is pretty much right in front of you. The fairway is set at a slight angle from the tee, making the right fairway bunker more of a cross bunker and the player usually will be inclined to avoid the carry, if possible, instead hitting it toward the expansive left side.
You will immediately find this isn't ideal, as you'll have a completely blind, uphill approach over the dune and the huge blowout. The best line challenges the cross bunker and ends up on the right third of the fairway, which will, at the very least, offer a partial view of the green. Either way, you will have to execute on your approach, as you'll likely have a long iron or even a fairway metal second shot into a pretty large green.
Shots hit slightly left may kick right onto the green and there is a lot of short grass around the green to give players some options as far as getting up and down. This is a very challenging golf hole and just another example of how much thought must go into your shotmaking at Sand Hills - most long par fours allow you to wail away off the tee with no regard for position but here, you are challenged right from the start.
Tee Shot
Blind Approach from Left Side of Fairway and slightly left of center
Approach from Center and Right Side Opens up the View to Green
View from behind green looking back toward Tee
