Your Favorite Shot: Pacific Dunes

[Darren_Kilfara]

Sorry if I'm trampling on Jeff's toes a bit here, but this is one I've been waiting to hear people's reactions to: given one and only one shot at Pacific Dunes, which one would you most like to hit? (I'll save my vote for later...)

Cheers,
Darren

[THuckaby2]

Tee shot on 6, in a winter wind making that reachable.

TH

[ForkaB]

I like the 2nd into the 7th.  Best green complex on the course--including the (not) stupid tree!

[Michael J. Moss]

I discussed the sixth hole at Pacific in the "Greatest Short Hole" thread. I love a drivable par-4, or at least one that I think is drivable. (I don't know the answer yet, having tried once in two rounds.) In my second round, the wind was at my back, so the "go/no-go" decision was made easier. I'd love to know if that wind was the predominant one  .

Without an ocean view, but with driver in hand, this is my favorite shot at Pacific Dunes.    

[Doug Wright]

The 2d shot into #8. Both days I played it the hole was tucked behind the front right bunker. Fortunately, the first round there I was with a caddie who told me to miss the green right and watch what happens. I did this and the ball fed off the greenside right slope right to the hole. Very cool, and emblematic of the great things one can do on the ground at Pacific Dunes.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I love the 2nd shot at 8, especially when the pin is on the right. I also love the tee shot at 6 into the wind as well as the 2nd shot into the wind there. There is something about a hitting a 160 yard to a uphill table top target from 100 yards that thrills the mind.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Darren Kilfara,

I'd have to list the following, and then narrow it down.

# 3  Tee shot, 2nd shot, 3rd shot
# 4  Tee shot, 2nd shot
# 6  Tee shot
# 7   2nd shot
# 10 Tee shot
# 11 Tee shot
# 13 2nd shot
# 16 tee shot
# 17 Tee shot
# 18 tee shot

[THuckaby2]

Shivas needs to get in here and stomp on the wafflers, as he did on the NGLA thread with such brutal efficiency.  Good lord gentlemen, the question asked for ONE shot and ONE shot only.  Stand up and be counted.  

 

TH

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom Huckaby,

Darren didn't create this exercise with a time limit.

The process of elimination is alive and well.

When I have time, I'll whittle my answers down to one.

[THuckaby2]

Standard waffling answer, Pat.  We all know there are many choices.  The issue here is to pick one and say so, on here.  You've given yourself a waffling out by listing all of those.

Where's shivas when I need him?

TH

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Tom did you go to WA meeting last night. I bet you crack and start waffling before the sun sets in the west. lol

[Tim_Weiman]

Pat Mucci has identified several shots I really enjoy, but I'll go with something different:

2nd shot on #2.......

especially if I'm playing well enough to use the green contour to set up a birdie putt.

[Darren_Kilfara]

You know, this sort of question should really be asked for two different answers: in one, you can pick your own wind conditions and/or pin placement; in the other, you analyze the cumulative effect of all possible winds and pin placements and determine which shot concept is the best, if that makes sense. For example, I wouldn't rate the approach to the 3rd green as particularly exciting by the latter criteria, but put the pin in the very back-right and suddenly you've got something really special. Other holes perhaps lack that one killer hole location but offer a better balance of excellence all the time.

Is it too much to ask that everyone consider this question from both of the above angles?

Another point: picking one and only one shot as your favorite should in NO way be presumed as a slight against all the rest of them. Picking just one shot at a course as good as PD should involve much wailing and gnashing of teeth...

Cheers,
Darren

[THuckaby2]

Tiger - shivas so shamed me on that NGLA thread, I am now the King of Commitment.

So even Mr. Weiman now counts as a waffler, because he invoked the Mucci thoughts.

 

TH

[THuckaby2]

Aha!  So Darren has broadened this to allow for two answers, which makes sense at a course like PD with a definite prevailing summer wind and a definite prevailing winter wind.

SO ok, picking my wind, it remains tee shot on #6, in the winter.

Regardless of wind, I'm gonna go with the approach to 7.  That's brilliant no matter how it's blowing.

TH

[ForkaB]

Hukcster

There is nothing more boring that a reformed waffler.  Stop attending those WA meetings and tell us what you really think, or don't think, or might think, or used to think, or could think, or...................

[Jeff Fortson]

Darren,

No toes stepped on here  .  I give this thread full license to continue the Favorite Shot of the Day.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get to it the last couple days.  I start one tomorrow since this one is going today.

As for my favorite shot at Pacific Dunes.....

It'll be the first one I hit when I finally get a chance to play there  .

Jeff F.

[THuckaby2]

Rich:

You forget that my absolute hero in this world is shivas.  His scolding hurt deeply, and thus this is my attempt to regain his approval.  Boring it may be, but the end shall justify the means.

NO MORE WAFFLING!!!

 

TH

[ForkaB]

Tom

So Shivas is your absolute hero in this world?"  What about Jack Nicklaus, or even Bob Huntley?  Now, don't waffle..........

[THuckaby2]

God dammit.  God dammit.  God dammit.

aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

One can remove the waffle from the kitchen, but one cannot take the batter out of the waffle.

Rich, you got me.  Those two are also absolute heroes for me.
I actually have many others - you yourself are in the pantheon, for your cleverness and incredibly great life choices (ie where you've been and where you now live!).  Many other stalwarts here are my heroes as well.

A waffler for life I am.

OK, go ahead all of you, name 10-15 great shots at PD.  I won't complain any more.

I also now owe Berhardt yet another drink.

 

TH

[Michael Dugger]

approach on #1
tee shot on #5
approach on #6
tee shot on #9

[Scott_Burroughs]

I also go with the approach to #8 with the right pin.  Play it off the hill on the right or backstop behind the green.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Scott, I love that shot.

[Dan Herrmann]

I vote for the tee shot on #11

Or, how about a third shot just before the green on #4 with my right foot about to go over the cliff?  

[Bill_McBride]

This is sort of like asking me what shot did I like best at Cypress!  I guess it's not though, since the drive on #16 is easily the most exciting shot in golf.  

The most fun shot I hit in three rounds at Pacific Dunes was my first tee ball on #5.  Downwind it landed maybe 20 yards short left, bounced onto the green, and fed to a center back pin to maybe 6'.   My caddy pointed out this possibility and it worked perfectly.  

But the shot I enjoyed most, my absolute favorite, was the tee ball into the wind at #11.  From 140 yds I flushed a four iron and found the putting surface.  My fellow competitors both bailed out and hit their shots on or over that big dune to the right. Yes!!!    That is such a beautiful green, with that skinny little bunker on the left, ocean side which looks like it's been there for 100 years.

I don't think the hole would be as much fun downwind, probably be like trying to stop a pitching wedge on the hood of your car!