How would you play this hole?

[RickyBobby_PR]

13 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

Reviving this thread. How would you play these two holes. 
 

hole 1 forest hills golf course

This is 278 yards out. 70 yard wide. Would you drop down a club? The hole starts to go down hill about 70-90 yards from the green so laying back isn't terrible.

 

A lot depends on one’s carry distance. For me I don’t carry it 278 so I’m hitting driver and take my chances. Nothing too penalizing if I miss it go a little long

[RickyBobby_PR]

13 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

Hole 5 forest hills golf course. Long dog leg par 4. I usually play driver but realize i can over shoot the fairway and go into more trees or if i pull it hit a grove of trees which then goes down hill to the next hole (I am talking about the hole on the left in this image. I could layup with a 3 wood but would leave a longer approach to an elevated green. Again 280 line 65-70 yard wide

 

 

Going to play it over the trees on the left with my normal fade

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

here is the distance to the hazard behind the green, 345 from the back tees along with an elevation profile. I tried to put my cursor over the edge of the green just before the water

 

[vandyland]

13 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

hole 1 forest hills golf course

So based on golfpass, this is a 310 yd hole. For me, my driver dispersion is about 40 yds with most of that yardage being a left miss. You've got the driving range all down the left which isn't great. I only carry my driver about 240 yds and the landing zone at 240 is about 38 yds. If I hit hybrid, I have about the same landing zone (38 yds) but, for me, about 10 yds less dispersion so I think I hit hybrid down the right hand side of the fairway so if I block it I am in the trees but ok and giving myself room to left miss a bit before I go into the fairway. Hybrid carries about 190-200 yds which leaves me 95 yds into the hole playing about 10 ft downhill. That's a smooth GW for me which I love to hit. I can't really see myself hitting driver here very often because, for me, that doesn't give me much of an advantage. I don't think I am noticeably better from 60 yds out vs 95 yds out and the odds of me being blocked out in a trees goes up a decent amount. 

[vandyland]

13 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

Hole 5 forest hills golf course.

As someone who only carries their driver about 240 yds, I have to hit driver here. This par 4 is 410-420 yds so if I hit 5W (220 yd carry) then I am looking at like a 200 yd approach. I tend to hit a small draw so this hole sets up quite well for me. On a good day with no wind or wind behind me, I can probably start my ball on the left tree line and cut the corner. Landing zone at 240 over the left trees is 90 yds. For me, there is no reason not to hit driver here all day every day. Hole 1 made more sense to layup because it is so short but once I start getting over 400 yds for a par 4 my options off the tee vanish. 

 

[vandyland]

On 11/17/2021 at 5:05 PM, Ben_Howell34 said:

I’ve got one, Par 3 version. Number 14 at Ballantrae in Birmingham.

I realize this is an old post but I got to play Ballantrae last year on a golf trip so I was like "oh, I've encountered this hole!" Then I realized you listed it as a 220 yd shot and I didn't recall any hole like that. Then I remembered I am a total coward and I would never in my wildest dreams play a golf course from 6700 yds, . We played Ballantrae at 6200 yds (III tees) so this was like a 180 yd shot playing like 170 (25 ft downhill or so). I aimed at the right edge of the bunker and played for the front of the green so like a 165 yd shot. As I recall I caught a piece of the front left edge and 3 putted from like 25 feet (the green is a bit gnarly). Basically everyone played away from the water and no one made birdie. Tough hole even from 180 yds. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Alright got this one for ya.

Crumpin Fox in Bernardston, MA. Tough course, held a US Open qualifier a couple years ago and is just a real bear of a course.

This is hole #8 and the staple hole for the course. Couple different routes you can take and depending on the shots can play very differently. I have layed out different yardages.

• The tee box from tip to white (4 different tees) is 60 yards.
• The first landing area at 260 is 50 yards wide, the rest of the fairway is about 30 yards +/- all the way to the green
• The green is two tiered and runs quickly towards the water.

How would you attack this hole?

[bens197]

8 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

Alright got this one for ya.

Crumpin Fox in Bernardston, MA. Tough course, held a US Open qualifier a couple years ago and is just a real bear of a course.

This is hole #8 and the staple hole for the course. Couple different routes you can take and depending on the shots can play very differently. I have layed out different yardages.

• The tee box from tip to white (4 different tees) is 60 yards.
• The first landing area at 260 is 50 yards wide, the rest of the fairway is about 30 yards +/- all the way to the green
• The green is two tiered and runs quickly towards the water.

How would you attack this hole?

Realistically, I am playing this as a 3 shot hole.  Too much risk for little reward.

Soft cut off the right edge of the water which would leave about 260 to the hole.  I am going to hit a 9 iron leaving me around 100 to the green.  Make my 5 and go to the 9th...

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

22 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

Alright got this one for ya.

Crumpin Fox in Bernardston, MA. Tough course, held a US Open qualifier a couple years ago and is just a real bear of a course.

This is hole #8 and the staple hole for the course. Couple different routes you can take and depending on the shots can play very differently. I have layed out different yardages.

• The tee box from tip to white (4 different tees) is 60 yards.
• The first landing area at 260 is 50 yards wide, the rest of the fairway is about 30 yards +/- all the way to the green
• The green is two tiered and runs quickly towards the water.

How would you attack this hole?

As someone who hooks their longer clubs this hole scares me. 3 shot hole for me here. I actually pull 4w here since the landing zone isn't great. Then 6i to just before your 200 box. Then pitch on. Bogey here would be a really good score.

[RickyBobby_PR]

13 minutes ago, bens197 said:

Realistically, I am playing this as a 3 shot hole.  Too much risk for little reward.

Soft cut off the right edge of the water which would leave about 260 to the hole.  I am going to hit a 9 iron leaving me around 100 to the green.  Make my 5 and go to the 9th...

Similar approach. Will see where the flag is on that day and choose where to play second shot to

[null]

29 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

Alright got this one for ya.

Crumpin Fox in Bernardston, MA. Tough course, held a US Open qualifier a couple years ago and is just a real bear of a course.

This is hole #8 and the staple hole for the course. Couple different routes you can take and depending on the shots can play very differently. I have layed out different yardages.

• The tee box from tip to white (4 different tees) is 60 yards.
• The first landing area at 260 is 50 yards wide, the rest of the fairway is about 30 yards +/- all the way to the green
• The green is two tiered and runs quickly towards the water.

How would you attack this hole?

I think this is one of those holes that you simply don't attack unless you are forced to get a certain score in a tournament of match play.

This is one of those holes that tells you exactly what to do and how to do it.  it is a test of restraint.  You take your par and you go to the next hole.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

@bens197 @Vegan_Golfer_PNW @RickyBobby_PR and @jlukesagreed its a test to not going at the hole. Takes controlled shots. The tee shot isnt as scary as the next 3 IMO unless your miss is left. The 3rd shot of 100+ or so yards over the water frightens me when I am there just because there is so much water. Depending on where the flag is going to the funnel in front of the green is the better play and an easy pitch on and putting it close is the play....

@bens197 #9 isnt easy either  Slippery downhill par 3....God Speed

[Berg Ryman]

28 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

Alright got this one for ya.

Crumpin Fox in Bernardston, MA. Tough course, held a US Open qualifier a couple years ago and is just a real bear of a course.

This is hole #8 and the staple hole for the course. Couple different routes you can take and depending on the shots can play very differently. I have layed out different yardages.

• The tee box from tip to white (4 different tees) is 60 yards.
• The first landing area at 260 is 50 yards wide, the rest of the fairway is about 30 yards +/- all the way to the green
• The green is two tiered and runs quickly towards the water.

How would you attack this hole?

So, driver off the tee, puts me out there 240-255 on average, if I catch it good could be 265. Then we pull 4 or 5 iron, getting it down there to 120-130 range where a nice full PW is the shot of the choice to the green, then it's in the hands of the putting gods.

[vandyland]

49 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

How would you attack this hole?

Similar to others, I wouldn't "attack" this hole as much as survive it. I would be playing from the gold tees so this hole would be 530 yds for me. The wide landing zone ends at like 195 yds off the tee from the golds so I am hitting hybrid off the tee (which sucks on a par 5 honestly) and then hitting a 7 iron and finally a PW or 9i in. This does not look like a fun hole to me at all. Also google earth seems to suggest the fairway tilts right to left towards to water (almost 10 feet of tilt), is that true? Jesus that is penal. I am going to say this hole seems...cruel. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

1 minute ago, vandyland said:

Similar to others, I wouldn't "attack" this hole as much as survive it. I would be playing from the gold tees so this hole would be 530 yds for me. The wide landing zone ends at like 195 yds off the tee from the golds so I am hitting hybrid off the tee (which sucks on a par 5 honestly) and then hitting a 7 iron and finally a PW or 9i in. This does not look like a fun hole to me at all. Also google earth seems to suggest the fairway tilts right to left towards to water (almost 10 feet of tilt), is that true? Jesus that is penal. I am going to say this hole seems...cruel. 

Oh it runs towards the water 100%. The hole is definitely brutal depending on tendencies and how well you can hit the ball straight. Taking some yards off pays dividends. 

The hole works for me. I fade off the tee and can hit driver, I rarely cross over right to left so water is not in play. I then go 5 iron and depending on flag location I am going over the water but prefer to layup, chip on and hopefully drain my first putt. These days I might be going to the green because everything has been 2 putt....

I butchered this hole last time out with a 3 putt.

[GolfSpy TCB]

On 10/20/2021 at 8:59 AM, RickyBobby_PR said:

Edit: #1 hdcp hole. The green is surrounded by a hill on the back and sides with thick rough

I would play this as a par 5.  A "Par 4" would feel like a birdie.  I would also most likely play my approach at the greenside bunker and take my chances to get up and down from the sand - avoiding the potential for the thick rough around the green if I miss hit my approach.  At that distance, I would expect a more consistent lie in the sand than I would probably get from the thick rough as you described.  Looks like a tough hole... 

[DiscipleofPenick]

A 450 yard par 4 seems like a pretty straightforward hole to plan out. I'm ripping a driver and just trying to put it out there at my normal distance. Hope I don't wind up in a bunker. As this hole is pretty straight, I'm hoping to have something like a 6i into the green. Walking away with a bogey on this hole is nothing to be disappointed in.

[mynerds]

1 hour ago, Lacassem said:

How would you attack this hole?

I know exactly how I'd play this one:

Driver off the tee. As a lefty, I'd think "draw" to keep it out of the water and try to crush it. Over compensate and hit it into the woods. Hit a provisional thinking "let's not do that again" and slice it into the water. Get confused as to how many balls I've hit by rule, call it 1 + penalty pretending the provisional didn't actually count, and drop a ball near the further back playing partner ~250 yards from the tee to keep pace.

Pull out the fairway wood for my "third" and top the ball for 50 yards. Over-correct and fat it for another 50 for my fourth. Pitching wedge for the fifth to get back with the group 100 yards out.

Keep with the pitching wedge and land 20 feet out from the pin with the sixth. Brag about the pitch over the water and let the confidence explode. Leave the first putt 5 feet short, lip out with the second, finish the three putt. Confidence returns to normal levels. Replay the hole in my head and tell my partners "put me down for an 8, I think."

I am nothing if not honest.

[bens197]

1 hour ago, Lacassem said:

@bens197 @Vegan_Golfer_PNW @RickyBobby_PR and @jlukesagreed its a test to not going at the hole. Takes controlled shots. The tee shot isnt as scary as the next 3 IMO unless your miss is left. The 3rd shot of 100+ or so yards over the water frightens me when I am there just because there is so much water. Depending on where the flag is going to the funnel in front of the green is the better play and an easy pitch on and putting it close is the play....

@bens197 #9 isnt easy either  Slippery downhill par 3....God Speed

The entire course looks like 4 hours of critical thinking...

https://www.crumpinfox.com/course-tour/

 

[edingc]

16 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

Reviving this thread. How would you play these two holes. 
 

hole 1 forest hills golf course

This is 278 yards out. 70 yard wide. Would you drop down a club? The hole starts to go down hill about 70-90 yards from the green so laying back isn't terrible.

 

Elevation profile, I see what you mean about it dropping near the green.

Actually quite similar to No. 1 at my course, but the killer for me is that there is out of bounds down the left side.

If I hit the range beforehand and am loose, probably driver. Else you could argue for dropping back to something shorter. Looks like 200 yards gives you about 120 in to center with the drop. I could go 5 iron, 54 if I felt really good. But that would require two really good shots.

Seems like on a nice, dry day you could run a driver up to short pitch distance if hit well.

EDIT: Should read the whole thread before posting... most of what I've said has already been covered... 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

Just now, edingc said:

Elevation profile, I see what you mean about it dropping near the green.

Actually quite similar to No. 1 at my course, but the killer for me is that there is out of bounds down the left side.

If I hit the range beforehand and am loose, probably driver. Else you could argue for dropping back to something shorter. Looks like 200 yards gives you about 120 in to center with the drop. I could go 5 iron, 54 if I felt really good. But that would require two really good shots.

Seems like on a nice, dry day you could run a driver up to short pitch distance if hit well.

easily could. The one time i ever hit my super hybrid well was this hole. Sadly it was wet out and got no run but only had a 50 yard pitch to the green. Considering we are getting lots of heat yesterday through Friday I may just have to play 4w and see where i can get on roll out.

[vandyland]

1 hour ago, bens197 said:

The entire course looks like 4 hours of critical thinking...

I felt the same way, seems like there are decisions constantly on this course. Obviously this course is made to challenge elite players under tournament conditions but for the rest of the year...why would average golfers want to play this course? Feeling too good about yourself and need a reality check? 

[cnosil]

19 minutes ago, vandyland said:

I felt the same way, seems like there are decisions constantly on this course. Obviously this course is made to challenge elite players under tournament conditions but for the rest of the year...why would average golfers want to play this course? Feeling too good about yourself and need a reality check? 

How are you evaluating the course?  Looking at the slope and course rating it doesn’t seem overly difficult. 

[vandyland]

53 minutes ago, cnosil said:

How are you evaluating the course?  Looking at the slope and course rating it doesn’t seem overly difficult. 

Looking at landing zones and overall width of the course on Google Earth. Take this hole for example (#12 - plays 359 yds from Gold tees):

Looks like I would have about 32 yds to land my tee shot in, and if I miss more than 15 yds either side of the center line the ball is absolutely dead/gone/never to be heard from again. I have no interest in playing courses like this, too penal for me as a hacker golfer. I don't know many people who have a tighter than 30 yd dispersion with their driver. Maybe I should play better.

Also, I don't know what you normally play but a course that is 6,000 yds long (gold tees) that is still rated/sloped at 70.3/138 suggests to me that it is difficult. For reference, here in Nashville one of the harder publics we have that hosts a number of state tournaments is 69.7/125 from the same distance. Personally, I stay away from any tees that are rated over 70, regardless of length. I'm not good enough to take that on. 

[cnosil]

5 minutes ago, vandyland said:

Looking at landing zones and overall width of the course on Google Earth. Take this hole for example (#12 - plays 359 yds from Gold tees):

Looks like I would have about 32 yds to land my tee shot in, and if I miss more than 15 yds either side of the center line the ball is absolutely dead/gone/never to be heard from again. I have no interest in playing courses like this, too penal for me as a hacker golfer. I don't know many people who have a tighter than 30 yd dispersion with their driver. Maybe I should play better.

Also, I don't know what you normally play but a course that is 6,000 yds long (gold tees) that is still rated/sloped at 70.3/138 suggests to me that it is difficult. For reference, here in Nashville one of the harder publics we have that hosts a number of state tournaments is 69.7/125 from the same distance. Personally, I stay away from any tees that are rated over 70, regardless of length. I'm not good enough to take that on. 

Judging by your picture it looks like there is a bit more room than the 32 yards but yes it is tight.   No one has tighter than 30 yards with driver including pros;  they are about 60.   I understand your thoughts,  just wanted to understand your baseline. 

For reference, one of the courses I play regularly Royal New Kent in New Kent, Virginia is 71.1/142 from the whites (6194)

[barryschwartz56]

On 10/20/2021 at 9:59 AM, RickyBobby_PR said:

May be in the wrong forum but could be considered mental game.

Dlow’s post in random thread reminded me of this hole. The course is Blue Mash which is a sister course of @Golfspy_CG2 old hole course Waverly Woods.

The front and back nine play complexity different and the back nine is usually pretty windy compared to the front. It also has shorter holes.

The first 3 holes play long from both white and blue tee boxes. This is hole 3. A par 4 and per scorecard white tees are 426 and blue 453. Red are 359 and green just slightly behind them. The course has a combo tee option and this one plays from the whites of using that option. The black circle is roughly where the 150 marker is. Tees are usually in the middle box where the tree on the left is. When I play there whites are anywhere from 400-430. Many times it’s into the wind which adds distance and difficulty.

What strategy would you use to play this hole?

For me I play a fade off the left side of the fairway to try and avoid the bunkers. My typical drive is short of the cart path that splits the fairway to about 20 yards behind it. Usually have anywhere from a 5i to my 4/5 wood depending on what bag setup I have into the green. It’s a hole that I don’t par often and play it to make no worse than bogey.

Edit: #1 hdcp hole. The green is surrounded by a hill on the back and sides with thick rough.

Turns out I played this course last month.  Blue tees.  Pulled my drive left near the second bunker, on the slope so not much of a stance.  Played a 7 iron to the right side just before the cart path.  Left an 8 iron just short, chipped on a made the putt for bogey.  Not a terrible recovery from a not great drive.  that was the only bogey on the front, and the birdie on on 8 gave me a par 36 going out. That hole is driver all day long.  And the shot into the green, if you play for the middle of the green you take the bunker out of play from any position.  

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

3 hours ago, bens197 said:

The entire course looks like 4 hours of critical thinking...

https://www.crumpinfox.com/course-tour/

 

It is lol I had my worst round there this year. Granted I played like crap and wasn’t the courses fault but for me an 85 there would be a very good round

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

16 minutes ago, vandyland said:

Looking at landing zones and overall width of the course on Google Earth. Take this hole for example (#12 - plays 359 yds from Gold tees):

Looks like I would have about 32 yds to land my tee shot in, and if I miss more than 15 yds either side of the center line the ball is absolutely dead/gone/never to be heard from again. I have no interest in playing courses like this, too penal for me as a hacker golfer. I don't know many people who have a tighter than 30 yd dispersion with their driver. Maybe I should play better.

Also, I don't know what you normally play but a course that is 6,000 yds long (gold tees) that is still rated/sloped at 70.3/138 suggests to me that it is difficult. For reference, here in Nashville one of the harder publics we have that hosts a number of state tournaments is 69.7/125 from the same distance. Personally, I stay away from any tees that are rated over 70, regardless of length. I'm not good enough to take that on. 

It’s honestly a. Typical New England course. It’s tight for sure and difficult at times but it’s a gorgeous course and worth every stroke

[baja okie]

This was my home course from the time they opened until I moved in May of '03. I hit driver as far as I could favoring the left and hoping to get to the split. Second shot was a knockdown running draw with a wood or hybrid (typically into the wind) to the open front and letting the ball roll up onto the green. Not one I hit in reg very many times. Tough hole.

Edited August 17, 2022 by baja okie

[vandyland]

56 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Judging by your picture it looks like there is a bit more room than the 32 yards but yes it is tight.   No one has tighter than 30 yards with driver including pros;  they are about 60.   I understand your thoughts,  just wanted to understand your baseline. 

For reference, one of the courses I play regularly Royal New Kent in New Kent, Virginia is 71.1/142 from the whites (6194)

In full disclosure, I'm a baby when it comes to landing zone width. I don't like golf courses that are tight or penal off the tee. That doesn't mean everyone has to think that way or that all golf courses have to be a certain way. I generally avoid courses like Crumpin-Fox because of that. In truth, I probably miss out on some great courses. For whatever reason I much prefer a course that benign tee shots and challenging approach shots. 

Would love to play RNK sometime. I am a big Mike Strantz fan (except for Caledonia because...well...see above haha) and True Blue and Tobacco Road are easily in my top 5 favorite golf courses I have ever played. Would love to try to play all the Strantz courses (sadly due to his untimely death there are not many), or at least all the public ones. Typically his courses play a bit wider than most and I found Tobacco Road to be (relatively) easy. Shot one of my lowest rounds ever the first time I played there.