Blackheart Cove (Major Championship Design Contest Entry)
Apr 5, 2019 13:20:52 GMT -5
B.Smooth13, toddfather, and 4 more like this
Post by rob4590 on Apr 5, 2019 13:20:52 GMT -5
Welcome to Blackheart Cove – host of the 2019 US Open.
Blackheart Cove is a links style course, with several penalty areas (formerly known as water hazards!) testing the players’ accuracy and skill, while the firm terrain, and undulating ‘upturned saucer’ greens with runoffs in all directions will challenge their short game and putting.
Coming in at 7506 yards off the championship tees, 6974 yards from the members’ tees, and playing to a stern par of 70, the course is constantly exposed to strong swirling winds near the coast.
While extreme accuracy off the tee is not essential (except for three holes on the front nine (4th, 7th and 9th)), the challenge really starts with the approach shots – many shots will require / allow you to use the ground to assist in attempting to get close to the flags – but will throw the ball away from the greens if you get it wrong!
A typical US Open par 70, it features just two par 5’s (one easily reachable, but the other a strong three shot-er – uphill and nearly 700 yards!)
The par 3’s vary from the lengthy 232 yard 5th hole, through the 175 yard 14th, with its unique feature (for this course), down to the island green 16th at a mere 107 yards. Shorter does not mean easier in this case though!
The par 4’s are equally varied in length – the monstrous 547 yard 12th hole would be a par 5 in normal ‘club’ play, while the shortest par 4, the 8th, at just 292 yards, has historically caused more disasters than any other hole.
US Open Set Up (for the judges, and those like ohheycat and @larrymalone who like to test themselves!)
| Condition/Pin | Pin 1 | Pin 2 | Pin 3 | Pin 4 |
| Wind Speed | High | Very High | Medium | High |
| Wind Direction | South | West | East | North |
| Time of Day | Default | Default | Default | Default |
| Weather | Default | Default | Default | Default |
| Green Speed | Default | Default | Default | Default |
| Green Firmness | Default | Default | Default | Default |
| Terrain Firmness | Default | Default | Default | Default |
Course Set up (More Friendly)
Green Speed to Moderate / Fast
Green Firmness to Very Soft / Soft / Moderate
Wind Speed – Low
Warning:
This course is extremely testing in the US Open conditions – I’ve probably played 30-40 rounds in Very High winds and I (as a PGA player) have not yet broken par under those conditions. My best score in High winds is -5.
It’s VERY easy to throw in a couple of doubles (or worse) without feeling you’ve done much wrong – a missed tempo can kill you here if you do it in the wrong place!
Is it unfair? Or tricked up? Possibly (my opinion) / probably (your opinion) / definitely (the 7th hole 
)!!!
)!!! Personally I think it is JUST on the right side of the line – but I’m quite prepared for people to hate it due to the difficulty and the severe punishment that one slight error can cause.
Enjoy your rounds if you can, and please note that the club’s management refuse to accept any liability for rage-induced broken controllers at Blackheart Cove!
Course Tour / Tips
1st: A straightforward opener – a mid length par 4, which doglegs to the right. Toughest pin is back left – can you keep it on the small tier?
Course Tour / Tips
1st: A straightforward opener – a mid length par 4, which doglegs to the right. Toughest pin is back left – can you keep it on the small tier?
2nd: Just over 200 yards of par 3, to an undulating green which runs away – you can generally allow for more bounce and roll than you would expect.
3rd: The first par 5 – and a great birdie (or eagle) chance. Find the fairway, and you will be able to reach the narrow green easily. Whatever you do, don’t stray left with the approach though – it WILL end up wet if you do!
4th: A tough tee shot, which requires you to play as close to the right hand lake as possible. Downwind, you can be very aggressive and carry everything. If you bail out left, rough and bushes await though. A blind approach to another long narrow sloping green.
5th: The longest par 3 on the course, played to a raised up green. Simply put - par is a good score.
6th: Can you carry the creek off the tee? The wind may determine that…. The second shot is played uphill to a shallow green – I’d really advise not missing it short left….
7th: The narrowest snaking fairway on the course – but despite measuring over 500 yards, missing the fairway doesn’t mean the green is out of range – as the fairway runs severely downhill from well short of the green. The main hazard on the approach is a large hump just short of the putting surface – hit that, and your ball could go anywhere! This hole will see very few players hitting the green in regulation…
8th: The shortest par 4 on the course – easily driveable – but water left, and a green with very small ‘safe’ areas will challenge even the best players…
9th: A long tough par 4 at nearly 530 yards. A huge ravine on the right will make you want to hit left off the tee – but you will need to hit the fairway to attempt to hit the green in 2 – over a large pond. Into a strong wind, it may not be possible in any circumstances!
10th: Just a fairway wood or iron off the tee, then a short iron in – fairly simple, provided you avoid the water on both shots.
11th: A mid / long par 4 – which plays uphill. The fairway cambers strongly to the left – which hurts on your approach as missing left will see you roll a long way down a steep bank.
12th: A monster par 4 – made even harder by the cross stream at just over 300 yards from the tee. Into the wind it is a driver plus wood (at least!) – while downwind, the bravest F/F hitters can attempt the carry and leave just a wedge to the green.
13th: Dog leg left par 4 – cut off as much of the corner as you dare over the stream – and your reward will be a steep right to left lie for the approach. A large green means this only plays tough into the wind.
14th: A very rare sight awaits in the middle of the green of this 175 yard par 3. Getting close to any of the pins requires great accuracy.
15th: A short par 4, a decision is required off the tee in both which fairway section to aim for, and how far to leave for your approach. An accurate approach is needed for a birdie – or to avoid a watery grave.
16th: Just 107 yards – to a tiny sliver of green in front of the waterfall. Some of the slopiest pin positions on the course will test your putting…
17th: From the shortest hole, to the longest – to the back left pin, this hole will measure over 700 yards – sharply uphill! Fairly generous targets for the first two shots though – but the green is undulating – and anything missing will leave a tough chip to save par.
18th: A straightforward tee shot to a generous fairway on this long par 4 closing hole – but that’s where the charity ends. A brave second shot to the peninsula green is needed to close in style – but depending on the wind that can be with anything from a wedge to a wood!
Play well!
Edit: Just tagging karma4u so that he might provide some far better pics than I can do (pretty please!) 
