The 2nd hole at Ballyneal was the last hole completed during construction. It plays up to 490 yards long, and if the players are willing to walk up to the back tee, they are afforded the best view of the hole. It is also the highest point on the golf course. Most of the other teeing areas make the tee shot partially blind; by the time you get to the women's tee the views open up again.
The tee shot is wide open, and rewards power more than accuracy. Downwind the hole can be a driver and short (7-9 iron) for me, into the less common north wind the hole requires two low, well struck long shots to get to the deep, gently sloped green. After bombing away off the tee, the resulting combinations of distance and pin placement, together with the two primary hazards, a small short left bunker and a large front right bunker/shoulder, paint a clear picture in my mind as to the desired shot. This is what I love about a good golf course most, when the required shot paints a picture in my mind's eye.
Because the approach shot is long, and the green is large and relatively flat, this hole often yields a favorite type of shot, the long, gently breaking putt, a rare play at Ballyneal.
During my one round at Dismal River's Red course, I walked and played the back tees, because I felt it gave me the best chance to understand the course. It is 7000 yards long; assuming a 6% distance factor for elevation, the course should play the same as a 6600 yard course at sea level.
The 2nd hole at Dismal River is about 472 yards, with the back teeing area further right than shown in Brandon's photo. The tee shot is deceptive; you can't see much of the landing area, and I had to decide what the function of the large left fairway bunker was. Was it a carry bunker with a speed slot behind? I decided no, and played well right, which was the right call. I hit a pretty strong tee shot into the center of the fairway, which left me about 230 yards way uphill. I absolutely smashed a 5-wood a few yards short of the green, and made a rare up and down off short turf for par.
I love these modern, very long par 4 holes. Streamsong Red has the king of them all; their 15th hole is about 500 yards, so far uphill you can't believe they put "4" on the card. Old Macdonald has the downwind 505 yard 4th hole, "Hog's Back", which has perhaps my favorite approach shot on that course. At Dismal River, this super long par 4 has a green with lots of short grass around the green to accommodate misses. The front left greenside bunker hides some of the green and a lot of short grass recovery area, too. Even if I played the hole from the 430 yard tee box, I would often be left with 200-220 yards, and the type of approach shot I enjoy immensely.
Sand ridges obscured the view off the tee shot, and also hid the left side of the green. It is a recurring theme at this course. At Ballyneal, almost every tee shot is clearly visible, but second shots are often blind after a less than perfect tee ball.
When I played this hole, I thought to myself how Dismal River felt as though it was draped on top of the broad dunes, whereas Ballyneal feels as though it is fitted among the smaller "chop" dunes, with all natural containment mounding.
As you can tell, I loved Dismal River #2, and also have Ballyneal #2 as a favorite golf hole. I'll call it a draw.
10-10.