Redesign in the works for Tallgrass #6

The sixth hole at Shoreham's Tallgrass Golf Course, easily the shortest par-4 in the layout, presents a unique, strategic challenge.  How heavy that challenge remains in the future is uncertain.

A driveable, risk/reward par-4 by design, Tallgrass #6 has played as a modified par-3 throughout the 2012 season due to concerns by neighbors over errant golf balls.  Heading into the offseason, the Tallgrass staff is considering ways to redesign the hole with its short par-4 character intact, or simply leaving it as a par-3. 

General manager Phil Tita says the plan is to keep the hole a par-4 but adds that, currently, the future of the hole is "up in the air."  The problem, according to a Tallgrass pro-shop attendant, is that players aiming to drive the green -- a 295-yard shot from the back tees, 280 from the second set -- can easily hook (or slice) their shots off the property toward several residences next to the course.  Though the fairway is oriented to the right of the tees and away from the property line, the hole's design -- including penal areas left and long -- and a buffer of trees are not enough to protect the homes and their inhabitants from wild drives.

But the strategic nature of the Gil Hanse-designed hole would be lost if the fix is to convert #6 to a par-3.  Slightly uphill, the hole features a tremendous and deep sand trap down nearly the entire left side.  Over the far end of the trap, the fairway banks downhill toward the green.  Players can try an aggressive shot toward this banked fairway or simply lay up shorter in the middle of the fairway.  The glory shot is a drive-the-green attempt, ignoring a major falloff behind the green and two awkward bunkers short of it, not to mention the out-of-bounds potential.

At close to 190 yards, this season's modified setup is still tough, but feels out of place on a course where the par-3s require some finesse, creativity and shot-making skill.   As seen in the image above, simply moving the tees as part of a par-4 redesign is likely not possible due to space constraints.  More dramatic changes could impact at least two adjacent holes.

For more on Tallgrass, visit the course flyover.  Or click on the aerial image above and pitch your design ideas in the comment section.

[Aerial image courtesy of Google Earth]

Comments

[Steve]

This is sad. Out of curiosity, were those houses there before the course was built? If not, then that should have no say whatsoever. This is one of the better, more strategi holes on the course. It has been ruined by playing as an atrocious par 3 (with no yardage offered from the tee box either).

[Phil]

Looks like those houses were there first, according to Google Earth. Hopefully they figure out a way to keep it a par-4. It takes one heck of a hook to get near those homes.