by Jim Lee
I’ve played the 17th at Arbutus Ridge several times, and always had difficulty with it. I’m usually playing the white tees, and at 174 yards it a long way with essentially all carry. The narrow bail out area to the right fronts on a road and leaves little scope for error. So unless you lay up short of the pond, you have to go for it. But at that distance with a 5 or 6 iron, its tough to get a ball to come down softly to stay on the green, without rolling over into the back bunker or bouncing into the pond. I can’t believe that it’s the #16 handicap hole.
Lay up? You got to be kidding (but maybe use an old ball?)
Following is what the Arbutus Ridge website has to say.
“This peninsula green is actually very large. The water that surrounds the three sides is imposing. Out-of-bounds to the right should be avoided at all costs. Shorter hitters should consider laying up. The ever-present crosswinds, for some reason, don't affect shots here.”
Par 3
Tees
Blue
214
White
174
Red
151
Yellow
124
Men's HCP:
16
Women's HCP:
18
This helicopter overview tells players how to play the hole, from Director of Golf Jordan Ray.
http://www.worldwidegolfguide.com/hgg_home/arbutus/pages/arbutus_17.html
