Mike, My take on those options:
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Bandon Dunes #16. Par 4. 363 yards. Balmy 4 club gale. Glossy, Oby, Circles.
At least 3 options from the tee, plus shot types, risk reward without penal, we played down breeze, so much fun banging away toward the green, incredible cliff edge/ravine views, approach shots options galore, bunkering excellent, green interesting enough, but kept low key for the surrounds, loads of fun!
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Excuse this reply, as my brosdband id down and am using iPhone !$?
The hole certainly wasn't playing it's length on my 36, huge tail wind, which of course gives the hole an entirely different feel. I would take a far more conservative approach, and a much less fun one at that, if there were a strong southerly, no breeze or a cross wind - is an Eastly the winter prevailing?
So,
Option 1&2- play a tee shot to 180-220 yard mark either directly at flag to the 'lower ' plateau FW ...or #2 play down the left FW section, probably the most straight forward option, and certainly preferred into the breeze or cross.
Option 1, although, slightly to totally blind approach, (most of gorse removed )has taken nasty little greenside pot bunker out of play, although one is still required to play that shot between that bunker that is left of the green and the cliff edge right and long, but plenty of room short. A back left pin would also be very difficult from this angle and not preferred tee option.
Option 2, allowed for plenty of room out to the left, Small pot bunker greenside the main decider from the tee, as well as the potential dead position behind your approach from this angle, so short or long are no good, misses left or right ok as are pins front, or left, pins centre or back right will be very difficult, particularly down breeze.
Option 3,4,5 are dictated by the wind speed and direction AND intestinal fortitude of the golfer.
200-230 yard club, on a calm day should be able to avoid most of the trouble left, but think it would put you in trouble on a direct line to the green, and leave you with a less than 100 yards to the green.
230-250+ yard club on day like we had, 3-4 club tail wind, easily cleared all trouble, put me about 30 yards short left for a straight forward chip and 2 putt par, put two of my mates thru the green one dead and the other on the 17 tee! ...actually a great place to miss, and chance of birdie!
Driver with any kind of tail breeze and the fast turf will give you chance of driving the green, I am not sure of the carry distance directly at the flag over waste rough gorse area, but would think it in the nature of 270 yards at most.
All the above options appear much more Difficult and plagued with trouble off the tee, just as Dr Mackenzie would like it, because the actual playing of the hole using some knowledge and intellect, the hole is no way as tough as it appears.
First Rd I played smart and finished with a simple par, second round was more fun, blazing away and having a crack at the green, or resulted in a 6, a loss, but a memorable tee shot and a lot of fun - this assisted in making it a memroable hole and certainly one of the best I played in 2010.
Did I mention the 200 foot cliffs, incredible Pacific Ocean, views for miles, the hole squeezed out onto the edge of the cliff with a cutter ravine in front of the tee...just awesome!
Happy New Year!
Brett