Opening hole water hazards

« **on:** May 02, 2003, 07:00:14 AM »

Can anyone think of any opening holes that have water hazards either off the tee or on the approach?

« **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2003, 07:05:53 AM »

The 1st at TOC has the Swilcan Burn.

« **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2003, 07:10:17 AM »

How about #1 at Ridgewood CC, NJ (I think it's the West Course). Arnold Palmer put 2 balls in the drink off the tee in the Sr. Open when held there 2 years ago.

« **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2003, 07:19:55 AM »

The 1st at Key Biscayne (now Crandon Park; Sr. Tour stops there) has water right off the tee.

Its the only time I have seen someone have to go back to the golf shop for more balls before ever leaving the first tee. He arrived on the tee with 2 brand new sleeves...wasn't enough.

« **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2003, 07:24:27 AM »

Ocean Forest has an awkward forced carry over wetlands on their short par 4 opening hole. Its not the best way to start a round but its an easier shot then a similar forced carry on the par 5 10th.

« **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2003, 07:26:08 AM »

A Clayman,

Atlantic City CC
Center 9 at Ridgewood,
Preakness Hills
Cherry Hill
Boca Rio
Old Marsh
Medalist ?
Westhampton

« **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2003, 07:29:49 AM »

Wild Dunes (Harbor). Water ALL down the left, not good when you have to run from the car to the 1st tee . . .

p.s. . . .WITH A HANGOVER

« **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2003, 07:50:15 AM »

Machrihanish. But it's not a hazard, it's through the green.

« **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2003, 07:52:12 AM »

Yale.

« **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2003, 08:28:32 AM »

Mike- thanks for the reminder. I guess I just have blinders on and just don't even see that hazard anymore

« **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2003, 09:36:59 AM »

The first hole on the Sea Marsh course at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head is a medium par 4 with a 100-yard carry from the white tees over a pond.

This was the first regulation golf course I ever played, at age ten, so that's the first shot I saw. I couldn't make it over and had to play from the red tees.

We've built a couple of courses which require a water or marsh carry from the back tee at #1 (Atlantic City and Riverfront), but after my initial experience I am pretty careful not to put in any carry from the white tee.

« **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2003, 11:13:25 AM »

TPC The Stadium Course
TPC The Valley Course

The Dunes

« **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2003, 12:50:43 PM »

There's a new Nicklaus course here in Denver called Cherry Creek CC that opened last year. Opening tee shot is a 100 yard + forced carry over a lake. Why?

A guy I played with there hit 3 in then just walked around the lake and dropped a ball. Nice way to start a round.

All The Best,

« **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2003, 02:59:42 PM »

As long as i'm on a roll....

Black Mesa's first requires a drive over the irrigation lake.
That however isn't the real hazzard, as a sand ridge must be carried from the back tee to a semi hidden, but generously sized, landing area.
I birdied it last time out, it can't be too hard.
I don't have a good picture from the tee, as the lake area was used for staging during construction. Here's the green site.

Now where's that skyline green thread....
(the 17th is a true skyline green)

« **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2003, 07:09:46 AM »

The first at Butler National is a sweet par 4 with an elevated tee shot over one finger of the creek. Slight bend left, with an approach to a green set right behind Salt Creek. The green is set on sort of an odd angle that makes for some really interesting approach shots. A tough start to a tough course.

« **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2003, 09:52:29 AM »

One though and one passage:

Thought — The first course I ever designed (Phantom Horse GC, Phoenix) had first tees set along a wonderful lagoon. Rock walls bordered the tees and there was only miminal carry from just the two back tees. A stream fed the lagoon. I say "had" as recent changes swapped directions of the first hole (now #18) and the charm of this opener is lost for good. Now #1 is a yawner par-4 with no ambiance.

Passage — One of my favorite TOC #1 and Swilcan Burn writings:

"In front of us stretches a vast plain, and unless we slice the ball outrageously on to the sea beach, no harm can befall us. At the same time we had much better hit a good shot, because the Swilcan Burn guards the green, and we want to carry it and get a four. It is an inglorious little stream enough: we could easily jump over it were we not afraid of looking foolish if we fell in, and yet it catches an amazing number of balls."
— Bernard Darwin, in The Golf Courses of the British Isles

« **Reply #16 on:** May 03, 2003, 12:25:27 PM »

The swilcan burm sounds versatile because it could come in play for both. The long knocker on the tee and the rest of us on the approach.

I was thinking more of Lateral water hazards when I initially posted and most of the described examples given seem to be carries rather than right or left.

Is it too demanding on the masses to start a course with lateral water hazards?

« **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2003, 03:24:41 PM »

A former big tournament resort course on Australia's Gold Coast is Palm Meadows. Water the entire length of the 1st hole on the left, made more menacing by a clump of bamboo (from 250-290 out) on the right which is automatic lost ball.

« **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2003, 03:57:15 PM »

If one had to, I recommend the left rather than the right. We prepared a master remodeling plan for a course in Reno: Rosewood Lakes. It was literally built into a wetlands and then more wetlands created. EVERY hole has water along both edges with perhaps 2 exceptions.

« **Reply #19 on:** May 07, 2003, 07:11:16 PM »

The Breakers in Palm Beach. Just what your rusty swing needs in the middle of the winter.

« **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2003, 08:05:08 AM »

Forrest- I've golfed Rosewood lakes and that is one bitch of a course, for me.

No one has mentioned the first on the Meadow course at BWR.

The breakers remark is kind of where I'd hope this thread would go and that is, IMHO, opening holes (especially lateral water hazard) are tough tests of ones game before one is able to know what game, one has on that day.

« **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2003, 03:02:22 PM »

Secession's 1st comes to mind. I know Doak's not to fond of it, but it sure opens your eyes and gets your heart pumping.

« **Reply #22 on:** May 08, 2003, 04:39:39 PM »

Quote

Machrihanish. But it's not a hazard, it's through the green.

Sorry, but that is not a true statement. The beach at Machrihanish is a lateral water hazard, marked by red stakes.

Cheers,
Darren

« **Reply #23 on:** May 08, 2003, 04:47:53 PM »

1st at North Berwick-West Course; water sure makes its presence known.

1st at Long Cove has a big pond down the entire right side

« **Reply #24 on:** May 08, 2003, 05:49:53 PM »

Looks like Pete has no problemo with the concept. I totally forgot about the river nines first. doi

News:

A_Clay_Man

Chris_Clouser

Mike Worth

Andy Hodson

GeoffreyC

Patrick_Mucci_Jr

Robert Kimball

Neil Regan

Mike_Cirba

GeoffreyC

Tom_Doak

James Edwards

Doug Wright

Mike Nuzzo

Ken_Boltz

Forrest Richardson

A_Clay_Man

tonyt

Forrest Richardson

JAHogan

A_Clay_Man

james soper

Darren_Kilfara

Brad Klein

A_Clay_Man

An Error Has Occurred!