Hole 6 at Klein

[dg]

i know there will be differing opinions on the new #6 at klein so heres a poll

[chessguy]

For those who haven't played the hole yet, the basket is literally one foot from the sloping cement beyond the ditch. I think the basket should be moved about 3 ft. to the right and 5 ft. back. I've seen baskets close to water and sloping edges, etc... but nothing like this; just ridiculously close. Not a good placement for the upcoming tournament.

[sturmgeist]

Well, since this was my idea I've been pushing for some odd months now, I gotta say I like it. ;) Putting the basket where Neal says would make it completely boring. I say if ANYTHING, it should move closer to the road to make the green smaller. I blew past it with my Roc the other day and the comeback putt toward the ditch is very intimidating. And that is exactly the sort of thing I had in mind when I first thought of it.

[chessguy]

Once again, dumb basket placement. Just not reasonable. It will be fun however watching everyone's putters flying into the ditch on their birdie putt and everyone trapcing around in the mud. Major back up hole! I'll ace it! Probably by weeks end. I hate both new hole pin placements. It will however make my birdie attempt that much easier from the longs. :grin:

[chessguy]

Oh, well, I probably thought I'd not like lobster before I tasted it too. :-?

Found a new line. :-)

[el-jefe]

I just hope it dosen't become a hazard ob. If too many discs end up in the street we may have to move it just for safety reasons. Id hate for someone to hit a car or get hit by a car. I have no problem with it being close to the drop off, messes with your head a little.

[rihno putter]

the number 6 hole is challenging, i have come very close to getting an ace twice. good placement i say :grin:

[el-jefe]

we need t adjust the short box or something if we keep the basket location. :?

[fuzzy]

Just move the basket back 10-15 feet and put the tee in the trees and you'll get a semi-dangerous putt with the side ditch right to the side of the basket. You would then also change the angle of the hole making the road OB and the righty fade out into the ditch more of a hazard. If it wasnt a concrete slope two inches from the basket and if that ditch actually stayed dry more than 2 days out of the year then it may be cool where it is, but thats not the case, not too mention the hole is like 150 feet long. There is a nice little spot for a tee about 60 feet back and into the trees, kinda elevated little open mound.

[sturmgeist]

When I mentioned that spot for the basket, I was thinking more where Fuzzy is talking about, but a little further left, so that the basket is equidistant from the road the side ditch and the front ditch, like a golf green banked with water hazards or sand traps. It plays cool the way it is now, but I think a little further back and a little more left... but then if you angle the tee like Fuzzy said, then that may take care of the "further left" thing.

[sturmgeist]

Good discussion on Island Green design concepts here: http://www.pdga.com/msgboard/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=671014&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

Couple of other novel ideas there too that I think would be neat if implemented right.
1) the idea of ringing an island green with stones or bricks to minimze discs skidding off into OB. I think that could be done neatly as a couple of bumpers on the edge of the green behind the basket, with a space between them, to keep it from being a catch-all backstop type thing.
2) Elevated basket on the island to keep putts on the green from being too easy. Like is mentioned, a putt that makes you get the nose up , with OB looming close by, makes for a lot scarier shot.
3) Baskets lower to the ground on some holes. I don't mention this one in relation to island greens, but I think on some holes, a basket low to the ground could indeed make for some exciting approach shots. Holes like 11 at klein and 10 at PI could be made more interesting this way - it would give players the feeling that those holes could be birdied not JUST by brute force of a massive drive, but also by skillfull shot placement and a masterful approach shot. It wouldn't increase the odds all that much, but it would be a confidence boost to make players more likely to go for it, which I think would increase score spread overall.