Is this the narrowest fairway ever??

[drewtaylor21]

Played yesterday at South Mountain GC in Draper, Utah and came across what is easily the narrowest fairway I've ever seen. This is the par 5 6th hole:

 

 

 

On the tee I figured there was more fairway to the right and left of the little mounds, but NOPE! It was about 4 yards wide in some spots, with an average of maybe 7 or 8 yards.

 

Anybody seen anything like this??

[golfdad907]

Looks like perfect place for US Open.

That's pretty stupid, narrowest I've stepped off in about 12 yards, usually where there's a hazard or intended layup point on risk reward type holes.

If that's some transition zone, would make sense, surely the entire hole isn't that narrow...if it is, that Architect was on some good drugs when he laid that one out.

[drewtaylor21]

I'm not sure what a transition zone is, but that may be what this was. Obviously there's the "no cart" ropes there, but this went from the 250 marker to the 150 marker.....I've never seen a par 5 where you aren't really given the option of hitting the ball in a 100-yard zone before!

[hollabachgt]

[quote name='drewtaylor21' timestamp='1412633319' post='10245301']
I've never seen a par 5 where you aren't really given the option of hitting the ball in a 100-yard zone before!
[/quote]

What about hells half acre at pine valley?

[bpark1210]

Looks like the grounds crew is having some fun playing jokes

[Jamboy72]

Would like to see how the entire hole lays out...are they forcing you to lay up or go for it???

[drewtaylor21]

[quote name='Jamboy72' timestamp='1412701741' post='10249853']
Would like to see how the entire hole lays out...are they forcing you to lay up or go for it???
[/quote]

I guess that's the main idea? The fairway is wider before and after that stretch from 250 out to 150 out....Honestly I didn't know what the situation was, so I just hit driver and hybrid into the greenside bunker, but it made me wonder what the heck is someone supposed to do if they are out of position and can't get it to the 150 yard marker on the 2nd shot?? No place to hit it. Here is the layout of the hole, although it doesn't give much detail....

[attachment=2448977:Picture 1.png]

The fairway is narrow in this overhead shot, but nothing close to how narrow it was when I played! I don't think the picture I took even does it justice.

[oregongolf]

I opened this expecting something Sahalee-narrow, but am legitimately surprised. That's more odd than narrow ... so much so I would have asked someone in the proshop what the deal was.

It looks like a caddy path. Is this supposed to be target golf on this hole? Is the course trying to cut costs or something? I've never seen anything like that.

[drewtaylor21]

[quote name='oregongolf' timestamp='1412738849' post='10253271']


I opened this expecting something Sahalee-narrow, but am legitimately surprised. That's more odd than narrow ... so much so I would have asked someone in the proshop what the deal was.

It looks like a caddy path. Is this supposed to be target golf on this hole? Is the course trying to cut costs or something? I've never seen anything like that.
[/quote]

Yeah I have no idea! I was hoping some other Utah locals would chime in, as I've only played the course once before. I didn't remember anything like this, so must be something new.

[cliffhanger]

[quote name='drewtaylor21' timestamp='1412632671' post='10245237']
Played yesterday at South Mountain GC in Draper, Utah and came across what is easily the narrowest fairway I've ever seen. This is the par 5 6th hole:

[attachment=2447515:Picture 1.png]

On the tee I figured there was more fairway to the right and left of the little mounds, but NOPE! It was about 4 yards wide in some spots, with an average of maybe 7 or 8 yards.

Anybody seen anything like this??
[/quote]its different... unconventional... crazy even... and yet i like it.

[oregongolf]

[quote name='drewtaylor21' timestamp='1412739311' post='10253303']
[quote name='oregongolf' timestamp='1412738849' post='10253271']


I opened this expecting something Sahalee-narrow, but am legitimately surprised. That's more odd than narrow ... so much so I would have asked someone in the proshop what the deal was.

It looks like a caddy path. Is this supposed to be target golf on this hole? Is the course trying to cut costs or something? I've never seen anything like that.
[/quote]

Yeah I have no idea! I was hoping some other Utah locals would chime in, as I've only played the course once before. I didn't remember anything like this, so must be something new.
[/quote]

Honestly, it doesn't even look like the rough is terribly long, so I doubt it matters much... but it's certainly weird. If you get back out there, you should ask. I'm curious.

[teejaywhy]

Seems like someone's bad idea to force a three-shotter. Would bet money that those mowing lines were not the architect's intent.

[RjBern10]

[quote name='drewtaylor21' timestamp='1412739311' post='10253303']
[quote name='oregongolf' timestamp='1412738849' post='10253271']


I opened this expecting something Sahalee-narrow, but am legitimately surprised. That's more odd than narrow ... so much so I would have asked someone in the proshop what the deal was.

It looks like a caddy path. Is this supposed to be target golf on this hole? Is the course trying to cut costs or something? I've never seen anything like that.
[/quote]

Yeah I have no idea! I was hoping some other Utah locals would chime in, as I've only played the course once before. I didn't remember anything like this, so must be something new.
[/quote]

From SLC and I love this course but there is a lot of target golf involved off the tee. This hole is a little crazy though, even if the hills feed towards the fairway (a little). It has tightened up the past couple years but you really have to bomb it to find the narrow areas.

[dmblanch]

Drew, I'm stunned that you've never played South Mountain before! S****y, s****y track. Usually it has severe condition issues, not a good site for a golf course on the side of a hill, lots of abnormally funky holes. I refuse to play there.

And yet it's on Golf Week's Top Ten list for the state. Some seriously thick under the table envelopes must have changed hands on that one.

I know the hole you're talking about, it's weird at the best of times, but I think they were just having fun with the mower the week you were there. The fairway is in a groove between berms, but still....

And that's not even the weirdest hole on the course! The round would have to be free before I went back.

We do have some weird courses in our state. The defunct Kokopelli in the heart of polygamy country, the volcano holes at the Ranches, but the old Cascades back nine in Orem was perhaps the strangest loop I've ever seen. It's the only time I've ever seen a hole routed under 6 high voltage power lines that were parallel to and directly above the center of the fairway thru the green and only about 30 yards above the ground. Your ball threaded through them at least 4 times when you played the hole. It was also compounded by the fact that some holes were so short that they had to lie on the cards to make them appear close to regulation otherwise you'd think you were playing an exec. We got so confused that we didn't know what to trust, our lasers that said 135 to center green or the markers on tees that said 180. This happened on many holes, we finally concluded that someone had moved the markers. Thank God they bulldozed it for new homes this year. Good riddance.

[drewtaylor21]

[quote name='dmblanch' timestamp='1412977255' post='10267523']
Drew, I'm stunned that you've never played South Mountain before! S****y, s****y track. Usually it has severe condition issues, not a good site for a golf course on the side of a hill, lots of abnormally funky holes. I refuse to play there.

And yet it's on Golf Week's Top Ten list for the state. Some seriously thick under the table envelopes must have changed hands on that one.

I know the hole you're talking about, it's weird at the best of times, but I think they were just having fun with the mower the week you were there. The fairway is in a groove between berms, but still....

And that's not even the weirdest hole on the course! The round would have to be free before I went back.

We do have some weird courses in our state. The defunct Kokopelli in the heart of polygamy country, the volcano holes at the Ranches, but the old Cascades back nine in Orem was perhaps the strangest loop I've ever seen. It's the only time I've ever seen a hole routed under 6 high voltage power lines that were parallel to and directly above the center of the fairway thru the green and only about 30 yards above the ground. Your ball threaded through them at least 4 times when you played the hole. It was also compounded by the fact that some holes were so short that they had to lie on the cards to make them appear close to regulation otherwise you'd think you were playing an exec. We got so confused that we didn't know what to trust, our lasers that said 135 to center green or the markers on tees that said 180. This happened on many holes, we finally concluded that someone had moved the markers. Thank God they bulldozed it for new homes this year. Good riddance.
[/quote]

I've played it once before, probably 2 years ago, but that fairway wasn't cut the way it was in the pictures above! It's an interesting layout for sure, but I like it up there. Tricky course off the tee, but great views IMO. I live 10 minutes from there and have only played it twice in the 3 years I've lived here, so obviously I don't like it THAT much....but that's more a reflection on the fact that Stonebridge has such a great deal with the Player's Pass. Worth the drive out to West Valley for me!

[JJShanley]

Did Valderrama not have some sort of fairway rough at 300 yards out during the Ryder Cup?

[MadGolfer76]

No trees = wide open. Bombs away...

[gaikentm]

someone had to be messing around on the grounds staff

[Titleist87]

[quote name='dmblanch' timestamp='1412977255' post='10267523']
Drew, I'm stunned that you've never played South Mountain before! S****y, s****y track. Usually it has severe condition issues, not a good site for a golf course on the side of a hill, lots of abnormally funky holes. I refuse to play there.

And yet it's on Golf Week's Top Ten list for the state. Some seriously thick under the table envelopes must have changed hands on that one.

I know the hole you're talking about, it's weird at the best of times, but I think they were just having fun with the mower the week you were there. The fairway is in a groove between berms, but still....

And that's not even the weirdest hole on the course! The round would have to be free before I went back.

We do have some weird courses in our state. The defunct Kokopelli in the heart of polygamy country, the volcano holes at the Ranches, but the old Cascades back nine in Orem was perhaps the strangest loop I've ever seen. It's the only time I've ever seen a hole routed under 6 high voltage power lines that were parallel to and directly above the center of the fairway thru the green and only about 30 yards above the ground. Your ball threaded through them at least 4 times when you played the hole. It was also compounded by the fact that some holes were so short that they had to lie on the cards to make them appear close to regulation otherwise you'd think you were playing an exec. We got so confused that we didn't know what to trust, our lasers that said 135 to center green or the markers on tees that said 180. This happened on many holes, we finally concluded that someone had moved the markers. Thank God they bulldozed it for new homes this year. Good riddance.
[/quote]

Played South Mountain once and never need to go back. Can't remember much so it was not that spectacular.

Yeah, the back 9 at Cascade was goofy golf to the highest degree. Cascade had been losing money for the last several years and the city was tied to honoring a long-term lease with the course operators. Rather than the family keep losing money, a wealthy individual approached the city and said turn the front 9 over to me, terminate the lease, I will retain a certain percentage of the property and in turn, I will build a City park and turn it over to you. City said yes so Cascade Golf no longer exists. Back 9 still under ownership of the original family but golf has ceased.