Course Management - How Would You Play This Hole?

[GolfSpy_APH]

Every few days one of the forum staff members will drop a hole for the community to discuss on how they would play the hole. Course management is different for everyone and the previous thread brought out some great discussion on how many would play various holes. There are always a ton of ways to play a hole depending on a golfers ability and more, here you can find various holes and various ideas from different golfers on how to potentially best play that hole. 

To kick off this series lets go to @Jnoble89 neck of the woods and look at the 6th hole at Sand Valley, Wisconsin. -https://sandvalley.com/sand-valley

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/576025fa22482e70f0278a4d/t/5cafb38ce4966b8002e86f9a/1555018646008/Sand+Valley+Course+Guide.pdf

Feel free to explore options for various pin locations! 

 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

9 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Every few days one of the forum staff members will drop a hole for the community to discuss on how they would play the hole. Course management is different for everyone and the previous thread brought out some great discussion on how many would play various holes. There are always a ton of ways to play a hole depending on a golfers ability and more, here you can find various holes and various ideas from different golfers on how to potentially best play that hole. 

To kick off this series lets go to @Jnoble89 neck of the woods and look at the 6th hole at Sand Valley, Wisconsin. -https://sandvalley.com/sand-valley

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/576025fa22482e70f0278a4d/t/5cafb38ce4966b8002e86f9a/1555018646008/Sand+Valley+Course+Guide.pdf

Feel free to explore options for various pin locations! 

 

Hold please, let me ping my FIL who used to caddie here. I love this feature that you guys will do.

From the Orange tees, I likely pull 3i off the tee and aim down the right side (I tend to draw this club and would get plenty of roll with the sloping around 233 yards out). Likely leaves a 5 or 6i to the green. This hole looks super narrow so I can't trust pulling driver. I wish I could pull this up on google earth pro but it hasn't updated with the course.


 

[GolfSpy_APH]

At 252 to the second bunker I think I am taking 3 wood. Then 6 or 7 into the green. If wind is in I am taking driver. While 252 is possible to go too far getting caught in the neck of at that first bunker seems like a big trap for me and going long into the second bunker leaves me more options. 

If I make the fairway the second shot is going to be a club that is to the middle or middle back regardless of where the pin is. Again trying to take that front side bunker out of play and opening up the hole. I love this hole as the right side is for sure the safe side, but it also makes the approach shot way more difficult. The further left you can push or place the tee shot the more open and forgiving the approach shot will be. 

Love these simple, yet effective designs. 

[funkyjudge]

From the 384 yard tees, I would probably hit my 19* utility wood or a hybrid, which would still leave me in the neighborhood of 175-180 yards to the middle of the green. If I were hitting the ball REALLY well that day, I might hit my 4-wood, which would narrow my target landing area somewhat, but would leave me more like 145-150 yards.

From the 305-yard tee box, I am virtually certain that I would hit the utility wood or 4-wood, which would leave me a 65-80 yard shot to the middle of the green.

Both of these options would rather easily clear significant waste areas, and leave me in reasonably wide fairway areas, although the 4-wood from the 384-yard tees does bring into play a bit narrower landing area, and that club COULD get me to the right-hand bunker about 40 yards short of the green from the 305-yard tees if the hole were playing downwind, in which case I would hit the utility wood or my 4-hybrid.

[Javs]

Which tees are we playing and where is the wind blowing from? No wind from the tips I hit a 3 wood to the right of the bunkers and a 7 or 8 iron to the hole. All the other tees I can blast a driver over the last bunker on the left and hit a nice easy Gap, SW or LW right at the pin.

[Dooby]

44 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Every few days one of the forum staff members will drop a hole for the community to discuss on how they would play the hole. Course management is different for everyone and the previous thread brought out some great discussion on how many would play various holes. There are always a ton of ways to play a hole depending on a golfers ability and more, here you can find various holes and various ideas from different golfers on how to potentially best play that hole. 

To kick off this series lets go to @Jnoble89 neck of the woods and look at the 6th hole at Sand Valley, Wisconsin. -https://sandvalley.com/sand-valley

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/576025fa22482e70f0278a4d/t/5cafb38ce4966b8002e86f9a/1555018646008/Sand+Valley+Course+Guide.pdf

Feel free to explore options for various pin locations! 

 

I was trying to think of a way to get a thread like this going after my previous one about course management.  The discussion about a couple of holes had me interested in the variety of strategy people would suggest.

[GolfSpy_APH]

16 minutes ago, Javs said:

Which tees are we playing and where is the wind blowing from? No wind from the tips I hit a 3 wood to the right of the bunkers and a 7 or 8 iron to the hole. All the other tees I can blast a driver over the last bunker on the left and hit a nice easy Gap, SW or LW right at the pin.

You're playing the tees you think are best for your game or what you normally would be. 

As for wind, I don't know the area so cant say, but lets go with a gentle morning breeze that is hardly felt. 

[Javs]

1 minute ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

You're playing the tees you think are best for your game or what you normally would be. 

As for wind, I don't know the area so cant say, but lets go with a gentle morning breeze that is hardly felt. 

Sounds good then my answer is the same.

[TSauer]

From the tips, because why not? Lol. I think I go 3 wood and then hopefully a 7 iron in, aiming far enough left to avoid a fat shot that ends up in the sand.

Realistically, what ends up happening is I pull out driver at the tee box because there is a slight tail wind and it's going to help me clear the second bunker. I then proceed to miss waaay left and I'm hitting my second shot from the sand. Second shot then goes awry and I end up in the bunker short of the green, doing a little beach hopping. It takes two shots to get out of there, with the second one soaring over the green and rolling down the hill. I chip up, one putt, and walk away with my tail between my legs.

[TSauer]

Btw, this course looks amazing.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

From the orange tees, I am pulling 3 wood, hitting a draw and landing it short right of the bunker near the 252 yard mark. Assuming some roll, should have probably around 170s to go, leaving me with a 7 iron into the green. 

and yes, @TSauer, the Sand Valley property is out of this world. Played the short course last year and was so fun. Have not played the full size courses but they are beautiful. Here’s a great video that Gimme Golf Studio did on Sand Valley:

My in-laws have a cabin 10 minutes from here. If anyone comes up to play it next summer, DM me!

[Shrek74]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Every few days one of the forum staff members will drop a hole for the community to discuss on how they would play the hole. Course management is different for everyone and the previous thread brought out some great discussion on how many would play various holes. There are always a ton of ways to play a hole depending on a golfers ability and more, here you can find various holes and various ideas from different golfers on how to potentially best play that hole. 

To kick off this series lets go to @Jnoble89 neck of the woods and look at the 6th hole at Sand Valley, Wisconsin. -https://sandvalley.com/sand-valley

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/576025fa22482e70f0278a4d/t/5cafb38ce4966b8002e86f9a/1555018646008/Sand+Valley+Course+Guide.pdf

Feel free to explore options for various pin locations! 

 

From the Orange Tees, I'm starting with driver and aiming to the right edge of the fairway even with the 252yd measurement of the front of that left fairway bunker. With my baby draw, I should end up middle or middle left in the fairway just at the front of that bunker.
As I'm probably looking at about 195 to the center of the green, I'll take out my trusty 4 Hybrid and aim right center of the green which should bring it over the left edge of the front greenside bunker, likely rolling towards the back left angled portion of the green.
2 putt for par and we head to the 7th.

Alternatively, I'd pull 3 wood starting from the Sand Tees and aim center of the fairway drawing towards the left edge of the fairway bunker and coming to rest in that little bubbled out fairway left of the bunker.
Having around 170 to the center of the green, I'd hit a smooth 5 iron at the very left tip of that front greenside bunker drawing it at the flag. The ball rolls left of the flag but comes back off that back slope the stop left center on the green, about pin high.
2 putt for par and we head to the 7th.

Now that I've established how it plays out in my head, let's look at what reality looks like.

Driver from the Sand Tees, ends up around that tree short left of the fairway bunker thanks to my overspinning of the driver.
Hitting a 7 iron out from under the tree and out from the rough, fades right and into the frontside bunker. It's likely a 50yd or so bunker shot.
I take a 54* wedge from the bunker and blast it out, but over the green overcompensating the length of the bunker shot and not wanting to end up still in the bunker.
From back left of the green, I hit a 50* wedge bump and run towards the hole. Likely getting too much role coming down that top tier, but reading it decently so it leaves me an straight up hill putt but from the front edge of the green.
2 putt for a double bogey 6 and we head to the 7th.

[TSauer]

10 minutes ago, Jnoble89 said:

From the orange tees, I am pulling 3 wood, hitting a draw and landing it short right of the bunker near the 252 yard mark. Assuming some roll, should have probably around 170s to go, leaving me with a 7 iron into the green. 

and yes, @TSauer, the Sand Valley property is out of this world. Played the short course last year and was so fun. Have not played the full size courses but they are beautiful. Here’s a great video that Gimme Golf Studio did on Sand Valley:

My in-laws have a cabin 10 minutes from here. If anyone comes up to play it next summer, DM me!

Okay, my previous comment was an understatement! If I am ever up that way, I'm making it a priority to play there.

Also, that is some top notch footage. I checked out a couple of their other videos and those guys deserve more views! I love that kind of stuff!

[GolfSpy_KFT]

1 minute ago, TSauer said:

Okay, my previous comment was an understatement! If I am ever up that way, I'm making it a priority to play there.

Also, that is some top notch footage. I checked out a couple of their other videos and those guys deserve more views! I love that kind of stuff!

@ALo314 is part of the Gimme Golf crew and their content is

If you ever do come up to play it make sure you reach out, would absolutely love to loop it with you!

[TSauer]

2 minutes ago, Jnoble89 said:

@ALo314 is part of the Gimme Golf crew and their content is

If you ever do come up to play it make sure you reach out, would absolutely love to loop it with you!

For sure, man!

[Shapotomous]

I would probably use 3w off the tee for about a 225yd shot.  I think that leaves me just short of the left trap.  Then 5i or 5h depending on what was in the bag currently or maybe a 4h if the pin is back.

[DaveP043]

I'm old, I'm playing the Sand tees, or maybe even the Green tees.  I generally hit my driver semi-straight, so I'm aiming over the point of the first bunker, right at the 209 marker.  There's really enough room between the next bunker on the left and the right edge, and the bunkers at Sand Valley don't really "collect" nearby balls like some of the small bunkers in Scotland do.  After that, its a mid-iron, probably aimed near the left edge of the green.  This is a big green, with a grass collection area long, so I'm taking a half-club or even a full club extra.  I got to play here twice a couple years back, it was a blast.  

3 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

I wish I could pull this up on google earth pro but it hasn't updated with the course.

I'm looking at Google Earth now, it shows the course.  It even shows what must be the Lido course.

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

8 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I'm old, I'm playing the Sand tees, or maybe even the Green tees.  I generally hit my driver semi-straight, so I'm aiming over the point of the first bunker, right at the 209 marker.  There's really enough room between the next bunker on the left and the right edge, and the bunkers at Sand Valley don't really "collect" nearby balls like some of the small bunkers in Scotland do.  After that, its a mid-iron, probably aimed near the left edge of the green.  This is a big green, with a grass collection area long, so I'm taking a half-club or even a full club extra.  I got to play here twice a couple years back, it was a blast.  

I'm looking at Google Earth now, it shows the course.  It even shows what must be the Lido course.

Hmm. I did both online and Google earth pro and both were fields and trees

[Josh Parker]

I'm playing 3 wood to right side and then 7/8 iron to middle of the green.  

[Mr. Mushball]

I'd probably be playing the Sand tees.  This is a bit long for a par 4, but not ridiculously.  Given my distances the obstacles are right in the danger zone for me.  I'd have to play this as a par 5, but given my handicap that's a good score should I bogey.  I don't hit super confidently with most of my long clubs, but my 4w is a champ.  I'd aim down the right side and hope to get about 200 yards into the fairway.  Assuming I hit it, as it's pretty narrow target, I'd play a mid-iron or maybe a 6i to lay up between 100-70 yards, depending on the pin position.  I'd like to think they'd make it as challenging as possible for me and put it towards the back on the top shelf.  A PW or GW should get me the rest of the distance and I'd hope for some forgiving putts.  Overall goal would be to avoid the bunkers as much as possible as that would be a card wrecker. 

 

[Mr. Mushball]

2 hours ago, Shrek74 said:

From the Orange Tees, I'm starting with driver and aiming to the right edge of the fairway even with the 252yd measurement of the front of that left fairway bunker. With my baby draw, I should end up middle or middle left in the fairway just at the front of that bunker.
As I'm probably looking at about 195 to the center of the green, I'll take out my trusty 4 Hybrid and aim right center of the green which should bring it over the left edge of the front greenside bunker, likely rolling towards the back left angled portion of the green.
2 putt for par and we head to the 7th.

Alternatively, I'd pull 3 wood starting from the Sand Tees and aim center of the fairway drawing towards the left edge of the fairway bunker and coming to rest in that little bubbled out fairway left of the bunker.
Having around 170 to the center of the green, I'd hit a smooth 5 iron at the very left tip of that front greenside bunker drawing it at the flag. The ball rolls left of the flag but comes back off that back slope the stop left center on the green, about pin high.
2 putt for par and we head to the 7th.

Now that I've established how it plays out in my head, let's look at what reality looks like.

Driver from the Sand Tees, ends up around that tree short left of the fairway bunker thanks to my overspinning of the driver.
Hitting a 7 iron out from under the tree and out from the rough, fades right and into the frontside bunker. It's likely a 50yd or so bunker shot.
I take a 54* wedge from the bunker and blast it out, but over the green overcompensating the length of the bunker shot and not wanting to end up still in the bunker.
From back left of the green, I hit a 50* wedge bump and run towards the hole. Likely getting too much role coming down that top tier, but reading it decently so it leaves me an straight up hill putt but from the front edge of the green.
2 putt for a double bogey 6 and we head to the 7th.

Yeah, realistically I'm looking at a snowman.

[bens197]

I’m thinking orange tees would be talking me into a 2 iron U505…if there’s no wind.

If the wind is up and in my face it’s 3 wood and if I have a breeze helping then I am grabbing a 4 iron and teeing it up a little. 

190ish to the center would leave me with a hard 6 or soft 5 iron.  

Great hole.

[ZackS]

From the back tees I hit a 5 wood aiming over the neck of the short bunker as if I miss hit with probably go right or left of the neck and the well struck carries easy and should stay short of the second bunker. This should leave about a 6 iron in. Which unless it is on the shorter end of a 6 iron I probably go with a cut 5 iron because long would be the better miss on the second shot. 

[RoverRick]

I can say in one word how I would play this hole. “POORLY”. Next hole please. 

Oh, you want course management question not reality. Easy, I would hit a driver up the right hand side with a draw. I hit my driver as straight as any full swing club recently. I wouldn’t be playing the tips. Probably the 384 tee box. 

I was hitting the driver terribly for months. I bought the GolfShots app and with the AppleWatch it said the I was 60° steep and 24° out to in. No wonder I was terrible with the driver and all full shots. I was 0-4° in-to-out with the wedges and was great with those. So a few months later, I am 4-14° in-to-out and 15° steep. Added about 35-40 yards also. But most of my driver shots now are high draws to where I want them.  

Even if I went in one of the fairway bunkers, I confident I could get it out and within 50 of the green where my best 2 clubs come into play. 58° and putter. 

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Playing the Orange tee, I am taking a driver off the tee. I am aiming at the left fairway bunker, with the fade I usually hit off the tee bringing the ball back to the middle or right side of the fairway. Depending on the kick and roll, I’m about an 8 iron out. Assuming the pin is center of the green, that’s where I am aiming. Two putts for par, workmanlike, keep it moving.

[Shlax]

9 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Every few days one of the forum staff members will drop a hole for the community to discuss on how they would play the hole. Course management is different for everyone and the previous thread brought out some great discussion on how many would play various holes. There are always a ton of ways to play a hole depending on a golfers ability and more, here you can find various holes and various ideas from different golfers on how to potentially best play that hole. 

To kick off this series lets go to @Jnoble89 neck of the woods and look at the 6th hole at Sand Valley, Wisconsin. -https://sandvalley.com/sand-valley

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/576025fa22482e70f0278a4d/t/5cafb38ce4966b8002e86f9a/1555018646008/Sand+Valley+Course+Guide.pdf

Feel free to explore options for various pin locations! 

 

Nice topic! I usually play the second-to-last tees before the tips so it would be 445 yds in this case.

Realistically, the hole would likely play out as follows:

1) D or 3W starting directly over the bunker and expecting a 250-260 yds (3W) or 270-280 yds (D) cut to leave me 165-195 yds to go;

2) 8-iron from 165 yds out (40% chance that I miss the green) or 5-iron from 195 yds out (70% chance that I miss the green);

3) Chip with my 60° leaving me 20+ feet or 40+ feet birdie putt left short;

4) 6 feet par putt or 2-putting following my chip for bogey.

On to the next one!

Edited October 28, 2023 by Shlax
Par 4

[cnosil]

20 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

 

Satellite imagery was key to making my decision. The hole looks narrow in this picture but measuring distances indicate wide landing areas.   I'm playing this hole as 445 which is definitely a long par 4;   I play at sea level but this course is 1000' above sea level so I expect a little extra distance over normal carry.    normal ball flight is a slight fade with driver so target line is the bunker at 252 yards out.   Leaves 150ish to 170ish out; based on green size from that distance it is target middle of the green.  

 

[Subdiver1]

Interesting reading through here. 

@Javsman that 2nd bunker from the tips is 300+ to carry! I am calling Wheaties Monday and having all shipments to your state suspended until the rest of us can catch up

Playing Black or Orange tees:

If it is a back pin, probably 3w over the end tip of the 1st bunker leaving a long 2nd shot I can run up to the back.

Middle or front pin, Driver aimed down the right side of the 2nd bunker. Mid- long iron to carry the front 1/3rd or middle of the green so it rolls up or comes back off the slope at the back.

Looks like a fun hole. Wind and weather would definitely be considerations with all the potential trouble here.

[Javs]

3 minutes ago, Subdiver1 said:

Interesting reading through here. 

@Javsman that 2nd bunker from the tips is 300+ to carry! I am calling Wheaties Monday and having all shipments to your state suspended until the rest of us can catch up

Playing Black or Orange tees:

If it is a back pin, probably 3w over the end tip of the 1st bunker leaving a long 2nd shot I can run up to the back.

Middle or front pin, Driver aimed down the right side of the 2nd bunker. Mid- long iron to carry the front 1/3rd or middle of the green so it rolls up or comes back off the slope at the back.

Looks like a fun hole. Wind and weather would definitely be considerations with all the potential trouble here.

Haha! Wind and weather would surely make my decision. From the tips I said I would hit 3 wood to the right side of the fairway. All the other tees on a nice sunny day I blast it over that bunker or play a nice fairway bunker shot!

[Subdiver1]

@bens197 @cnosil @Javs Javs may blow it by us on the regular, but playing with him on this hole we press that 3W with 3 Drivers smooth down the right side of that 2nd bunker making him feel like he has to keep up. He chunks his driver catching the end of the 2nd bunker not quite carrying 300 ending up in a fried egg lie and we are all over him with fairway shots into the green