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Being that I am fresh off one of the most enjoyable courses I've ever played, I thought it would be a great time to put down my thoughts and hopefully gather some insight leading up to the Morgan Cup. True Blue was an excellent host to the 2nd THP Invitational and generated all kinds of thoughts while I played.. The folks working in the clubhouse and on the carts could not have been more friendly and interested in myself as a golfer, asking where I hailed from, and offered some advice on the greens prior to my round.
With that said, I'd like to share my thoughts on the round and each hole as I experienced them, and would love to hear the same from everyone else!
The conditions would be defined as off season, with what I am told are 'slightly slower' greens, along with wet fairways offering extremely limited rollout. Most of my tee shots and iron shots showed their landing area near where they came to rest.
FRONT NINE:
Hole 1: This played as a long par 5 for me. Playing 600 yards from the blue tees, very few can reach this in two. Driver is necessary off the tee, but I wouldn't concentrate on avoiding the left side as much as I would recommend concentrating on hitting the center. I left myself with about 150 yards into the green after my second shot, and found myself in the bunker short of the center pin. I wouldn't say this is a hole you would try to avoid either side of the green, however, getting into the 125 range for your approach is probably the most ideal option.
Looking from the fairway after the tee shot
Hole 2: 342 yards is pretty subjective as the hole doglegs hard to the right on your approach. Short and right can cause trouble between bunkers and a tree in the center of the fairway/green line, so playing a safer shot out to the left center of the fairway with a hybrid could be the best option. This is a very deep L shaped green, so focus on finding the right tier.
from the tee
The approach, adequately guarded by that tree
Hole 3: 160 yards to the middle of the green is only really relevant if the pin is there. Yet another long green, the distance could span from 130 yards to probably 195. If the pin is up front, the green sloped down from the front so coming in high could be the best play. Should you find yourself in the front bunker, try to either flop or land on the fringe to allow rollout.
A great look at the front pin on #3
Hole 4: All risk, little reward on this 523 yard par five. Playing down the left side is not terribly advantageous and I would encourage shots shots to 100-150 to be smart. Even with that work, you will still want to avoid the large top tier that simply will not stop at the hole if it is cut on the high end. Playing to the lower section and putting up the hill is about as smart as it can get.
the look across the daunting water of #4
Hole 5: This was a pretty routine hole for me playing at 424. Hitting out to the right side of the fairway left about 150-160 to the hole. Length is pretty important for carrying the waste bunkers but the green is fairly level all the way to the back if memory serves. I played safely to the middle left side and putted to the back with ease.
The tee shot on #5, with the safer right side looking mighty enticing
the safer right side looking to the green
Hole 6: 404 yards with bunkers cut around 270 out, it may be advantageous to hit a three wood if rollout is occurring. If not, 260 is ideal for shot location, with an easy wedge to the hole. Aim just right of the trees and bunker lined on the left side of the fairway
Showing the sight lines of #6 off the tee
Hole 7: What a doozy of a par 3! It played 168 and slightly uphill to the hole, this is NOT the hole to be left short of center due to deep bunkers. If the pin is on the lower tier, play a small fade into the hole from the absolute left side of the green. If it is on the higher tier, I have absolutely no idea how par can be achieved!!
The mistake of leaving the ball short on #7
Here's a video of just how troublesome that tier is
[video=youtube;y-DjdXYD6IE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-DjdXYD6IE[/video]
Hole 8: I really enjoyed this hole. Only 363 to the hole from the blues and a big turn right, as long as you can clear about 200 yards, you can aim directly at the rock in the bunker and spray a drive (or ideally hit it straight). The small fade shot will leave about 100-110 yards to a green that sits above the fairway and slopes upwards. Avoid going after back pins because of the large drop into bunkers behind the green.
The tee shot with the bunker and rock for sight line on the right hand side
Looking from the top of the rock bunker
Hole 9: At 548 yards, it takes the perfect drive slightly right of center to have a real shot at going for the green in two. Avoid the slice on this hole as it seriously hinders any approach to an ideal number. The hole itself is guarded at 100-150 yards by a swamp area which will make your layup tricky, as well as the greenside bunkers blocking the front left and front right of the green. It may be best to play as close to the green on your second shot as possible, as you at least get to flop upwards to the hole from there.
I sadly didn't get a photo of #9, but plan to the next time I play!
I'll get working on the back nine shortly. I hope this is enjoyable and gives some good thoughts. I'd love to hear how you guys played the hole as well.
Check out the back nine review HERE
With that said, I'd like to share my thoughts on the round and each hole as I experienced them, and would love to hear the same from everyone else!
The conditions would be defined as off season, with what I am told are 'slightly slower' greens, along with wet fairways offering extremely limited rollout. Most of my tee shots and iron shots showed their landing area near where they came to rest.
FRONT NINE:
Hole 1: This played as a long par 5 for me. Playing 600 yards from the blue tees, very few can reach this in two. Driver is necessary off the tee, but I wouldn't concentrate on avoiding the left side as much as I would recommend concentrating on hitting the center. I left myself with about 150 yards into the green after my second shot, and found myself in the bunker short of the center pin. I wouldn't say this is a hole you would try to avoid either side of the green, however, getting into the 125 range for your approach is probably the most ideal option.
Looking from the fairway after the tee shot
Hole 2: 342 yards is pretty subjective as the hole doglegs hard to the right on your approach. Short and right can cause trouble between bunkers and a tree in the center of the fairway/green line, so playing a safer shot out to the left center of the fairway with a hybrid could be the best option. This is a very deep L shaped green, so focus on finding the right tier.
from the tee
The approach, adequately guarded by that tree
Hole 3: 160 yards to the middle of the green is only really relevant if the pin is there. Yet another long green, the distance could span from 130 yards to probably 195. If the pin is up front, the green sloped down from the front so coming in high could be the best play. Should you find yourself in the front bunker, try to either flop or land on the fringe to allow rollout.
A great look at the front pin on #3
Hole 4: All risk, little reward on this 523 yard par five. Playing down the left side is not terribly advantageous and I would encourage shots shots to 100-150 to be smart. Even with that work, you will still want to avoid the large top tier that simply will not stop at the hole if it is cut on the high end. Playing to the lower section and putting up the hill is about as smart as it can get.
the look across the daunting water of #4
Hole 5: This was a pretty routine hole for me playing at 424. Hitting out to the right side of the fairway left about 150-160 to the hole. Length is pretty important for carrying the waste bunkers but the green is fairly level all the way to the back if memory serves. I played safely to the middle left side and putted to the back with ease.
The tee shot on #5, with the safer right side looking mighty enticing
the safer right side looking to the green
Hole 6: 404 yards with bunkers cut around 270 out, it may be advantageous to hit a three wood if rollout is occurring. If not, 260 is ideal for shot location, with an easy wedge to the hole. Aim just right of the trees and bunker lined on the left side of the fairway
Showing the sight lines of #6 off the tee
Hole 7: What a doozy of a par 3! It played 168 and slightly uphill to the hole, this is NOT the hole to be left short of center due to deep bunkers. If the pin is on the lower tier, play a small fade into the hole from the absolute left side of the green. If it is on the higher tier, I have absolutely no idea how par can be achieved!!
The mistake of leaving the ball short on #7
Here's a video of just how troublesome that tier is
[video=youtube;y-DjdXYD6IE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-DjdXYD6IE[/video]
Hole 8: I really enjoyed this hole. Only 363 to the hole from the blues and a big turn right, as long as you can clear about 200 yards, you can aim directly at the rock in the bunker and spray a drive (or ideally hit it straight). The small fade shot will leave about 100-110 yards to a green that sits above the fairway and slopes upwards. Avoid going after back pins because of the large drop into bunkers behind the green.
The tee shot with the bunker and rock for sight line on the right hand side
Looking from the top of the rock bunker
Hole 9: At 548 yards, it takes the perfect drive slightly right of center to have a real shot at going for the green in two. Avoid the slice on this hole as it seriously hinders any approach to an ideal number. The hole itself is guarded at 100-150 yards by a swamp area which will make your layup tricky, as well as the greenside bunkers blocking the front left and front right of the green. It may be best to play as close to the green on your second shot as possible, as you at least get to flop upwards to the hole from there.
I sadly didn't get a photo of #9, but plan to the next time I play!
I'll get working on the back nine shortly. I hope this is enjoyable and gives some good thoughts. I'd love to hear how you guys played the hole as well.
Check out the back nine review HERE
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