The Reality of Designing a Hole

Golden Tee 2009 Design-a-Hole Contest Update

The Reality of Designing a Hole

Golden Tee Holes Make the Toughest Holes in Golf Look Easy...
But That Doesn't Mean You Can't Learn from Them

There are tough holes. And then there are the ones that bring players to their knees.

Design_A_hole_logoHoles like the 8th and 9th at Pebble Beach, Amen Corner's No. 12 at Augusta, the 17th at Sawgrass and, of course, the Road Hole at St. Andrews don't just test players - they break them.

These are the holes that cause players to break out in cold sweats when standing on the tee box. The Road Hole alone, arguably the hardest hole in golf, has been described as "a par-4 graveyard, a pitiless stretch of bumpy ground, cavernous bunkers and high weeds. And that's the easy part."

But no matter how nightmarish these holes are, compared to a tough hole in Golden Tee they're child's play.

Face it, because of the control you have in Golden Tee, a hole like the Road Hole goes from being a devilish 461-yard par-4 to an easy birdie hole. And the 17th at TPC of Sawgrass becomes just another par-3.

But that doesn't mean players can't learn from these holes for the Golden Tee 2009 Design-a-Hole Contest. Remember, this is still golf, and what is tough on a real golf course still applies in Golden Tee. By looking at these and other famously tough holes you'll notice certain aspects that you can incorporate into your design.

St_Andrews
SGH Golf Photography
St. Andrews' famous Road Hole (above) is a daunting 17th, but it can't compare to the nightmare that was the 17th at Heather Pointe (below).
Heather_pointe

Starting off the tee, it's all about the eyes. A blind or tight shot to the fairway or green will always cause a player to take a second look. So will a shot that is visually daunting. The 17th at TPC isn't necessarily the hardest hole. Take away the pond and it becomes just another par-3. But because of the layout, the Island Hole can play havoc with a player's confidence as much as it does their golf shots.

Move to the fairway. Tight, sloping fairways with bunkers, nasty rough or a serious threat of penalty may not be as hard in Golden Tee as they are in real-life, but that doesn't mean they aren't more difficult. Daydream on a fairway like this and it can cost you a stroke no matter how good you are.

Lay up areas and shortcuts can be a defining characteristic. It's one thing to hit simple A-1's into large landing areas. It's another to make it risky. Remember, in Golden Tee players can bend the rules in order to have more control over what the ball does. So things like bouncing off rocks or snaking through the air are not impossible. The best holes test player's shot making ability.

Then there's the green. Large flat greens may look beautiful, but they sure don't make for a tough hole. No, just like the Road Hole, the toughest greens feature tight pin placements, nasty slopes and narrow landing areas, with the risk or bunkers, water or worse always in the back of a players mind.

Think about what you hate every time you go step foot on the golf course and you'll realize it's often the same as when you step up to the trackball - which makes for a perfect recipe for a great hole.

In case you hadn't heard, the Golden Tee 2009 Design-a-Hole Contest empowers you, the player, to leave your signature mark on the world's most famous video golf game. Players have the opportunity to design their own Golden Tee holes and submit them for a chance at having their design immortalized in Golden Tee 2009 - the commemorative, 20th anniversary of the award-winning golf series.

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Golden Tee 2009 Design-a-Hole Contest
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