[Ben Voelker]

Matt,

Thanks for the photos!  My camera malfunctioned the one day I had the opportunity to play out there, so it is awesome to see the photos I wish I could have!

I'm on a bunkering kick today... that bunker in front of the green has to be one of the greatest single bunkers in golf, yes?

[Scott Szabo]

Ben,

You are absolutely spot on with your comment about the front bunker.  It dictates play all the way back to the tee and wreaks havoc with approach shots.  When you have a bunker 500 yards away in your thought process as you prepare to hit the tee ball, it must be a great one indeed.

It's also the site of one of the most incredible golf shots I've ever witnessed.  The same golfer that Gene made reference to from Winged Foot a few posts ago (at least I THINK it is the same golfer) encountered a severely plugged lie in the face of that bunker.  One where only a portion of the top of the ball could be seen.  No stance at all due to the severe upslope, mind you.  He took a mighty swing, fell backwards, regained his balance, and watched his ball roll out to a few feet of the cup.  Simply one of the best I've ever seen. 

Same golfer who, on the next tee, pushed a tee ball so wildly to the right it ended up in 14 fairway, from where he made par.  He tried to be coy and say that he intended to hit it over there due to the angle into the green, but I called him on it and he later confessed 

14 is one of my favorite par 5s in all of golf.  I love a hole that presents an opportunity for a good score for golfers of all levels, but can jump up and bite you if not played properly.  Walking off this hole with a 6 or higher can demoralize a golfer.  Especially in lieu of the difficulty of the hole before and immediately after. 

[Harris Nepon]

I'm not sure I saw it mentioned, but this green is very shallow if I remember correctly. Could it be more than 10 or 15 yards deep?

That’s what made it so hard for me.

You have to be all the way left and very long off the tee to have a favorable angle to the green to go for it in 2. From anywhere right in the fairway off the drive it's near impossible to get there in 2 and HOLD the green. I found myself in that back trap probably 4 out of 6 times.

Maybe its just me and the way my game plays, but I found myself trying to make par on this hole and getting my lost stroke from 13 back on 16, a much easier par 5 IMHO.

Fantastic par 5. I liked this one better than 1.

[Scott Szabo]

Harris,

#16 much easier than #14?  Surely you are joking.  Yes the green is very shallow, and angled just so that you do need to approach it from as far left as you can if at all possible.

Not being able to hit the green and hold it from the right side of the fairway?  That's why you need to hug the left side.  That's what makes it so great.  You can play to the right, away from the trouble, but then your second shot is just that much tougher.  The green will receive a high cut just fine from any part of the fairway, you just have to be precise.  There are more ways to make a 4 than hit the green and two-putt, and all the options are available on this gem of a hole.

By the way, if you do hit it right and don't think you can hit and hold the green from there, why not play short and left and leave yourself a little pitch up the green for your 4?  There's a nice little flat section of fairway that allows for just this shot.

[Tim Bert]

14 is right near the top of the short list of my very favorite holes to play, regardless of par. Of the par 5s I have played I struggle to come up with one I enjoy more. 

[Harris Nepon]

Scott,

In regards to 14, I fully agree with what you are saying, maybe I just don't put it down in a post very well. I hit a fade off every drive (worked for years trying to get rid of it) so know all about how difficult it is to get to the green it 2 from the right. I also found from the back tees the hole plays just long enough that I didn't have the right club in my bag for the second shot. From the right, there is no run up shot without amazing accuracy right of the front bunker. I tend to play just about every par 5 I come across the same. Hit as long a drive as possible, and get as close to the green as possible and try to make an up and down or a 2 putt birdie. The beauty of 14 is how difficult that is. I love this hole.

During our trip, I didn't find 16 that difficult of a par 5. If you go in the blowout on the left it certainly would be. I guess my fade off the tee helped in that sense. There is so much room up around the green it was bombs away on the second as well. Either gets on the green or in the huge flats right and in front of the green. I don’t believe we played the hole with a strong wind into us, so I’m sure that helped. I won or got back in most of my matches with Matt on 16 with a birdie.

I found 14 to be much tighter and unforgiving. It seemed to tease you with the second to go for it and I fell for it every time.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Guys, after a certain Mr Choi dubbed a couple of terms for certain types of design features and the type of shot and golfer that one found there - we called this long left bowl - "The Bowl of Accomplishment" - one of my mates was able to hit it there 3 out of 4 rounds - a super reward for a super tee shot.
A spectacular par 5 and a real highlight of our trip to SH
(hope this image works)

[Brett_Morrissy]

Help?
I selected 'insert image' icon, then inserted hyperlink to photo on me.com - but it doesn't display - any thoughts on how to fix this instead of attaching them- I have a heap of pics to load.

[Scott Warren]

Help?
I selected 'insert image' icon, then inserted hyperlink to photo on me.com - but it doesn't display - any thoughts on how to fix this instead of attaching them- I have a heap of pics to load.

Replace the fake url below with your image url and replace the regular brackets with square brackets

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[Scott Warren]

Brett, that image above says more for the scale of Sand Hills than any other pic I have seen. Amazing.

[Matt Bosela]

Scott S,

I just looked at our scorecards for the trip and I can see why Harris thinks the 14th is more difficult.  We played the hole six times and he was an aggregate +6, while I made one double and five pars for an aggregate +2.

No birdies for either of us.  The hole was playing into the wind both days we were there but I would think that would make the approach shot easier to hold.  Alas, no birdies.  

It's a real harlot!

On the other hand, both Harris and I birdied the 16th (playing downwind both days) twice and both of us played it under par for our six rounds (both with an aggregate of -1).

14 is definitely the easier hole on paper but the extremely small target and exacting nature of the approach obviously caused us both trouble on our first visit.

[Scott Szabo]

Guys, after a certain Mr Choi dubbed a couple of terms for certain types of design features and the type of shot and golfer that one found there - we called this long left bowl - "The Bowl of Accomplishment" - one of my mates was able to hit it there 3 out of 4 rounds - a super reward for a super tee shot.
A spectacular par 5 and a real highlight of our trip to SH
(hope this image works)

Had to be Justin, right?  That guy is crazy long....

[Matt Bosela]

15th Hole - 469 Yards Par 4

Here 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

[George Pazin]

Matt, my dad, an amateur photography buff, would be damn impressed with your photos.

Thanks for the tour, looking forward to the rest.

[Scott Szabo]

I think 15 is one of the best holes on a back nine that is chock full of them.  You simply MUST flirt with the bunkers on the right in order to have any view of the green at all.  Into the wind I would imagine they would not be able to be carried, and then the play would have to be up the left, followed by some sort of shot up the right side to try for an up and down for a par. 

At 460 yards plus uphill, it is indeed a brute.  I have heard from one GCA member that 15 is not a good hole at all, I don't recall the reasoning.  For me it fits right in with the rest of the other 17 holes - simply a delight to play.  You can be as aggressive off the tee as you want, or you can play safe and try for a par with a pitch and putt.

[Gene Greco]

I think 15 is one of the best holes on a back nine that is chock full of them.  You simply MUST flirt with the bunkers on the right in order to have any view of the green at all.  Into the wind I would imagine they would not be able to be carried, and then the play would have to be up the left, followed by some sort of shot up the right side to try for an up and down for a par. 

At 460 yards plus uphill, it is indeed a brute.  I have heard from one GCA member that 15 is not a good hole at all, I don't recall the reasoning.  For me it fits right in with the rest of the other 17 holes - simply a delight to play.  You can be as aggressive off the tee as you want, or you can play safe and try for a par with a pitch and putt.

Interesting that another GCA member would say that about #15.

I've stated before that 15 has to be one of the best par 4s in golf.

Just played at Sand Hills with a group from Pine Valley and to a man each thought 15 to be the best hole on the course.







 

[Scott Szabo]

Scott S,

I just looked at our scorecards for the trip and I can see why Harris thinks the 14th is more difficult.  We played the hole six times and he was an aggregate +6, while I made one double and five pars for an aggregate +2.

No birdies for either of us.  The hole was playing into the wind both days we were there but I would think that would make the approach shot easier to hold.  Alas, no birdies.  

It's a real harlot!

On the other hand, both Harris and I birdied the 16th (playing downwind both days) twice and both of us played it under par for our six rounds (both with an aggregate of -1).

14 is definitely the easier hole on paper but the extremely small target and exacting nature of the approach obviously caused us both trouble on our first visit.

I wouldn't believe it but I'm sure what you say is true.  #16 can be a beast if the tee shot is not hit perfectly.  The layup shot must then contend with the bunkering at the bend, and, if not challenged, could leave a third shot upwards of 180 to 200 yards in.  The roller coaster fairway rarely yields a flat lie, making a second shot with a fairway wood a challenge as well.  I must admit I'm not very good with a fairway wood, so I usually choose to lay up in the 100 yard range and play in from there.  Can't get the damn things airborne, so carrying the native on the direct line to the green is not much of an option for me. 

I think I'm a couple under par on each in my five plays, but have had to fight a bit harder to earn my birdies on 16 than on 14. 

[Scott Szabo]

I think 15 is one of the best holes on a back nine that is chock full of them.  You simply MUST flirt with the bunkers on the right in order to have any view of the green at all.  Into the wind I would imagine they would not be able to be carried, and then the play would have to be up the left, followed by some sort of shot up the right side to try for an up and down for a par. 

At 460 yards plus uphill, it is indeed a brute.  I have heard from one GCA member that 15 is not a good hole at all, I don't recall the reasoning.  For me it fits right in with the rest of the other 17 holes - simply a delight to play.  You can be as aggressive off the tee as you want, or you can play safe and try for a par with a pitch and putt.

Interesting that another GCA member would say that about #15.

I've stated before that 15 has to be one of the best par 4s in golf.

Just played at Sand Hills with a group from Pine Valley and to a man each thought 15 to be the best hole on the course.







 

Gene,

I wish I could recall the reasoning but I don't want to put words in the fella's mouth unless I can remember the whole context of the conversation.

I'll give it some more thought before responding, if I'm able to at all.

I would agree with the guys from Pine Valley - it is a great golf hole in my mind.

[Darren Gloster]

Guys, after a certain Mr Choi dubbed a couple of terms for certain types of design features and the type of shot and golfer that one found there - we called this long left bowl - "The Bowl of Accomplishment" - one of my mates was able to hit it there 3 out of 4 rounds - a super reward for a super tee shot.
A spectacular par 5 and a real highlight of our trip to SH
(hope this image works)

Had to be Justin, right?  That guy is crazy long....

Scott - Very proud to say that is me down there.  Not so proud to say out of the three times I got down into the bowl of accomplishment I had wedge, 9 iron, wedge, and made 6,6,5.  Also got up and down for the 5!!!

Mr Morrissy on the other hand was on the flat on top of the hill.  Probably hit 3 wood or 5 wood in and went 4,5 4, I reckon.

Very fun hole

[Matt Bosela]

16th Hole - 612 Yards Par 5

The view from the 16th tee may be one of the most breathtaking on the golf course, as you are perched well above fairway grade and you can see the remarkable land that Sand Hills sits on for miles in any direction.

After soaking up the view, the player must contend with the longest hole on the golf course, albeit one that plays significantly shorter than the scorecard indicates due to its downhill nature.  The drive must be hit toward the fairway bunker in the distance through the fairway on the right, which will bring the meat of the fairway into play.  If you are looking for the chance to reach the green in two shots, your tee ball will have to flirt with the large bunker complex that runs down the left hand side.  The fairway on the left will give a 'turbo boost' to drives and allow the hole to play much shorter then if played more conservatively.

The fairway dips and rolls throughout the landing area, with almost no chance of a flat lie on your second shot, making it a challenge even if you intend to layup.  Adding more difficulty is the fact that any layup or shot toward the green will have to challenge the bunkers that pinch the left side of the fairway approximately 150 yards from the green.  Players deciding to lay back from the sand will be forced into hitting a long iron third shot, certainly not the ideal choice!

The green is essentially bunkerless, with one lonely bunker that sits about 30 yards left of the putting surface but it usually will only come into play for those trying to hit the green in two shots.  The putting surface pitches from left to right and slightly toward the back and there is a lot of short grass around the green to allow many options to get up and down.  This is a really fun hole and yet another strong and unique par five.

Tee Shot




Second Shot from Left Side of Fairway


Second shot from Middle/Right of Fairway






Long third shot from behind bunkers


Third Shot from Near Bunkers on Left


Approach Shot from about 100 Yards






View of chipping area behind green


View from Behind Green looking back up Fairway

[Brett_Morrissy]

Guys, after a certain Mr Choi dubbed a couple of terms for certain types of design features and the type of shot and golfer that one found there - we called this long left bowl - "The Bowl of Accomplishment" - one of my mates was able to hit it there 3 out of 4 rounds - a super reward for a super tee shot.
A spectacular par 5 and a real highlight of our trip to SH
(hope this image works)

Had to be Justin, right?  That guy is crazy long....

Scott - Very proud to say that is me down there.  Not so proud to say out of the three times I got down into the bowl of accomplishment I had wedge, 9 iron, wedge, and made 6,6,5.  Also got up and down for the 5!!!

Mr Morrissy on the other hand was on the flat on top of the hill.  Probably hit 3 wood or 5 wood in and went 4,5 4, I reckon.

Very fun hole

Scott, sorry I didnt get to this before Darren got to join up to GCA and make his very first post one of mistaken identity. Welcome Glossy.
Although Justin is long, it is very wild and varied, whereas Glossy used to hit it a mile and straight, and is just finding his sea legs again.
14: I had 7, 4,5,5, - a favourite.

THanks again Matt for the Pics - they are excellent.

[Thomas Patterson]

Gene,

I would be remised if I didn't follow up on a question I've asked other folks that frequent great courses.

What do you remember about your first round at Sand Hills, and what sticks out from your last round?  I'm interested in how great courses evolve.  And I'm a major beard puller!  

Ben:

    Nothing has changed from my first experience at The Sand Hills to my last, which was this past weekend.


                                                           The place is timeless.


The first time I played it I was alone waiting for friends to arrive from the west coast. I played the first two holes and then...

...stopped.


It was midweek and I was the only one on the course so I put my bag down (no caddies hired there yet) and sat down at the back of the 2nd green.

I simply sat there and gazed at the vast expanse behind this green at what surely must be the edge of this world, completely overcome by what I had just experienced on those first two holes.

I had to allow some time to pass because I knew if the holes were to continue in this fashion that I would in all likelihood be playing the greatest course in the world. I wanted to soak it all in as I didn't know if I would ever be allowed back again or make the trip to this remote locale.

So I sat there for an hour.

I also thought about other things besides golf, assuredly a fine spot for reflection, which highlighted then as it does now the spiritual nature of a visit to the Sand Hills Golf Club.

I continue this practice today, periodically breaking away from the group during post round refreshments, usually as the sun is setting and play a 6 or 9 hole loop, what I term "church nine," walking on the most peaceful ground  this earth will offer.


I left three days ago.

And the place haunts me.

It haunted me in exactly the same manner and intensity 14 years ago as it does this very moment.

It haunts me during the winter months.

And when I sleep.

And when I allow my mind to run adrift for a few short moments during the day.

For me it is the most compelling golf course and land on which a golf course rests in the world.


And obviously others feel the same.

I just had someone text me saying June 11th wasn't good for him NEXT year and to PLEASE include him and try to arrange our golfing retreat  on any day but that one.

And he is one of many.

One of many who has had a spell cast by some golfing ground in the middle of nowhere.






    

WOW....just reading this gave me goosebumps!  Sounds like an incredibly special place...I hope to visit one day in my life and have similar feelings.  Thanks Gene!!!!!

[Patrick_Mucci]

Matt,

# 2 is certainly amongst my favorite holes, certainly the green is,  but, the view, standing on the 2nd green may be my favorite.

Difficulty and course records are immaterial when it comes to judging Sand Hills.

The ultimate question is, after walking off the 18th green, do you want to go directly to the 1st tee.
For me, the answer is yes.

The course provides a challenge that's fun to meet, provided you're playing from tees commensurate with your ability.

[Tony Weiler]

Matt,

# 2 is certainly amongst my favorite holes, certainly the green is,  but, the view, standing on the 2nd green may be my favorite.

Difficulty and course records are immaterial when it comes to judging Sand Hills.

The ultimate question is, after walking off the 18th green, do you want to go directly to the 1st tee.
For me, the answer is yes.

The course provides a challenge that's fun to meet, provided you're playing from tees commensurate with your ability.

Pat, which tee to play is still a lingering question for me.  I’ll be there at this time next week (wow, can’t it get here already) and hopefully on the second 18.  I saw that Brett Morrisey stated in his thread on his US trip that he was “underwhelmed” by SH the first time from a forward tee.  I guess I don’t want that to happen, but I rarely, if ever, play the back tees at any course.  I think that I will, however, have to do it at least once at SH.  I’ll be there next week with other GCA’ers, and I have no idea how they play, or where they’ll want to play from.  So, do we still get a great course from a tee up from the tips, or is that when SH turns into a Doak 5?  

[Keith OHalloran]

Tony,
 I am sure you will get a lot of responses, and here is mine. When I have played at Sand Hills, I have been lucky enough to stay for 3 days and play all day. Therefore, I take the opportunity to play every set of tees. I have played the forward circle tess on my third round of the day. In my opinion, the course does not turn into a 5 no matter which tees you play from. I am a decent golfer with average length off the tee, and I was able to manage the Diamonds OK. I think the diamonds offer some of the best holes over all, however I have never felt cheated after a round from the square tees.  It sounds like you are stressing that you may "miss" something. Again, this is my opinion, but as soon as you make the turn from the practice area and see the course, you will realze that you will not be dissapointed.

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