Holes you have learned to outhink - with pics!

[chriskzoo]

Here is a hole from my golf league that is notoriously hard - 435 yard par 4, trouble right and long on the drive. The normal way to play the hole is the red path - I usually have to hit 3 wood, other wise I risk going long into the pond - and if you try to bail left because of the pond on the right, you always have 180-190 left to the green out of the rough with two bunkers guarding the front.

So last week, I finally decided to do whatI have been thinking about for a while - play down an opposite fairway. I smoked my drive and it left 140 yards to the green and essentially took the water out of play on the drive and the bunkers on the approach.

Anyone else have good examples?

[fendermallot]

is that... legal? I guess if there are no ob stakes it must be. I don't know all the rules off the top of my head so... yah

[Slim 11]

That's a smart play if there is no OB. However, I tend to try and play the courses the way they are designed and figure out the best way to play that hole.
Of course, with my slice, I probably would be playing it your way most of the time anyway. :)

[chriskzoo]

is that... legal? I guess if there are no ob stakes it must be. I don't know all the rules off the top of my head so... yah

Yep, no OB stakes. Actually, the next hole is in the top left corner of the picture and I play back down the fairway with the red line - it's much more direct and cuts about 50 yards off a Par 5, usually leaving a 7 or 8 iron into the green.

[DavidFehertysBike]

If there is no OB, then thats a good play. Well done. I love kickin course designers in the balls, sometimes.

[Zeph]

It's one of the challenges from the course designer, I'd take that challenge anytime. The more the course force me to hit straight, the more I will practice and better I will get.

[clubchamp]

Great idea... I wish my course had holes that you could look for different shots but the holes are so spread apart and tree lined it couldn't be done.

[billm408]

Good way to play the hole providing the green and fairway are clear. Looks like that shot will be taken away once those trees grow in. A course I used to play had a similar option that became so poular that the course installed in-course OB markers.
Why not just blow your drive down towards the pond up the left side?

[pinhigh27]

Does your ball ever get taken when you hit there? I'd be careful, it's a good play I guess, but it is dangerous.

[pinhigh27]

If there is no OB, then thats a good play. Well done. I love kickin course designers in the balls, sometimes.

hah agreed.

[MI Rob]

I notice it says Links of Novi course, I should be going there soon and will keep this hole in mind haha.

[shankapotamus]

The only thing I would be scared of is somebody playing that hole taking your ball thinking it's theirs.

[opie]

Good way to play the hole providing the green and fairway are clear. Looks like that shot will be taken away once those trees grow in. A course I used to play had a similar option that became so poular that the course installed in-course OB markers.

Course I play at did that. People used to bash driver through a dogleg left to make the 2nd shot closer and endangered people in the other fairway. It's OB now though