Let me know if you think this hole setup is unfair

[Walkin36]

I think it sound tough, but fair.

I play a course where #2 is a 470 yd. par 4 from the tips. Lake all the way across the fairway at about 275, 320 or so to carry it. It immediately takes driver out of my hands because there is NO way I ican carry it that far. I just smack a three wood and leave myself a 4 iron in from 200 or so.I actually like the hole, even though I bogey it half the time. My only complaint is that it is #2 and the 4i is usually my first iron shot of the day!

[bjfed]

The funny thing is if that hole were reversed, making the water hazard an island green on a par three, it would be impossible to hit, and the complaint would be its too hard. Here, you have all that fairway and its a water hazard so now its poor design or unfair and you cant miss it. Hit an iron, try to make birdie on a par 5, or aim for the water and you'll probably miss it, or play a course with no hazards.

[larrybud]

[quote name='bjfed' timestamp='1284747880' post='2701873']
The funny thing is if that hole were reversed, making the water hazard an island green on a par three, it would be impossible to hit, and the complaint would be its too hard. Here, you have all that fairway and its a water hazard so now its poor design or unfair and you cant miss it. Hit an iron, try to make birdie on a par 5, or aim for the water and you'll probably miss it, or play a course with no hazards.
[/quote]

Balls generally "hold" a little better when they go into a pond rather than trying to hold a green with a driver.

[Laneo]

Played this tournament twice in tournament play; par'd both times if I recall. First time I took a 3 wood to the right side of the pond between the woods on the right - second I layed up with a 7-iron and hit a 4-iron to the green. Personally I don't see anything wrong with the hole. You do have enough room on the left, although it's rough, or to the right side of the fairway. I think it's fair to the extent you should just lay up - and have a iron in, or just play it as a par 5 and go for a bogey if you need to.

[petter7]

As Laneo says, it looks like there is fairway right of the pond.

It's definitely not directly in the middle and a forced carry.

[attachment=658216:Picture 1.jpg]

[OneBowTie]

[quote name='CheckJV' timestamp='1284746064' post='2701827']
There she blows! You could float a battleship in that thing...okay maybe not.
[/quote]

from this photo, it appears that you can actually challenge the hole to the right side.......


[quote name='Laneo' timestamp='1284905715' post='2704143']
Played this tournament twice in tournament play; par'd both times if I recall. First time I took a 3 wood to the right side of the pond between the woods on the right - second I layed up with a 7-iron and hit a 4-iron to the green. Personally I don't see anything wrong with the hole. You do have enough room on the left, although it's rough, or to the right side of the fairway. I think it's fair to the extent you should just lay up - and have a iron in, or just play it as a par 5 and go for a bogey if you need to.
[/quote]

looks like somebody figured this hole out....... even though it does appear to be a visually tough hole from a tee box

[teejaywhy]

24 yards between the trees and the hazard. Not an especially big target for a driver.

Certainly not "unfair." Just crap.

[Mattro]

Have a hole at a local course just like that, but worse. 440 yrd par 4 about 300 to carry the water and 230 from the tee. Then 210 back up the hill into a usual South wind. But like is said above, I don't like the whole so I don't play the course. That whole course really is set up like that, lots of long forced carries or long uphill second shots.

[Fontona19]

"Fair" ???? Whats "fair" about golf ???

[shotmark]

[quote name='shotmark' timestamp='1278259899' post='2554201']
A good hole design should penalise bad shots, be fairly neutral toward average shots and reward good shots.

Holes like the one you describe are examples of lazy design where hazards penalise everyone apart from the longest hitters and completely negate any concept of strategy. They feature a lot on modern courses with 2nd rate architects who have delusions of grandeur.
[/quote]


Having now seen a picture of the hole there seems to be the option of playing to the fairway right of the pond making this an excellent risk and reward hole so ignore my previous post.