Course Management - How Would You Play This Hole?

[ILMgolfnut]

59 minutes ago, funkyjudge said:

How I would play that hole depends on how far it is to the first creek from the tee.

According to the yardage book at the USA Today golf site, it's 226 to carry the first creek at Waialae #5.

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/yardage-book-waialae-2024-sony-open-hawaii-pga-tour-course-guide/

Edited January 13 by ILMgolfnut

[RHB75]

As usual you didn't give us enough info. But the temps will range somewhere in the 70s with winds between 14 and 20mph.  Since I've never played this course I did some research and found the tee shot is completely blind and uphill. From the tips it looks like 226 to clear first stream. Given that it's either my hybrid 4 or a 5 iron for my layup. The second shot appears to play down hill. So depending upon the slope I'm choosing the club that gets me to 100 yards;. My score depends upon how close to the flag I play my 3rd shot.

[Josh Parker]

44 minutes ago, RHB75 said:

As usual you didn't give us enough info. But the temps will range somewhere in the 70s with winds between 14 and 20mph.  Since I've never played this course I did some research and found the tee shot is completely blind and uphill. From the tips it looks like 226 to clear first stream. Given that it's either my hybrid 4 or a 5 iron for my layup. The second shot appears to play down hill. So depending upon the slope I'm choosing the club that gets me to 100 yards;. My score depends upon how close to the flag I play my 3rd shot.

What info are you looking for exactly?  I gave the course name, tee location, distance of hole and the wind conditions. 

Part of the fun is checking out some of the course and photos online.  

 

[Shankopotomous]

I didn't fly all the way from the east coast to play a course in Hawaii just to lay up!!!!! Driver all the way! (unless of course its after 2030 and I have run out of my stash of LONG golf balls  )

I should be able to carry the first creek for the next couple years, but it will admittedly be an anxious moment until I see it bounce on the other side.

 

[Jim Shaw]

6 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

Ok, this thread lost a little steam.  Adding a little twist to this one.  Looking at this weeks event at the Sony Open and the stats, the hardest playing hole on the course so far is the 5th hole.  

Let's consider 20mph crosswinds and playing from the tips.  How are you playing it?

Par 4 - 467 yards

similar to @GolfSpy_APH, 260 find some fairway, then my Ping 430 19 degree 3 hybrid second shot, find a corner of the green- 2 putt par, make up 1/2 stroke on the field lol

[funkyjudge]

2 hours ago, ILMgolfnut said:

According to the yardage book at the USA Today golf site, it's 226 to carry the first creek at Waialae #5.

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/yardage-book-waialae-2024-sony-open-hawaii-pga-tour-course-guide/

In that case, I would hit my driver, unless it was playing directly into the wind. With a “normal” drive, this would leave me with a 200-220 yard second shot, which could be anything from a 5-iron (maybe even a 6-iron) to a 4-hybrid, depending on wind and elevation change to the green.

[vandyland]

Hole #1 - Harpeth Hills Golf Course (TN) - 330 yds downhill par 4

Note: I have played this hole probably 100 times and I still make bogey / double bogey what feels like 40% of the time. Just a crazy confounding hole. Here are the pertinent facts/pictures. 
Tee box elevation: 675ft
Lowest point (creek): 631 ft
Green elevation: 635 ft

View from overhead and then teebox and then the "elevation profile" of the tee shot (graph) 

Effective "width" of fairway that is not blocked out (20 yds wide), and then a view if you are just on the left center of the fairway or right center of fairway:

Here are the options I have tried: 7 iron, 6 iron, 5 iron, 3 hybrid -- never tried driver as that would almost certainly go in the trees or if I hit it straight, the creek. In truth, I think this is just a bad golf hole because there is no "option" hit it extremely straight or else. 

 

 

Edited August 26 by vandyland

[Jim Shaw]

3 minutes ago, vandyland said:

Hole #1 - Harpeth Hills Golf Course (TN) - 330 yds downhill par 4

Note: I have played this hole probably 100 times and I still make bogey / double bogey what feels like 40% of the time. Just a crazy confounding hole. Here are the pertinent facts/pictures. 
Tee box elevation: 675ft
Lowest point (creek): 631 ft
Green elevation: 635 ft

View from overhead and then teebox and then the "elevation profile" of the tee shot (graph) 

Effective "width" of fairway that is not blocked out (20 yds wide), and then a view if you are just on the left center of the fairway or right center of fairway:

Here are the options I have tried: 7 iron, 6 iron, 5 iron, 3 hybrid -- never tried driver as that would almost certainly go in the trees or if I hit it straight, the creek. In truth, I think this is just a bad golf hole because there is no "option" hit it extremely straight or else. 

 

 

this is a fun post, in my experience I have played a few drastic downhill golf holes over my career, it is not comfortable for me, what I have decided to do is not focus so much on the downhill but try and really focus on mechanics of my golf swing and "full commitment". For example, Kokanee Springs golf club in the Kootenays of BC has some drastic elevation changes, I found uber focus on a point on the fairway helped me out. 

In your example I would hit to 100 yds out which would be my 185 yd club and go from there...

[vandyland]

1 minute ago, Jim Shaw said:

In your example I would hit to 100 yds out which would be my 185 yd club and go from there...

That is what I have settled on as of late. I hit my 6 iron and end up about 100 yds or less out. I think it is especially hard currently because it has not rained in 4 weeks and is extremely firm and so ANY curve on the ball will eventually have it trundling to being blocked out left or right. The other issue I face is I cannot work the ball both ways so when I get this shot (which is what I had yesterday) I can only really hit a draw and the creek prevents me from hitting a low runner. So I either chip short of the creek or blast it long left of the green. I think, for me, being blocked out left at least allows me a chance to hit a draw. 

[Josh Parker]

20 minutes ago, vandyland said:

Hole #1 - Harpeth Hills Golf Course (TN) - 330 yds downhill par 4

Note: I have played this hole probably 100 times and I still make bogey / double bogey what feels like 40% of the time. Just a crazy confounding hole. Here are the pertinent facts/pictures. 
Tee box elevation: 675ft
Lowest point (creek): 631 ft
Green elevation: 635 ft

View from overhead and then teebox and then the "elevation profile" of the tee shot (graph) 

Effective "width" of fairway that is not blocked out (20 yds wide), and then a view if you are just on the left center of the fairway or right center of fairway:

Here are the options I have tried: 7 iron, 6 iron, 5 iron, 3 hybrid -- never tried driver as that would almost certainly go in the trees or if I hit it straight, the creek. In truth, I think this is just a bad golf hole because there is no "option" hit it extremely straight or else. 

 

 

We have a similar hole at our course.  Has a bit more slope to it and the fairways are dry as can be.  Generally, when there is grass, I hit 6 iron and end up about 140ish out with another club less for slope.  It is a placement hole because if you are too far left you are behind trees, too far right and you are in the trees or punching out below a large oak.  

For yours.... 330yd downhill, dry fairways, I'm hitting 7 iron or less and leaving myself between the 2 trees so that I have a clear shot.  It's one of those holes that is all about placement and a longer shot into the green may be necessary.  

[cnosil]

41 minutes ago, vandyland said:

Hole #1 - Harpeth Hills Golf Course (TN) - 330 yds downhill par 4

 

 

How far out is the second tree of those lined up in the fairway?   Also how tall are the trees?  From the images it looks like you can clear the with an iron.  
 

with the chute you have to hit through off the tee it does appear as if straight is the require tee shot direction.   My thought is shot to that second tree I mentioned above and live with the results. 

[RetiredBoomer]

No matter which favorite club you choose to hit from the tee on this hole,
any one you can hit straight will do nicely,
the green is still accessible with a wedge or short iron to its center/back.

You can play to center/back without having to spin the ball like crazy.

It's just a psyche-out hole for you, and most of us have them.

What's the handicap index number on that hole?
Is it hard for everybody?

If that's the case, well, a hard hole is a hard hole,

[vandyland]

2 minutes ago, RetiredBoomer said:

It's just a psyche-out hole for you, and most of us have them.

What's the handicap index number on that hole?
Is it hard for everybody?

It is one of the shorter par 4s on the course and it is the #7 index hole. On the flip side, the #1 index hole I think my stroke average is right around par (it is a par 5). 

 

22 minutes ago, cnosil said:

How far out is the second tree of those lined up in the fairway?   Also how tall are the trees?  From the images it looks like you can clear the with an iron.  

170 yds to that tree but also 20 ft downhill so probably like 160 yds there. I think that would be an 8 iron on a dry day. That would leave about 160 yds to the green which is manageable, if I can get the ball to stop in the fairway.

The trees in the fairway are 20 ft high. The trees blocking the main chute are 70 ft high on the right. Here is the view if I can land *just* left of that second tree you mentioned. 

[cnosil]

32 minutes ago, vandyland said:

170 yds to that tree but also 20 ft downhill so probably like 160 yds there. I think that would be an 8 iron on a dry day. That would leave about 160 yds to the green which is manageable, if I can get the ball to stop in the fairway.

 

160 is probably a little longer than idea but that area is probably where I would be targetting.  But if it rolls out a bit than wouldnt be horrible.  

 

[ALo314]

On 10/27/2023 at 3:22 PM, 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!

The studio is based out of St. Charles, MO. I see you're a MO guy as well. If you're ever around St. Charles, you should come check out the clubhouse. 

 

Three Trackman bays. A barbershop. Conference rooms for meetings or working remotely. A full club repair setup. Retail space with anything golf related you would want (clubs, bags, accessories, merch, etc.). And opening at the end of the month, Looper's Pub, a bourbon and beer bar showing love to the unheralded gatekeepers of our game, the caddies.

 

Here's a quick reel showcasing Looper's 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_jSqe_u9p0/?igsh=NXg1ZDdocmpzMXJk

 

www.gimmegolfclub.com

 

 

 

[ALo314]

On 10/27/2023 at 3:24 PM, GolfSpy_KFT 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!

We've got a "Bandon Captured" video series in the works as well.  Six of us went out there last Sept and documented the whole experience. 

 

Here's a little snippet from Dream Golf Magazine on that trip, and a 3 minute trailer video on the series.

 

https://magazine.dreamgolf.com/BandonStories2024/kylewalton/