There have been some requests for more stats and detail. I played an interesting nine the other day and I can supply all the numbers you might want and then some.
This nine was played off the usual tees, id est, not the short ones -- though I do enjoy the short ones.
Now, how to go about this? Start with the results and work backwards or let it unfold as it happened. Ah, let's try the latter.
The first hole is 320 yard par 4, but there are ponds and traps and you have to lay up with your tee shot. That, assuming you are dry, leaves you 160 or so to the green. The green is trapped well, but they don't come into play for me most of the time. My misses are short on this hole.
Tee shot was fine, dry and not in the bunker. Second shot ends up about pin high, but left and I have hump in the green to play over. I flop from wet, cold grass and do it well. I have two feet left and roll that in.
Second hole is a modest par 5, maybe 480 - 500 yards. I hook my drive, but it's not too bad and I hit a reasonable hybrid to 140 yards or so. The third shot is struck nicely, up in the air and... it's short to a front pin. A simple two putt from there for a second par. Up and downs are now 2 for 2.
Third hole requires a shot down the left avoiding the pond right. I manage this and hit a good 6 iron to the middle of the green. Two putts and we are still even par. First green in regulation.
The third is a longish par 3. It's not really long, but with huge traps all across the fronts, it requires a full carry of 150 or so to get to the green. "How far do you hit a 7 iron?" "About 150 yards!" "Oh, yeah, show me!" I learned from this hole what club I will truly carry 150 yards and it's not a 7 iron. Maybe in my youth, but, I wonder about that.
The ball while well struck, but it's in one of the front traps. Not to fear, I can hit out of the sand and I do to about 10 feet. Not what I wanted, but I'm a recreational golfer and it's on the green so I ought to be happy. I manage to cover the break and make the putt.
Still even par and up and downs are now 3 for 3.
Fourth hole is 360, which makes it a bit long if the driver is up to its usual antics. I push the drive and it ends up on the edge of a bunker where I have no stance. I find a way to advance it and I'm about 40 yards from a middle pin.
An ugly wedge and the putt is too far for me to make. One over par, up and downs 3 for 4.
Six is a par 5 and I hit an ok drive. Nice layup and then put an 8 iron about 10 feet above the hole. This is a quick putt, but I manage to coax it down the hill and into the hole. Back to even par. Is this an up and down? Hard to say, but maybe I'm 4 for 5 on the u/ds.
Seven is a short par 4, but 17 traps or something. I hit a nice tee shot and manage a mid iron to the middle of the green for 3rd GIR and a simple two putt.
Eight is another 150 yard carry to a green with two levels. I'm a bit strong here and end up over the green. The carry is required as the entire fairway is a pond full of coots, ducks and egrets.
So I'm going to chip this and I have to hit it along the edge of the cliff built into the green. The pin is in the front with the pond lurking for a bladed shot. But not to fear, I hit a pretty chip that walks the edge and follows the contour of the green and curls back to 4 inches of the pin. Still even par and u/d now 5 for 6.
The 9th is in interesting hole. 360 or so yards and there are trees left that will block the access to the green. There is a pond right and in front, so blasting a driver does bring water into play. The slot between it all is about 40 yards wide. I manage to smother hook one and lay up to 130 yards or so. It's not unusual to lay up on this hole as the water does not allow you to hit for the front of the green unless you can carry the ball pretty well. Even if you do that, the pin placement might put you in a position of wishing you were coming in from 100 yards..
The green has some slope and there are bunkers both left and right. But the green is fairly wide and the bunkers are not too tough. But, I've left 130 yards out. This is an 8 or 7 depending on how well I've been hitting it. I choose 8 and hit it to 3 feet below the pin. In it goes and we are even par for the nine. And 6 for 7 on the ups and downs. There have been 6 one putt green for 12 putts total.
Sadly the back didn't go as well. I was under 80 for the day, but the front was a nine I was quite happy with on many levels, like the chipping and putting. The driver was no real help. The iron play was my usual level, or actually a little worse. I normally would hit more greens; just hit 4 on this nine.
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