Cutting a dog leg

[Mark_G]

On the course yesterday and a ball dropped on our fairway from the previous tee. This tee is for a dog leg through trees, and has a river at the corner and the turn is approx 90 degrees. It's a par 4, but this chap apparently delibrately hits a slice onto the other fairway to cut the corner and eliminate the water hazard. I don't think I would be impressed if I played someone who did this on purpose. How do you chaps feel?

 

[Ian_S]

Wouldn't have a problem with it. The aim of the game is to get the ball from the tee into the hole in the fewest strokes possible. If that's the safest line in then go for it. Common courtesy would say you check it's clear before hitting.

This is why there's often internal OOB at clubs. Might be worth mentioning to the committee because if everyone did that it might be dangerous.

 

[IanG]

+1 to what the other Ian just said.

 

[TheClaw]

Sounds like a good idea as long as you can see the fairway you're hitting to and nobody is at risk of getting hit.

To stop it they would have to make the side OOB or they could build up the green defence from that side e.g. A tough bunker right in front of that line.

 

[chrisd]

One of our best players regularly hits across fairways of other holes to open up greens. He does it because he's a long hitter and it can be safer landing areas from the tee on tight holes. No problem as far as I'm concerned

 

[GreiginFife]

We have 2 holes where cutting across another fairway gives a better shot but common sense dictates that you shouldnt as more than 50% is blind. Seeminglg common sense wasnt exercised by some and OOB has been introduced on one snd a sign prohibiting usjng the 1st fairway on the other.
People really dont help themselves sometimes.

 

[pbrown7582]

Course mangement, you play your way around to get the best score you can if this means hitting a wrong fairway as long as its safe then no problem, if its a blind shot and poses potential danger along with many people doing the same then internal OOB is worth considering by the club?

 

[MizunoMike]

On the course yesterday and a ball dropped on our fairway from the previous tee. This tee is for a dog leg through trees, and has a river at the corner and the turn is approx 90 degrees. It's a par 4, but this chap apparently delibrately hits a slice onto the other fairway to cut the corner and eliminate the water hazard. I don't think I would be impressed if I played someone who did this on purpose. How do you chaps feel?

Brave guy to play such a shot, but I say if you have the game and see a shot then go for it:thup:

 

[Jdb2005]

No probs here

 

[duncan mackie]

We have 2 holes where cutting across another fairway gives a better shot .....

this is just terrible course design, really terrible.

internal OOB should only be a temporary measure whilst appropriate permenant steps are implemented. Even small elements can make a huge difference to the risk reward of particular lines of play; it doesn't have to be 100ft trees or new water hazards!

 

[Mark_G]

Oh ok if that's ok then I will bear that in mind, the trees are quite high but you can see across to make sure the fairway is clear so if you have the shot it is safe, just not by me

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Badly designed hole IMO.

This can generally be rectified by some strategic tree or shrub planting near the tee.

 

[MizunoMike]

Badly designed hole IMO.

This can generally be rectified by some strategic tree or shrub planting near the tee.

Not sure about this comment and without playing the course how can you pass comment, I see it a more of a risk & reward shot and not a shot most club golfers might take on so for the club to redesign the hole when maybe only a few guys can pull the shot off is not worth it in my book. Maybe the OP can give us a little more detail.

 

[duncan mackie]

Not sure about this comment and without playing the course how can you pass comment, I see it a more of a risk & reward shot and not a shot most club golfers might take on so for the club to redesign the hole when maybe only a few guys can pull the shot off is not worth it in my book. Maybe the OP can give us a little more detail.

I agree. There's a world of difference between the risk reward of any given shot on any given hole that can be designed in, and the use of alternative routes not envisaged by the designers which may, or may not, involve dangers/delays etc

 

[MizunoMike]

I agree. There's a world of difference between the risk reward of any given shot on any given hole that can be designed in, and the use of alternative routes not envisaged by the designers which may, or may not, involve dangers/delays etc

Well said Duncan

 

[Foxholer]

Carnoustie Championship course had a similar problem some years ago.

Tee shot and line on the 5th was simpler/easier if played down the 6th - towards the tee! Can't be done now because there's a bleedin' great 'dune' in the way!

Tolerated elsewhere. There's quite a bit of danger from many directions in certain parts of The Old Course!

I'm not a fan of internal OOB either - for the sake of some Leylandiis (not a fan of them normally either) while proper trees grow.

 

[pheel88]

I play with a guy who has an absolute monster drive and we were playing a dog leg at Carswell and I went straight down the fairway with an iron and he drove over the trees and came up about 30 yards short of the green. We had waited until the hole was clear and as others say I wouldn't dream of ever doing it as I would probably only succeed 1/75. He does it quite a bit as his drive is so good but the problem is if he messes it up he can easily card a 7-9 on a par 4 so for me risk is to great.

The advantage is when he pulls it off it does look incredible and probably makes you feel pretty awesome.

 

[GreiginFife]

I agree. There's a world of difference between the risk reward of any given shot on any given hole that can be designed in, and the use of alternative routes not envisaged by the designers which may, or may not, involve dangers/delays etc

Yet you see fit to pass comment on my course. I assume that means you have played it in order to brand it so?

 

[Foxholer]

Yet you see fit to pass comment on my course. I assume that means you have played it in order to brand it so?

Duncan may or may not have, but a 'mate' of mine has - and commented on a couple of holes being a bit 'iffy' in that regard. Otherwise quite impressed from memory.

I wouldn't be surprised if the changes were made after the H&S responsibilities of Clubs was raised by the huge award a while ago.

 

[duncan mackie]

Yet you see fit to pass comment on my course. I assume that means you have played it in order to brand it so?

No - my assuption was that you had played it and that your judgements were valid.

You said - "We have 2 holes where cutting across another fairway gives a better shot but common sense dictates that you shouldnt as more than 50% is blind. Seeminglg common sense wasnt exercised by some and OOB has been introduced on one snd a sign prohibiting usjng the 1st fairway on the other."

In commenting on someone simply cutting the dogleg on the hole in play I observed "There's a world of difference between the risk reward of any given shot on any given hole that can be designed in, and the use of alternative routes not envisaged by the designers which may, or may not, involve dangers/delays etc"

You commented on your course, I accepted your comments at face value.

Any course that this situations occurs is badly designed