H is for Hog's Back – Template Holes

H is for HOG’S BACK THE ORIGINAL It is difficult to trace the exact origin of the Hog’s Back hole, but many variations of the concept exist across links golf. Rye Golf Club provides as good a starting point as any, as the stretch of holes from No. 4 through No. 7 have been referred to as “hog’s backs” for more than a century, possibly a reference to the ancient road that climbs over the downland ridge in the adjacent county of Surrey. The Hog’s Back holes at Rye, rather like the road, run along the top of a dune ridge, rather than between the dunes. Among these, the best representation for what is now accepted as a “Hog’s Back” template is the fourth. Rye pulls few punches, with nine Par 4s longer than 400 yards, but No. 4 is one where players may want to lay off the pedal. Its geographic placement means that few drives are safe; too far left in the fairway could topple down into the thick links rough, and too far right brings the same fate. Channel your inner Calvin Peete, as the matter of a yard may be the difference between a flat lie or a vicious kick off the hog’s spine. Although any fairway-in-regulation is admirable, a lie along the right side will provide a better angle to a green that tilts from left-to-right. OTHER INTERPRETATIONS Harry Colt may not have intended to create a template at Rye, his first design project, but C.B. Macdonald would have celebrated Colt’s use of the land’s natural features for No. 4’s signature challenge. There is little doubt Macdonald visited Rye during his time overseas, but he probably experienced the Hog’s Back phenomenon at other locations during his links journeys. Either way, No. 5 at the National Golf Links of America became “Hog’s Back.” Macdonald’s major twist on the premise was his addition of a sizable bunker at the foot of the short grass. It’s an intimidating crescent-shaped hazard in front of the hogback fairway that begins higher than the player’s line-of-sight. This causes golfers to question the ideal landing area; a deep hollow is visible on the left, but another collection area on the right is not. The rightward route means not crossing the front bunker and this fools some golfers into taking the “safe path,” but the landing zone is home to a wickedly undulating portion of the fairway. The closer to the left hollow, the better the angle to the green, which greets approaches that ride the fairway down right-to-left (à la the Redan). Those coming from the left must carry a bunker that guards that angle of approach. Both the hollow on the left and the right are cut at fairway height, making unfortunate tee shots less of a guaranteed bogey than a denial of red numbers on the scorecard for this short Par 5 (478 yards). Macdonald’s strategy makes great matchplay sense, where two well-struck shots lead to a potential eagle putt... and any strike made less-than-well results in a detour. Unfortunately, the hole has since transitioned from a Par 5 to a Par 4 on the NGLA scorecard, converting it to a simple stiff challenge, rather than a measured test. Less essential, but still notable to the template, is the large fairway bunker that intersects the fairway maybe 275 yards from the tee, and moves back and right, creating a “Bottle”-style formation. To emphasize the universality of the Hog’s Back concept, the Top 100 team recently experienced an excellent specimen at Castletown Golf Links, where—similar to NGLA—the closer one can place their tee shot to the edge of the leftward tumble, the better opportunity can be had at the green, which also accepts approaches more readily from the right than the left, due to a trio of fronting pot bunkers. Old Tom built Castletown, but it’s unlikely C.B. made it out to the Isle of Man. Good architects simply take advantage of good geography. Seth Raynor and Charles Banks were keen on the concept, although finding the ideal ground for such a design was not always possible. Therefore the pair more frequently created “Hog’s Back” greens, which feature a central ridge that divides the green vertically into left and right sections, with flag position ultimately determining the best angle of approach. George Bahto cites Knoll Golf Club West’s No. 4 as the best example of such a green. A poor angle to a flag on the right side of the green heightens the odds that the approach is kicked into a long greenside bunker, while the left side is fronted by its own large hazard. Regardless, ending up on the wrong side of the ridge makes for a tricky two-putt. Interestingly, Banks also included a partially blind bunker at the fairway’s fore. MAYBE...MAYBE NOT The Hog’s Back, being a less formal template, means we must take informal stances on ambiguous topics, and we welcome differing opinions in the comments. Thus far we have defined a “Hog’s Back” as what a hog’s spine actually resembles: a lengthy and pronounced ridge that drops sharply off at the sides. However we have seen many references to Donald Ross’s “Hog’s Back” greens at sites such as Pinehurst No. 2. These certainly drop off from their highest points...but in all directions. Thus the “turtle-back” term seems to apply better than “hog’s back.” Our proposed difference is that a “Hog’s Back” demands a laser-guided line, while a “Turtle’s Back” (or “crowned” green) additionally demands accuracy in distance. We acknowledge that Bahto himself described NGLA’s landing area by saying “in general, the hog’s back refers to a turtle-backed landing on which the sides are sloped away.” We choose to emphasize “sides” over “turtle-backed,” because a true hog’s back fairway would make for a very awkwardly-shaped turtle (Bernard Darwin’s grandfather would struggle to justify it). Continuing our bold streak, we’ll raise an argument against Tom Doak’s “Hog’s Back” at Old Macdonald. Indeed, there is a significant ridge and there is an ideal line, but due to “Hog’s Back” running diagonally from near left to back right, there is little incentive to actually land, and stay, on the ridge. True to the template’s origins, a shot right of the ridge is doomed. When considering the left, however, the tee shot plays much like a Cape. The challenge is biting off as much of the ridge as you can, while also playing an optimal line. An overly conservative shot to the left will settle in an uneven landing zone far, far from the green on this lengthy Par 4. Big hitters can take the maximum distance over the right end, but risk the downslope kicking them down into a well-placed fairway bunker. The ideal drive will cross at maybe 50 to 75% up the ridgeline, getting a nice kick down into the fairway on the other side. With the ridge itself serving as the “blinder” for hazards on the other side, Doak’s tweak is a brilliantly strategic hole, but perhaps too much of an experiment to classify as a true “Hog’s Back.”

N is for Narrows THE ORIGINAL “Composite first shot of the 14th or Perfection at North Berwick, with green and bunker guards like the 15th at Muirfield.” -C.B. Macdonald Muirfield - 15th hole Discovering the “original” Narrows requires some reverse engineering, beginning with the hole we now understand as the “true” Narrows. Based on the above quote from a 1906 issue of Outing, Macdonald had two holes in mind, and the latter of the two is more similar to the final product. From the tees on this long Par 4 (447 yards) at The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, a player who pulls driver can get extra distance from a downhill slope beyond the small fairway bunkers. The template’s purpose becomes more obvious when you are playing back uphill to the green, however. There are two more fairway bunkers pinching the left and right of the fairway (known as the “Twins”), which create the “narrowing” effect. A third, centerline bunker sits about 30 yards out from the green. There’s plenty of room to roll home, but the player’s mind is easily muddled when these hazards prevent a clear sightline. Some may play too short and find the centerline before the ball can run, and some may haphazardly play long. Even a poor placement on the green known as “Camel’s Back” is unfortunate. Knowing the yardage and, more importantly, trusting your yardage, is the key here. OTHER INTERPRETATIONS From Muirfield, Macdonald created what is considered the standard for “Narrows” holes, which is No.15 at the National Golf Links of America. He began by shortening the hole (417 yards) so that his rendition of the “Twins” are in play from the tee, immediately creating questions for the player. The right side of the fairway will provide the best approach angle to the green, and the right Twin cuts into the fairway accordingly, challenging those who wish to add distance off of the tee. The approach will be less uphill than at Muirfield, but the centerline still finds a way to mess with the player’s mind in a number of ways. A combination of this bunker, another left fairway bunker, and a slight spine running across the fairway make the last 60 yards to this large green much more mysterious than a player might hope. A common theme that most “Narrows” would share moving forward is a green set to better receive an approach from the right of the fairway, and an uphill slope from front-to-back. Macdonald also added “moat”-style bunkers, as he and Raynor did with many of their geometric greens in years to come. NGLA - 15th green - courtesy of John Sabino “Narrows,” perhaps more so than any other Macdonald template, avoids instant, cookie-cutter recognizability. Macdonald’s effort at the Greenbrier Old White TPC course may not appear a “Narrows” at first glance, but proves itself a more daring take on the concept. A dogleg left, the best angle to the green again comes from the right. But now it will require a carry of at least 250 yards to cross the rightward “Twin,” which runs perpendicular across the right half of the fairway. Those who try to go left of this bunker and get a shorter yardage will need to deal with the other “Twin,” which runs flush with the fairway for more than 100 yards. There is no centerline bunker, but the final fairway bunker sits in a second-cut mound along the right side, perhaps 25 yards out from the green. This mound, more so than the bunker it holds, is responsible for blocking views of the last stretch of fairway leading up to the green. The green itself takes its shape and slope from Macdonald’s standard at NGLA, with a few bunkers alongside. Greenbrier Old White TPC - 14th hole Charles Banks took some cues (but only some) from Macdonald on his “Narrows,” the second hole at Forsgate’s Banks course. The most interesting difference is the use of a hill as the muddling “hazard,” rather than a central fairway bunker. The fairway rolls in such a way that— if the player arrives in the ideal landing area off the tee, there will be a small valley in front of them— which rises to green level at about 65 yards, before rolling into another small valley. The concept makes the player question how much room they need to give their approach to roll up to the green, versus getting stuck in a “valley of sin.” Missing left or right lands in deep greenside bunkers. MAYBE... MAYBE NOT Was the opening hole at the legendary Lido Golf Club a “Narrows”? According to Macdonald in Golf Illustrated, “the first hole is more or less like the fifteenth or Narrows at the National, which is a good drive and a full iron shot.” Gil Hanse is currently working on Ballyshear, a new Thai club conceived as a tribute to the Lido, which may shed some light on the topic. Hanse Golf Course Design was kind enough to share its blueprints for the opener, titled “First” like the former No. 1 at Lido. Indeed, two “Twin” bunkers will pinch the fairway as the hole doglegs slightly to the left. There will be a bunker perhaps 50 yards out from the green, which will serve to confuse the sightline of those who manage to get their drives beyond the right “twin,” hiding the exact dimensions of the landing area for those who hope to run their approaches up to the hole. More relevant, the placement of all three greenside bunkers at the front of the putting surface leaves a very slight window for anyone aiming to roll their approach on. This strong promotion of an aerial attack will make Hanse’s proposed design strategically different than other variants of the Narrows, which are open to the confident placement of running approaches. The “Narrows” at Seth Raynor’s Yeamans Hall provides a more vexing question. The initial concern is that the 12th hole is a mere 350 yards, 50 yards shorter than its cousins. The angle and slope of the green are very much in line with Macdonald’s standard, but there is a lack of center fairway bunker to create problems of perception. The lack of a bunker specifically isn’t a problem, as we saw above with Banks’s use of a hill at Forsgate. Yeamans Hall has no valley to serve as a “hazard” for the approach, however. Assuming the player does not land in the cross bunker on the left side of the fairway, their view will not be impeded upon approach. Granted, the greenside bunkers may not be fully visible, but players can use the “chocolate drops” on the right as a standard for playing safely. “Stay left of us, and these bunkers shall do you no harm.” There are many holes across golf that are named “Narrows” without fitting the “Narrows” template. Prestwick’s famous “Narrows” is a fine Par 4, requiring an accurate tee shot. Saunton East’s is a long Par 4, with a canyonesque approach among the dunes that certainly merits the “Narrows” descriptor. Perhaps most interesting is the “Narrows” hole at St. Louis Country Club, another Seth Raynor design. It’s obviously an example of the Double Plateau template, despite its title. Prestwick - 15th hole

L is for LONG THE ORIGINAL “Long,” No. 14 at St. Andrews Old Course is the longest hole on the card. This and some other details from the Scottish icon have come to solidify our understanding of the term “Long”. Most templates put emphasis on approach shots—whether that’s an iron to a Par 3, or the careful measure of distance when crossing an “Alps.” Two good shots are required to reach any solid template Par 4, of course, but George Bahto justifies the importance of the tee on “Long” as a three-shot template: “The hole requires a long, deadly accurate tee shot between out-of-bounds and a hazard. An errant first stroke will leave the golfer with a continuing problem all the way to the green.” The “deadly accuracy” should be aimed at the “Elysian Fields,” a rare flat area on the course, which sits at the right-centre of the fairway. This involves the diagonal carry of the aforementioned hazard, without flying the wall that marks “out-of-bounds.” Having safely arrived at Elysian, the player has a better chance at carrying the Hell Bunker, a six foot-deep pit more than 75 yards long and covering more than 300 square yards. Those with weak tee shots should be wary of tempting fate, and are encouraged to use the No. 5 fairway as a detour to the green (which does not necessarily guarantee safe passage of Hell). Even avoiding Hell, the player must deal with devilish mounding on their approach from this position, deflecting balls away during the prescribed ground approach (having carried Hell, the player has a shorter, more head-on approach). Hell Bunker St Andrews Old course 14th hole - image courtesy of the European Tour The giant bunker obviously holds significant sway in this Par 5 template. Sound familiar? We’re getting there... The Long is a less popular template largely because the Knights Template—C.B. Macdonald, Seth Rayor and Charles Banks—did not use it definitively. Only two examples of defined “Longs” existed in the United States. One was at Macdonald and Raynor’s legendary Lido Golf Club, a spot-on recreation of the St. Andrews model. The other, still existing, sits among Macdonald’s other templates at the National Golf Links of America. Although not a clone, No. 9 shares several elements with “Long,” including its name. The tee shot crosses a pond and a set of bunkers diagonally; the more daring first shot means a less stressful second. The safer line from the tee means reckoning with a smorgasbord of sand concepts. NGLA’s “Hell” isn’t one bunker, but a string of hazards that includes one large “regular” sand pit, an Oakmont-style set of church pews, and a series of smaller bunkers stitched together with scrub grass. For its lack of St. Andrews mounding, Macdonald included several bunkers bordering the green. Although it is no longer the epic closer at NGLA since the clubhouse moved, “Long” is still the lengthiest hole at the course. NGLA 9th hole - image courtesy of Jon Cavalier @LinksGems Bahto suggests that Macdonald and his acolytes avoided “Hell” bunkering at future three-shot holes out of fear that it required skills unreasonable for the standard player of the era. At least one other Golden Age architect was happy to step in on behalf of “Hell”. A.W. Tillinghast, unlike Raynor and Banks, did visit St. Andrews during his lifetime, and it’s reasonable to assume Hell had an impact on the young golfer. He found an ally in hotelier George Crump. “The three-shot hole must be beyond the range of any player who misses either his drive or second stroke,” Tillie wrote. “The most effectual method, and I believe the only satisfactory one, is the location of a truly formidable hazard across the fairway... Obviously this break in the fairway must be great, let us say 100 yards.” Pine Valley 7th hole - Hell's Half Acre And so “Hell’s Half Acre” was born, the No. 7 hole at Pine Valley. The formula for this example of what is now known as “Tillinghast’s Great Hazard” is simple: A strong tee shot will set the player up with the opportunity to clear the title “half-acre” (at one time the hazard occupied more than an acre) and be rewarded with an easier approach. A tee shot to the rough inevitably means laying up, and then playing the third shot over the hazard (with no real chance of reaching in regulation). The most devilish scenario, however, is a weaker tee shot to the fairway, where the player must debate laying up or challenging the beast. The length of this forced carry—more than 150 yards—is enough to rattle many. Pine Valley’s “Long” is based almost purely on the talent and confidence of the player, with little room for strategic manoeuvring (even the green, upon approach, sits as an island in its own large bunker). Tillinghast adapted his concept to improve the hole’s strategy, even if that Par 5 is far from the longest on the course. A classic example is No. 4 at Bethpage Black. The Great Hazard here cuts from long-and-right down to near-and-left—decreasing in altitude as it comes forward, offering several routes for players. Those daring enough to go for two must carry another large bunker from the tee and stop short of the Great Hazard for the shortest line to the green. More conservative players can avoid the initial bunker by playing right, but they’ll face the longest, tallest carry of the Great Hazard in order to reach the next fairway. If the player who was more aggressive has second thoughts and opts to aim for the second fairway, their carry will be shorter, in both length and height. Bethpage Black course 4th hole - image courtesy of John Sabino Traditionally, the “Great Hazard” has, of course, been sand. Both Tillinghast and others have worked sans sand, however. A.W.’s work at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey includes two Par 5s that consist of deep rough, presumably more affordable than sediment. Perhaps the most famous version, however, comes at Hirono, the greatest of C.H. Alison’s many great Japanese courses. No. 15 uses the property’s prominent trench as a daunting deterrent. Interestingly, it’s not even the most popular hazard on the hole; the pine tree in the first fairway is iconic. You’ll be less keen, of course, if you land too far to the left, and it forces you to take an extra shot before crossing the hazard. Pinehurst No.4 course 9th hole - image courtesy of the Pinehurst Resort Although Par 5s continue to get longer, there’s less interest in maintaining (or paying to maintain) epic hazards such as “Hell” or “Hell’s Half Acre.” Still, naturally sandy terrain offers some opportunity for new levels of “Hell.” One example is No. 9 at Gil Hanse’s redesign of Pinehurst No. 4. Again, it is certainly not the longest Par 5 on the route, but it does require strategic interaction with the large hazard to determine the final score. The shortest carry is to the far left, but this will leave the trickiest approach into a right-to-left green, fronted by a bunker at its left foot. The longest carry, well over 100 yards, will leave the optimal approach angle from the right. MAYBE...MAYBE NOT First, let us cull a whole range of would-be “Great Hazards”: A Par 4 simply does not apply, no matter how much sand must be carried. Tillinghast defined his “Great Hazard” as a “three-shot-hole,” and no Par 4 is long enough to justify the term “Long.” There are many Par 5s that could claim a “great hazard” among their ranks but do not necessarily qualify as a “Long,” or even a “Tillinghast’s Great Hazard.” We’ll head back to Bethpage Black for another example. No. 7 features a trap that is almost three times larger than No. 4’s hazard, and the hole is longer as well. The difference with this hazard, however, is that the player must carry it from the tee; they have no safe alternative. On a true “Great Hazard,” players get the option to put themselves in a better position before challenging the carry. This is strictly a do-or-die scenario. Granted, the diagonal tee shot allows players to choose how much sand they want to bite off, but this makes it more of a Cape than a “Long.” Tobacco Road 11th hole - image courtesy of David Davis Tobacco Road’s No. 11 is a Par 5 that offers a 150-yard crossing of a massive sand hazard. This route is forced upon only those aiming for eagle, however. Those who can’t land their second softly on a 10-yard wide target after the lengthy carry will roll into yet another sandpit. The rest of us don’t necessarily need to carry the sand at all... we can take a safer, three-shot route across 511 yards of uninterrupted fairway around the hazard. The green, surrounded on three sides by sand, is realistically more of a Cape than a “Long.” We apologize for not mentioning it several posts ago.