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GrayBull Hole #1

Templet0n

Templet0n

Putting the Shirley in Spittin Shirleys
Albatross 2025 Club
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Jun 7, 2019
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Location
Reno, NV
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snow..
As promised golf fans, we are here to break down this very special course. This is true sandhill links golf found on the prairie lands of Nebraska.

Here we are on the tee of hole number #1..

This is a great dogleg left opener. The fairway is wide and inviting off this first to for a relatively low stress opening tee shot that is downhill from the tee to the fairway. The trick is making sure you accomplish a couple things to set yourself up to go after the green.

1. You need to make sure you hit your shot far enough to get around the elevated hill corner so that you can see the green.
2. The more right you are, the better look you potentially have, but also will increase the distance to the green. So finding the balance of distance and dispersion is where the challenge off the tee comes.

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Of course the center of the fairway is always a great play. Just make sure to play enough club to get past the mounds on the left so you can see the green that plays back up hill.

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There is a narrow uphill slot to access this green. The green is not very visible and plays well uphill. So picking the right club will be paramount to hit this green. There is a mound just past the short bunker that if you hit, could help propel your ball forward onto the green.

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The green is relatively unguarded with no greenside bunkers, but it does fall off hard on the left side. So depending on the wind direction aiming for the right side of the green help you hold this green a little better. The green is relatively flat and should allow for some potential scoring on this opening hole.

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This hole is a fantatisc par 4 opening dogleg. The challenge here is hitting the right distance off the tee and then the right club into the green to score. Low in danger, and subtle in its difficulty. GrayBull is setting you up for an amazing round with this first hole.

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Really good initial writeup.
One thing to note, even average hitters can hit it through the fairway here, if you get a hold of one.
@xThor and I both did as we didnt cut any of the corner and were playing from the rough.
 
JB said:
Really good initial writeup.
One thing to note, even average hitters can hit it through the fairway here, if you get a hold of one.
@xThor and I both did as we didnt cut any of the corner and were playing from the rough.
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The one thing that came to mind here is "where is the prevailing wind"? I think that aspect will be very important in your club choices. My guess is there will be wind. It is just a matter of how much.. So knowing the wind and what direction it is coming from will be very important for the entire course!
 
Templet0n said:
The one thing that came to mind here is "where is the prevailing wind"? I think that aspect will be very important in your club choices. My guess is there will be wind. It is just a matter of how much.. So knowing the wind and what direction it is coming from will be very important for the entire course!
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It is literally on every shot you hit. It can swirl, change directions, etc.
Its fascinating and awesome.
 
How strong the wind is blowing is a big consideration in tee shot selection. The prevailing wind on the tee shot is down off the left a bit.

We played the hole 3 times. In the morning the wind was relatively gentle. When we teed off in the afternoon it was howling.

1st round morning - hit driver and ended up in the bunker on the left. From there your only real option is to try and get it out, bonus if you can advance it towards the hole. The very far tip of the bunker is extremely uphill and you can’t hit a long enough climb to get to the green.

2nd round afternoon - alternate shot. I teed off for my team and hit driver again this time carrying the left bunker. This left my partner with a little 50-ish yard wedge into the green from a flat lie. Bigger hitters can do the risk reward math and try flying the right bunker.

3rd round morning - hit 3w. The wind was fairly calm again so laying back to around 150 puts you in the fat part of the fairway with a fairly flat lie again.

If/when I get to go back there I’m laying up off the tee with a 3 or 5 wood. Staying out of trouble and trusting that I can hit a short or mid iron into the green and get the round started with a par.
 
This is awesome. Always love these @Templet0n. Graybull needed one of these for sure.
 
Great breakdown, @Templet0n - looks like a simple hole, but I am sure it is much more complex than what it looks like.
 
I like the inviting tee shot especially for the first hole. Assuming one tee box up, I could definitely see the potential to run through the fairway if I happened to hit it really well and it was heading down the right side though.
 
I always have trouble with these kind of greens where the depth perception isn't there with no bunkers or anything. I can get yardages and trust the club but it takes time.
 
Looks much "easier" than the 1st at Ballyhack.

I'm leaning towards 3W off the tee just to try to get one out there safe and allow time for the jitters to wear off.
 
Calm before the storm essentially. Lulls you to sleep & then kicks you in the n**s later :ROFLMAO:
 
golfinnut said:
Calm before the storm essentially. Lulls you to sleep & then kicks you in the n**s later :ROFLMAO:
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These are the holes you look at thinking relaxed par and with a good shot maybe a birdie but then walk away scratching you head at how it beat you into a bogey or worse.
 
Mikey D said:
Not having to clear scruff has to make it a bit easier, no?
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Well I mean the stuff at Ballyhack is only 75 yards long.
This hole has lots of trouble.
I have said a few times, if you cannot get off the tee at this course, it is going to make for a long day.
 
JB said:
Well I mean the stuff at Ballyhack is only 75 yards long.
This hole has lots of trouble.
I have said a few times, if you cannot get off the tee at this course, it is going to make for a long day.
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It shows very soon.
 
Templet0n said:
It shows very soon.
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for sure. It’s a forgiving course, but if you are a mad slicer of the ball or can’t hold greens, your match will be over quickly haha
 
I think this is a fantastic opening hole. Lots and lots of room right but distance is key on the tee shot. It doesn’t take much to run one into the sand or the fescue. Better off playing something short and to the right to give you a better angle in
 
I love these write ups. I look forward to them. Big landing area that green looks small to my little mind - but I'm probably just making that up.
 
JB said:
for sure. It’s a forgiving course, but if you are a mad slicer of the ball or can’t hold greens, your match will be over quickly haha
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I am looking forward to see who comes in prepared for the wind and can handle it. Wind gets people very triggered.
 
I am semi confident in my ability to get off the tee (decently, especially with wide fairways), but the rest of it is a total trick or treat from there. Wind is going to be the the big unknown. I have no idea how I am going to play in it. Maybe just hit a bunch of low bullets and let them run. Ground and pound.
 
Love these write ups @Templet0n Really looking forward to getting out here and playing
 
Such a gorgeous course.
 
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