How Would You Play It? (14ledo81)

[jamo]

I'm hitting driver. Going for the green!

[whatwoodtigerdo]

Looks like a green light to hit the ball whatever distance I could hit the ball.

If clearing the bunker was at the borderline of my distance it would still be a go, but I would aim just left of the bunker.

If it goes in the bunker, so be it. I've been in worse places from further out than that.

Pretty much this. Even if I mess up and don't carry the bunker it's less than 100 yards out of the bunker and I still have birdie in play and PAR is very doable.

[mdl]

Probably 3w.  For me that easily carries the fairway bunker.  You didn't mark distances to greenside bunkers and the green, but looks like I would settle up with a shortish pitch in.  If driver doesn't risk going through the green with the downhill and wind help I might go driver as well.  Second shot from a greenside bunker isn't much worse for me than a 45 yard pitch, so I'd be happy with anything except a pull/hook as it looks safe right of the green.

[M2R]

Interesting point.  I do not think that the fairway bunker is so penal as not to allow me to get close to the green with the second.  Worst case, I may be a bit farther away than my PW aimed at the front edge.  Still should be able to get a bogey.  Maybe I should start playing it toward the left side of the fairway bunker with a driver.  If I carry it, great.  If not, I could still try to get close to the green and hopefully down in two from there for a bogey.  If I draw it a little, best case.  On the fairway with a short club in hand.

Pretty much captures it exactly except driver would fail my "confidence" test so it would be 4W or 5W depending on which was in the bag.

Would be interesting if you pick up some things from this thread you might want to try for yourself and then report back the results. I know I often have trouble holes and devise what I think is a good plan but then the course schools me on the detail I missed, frustrating!

[14ledo81]

[QUOTE name="14ledo81" url="/t/74240/how-would-you-play-it-14ledo81#post_984332"]   Interesting point.  I do not think that the fairway bunker is so penal as not to allow me to get close to the green with the second.  Worst case, I may be a bit farther away than my PW aimed at the front edge.  Still should be able to get a bogey.  Maybe I should start playing it toward the left side of the fairway bunker with a driver.  If I carry it, great.  If not, I could still try to get close to the green and hopefully down in two from there for a bogey.  If I draw it a little, best case.  On the fairway with a short club in hand. [/QUOTE] Pretty much captures it exactly except driver would fail my "confidence" test so it would be 4W or 5W depending on which was in the bag. Would be interesting if you pick up some things from this thread you might want to try for yourself and then report back the results. I know I often have trouble holes and devise what I think is a good plan but then the course schools me on the detail I missed, frustrating!

Like you said I got schooled a bit today. I hit driver on this hole and pushed it right of the fairway bunker. The trees were blocking a clear shot at the green, but I was able to hit a PW to about 30 yards short of the green. From there I was able to get up and down in two. Pretty happy with a bogey considering the tee shot.

[David in FL]

Like you said I got schooled a bit today. I hit driver on this hole and pushed it right of the fairway bunker. The trees were blocking a clear shot at the green, but I was able to hit a PW to about 30 yards short of the green. From there I was able to get up and down in two. Pretty happy with a bogey considering the tee shot.

Tee shot, punch out short, then up and down in two more. Sounds like a nice par to me!

[14ledo81]

[quote name="14ledo81" url="/t/74240/how-would-you-play-it-14ledo81/18#post_985001"] Like you said I got schooled a bit today. I hit driver on this hole and pushed it right of the fairway bunker. The trees were blocking a clear shot at the green, but I was able to hit a PW to about 30 yards short of the green. From there I was able to get up and down in two. Pretty happy with a bogey considering the tee shot.

Tee shot, punch out short, then up and down in two more. Sounds like a nice par to me![/quote] I wasn't clear enough. Up in one, down in two.

[Lihu]

I'm going with driver because I can carry the bunker and land fairly safely. I also could also put a light fade by opening up my feet a little bit (great being a lefty) to keep me away from the bunker, but there is a risk of entering the bunker if my fade doesn't have full power on it and not enough fade. This would give me a straight shot at the green without the green side bunkers being in the way.

If I could not carry it, a 19 degree hybrid would carry 205 and possibly some roll on the left. Next would be either the 60 degree or the 52 degree depending upon how far the hybrid rolled.

The third alternative is two "150" carry iron shots. I would use (2) 8i or a 7i off the tee and and 8i or 9i.

How much uphill is there? It looks like a little uphill that will limit the roll.

[PJCdude]

I'm a short hitter so 5W to layup area and GW or PW to green.

[flopster]

That hole is a green light, I wish I had one like that at my home course, the short par 4's are all uphill.

[14ledo81]

I'm going with driver because I can carry the bunker and land fairly safely. I also could also put a light fade by opening up my feet a little bit (great being a lefty) to keep me away from the bunker, but there is a risk of entering the bunker if my fade doesn't have full power on it and not enough fade. This would give me a straight shot at the green without the green side bunkers being in the way. If I could not carry it, a 19 degree hybrid would carry 205 and possibly some roll on the left. Next would be either the 60 degree or the 52 degree depending upon how far the hybrid rolled. The third alternative is two "150" carry iron shots. I would use (2) 8i or a 7i off the tee and and 8i or 9i. How much uphill is there? It looks like a little uphill that will limit the roll.

It is undulating, but mostly downhill. Down from tee to 30 yards short of fairway bunker, up from there to the end of the fairway bunker, down again until just short of the green, green is raised a bit. That's another benefit to being able to carry the fairway bunker. Shots would land on down slope and kick further forward.

[Lihu]

It is undulating, but mostly downhill. Down from tee to 30 yards short of fairway bunker, up from there to the end of the fairway bunker, down again until just short of the green, green is raised a bit. That's another benefit to being able to carry the fairway bunker. Shots would land on down slope and kick further forward.

If it's downhill, I would go for it with the drive. For you you should try for a draw. For me, I would still attempt the "power" fade, to keep the green side bunkers out of play.

Like someone mentioned in an earlier post, a 50 yard fairway bunker is not that punishing, unless you end up right at the trailing lip (odds are less than 50% getting stuck). The "go for it" strategy is only punished by at most one stroke out of that bunker if you get right under the lip, and the potential gain is an up and down birdie.

[Dave2512]

I was thinking of this hole last night as I played a similar hole. We have a 333 yd par 4, 317 from the white. Sets up the same but it has water on the right and the bunker is on the left. I've been in the bunker a few times and it's a drag but still easy enough to get out of. I decided to lay up and play it safe last night but only because I couldn't hit driver to save my life, actually I struggled with every club. So my approach changed and I started playing safe. On our hole I hit a 4h that left me 105 to the green and I hit it to about 6-7'. I don't feel all that great today so I may experiment with more 4h and see what happens.