I saw the title of this thread and #10 at sleepy hollow immediately came to mind. With Hanse and Bahto so nicely unifying the Macdonald and Tillinghast holes, the 10th seems more out of place than ever. Does anyone know if there are plans to alter the 10th? What is the membership's view?
Other than that, I can't think of another hole at sleepy hollow that wasn't a blast to play. What a fun and interesting course.
Brian,
What was so unfun about 10 at Sleepy Hollow?
Does a lake in that area of the course seem that out of place?
It is a fine hole, just quite different from the rest of the course. I have not heard anyone call it a bad golf hole, but in my view it is 'out of character.' Additionally, it suffers in comparison to everything before and after. Beginning with the other par 3 holes...#3 is an incredible Eden, which requires only a short iron, but is pretty challenging. #7 is a really unique downhill reverse redan. It is over 200 yards, but can play at least 2 clubs short as a result of the downhill and the hillside that feeds the ball left to right and onto the putting surface. Insanely fun hole. Then, the 16th is a stunning Short, a great hole with neat bunkering and a very interesting and challenging green. The view is not too shabby either. So, compared to those 3 holes alone, the 10th finishes well behind on intrigue and fun. When you add in the variety and quality of the par 4 holes (my favorites were the 4th, 5th, 14th, 15th, and 17th, highlighted by an awesome punchbowl green on 15) and two really solid par 5s at 6 and 12, the competition for best hole is intense. The Tillinghast holes are also good, and the work done in recent years by Hanse and Bahto really pulls them in nicely, giving them a look and feel consistent with the Macdonald style. Add to that the fact that the club has a few more Macdonald holes that were part of the original layout (which I have not personally played, but have been told by friends who are members they are excellent), apparently including a Biarritz. So, in summary, #10 is a fine hole...it just doesn't get me fired up the way the rest of the place does.
Thanks Brian,
I haven't played the Hanse redo, but played several hundred roundsthere while working and living on the grounds in the early 90's (prior to the Reestoration).
There are indeed some fine holes on the Short course.
Interestingly I never heard one person there refer to 3 as an Eden.(of course i wouldn't know an Eden anyway and certainly didn't then)
I was aware #7 was a reverse redan (not sure why as no one spoke in those terms 20 years ago).
Re your comments on #10.
I'm probably biased as I lived about 100 yards right of #9 green and spent a lot of time on #10 fishing and frog gigging with Jim McLean's young kids, and/or playing a 5 hole loop down 10 and ending on #9.
It really is a beautiful, tranquil peaceful place.(I believe it backs up to a nature reserve)
I'm just not sure why the world thinks a pond at the low point of that part of the property, out at the extreme reaches of the course, is so out of character.
Sort've like 12 at Augusta, except that's a dammed
creek.
I guess it's a variety being the spice of life vs. a hole being out of character. (i guess if the entire course was routed around the lake it'd be in character)
To me, using the land (or resources) available to create a golf hole that fits perfectly in the(albeit renovated) routing is desireable.
Combining multiple architects will undoubtedly create on hole or another that seems out of place.
I do need to see the recent redo.