The Dell didn't ring my bell ...

[Matt_Ward]

I played Lahinch during my Irish adventure and first things first -- I loved the course (the back-to-back 6th and 7th holes are simply grand stuff indeed, but had just two exceptions.

The first being the famous Dell hole -- the par-3 5th. The hole, as many know, features a collection of high mounds that firm a shield around the green that runs on a slight diagonal from lower right to back left. I liked the aspect of the mounds but the club has decided to grow the grass on the mounds to nearly 4-6 inches in spots. The likelihood of a ball kicking down is at best problematic and from my point of view the element of luck becomes too much of a factor.

When I played the hole it was in its most demanding position -- the rear left. I hit a 9-iron and it appeared from the tee to be doing quite well in the air. The net result? I must have done something "wrong" because the ball was just off the fringe and in the 4-6 inch grass I just mentioned. I was able to chop it up and walk away with bogey when a par putt from 10 feet missed.

The Dell is certainly a "unique" hole but I found it to be the kind of quirk that really takes away -- rahtre than adds -- the quality of fine play. When I played the 6th and 7th holes I saw the qualities I most admire in those two holes without question.

Let me also mention the short par-3 8th is in my mind a much better hole than the Dell. It's no less demanding but you can succeed through real shotmaking. Lahinch is a grand course and I'm glad I had the time to finally play it.

[TEPaul]

"When I played the hole it was in its most demanding position -- the rear left. I hit a 9-iron and it appeared from the tee to be doing quite well in the air. The net result? I must have done something "wrong" because the ball was just off the fringe and in the 4-6 inch grass I just mentioned. I was able to chop it up and walk away with bogey when a par putt from 10 feet missed."

Matt:

Good description of the Dell Hole and your play of it. Not that you could've really known since this may have been your first time there but despite your seemingly well struck 9 iron to what you described as the pin's position; "it was in its most demanding position -- the rear left", all I can say is welcome to the concept of the "sucker pin". Considering the higher grass on the banks of the hole which you may not have been aware of it sounds to me like the Dell Hole just basically "suckered" you! Better "luck" next time!  

[ForkaB]

Tom

How would you have played the Dell on that day?  Feel free to call upon your vast knowledge of that hole and its varying maintenance meld patterns in your reply.......

[GeoffreyC]

Matt

Where is your sense of adventure?

Didn't you have great anticipation walking around the hill to see which balls were on the green and which might be yours?

So you got hosed.  Did it lose you the British Am?  You obviously didn't/couldn't know the aiming rock was left and pointing you to a difficult spot.

Lahinch 1
Matt 0

Go on and birdie the next hole, smile and throw away your pencil on your vacation.

[TEPaul]

Rich:

Ooow, do I detect a tone of sarcasm or what? Well so be it. Not having seen that Dell hole in about 45 years this is the way I might've tried to play it seeing it again and using Matt's description of that most demanding left pin position. Since the green surface isn't all that visible and probably the pin too I believe I would have tried to determine that the pin was way over on the left side and then done my very best to hit the ball to the right of the pin at all costs where it's pretty evident there's a lot more green than left of the pin. Even a middle school existentialist's knowledge of the "maintenance meld" isn't really necessary for that though!

But maybe you tunnel vision pinseekers don't see it that way!    Whatever.

[THuckaby2]

Concur with Geoffrey.  Just when I thought Matt was over all this type of stuff with his great review of Pennard, we get this...

Hell Matt, the Dell has got to be the most "unfair" golf hole on the planet.  Good shots are not rewarded, bad shots are.  To me, that's GREAT!  Now obviously having EVERY golf hole like this would get old quick, but what's wrong with one really weird, really unique, and therefore really exciting hole?  

Interesting, when I played it a few years ago, I too got royally screwed - same back left pin, same good shot at it, pretty much same result, ball hanging on the hill and leaving a seemingly impossible chip.  I left with a bogey also (can't remember for sure - maybe I did get it up and down) but I remember for sure that I came away laughing and smiling...

TH

[Ben_Hogan_NJ]

Matt-
I completely agree that hole was a little overrated.  I was happy to play it because all of the history and talk about it but it was a little bit of a let-down.

I did love the previous hole though (par 5 with the blind second shot) and wonder your opinion on that?

My round at Lahinch three weeks ago was by far the most fun I have ever had on a golf course.

[TEPaul]

Make a bogie and criticize the architecture of the hole. Did I hear someone say golf architectural analysis is subjective?  Whatever, you see them as you play them I guess. It's just too bad Matt's ball didn't land a bit farther right so he might've made birdie and the Dell hole would've had a shot at being written up in New Jersey as a great albeit somewhat quirky hole!  

Seriously Matt, your on the move write ups of all these interesting courses you've been seeing is a very welcome addition to GOlfCLUBATLAS. Golf architectural analysis really is a subjective deal--no reason for anyone to think otherwise!

[THuckaby2]

Ben:

While I can see that the Dell might not be everyone's cup of tea, I believe a hole has to be "rated" before it can be "over-rated"... that is, who ever said it was anything but a quirky, weird, unique, fun golf hole?  I don't recall anyone ever calling it anything but this...

So did you enjoy playing it?  

#5 is a damn fun golf hole also - pick a point on the hill and blast over, walk around and see how you did... very exciting, very fun.

TH

[Ben_Hogan_NJ]

Tom-
VERY valid point.  I loved every inch of that golf course (and some of my playing partners saw every inch of it).  I think I had too much anticipation for seeing the hole.   When I played it the pin was back left.  Got up and down.  

[THuckaby2]

No hassles, Ben.  It's funny how a lot of famous holes don't live up to the expectations we create in our minds... I've had that happen as well many times, and at least with me the problem is usually ME, not the golf hole.

Hell of an up and down, btw!  

TH

[Mike Benham]

Good shots are not rewarded, bad shots are.  To me, that's GREAT!  

And we can assume that your normal shots are ....

[THuckaby2]

 

Mike - I just meant really that ANYTHING can happen on that golf hole - it really is pure whimsy.

TH

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I love this kind of hole and cannot get enough of them personally. however, It should not be a top anything hole for the reasons stated above. It is the wrong kind of hole to have in a championship for the luck factor outweighs the shotmaking by too great a percentage. But for fun and enjoyment it does not get any better than the thrill of making a good swing and waiting to see what the fates of golf gave to you.

[A_Clay_Man]

Matt- In your 2nd to last paragraph, of your orig post, you make reference to the "quality of fine play". Specifically you site that this unique quirk detracts from the experience. Is it to be infered that this is a universal definition of fine play?

[TEPaul]

"Quote from: Tom Huckaby on Today at 09:23:14am
"Good shots are not rewarded, bad shots are."  

All really good golfers should have a familiarity with the exact time and the exact method to hit the called for "bad" shot!

One time my Dad while driving on LI spotted Bobby Riggs at 6am on a golf course practicing shanks!!

I always meant to ask....

Never mind!  
 

[THuckaby2]

 

That does bring up and interesting point... just what IS the right shot to play into The Dell, if score is one's absolute objective?

I really can't see a way of doing it other than hit and hope.  And so long as one clears the top of the hill, it's just in the hands of the golf gods, isn't it?

Or does a "right" shot even exist?

TH

[Tim_Weiman]

Matt Ward:

First, I share your enthusiasm for #8 at Lahinch. That is really a nice par 3, one of Mackenzie's favorites if memory serves me.

Now, regarding the Dell. The most interesting thing about your writeup was that you didn't mention wind. Having played the course most frequently with a pretty strong - at least 2 clubs - wind, your selection of a 9 iron makes me think you either had a benign day or you regulary hit 9 irons 190-200 yards.

Anyway, my point is that very few locals give that much thought to pin position. Under the typical conditions, you really can't. Just aim for the middle, try to strike it pure and hope you get lucky. Yes, lucky. You just have to accept that.

I do also share Tom Paul's observation about being subjective. I have a friend who would frequently judge a golf hole or course by how well he played. My point is that bogey on the Dell really isn't so bad. The hole isn't supposed to be like anything else and can be difficult. FYI, the maintenance of those mounds varies; you can never be sure how the ball will bounce. That's part of the beauty.....but for many it is an acquired taste.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Tom Huckaby,
Right this very minute I'm reading all of your posts saying to myself, "here is a guy that gets it, I'm very proud of Huckaby right now!--Sniff!"

Meanwhile this shady Matt Ward character; he clearly is a golfer that has no soul nor time to play golf or even enjoy everything abroad, since he is over there with all of the magnificient courses and all of the great pubs--and women! (for you RT),and yet he chooses to spend his time posting on Golf Club Atlas.........

Tom, you are totally impressing me right now with your insight and intellect on how to play the Dell--hit and hope, and it is the best in quick, etc. etc. etc. And while I have never played the Dell, I find it amazing that someone that has seen so many golf course in his lifetime couldn't enjoy one feature that has survived ions of play--that the very Alister MacKenzie himself wasn't allowed to touch nor wanted too. This is how and why these holes were made, and also why many like it were destructed--because of guys like Matt Ward who have no idea what the allure of the Game and Luck means to their very soul.

Matt, Put away the computer and savor your time there. Try to learn something instead of basing it all on what you think your strengths are all about--I guess I mean, stop making it all about you, stop rating the courses as if you were still under a Golf Digest scrutiny, and accept the fact that your fortunate to be able to see all of these wonderful places and experience the wonderful people.

Maybe with a miracle a little light will get in.

[THuckaby2]

Tommy:

Well, it does make my day to make you proud of me.  
We have come a long way, huh?

But the Dell just seems so obvious to me... how else could one treat it but to enjoy it and laugh?  It was intentionally MADE to be whimsical and "unfair", no?  Looking for a fair result on the world's most intentionally unfair hole... well... I just don't see the worth in that.

As for Matt, well... he did write some great things re Pennard and others.  I say we give him a chance to explain his thoughts better re the Dell - hopefully yes, AFTER he returns home, because you are so right on, Tommy - posting on a computer DG has to be thing #165 to do while in Ireland out of 166 one could come up with.  

Maybe he was just in a bad mood.  

TH

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Tom, I like it that you can be so positive about someone that is so helpless (as well as clueless) and always be up-up all of the time. Matt should have had you on tour with him.

[THuckaby2]

 

I am terminally cheerful, aren't I?  Aw heck, I'm sure if I were along with Matt, I'd add value just in being his whipping boy in every match, at the very least.

Thanks for the pic... but boy, that doesn't really give the scale very well, does it?  I sure remember there being more mountain and less green...

For those who haven't played the hole, that pic is from the back right of the green.  The tee is on the other side of the mountain.

TH

[Pete Lavallee]

What Matt really did miss is having the locals show him how they play the second shot at the Dell when they come up short. They just hit it intentionally past the pin on the far bank and then watch as it gently rolls back down the slope, stiff to the back left location. One of the pure joys of UK links golf is using the slopes behind the pin to get close to the hole.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Pete, Trust me, he wouldn't get it.

[Jack_Marr]

Pete, and what about Irish links golf?

You Canadians are all alike.