Conquered my nemesis hole today

[James the Hogan Fan]

 

Meet the 15th at the Tapiola Golf Club in Espoo, Finland. A straightaway par 4 of 460 yards from the back tees with a ditch protecting the otherwise well-bunkered green. The ditch is more marsh than true creek, and most balls that go in it are playable if findable. The green itself has an upper and lower tier, and the flag is often tucked behind the bunker on the left. From the wrong tier, one hopes for a 3-putt at best. The hole plays into the wind most days and the slopes and hills involved mean an approach from the right side if the landing zone is blind. This hole was voted “most difficult in Finland” a few years back.

 

I had played here 20 times or so and 15 was always my undoing.

 

Ive been having trouble controlling a fade recently, so the copse of trees on the right is very much in play. Provided I avoid that, my drive usually leaves me about 200-220 out and from there I’m usually at a 4 iron (but needs to be pured with something extra) or a 5-wood/2 hybrid. That’s playing Russian roulette at my skill level, and so I had balls in the ditch, down the path left of the ditch, right of the bunkers. My best was 5, I’ve taken as many as 8. I’d tried the layup route as well, usually proceeding to put the wedge in an ugly spot. My nemisis indeed.

 

But not today! The wind was down slightly and I smoked a great drive down the middle. When I got to the ball I saw that it was sitting on a little tuft and pulled 5 wood from 225. I crushed it but in flight I could see it wasn’t going to have the juice. This was unfortunate, because it was on line for the first time in awhile. The ball disappeared into the ditch. “Ho-hum another double on the way,” I thought, and trudged up the fairway to look for the ball. As I got up by the green I saw the ball had actually carried the ditch and was a foot off the green. The flag was dead middle, so a 35 foot lag and clean it up for par. The putter caught grass before ball and went a little over half the necessary distance. I now had 18 feet left over a hump that was going to send the ball right to left about 6-8”.

 

As the title of the post indicates, I hit a fantastic putt that caught the left (low) 1/3 of the hole and disappeared, at which point I celebrated like I’d won the Masters.

 

Anyone else have a hole they recently conquered? Or a hole on their home course they have yet to (eagle/birdie/par?) Agonizingly agonizing near-misses?

 

Next up for me? Birdie the F***er! The challenge never stops!

[SoloShot84]

Congrats! btw, how long is the course? sounds like you are playing off wrong tee. not really trying to be negative on your achievement.

[RSinSG]

I had an epic battle with a hole for 7 or so rounds in a row. It hasn’t been an issue for a while, but to be honest I still stress a little when I’m hitting the 3rd shot over water. Lots of scar tissue because of that shot.

[James the Hogan Fan]

> @SoloShot84 said:

> Congrats! btw, how long is the course? sounds like you are playing off wrong tee. not really trying to be negative on your achievement.

 

No worries, it’s a fair question. I can play either the member’s tees at 6210-yd or the competition tees at 6690-yd. From the more forward tee, the 15th is still no slouch at 435, (driver-5/6/7iron for me) (and I’d never parred it from there either)

 

I’ve played both tees many times and find the tips to be more suitable and challenging for me. The 3 par 5’s are 510/550/498 from the back, which gives me a chance at each in two, the par 3’s 157, 205, 149. We have two brutal par 4.5’s, 10/15 that make the back tees dicey, but on the other hand a lot of par 4’s are Driver/full wedge vs driver/flip wedge (because I’m too stubborn to hit less than driver)

 

For the record my personal bests are 81 from the tips and 77 from the members. I have a goal to break 80 from the tips by the end of the summer. (And an even par 9 from any tee; I’ve had some +2’s)

[HonestPlayer]

Good job. Par 4's over 440, especially 450 are a nightmare. Far more so if they require a very accurate shot from the tee. We have a similar hole on my course, I usually play it like a par 5 unless I get a huge tailwind on the tee.

[Spooky67]

I have a nemesis hole on my home course too. Best I’ve ever done is par and that’s been very rare. Congrats on your win!!

[Jayshaft]

Just conquered mine yesterday.

 

Home course, par 3. Double tiered green (right to left) with 3 deep surrounding bunkers. Played to 226 yards yesterday with the pin on bottom tier left, tucked behind the deepest bunker on the course.

 

I usually play to the right side of the green trying to hit a slight draw in, and my miss is blocking it into the trees that leaves a very tough shot to the green and almost and automatic bogey if not double.

 

Hit a great 21* hybrid with a slight draw at the center of the green - caught the edge of the tier and had a 12-14’ putt for birdie. Left the putt 2” short dead in the center of the heart, coming down the hill. Tapped in for a par.

 

One of the toughest holes on the course, this hole is usually the death of a good round for almost any golfer. A par is definitely something to be proud of

[James the Hogan Fan]

> @Jayshaft said:

> Just conquered mine yesterday.

>

> Home course, par 3. Double tiered green (right to left) with 3 deep surrounding bunkers. Played to 226 yards yesterday with the pin on bottom tier left, tucked behind the deepest bunker on the course.

>

> I usually play to the right side of the green trying to hit a slight draw in, and my miss is blocking it into the trees that leaves a very tough shot to the green and almost and automatic bogey if not double.

>

> Hit a great 21* hybrid with a slight draw at the center of the green - caught the edge of the tier and had a 12-14’ putt for birdie. Left the putt 2” short dead in the center of the heart, coming down the hill. Tapped in for a par.

>

> One of the toughest holes on the course, this hole is usually the death of a good round for almost any golfer. A par is definitely something to be proud of

 

No doubt! Something special about beating those holes that require a long iron/hybrid approach. Knowing you executed one of the hardest shots in the game.