About this hole
What makes this hole really special is this natural flat above the ridge that doubles as an alternative landing area. So there are actually two natural land forms acting in concert with each other to create a great strategic golf hole. That’s hard to beat.
If one can’t challenge the upper fairway, a completely different strategy must be undertaken to ensure visibility of the putting surface from the lower landing area. The left side is the choice for the gambler; the conservative must make sure one plays far enough to the right to see the green.
Any tee shot short of the fairway bunkers left will lead to a blind approach but with a way to run their shot onto the green. Full visibility is provided along the right side of the fairway but the trade-off is a longer approach and the need to work around that green-side bunker.
Yardages
Tee | Length |
---|---|
Championship | 448 |
E | 421 |
D | 394 |
I | 340 |
N | 327 |
A | 295 |
Playing tip
The farther one cuts the corner, the more penal each bunker in the ridge becomes. But the reward not only is a shorter approach, but a visible shot as well, with a clearer path to the putting surface the more you bite off. Another reason to take the shorter route is that the putting green is much more receptive to an approach from that side. The only drawback to playing to that side is a large hollow waiting to swallow up any short approaches and a swift fall-off back-right.
The farther right (and conservative) one plays, the more blind the green becomes. To further challenge the safe play, a bunker encroaches upon the right side of the green more and the farther right one plays off the tee. The higher right side of the putting surface will deflect any approach from the right side of the fairway.