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Post by catcherman22 on Feb 6, 2021 21:23:13 GMT -5
Welcome to week 21 at Playa Saona by b101Well Well Well... Ben finally made a course that's suitable for CC. Well... we'll see if it was suitable for CC! All kidding aside, this is one of my favorite's from Ben.. and I hope you all enjoy it as well. If you don't.. Blame Ben... he forced me to use it on tour.
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Post by williamwes626 on Feb 7, 2021 17:26:18 GMT -5
PLAYA SAONA 71-6993
Architect: Ben Page Ben: 'Based on Punta Espada in the Dominican Republic, Playa Saona is a strategic yet forgiving course, with the coastline featuring throughout the round' I also watched Ben's playthrough on Twitch so I tried to remember some of the things he said. Ben let me know if I'm off about anything here - I played 3 rounds with different winds and pins.
So, we’re off to the Dominican Republic for Playa Saona, a flat tropical course playing under 7000 yards with lots of water and spacious but not overly deep bunkers in play. There’s no fairway fringes so anything that misses the usually wide fairways will land in heavy rough. Some heavy rough areas are thicker than others. Avoiding all the water will be the key to success and as long as we’re on land, it should be mostly smooth sailing. Most of the winding fairways and greens have light undulations but several greens live right on the seaside so there will be a few more intimidating shots than normal. The course handicap is about a 73 so it’s gettable if our games are in order.
1-4-432. Playa Saona gives me my money’s worth quickly when I see the view down the beach as we play the first hole along the water left. A straightaway fairway squeezed by a bunker left of the driver landing area. Using driver or 3-wood is the difference between an iron or wedge approach towards the mild green fronted by a bunker. I think this hole qualifies as a birdie chance.
2-5-530. A dogleg left par-5 with plenty of real estate for the ball to live but there is one well-placed bunker left of the fairway turn that might ruin an eagle chance. The green that slopes back left to front right is reachable but a bit awkward without a faded approach. A second chance for birdie.
3-3-176. A par-3 that drifts right and towards water, at least one pin is by the water, but the turf slopes off of the fairway bunker and the green undulations head right so it may be best to aim left and keep the ball’s loft down if the wind is up. The #1 pin position is a tough one – on the water with all putts towards it downhill.
4-4-322. A drivable par-4 and birdie chance, with water wrapping around the left of the green to the back. 2 fairway greenside bunkers are the security guards for a peanut-shaped green that slopes right to left. There’s plenty of room to layup but it’s very tempting to go with driver.
5-4-477. #2 handicap A bit like 18 at TPC Sawgrass, #5 is a long par 4 with water all along the left and the tee box facing the water for intimidation reasons. There’s enough room for a drive but a draw for righties will help steer the ball away from the 2 fairway bunkers right. The friendly green’s back half slopes back and the front half slopes to the front and favors a draw approach in since the water eliminates anything left. This will play difficult so it’s good to have at least one birdie on one of the first 4 holes as a buffer for any bogey here.
6-5-561. We’re away from the coast again with this par-5 that curves slightly right and gives a tee choice of left or right of the internal fairway bunker. There’s more room left for a drive but going right creates the best angle into the green though shots can run off the back. Another likely birdie opportunity.
7-4-363. A short par-4 with lots of danger, the tee shot has to deal with water left but using driver frees us up for a wedge shot into an island green. Watch for the fairway bunkers left since approaching an island green from an unpredictable lie in sand may attract more hazards into our lives. The green slopes left to right. Any ‘red slow’ tempo is waterbound. #3 pin is especially hazardous to our health.
8-4-466. A dogleg right that plays towards the clubhouse, #8 requests a draw off the tee between the fairway bunkers leaving probably a mid-iron into the green that slopes left to right.
9-4-415. A huge pond splits the fairway from the green on this short and spacious par-4. There’s just enough room for driver before water comes into play. Playing safe is easier here than on #7 since it’s not an island green going the 3-wood and iron route won’t be penalizing. The green is lightly two-tiered so landing on the back right will result in severely downhill putts.
10-4-492. A long par-4 whose length serves as its defense. There are a few big bunkers left of the fairway but they allow recovery. Landing left on the wide fairway allows the easiest long iron approach. I tested the rough on both sides of the fairway; heavy rough on both sides but a lower % on the right side.
11-4-436. The par-4 11th curves slightly right but a straight 3-wood and straight iron should be enough to handle this hole – especially since there’s water along the whole left side. A driver with loft is going against south winds since they will knock the ball down in front of the Mickey Mouse shaped bunker. (I know we’re in the Dominican Republic not Disneyland. LOL) Try to catch the middle of the green since the runoff left is steeper than it appears and there are some deeper bunkers right.
12-3-174. #3 handicap The two tiered green and water behind and to the left are the defenses for a par-3 that favors fades (from righties) off the tee. Since the green likes to sit so close to the water, this is one of the most intimidating tee shots. The #3 pin is close to the water.
13-4-307. Did I say that last tee shot was intimidating? Well ditto for this one. A drivable par-4 with severe punishments for going long or right. The green slopes more significantly than others from left to right where water sits. Any pins on the right don’t need to be challenged. The hole plays safely with a driver fade to the left side of the green which will then feed the ball right.
14-3-133. A short par-3 that reminds me of Pebble Beach #7, It’s only a wedge in but the water limits shots to any pins in the back right like #1. Don’t be scared like I will be. Be brave!
15-5-520. Like the par-5 6th hole, the fairway gives the driver options of going left or right of the fairway bunker with the right side more dangerous and rewarding for the approach. It may not be worth it since water is all along the right side. The green again sits right at water level. I can dangle my tootsies for a soak if I’m tired it’s so close.
16-4-496. This is a crucial driver tee shot and it’s gotta be driver cause any shorter club landing in the rough or fairway bunkers will require too much work when par-seeking. There’s a 5 handicap for this hole but it will play harder than that. South winds will blow against us for an added challenge. Even if we’re in the fairway with driver there’s still 200 yards to go battling two bunkers fronting the green.
17-4-464. Visually frightening off the tee when seeing the expansive fairway bunker and angled fairway with water left, but there’s plenty of room for drives even without using a fade for this dogleg right par-4. It’s the approach that is actually frightening. The green is relaxing right on the edge of the water but it’s stressing me out.
18-3-229 #1 handicap. The longest par-3 with a green on the smaller side undulating right to left, these last few holes all hang out together looking out at the sun on the water like a bunch of friends waiting to harass golfers with their locations on the coast. The water sits left but a draw is the best way to handle this possibly devastating hole.
Have a good week!
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Post by axelvonfersen on Feb 8, 2021 2:23:54 GMT -5
Such a deceptive course. It looks easy from the tee but there are perils everywhere and the greens aren't pushovers either. You really have to think about where your tee-shot is going to land. Get into a groove and you can post a nice score, start chasing after dropped shots and you can get in more trouble.
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Post by b101 on Feb 8, 2021 3:15:23 GMT -5
Pretty much nailed it williamwes626 . A few notes to add: 5, 6, 10 - pin position may slightly alter whether you want to be left side or right side of the fairway to give the best line in past the greenside bunkers 18 - pin two is just make par and move on - hard to get within 20 feet. Big kicker slope short right that provides a great way to access pin 1 (and 3, although you want to choose your landing spot with care). Pin 4, although the longest, is probably the easiest. 12 - comfortably the hardest hole on the course with the pins on the right IMO. Make three and move on. Hope you all enjoy. The greens are pretty gentle, but you'll need to be in the right spot off the tee to set up those good looks on the approaches. Bailing to the fat part of the fairway often leads to a slightly trickier approach.
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Post by axelvonfersen on Feb 8, 2021 8:54:40 GMT -5
Started off with the shakiest -4 in history in CC-G R1. Hey b101 this places scares the crap out of me and I've no idea why. I'm feeling the pressure of landing my tee shots in the proper places and nailing the approaches and it's nerve-wrecking.
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Post by knickerbocker on Feb 8, 2021 9:52:13 GMT -5
I love the design. Really good use of width and angles. I played a practice round and I realized I can play away from the water and probably make the cut or take on shots and bring bigger numbers into play. Probably will have to pick my spots on where I attack.
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Post by rustysblanket on Feb 8, 2021 10:35:41 GMT -5
Love the course, my only issue is its quite punishing for a lower level CC player like myself . The fairways are plenty wide but when combined with all of the water, one poor drive landing a foot or less in the rough turns the longer par 4s into par 5s. And this is again is a me problem, but when my swing gets isn't feeling great, there were approach shots I simply couldn't go for and had to bail out and hope to scramble for pars.I love Ben's courses and I'm sure choosing courses for CC-A down to CC-L is never a one size fits all scenario, it just seems a rough go for players who struggle to break par on off swing days. But even on a good week if I hit 4 balls in the water in the first two rounds, theres no way I' making a the cut, on course like this, it ends my week pretty quick.
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Post by b101 on Feb 8, 2021 10:42:22 GMT -5
Love the course, my only issue is its quite punishing for a lower level CC player like myself . The fairways are plenty wide but when combined with all of the water, one poor drive landing a foot or less in the rough turns the longer par 4s into par 5s. And this is again is a me problem, but when my swing gets isn't feeling great, there were approach shots I simply couldn't go for and had to bail out and hope to scramble for pars.I love Ben's courses and I'm sure choosing courses for CC-A down to CC-L is never a one size fits all scenario, it just seems a rough go for players who struggle to break par on off swing days. But even on a good week if I hit 4 balls in the water in the first two rounds, theres no way I' making a the cut, on course like this, it ends my week pretty quick. Tbh that's totally fair. There are certainly some where it's a case of 'it's a long four and you just have to hit the fairway or you're hacking out' - I think 10 is the best example of that. Personally, I'd probably put the challenge off the tee at the high end of CC, potentially Kinetic level and the putting at bottom of CC. Designing for this difficulty is certainly not my strength so it's good to get feedback
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Post by rustysblanket on Feb 8, 2021 11:32:24 GMT -5
Love the course, my only issue is its quite punishing for a lower level CC player like myself . The fairways are plenty wide but when combined with all of the water, one poor drive landing a foot or less in the rough turns the longer par 4s into par 5s. And this is again is a me problem, but when my swing gets isn't feeling great, there were approach shots I simply couldn't go for and had to bail out and hope to scramble for pars.I love Ben's courses and I'm sure choosing courses for CC-A down to CC-L is never a one size fits all scenario, it just seems a rough go for players who struggle to break par on off swing days. But even on a good week if I hit 4 balls in the water in the first two rounds, theres no way I' making a the cut, on course like this, it ends my week pretty quick. Tbh that's totally fair. There are certainly some where it's a case of 'it's a long four and you just have to hit the fairway or you're hacking out' - I think 10 is the best example of that. Personally, I'd probably put the challenge off the tee at the high end of CC, potentially Kinetic level and the putting at bottom of CC. Designing for this difficulty is certainly not my strength so it's good to get feedback Honestly its a great type of course for me to practice on, The greens as you said are not difficult, the only problem was the putts I was making were generally for par or worse. Personally your courses are always must plays for me, and many get repeated plays that make me a better player. Keep up the good work.
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Post by axelvonfersen on Feb 8, 2021 11:41:55 GMT -5
Love the course, my only issue is its quite punishing for a lower level CC player like myself . The fairways are plenty wide but when combined with all of the water, one poor drive landing a foot or less in the rough turns the longer par 4s into par 5s. And this is again is a me problem, but when my swing gets isn't feeling great, there were approach shots I simply couldn't go for and had to bail out and hope to scramble for pars.I love Ben's courses and I'm sure choosing courses for CC-A down to CC-L is never a one size fits all scenario, it just seems a rough go for players who struggle to break par on off swing days. But even on a good week if I hit 4 balls in the water in the first two rounds, theres no way I' making a the cut, on course like this, it ends my week pretty quick. Tbh that's totally fair. There are certainly some where it's a case of 'it's a long four and you just have to hit the fairway or you're hacking out' - I think 10 is the best example of that. Personally, I'd probably put the challenge off the tee at the high end of CC, potentially Kinetic level and the putting at bottom of CC. Designing for this difficulty is certainly not my strength so it's good to get feedback It's a long season so more "difficult" courses is completely fine. We need that variety. This course puts a premium of thinking where you're placing your tee shot and where you want to hit the next shot from, and also "if I miss, where do I want to miss?". Like I said above, it looks deceptively easy at a glance but once you got a few rounds in you'll see the tactical nuances. It's difficult, but fun. Maybe the firm fairways are a bit more of a challenge for us in the mid-lower levels of CC (CC-G myself) as it's difficult to get the ball to stop at times but it really forces a different strategy on your approach shot. On the other hand, it complements it with being relatively easy to scramble for par if you miss the GIR. Give and take. It's nice to not go pin-seeking with every shot even though my over-analyzing of each shot gives me a headache. My only gripe is that bunker to the right (fourth hole?) after you've hit the drive across the water, which shouldn't be there at all, since I can't miss it.
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Post by b101 on Feb 8, 2021 12:14:19 GMT -5
My only gripe is that bunker to the right (fourth hole?) after you've hit the drive across the water, which shouldn't be there at all, since I can't miss it. Ha, I think you mean the 5th - that’s a fun one. You can easily clear the ocean on the left, it’s just such an uncomfortable tee shot. It’s one of those holes that is an easy par even if you play three wood, but birdie should require two solid shots. And yeah, the angling and bunker placement are mean - purely to push you out toward the ocean 🙂
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Post by axelvonfersen on Feb 8, 2021 12:50:57 GMT -5
purely to push you out toward the ocean 🙂 Ah see that's where I got your number, because I just swing and hope for the best! Also, I saw the penis-shaped OB you placed between 5 and 6.
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Post by b101 on Feb 8, 2021 13:00:55 GMT -5
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Post by illinoisgator on Feb 8, 2021 16:42:46 GMT -5
What a great and fun course. Plenty of birdies out there to be had if you can overcome the the constant visual intimidation. I usually don’t practice courses before play but I’m glad I did on this one because I found out quickly what not to do. Played confidently and smart /safer than I usually do (I’m way more of a Tin Cup style) and it paid off. -9 and -6 to sit -15 at the cut.
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Post by deacondrake on Feb 8, 2021 17:52:58 GMT -5
My analysis: the course will reward being bold or very straight. The fairways are flat and will bounce and run a ton... like 90-95% drives into a slight wind were at 300. However, on those intermediate to long Par 4s, the greens do not hold the 6-9 irons like I was accustomed. Certainly helps to have the extra 20 yards or so to be in wedge range, if you can keep it in the short stuff. Bogey free 65, with 3 missed putts under 8 feet... easily my best opening round since joining the tour.
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