THM! Alps Region - 2nd Round - #3 Rye 13th vs #11 Tain 11th

[Richard Choi]

Here we go again! You have till the end of the day Fri to cast your votes.

Seed #3 - Rye 13th

Tale of the tape: Par 4, 435 yards

Why: From Ran - The Sea Hole rivals the 3rd hole at National Golf Links of America and the original one at Prestwick as the finest Alps hole with which the authors are familiar. Fittingly enough, there are no bunkers around this hidden green.








Best Comments:

The Rye version looks terrific; I think the diagonal adds to the uncertainty inherent in any Alps hole. It also has a touch of genius in the routing -- the aerial suggests a more conventional routing could've been used, but taking the hole up and over the dune to the parallel valley strikes me as superior design work.

[Richard Choi]

Seed #11 - Tain 11th

Tale of the tape: Par 4, 380 yards

Why: Why? Because it was designed in 1890 by Tom Friggin’ Morris for Melvin sakes!!!








Best Comments:

Although it looks wider than Prestwick, Tain's drive plays very narrow.  I also look Tain's Alps green at the shoreline of the Dornoch Firth, although its contouring is not nearly as interesting as the original Prestwick green.

[Sean_A]

This is a very close call.  I wrote before that I wasn't sure the diaginal aspect of Rye's Alps was necessary, but at least it sets the hole apart.  Tain is a more straight forward example of the type and it does have a great setting when Alps is climbed.  Draw.

Ciao

[jeffwarne]

My favorite seems to have been eliminated.  I guess the angle with Rye is not traditional, but I still like it better.  Rye.
[/quote

The drive edge goes to rye, the second shot goes to Tain
like both a lot.
Coward's way out again-draw

[Mark McKeever]

Rye

Mark

[Giles Payne]

I think that Rye takes it on interest - great hole

[Richard Choi]

Rye leads at 3-0 (draws don't count!) The voting ends on Friday night!

[Tom_Doak]

I nominated the 13th at Rye, but I'll cast a vote for the 11th at Tain.

The diagonal nature of the blind second shot at Rye is interesting, but quite awkward ... you are just never sure exactly where the hell you are aiming from the fairway, unless you have played the hole many times.  The Tain hole lets you know where you're going, but the dune in front is so close that you have to make the full carry or you're in trouble.  Having the sea right behind the green gets it a bonus point, too.

[Kevin Pallier]

I think that Rye takes it on interest - great hole

Giles

From memory the drive is particularly bland at Rye is it not ?

I have not seen Tain so will abstain from voting.

[Richard Choi]

Rye wins 3 to 1.