The 8th has a big cut at the greensite, and the solution here was simple. Just extend the cut further backwards so it all flows seamlessly. There is a small natural valley that makes this transition easy.
Before my arrival the previous builder made the mammoth cut made from the hillside for the 8th greensite. Thephotos are taken from the seconding landing zone (lower photo), and one the center of the green. The deepest part of the cut is about 3-meters (10 feet). It will be interesting to see what evolves from this "Monster's Footprint."
The initial conceptual sketch of the 8th greensite. I'm sure there will be scores to follow.
The 9th hole, (the par-3 version) is a hole 80% completed by nature…if not more. We can elevate the tee site about 1 meter with ease, and have it look like it was part of the natural grade. From below on the 8th fairway you would never be able to tell the tee was bumped up a little. The greensite will require a little cutting and filling. The exact shape, size and contour of the green is still running through the brain.
The 4th hole is the most challenging of the few I spent the day thinking about. At 535 meters we begin by teeing off amongst wetlands. The fairway corridor is wide, about 90 meters with forest on both sides. The fairway is low with light ripples and rolls. Then… BOOM! ...a greensite with a 3+ meter wall to buffer the noise and sight from traffic on the road behind. My preliminary idea is to create a series of flash faced fairway bunkers (where you can see the sand); a half dozen of so should do. This will add character and definition to the hole, but at the green? So far, my concept is to work more high contours (with bunkers slashed into some of them) back at least 100 meters from the green and have one of the fairway bunkers past the tee shot landing area also higher and large. This one high and large fairway bunker would connect to the increasing elevation changes at the greensite, making it all a little more believable. It all has to flow…as if we discovered it and merely formalized it to make a golf hole. The dimensions and scale have to be believable.
Tony Ristola
agolfarchitect.com
+1 (909) 581 0080
