Course name: Yale
Location: New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Four Word Course Review: The boldest you'll encounter
One of the downsides of the "family" of template holes Macdonald and Raynor built -- particularly their quartet of par threes -- is the ease with which those like holes are compared.
As a result, the discussion of some fantastic holes will be framed negatively because of a direct comparison to the Redan at National, Short at Fishers Island or Biarritz at Yale, whereas the same hole were it not a template would be discussed only in terms of its own merits.
An example of that is an analysis of Yale's par threes such as this from Darius Oliver's fantastic "Planet Golf USA" book:
"Interestingly, the par threes here are the same foursome found at the nearby Fishers Island Club, and again they show the limits of imitation versus creation. Although the Short, Redan and Eden holes are quite good, they are not among Raynor’s best and these replicas do get less interesting the more of them you see."
Were the Short 5th, Redan 13th and Eden 15th three unnamed holes by another architect, they would be discussed for their many strengths instead of compared to some of the best holes in golf.
When talk turns to underrated and underappreciated golf courses, Yale deserves to be the first topic of conversation. The course is filled with unique and memorable holes and features, and set on an enormous scale.
The two-tiered front right down to back left green at the 1st introduces you to the bold features that dominate the course and while the opening six holes might not contain the highlights of the round, the approach shot to an angled green flanked by extremely deep bunkers at the 2nd, steep and well-bunkered green at the 4th and small, elevated green at the Short 5th are other highlights of the stretch.
The gorgeous 7th presents a testing uphill approach to a ski slope of a green from a low valley fairway, before one of the best 1-2 punches in golf at the 8th and 9th.
The 8th bends left somewhat in the manner of a Cape hole and the second shot can be shortened by taking the risky left-hand line -- which also gives best use of the green's kickpad, but by driving down the right you can place your ball behind a channel (they call it Raynor's Notch) cut in a ridge that runs across the fairway, giving you a precious look at the green where otherwise the approach is blind.
The greenside bunkering is an even more muscular taste of what was presented at the 2nd hole.
And then comes the Biarritz 9th.
When I was about 13 years old and had just fallen for the game of golf in a big way my grandad had a book called "How To Play Par Threes". It featured 18 of the world's best one-shotters and the author played them with the club pro, who detailed the smart way to play the hole for different levels of player. I immediately noticed there was something cool about this hole and -- 10,000 miles away in country Australia -- lamented the fact I would never play it.
But then one thing led to another and lo and behold I was standing on the tee here with a club in hand and butterflies in my stomach. There's not much to say that hasn't already been said, but I will say there is no way a photo can do this setting or the green justice. It's a marvellous hole, with immense "butt pucker" factor.
Golf doesn't come more dramatic than the mid-length par four 10th. A drive over a ridge to a blind landing area, an approach 40ft or so uphill, a green with a steep slope between tiers. One I'd have described as "a love/hate hole" if I had ever met a single person who doesn't love it! One thing it certainly is is one of the most hard-earned pars on the course.
The quirk continues at the uphill par four 12th -- Alps -- two more blind shots and another green with a steep tier, but this time sideways, putting a premium on accuracy with what's likely to be a short iron.
The 13th might be called Redan, but played downhill and with a false front to the green it's no purebreed, but it's certainly a great one-shotter, with the green shifting the ball to the left as any Redan should.
The 14th (Knoll) and 15th (Eden) each ask for fun shots to the green, the former testing short iron accuracy like the 5th, but this time from an almost certain downhill/sidehill lie -- a great shot to be asked to hit as you enter the business end of the round.
The 16th is a regrettable low point after the incredible run from the 7th to 15th, but the final two holes return to the bold design that makes Yale such fun and such a sensory overload, the 17th teaming a Double Plateau green with a Principal's Nose bunker complex and the 18th a super long par five over the most dramatic terrain on the course.
I defy you to play Yale and not enjoy yourself. At the very least you'll get a handful of the best holes in the game and a heap of memorable shots that you just won't encounter elsewhere.
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