Hardest opening hole tee shot?

CallMeAl

PIGDivot I have a poster on my wall of the First tee from "The Judge" in Prattville, AL, on the RTJ golf trail, and it got me thinking that that hole is probably the hardest opening hole tee shot I've ever had to hit.

I've played that hole and Yes, It's a Monster!

mcavoy

PIGDivot On that first picture how long is that hole?

CallMeAl

mcavoy On that first picture how long is that hole?

415 from the tip with a 100'+ drop and a fairway that slopes to the right...

PA-PLAYA

I never understood why the opening hole on a golf course should be so demanding. Or, for that matter, a par5 for a starting hole. In these instances it's almost as if the architects and owners have colluded to put groups 5+ minutes behind pace right from the very get-go. If I had a dollar for every time I had to wait on the tee box for a guy 200 yards away to try and hit a fairway wood further than he hit his tee shot....

In my view, the opening hole would be rather pedestrian.... something around 380 yards, wide fairway, friendly green with not too much trouble lurking nearby. I mean - I can lay the sod over my ball at just about any point in the round, don't get me wrong... but if your only safe-miss on the very first swing of the day is in the trees to the left, then don't expect me to have a good time, and don't expect me to play there very often.

Of course, the depth-perception of the pic of the starting hole @ the Judge Course could be an optical illusion... maybe the fairway is wider and the L-R contour isn't as severe as it looks in the pic. But it certainly looks very unforgiving. Not only do you have to avoid the hazard on the first shot, but the subsequent shots thereafter. And the slope of the fairway does what? Sets the conditions for a L-R shot on the second shot, having the ball work directly toward more trouble!

Might be a great course, but not a fan of that type of demand right out of the gate.

PIGDivot

PA-PLAYA agree 100%. 1st hole of any course should account for players who go straight to the first tee with no warm up. Wide fairway with little trouble giving everyone a fighting chance for at least one hole.

The Judge 1st hole is just a PITA. Most guys I saw took an iron just trying to hit something into play. I of course took driver and pulled one into the trees not wanting to get wet right off the bat. But it is extremely tight and gets tighter the farther you hit it, which is why so many opt for an iron. It's kind of a stupid hole because the rest of the course is normal. Oh, and playing from the tips there is insane. One par 5 later on had like a 230 carry over water. I think I played two tees up and it was still nuts. I also remember it not being walker friendly as there were many holes with 300 yards from the green to the next tee. Get me a cart!

Supp

PA-PLAYA

Agreed. And even more pedestrian than what you suggest. A par 4 where you can hit a hybrid or a long-iron off the tee really helps groups get off the first tee in good time.

LBlack14

http://golfnow.ugc.bazaarvoice.com/0079/207332/photo.jpg

jamez

PIGDivot
Yeah i recall pulling my shot left into the swamp on The Judge #1 hole

Release

Whenever I had too much coffee before the tee time.

FauxAmish

The Judge is the toughest course that I have ever played without a doubt.

But ... And this is an unbelievable but.

On this trip in 2004, April I believe, I met some of the best People and not only that, Friends to this day, that I have ever been lucky enough to encounter.

They include Call me Al (Squid), Jamez, Rickhicks, Headcover(FGI), Jonathan(FGI), Spartan, and I am sure that have forgotten someone.

It was my second major FGI encounter, the first being the First Midwest/Chicago outing in 2002. But it is my favorite FGI outing to this day other than DS.

I encourage all to strive to meet others and play a round.

You Will perhaps establish some friendships that supersede your trepidation.

I have been rewarded beyond any measure.

JMO

~xb~ the Faux

Umfaan

Put me out in the Sahara on an opening tee and I will find water!

FauxAmish

Umfaan

Excellent.

PIGDivot

Umfaan Lol. Now that is funny.