Golden Gate Heights

[Sundance]

I’m not sure how the background plays out or if allows for it, but I’m envisioning a hole along the hills along the bay with a scenic view of the bridge. This should be a really neat looking course with the terrain around San Fran.

Brad, I'm trying to keep the bridge in sight with a lot of holes but it's difficult with a mountain style course to keep the BG focused. Not spending a lot of time with the designer. In the middle of a remodel again and it's taking most of my time. I actually started another course as well, Patriots Point but have hardly anything to show for it yet. Those two will be my 2023 project as time allows.

[Sundance]

Hole #2 @ Golden Gate Heights is a 463 yard par 4 that gives you the first real glimpse of what's to come. The elevated tee shot aims for the uphill fairway avoiding the huge bunker to the left. Most will be left with a long iron to an elevated green protected on the left with a treacherous bunker and at the rear with a steep runoff. Long putts will be most difficult but anything close to the pin will be rewarded.
Views from the tee, approach and both front and rear of green.

[Sundance]

[JReel]

I love the double spine running through the green Steve! Great feature.

[Sundance]

I love the double spine running through the green Steve! Great feature.

I've been doing this with quite a few greens lately. It serves a dual purpose since I mostly place pins in the flatter areas of the green it rewards the shots close to the pin and makes the long putts challenging. I actually find the long putts to be a lot of fun as they traverse the various breaks over the mounds. If you make a 20 footer on these you've earned it!!

[Goran]

Nice Steve, if you are using this concept on more greens you could make the putting over the spines even harder by angle them a bit and make them more irregular. The pins could be on flat pieces but the way to get to them would be even more unpredictable. I also place my pins on flat ground, but this is a great way to punish poor approaches.
Love that bunker!

[Sundance]

Nice Steve, if you are using this concept on more greens you could make the putting over the spines even harder by angle them a bit and make them more irregular. The pins could be on flat pieces but the way to get to them would be even more unpredictable. I also place my pins on flat ground, but this is a great way to punish poor approaches.
Love that bunker!

Goran, I do angle the spines on some greens and on other I'll use maybe one spine and then place irregular lifts and dips depending on the size of the green. I also employ the random terrain elevation on some but at a very low rate creating subtle changes in elevation but I tend to use this cautiously as it can create very frustating results for the golfer.

[tarheel]

This is just so good looking. Creativity has no boundary for you

[Sundance]

This is just so good looking. Creativity has no boundary for you

Thanks Brad, that's very kind.

[Sundance]

Hole #3 at Golden Gate Heights is a 190 yard par 3. You must carry the bunker fronting the green off the tee while avoiding the bunkers on either side. If you overshoot the green slopes down and away at the rear demanding an accurate drive. Views from the tee and an aerial of the green.