So everybody raving about Prairie Dunes doesn't object to narrowed fairways ?
Not sure what you are talking about. Fairways are very generous. I am estimating 40 yards for fairways in many places and width from "bunch to bunch" is even wider. I played there about two years ago and I did not notice that they did anything special re: narrowing fairways of this event-just some new tees
Chris,
Go back and remeasure # 6, # 8, # 16 and # 17.
I think you'll find them closer to 30 yards, by far, than 40 yards.
After working the course for a walk thru on Thursday, 6 holes on Friday, 48 holes Saturday, 36 Sunday, 36 Monday and 34 today I feel pretty good about my estimates. Hole #6 is WIDE where those kids hit it (maybe not your drive zone
). And believe to or not, we had to wait on the tee as some kids actually went for the green and put it in the green side bunker!
Fairway is absolutely 40 yards plus wide past the left bunker--NO DOUBT. #8 is narrow at the 350 mark. Hole played 468. Most kids hit hybrids or 3 woods to the flatfish portion short of where fairway bends right. Average play I saw was a 3 wood and 6 iron.
#16 is similar. From new tee at 429 most kids hit 3 wood, hybrid or iron to the flat portion short of both FW bunkers. Few tried driver and thoe that did brought bunkers and gunch into play as the line had to be over the right bunker. One stroke play round I had Patrick Reed. After he played a driver over the right bunker he had between 50-60 yards for his approach
#17 is narrow and plays blind to a fairway canted away from. The 7th hole was a driver and 8-Wedge and 17 was very reachable at 523 as well. Drivers, 3 woods and hybrids in equal number. Fairway is absolutely 30 yards wide (though to to hit because of above). Still, great drives resulted in iron second shots. Balls in first or second cut meant a wedge, wedge approach.