Hole #3 "Gorilla"
Par 5
Stroke 2
Tillinghast considered par 5s the most difficult holes to design because he did not
want even the best players to be able to reach them in two shots. On this hole he
succeeded!
As is often the case with Tillinghast, the most efficient route to the hole is the
most dangerous. The best drive favors the left side of the fairway, but out of
bounds lines the left side the entire length of the hole and the thin rough
encourages the ball’s journey into the woods. Hitting to the right side, away
from the out of bounds, may be prudent, but excessive prudence will leave the golfer
blocked in a line of oaks.
The all-important second shot must be carried over a minefield of mounds running
across the fairway. Once again left is better as the reward on the dogleg right is a
shot that crosses only fairway to a long up-sloping green protected on three sides
by bunkers.
The third shot challenges the golfer to negotiate a false front and find the correct
tier on the narrow and deep undulating, multi-tier green. Golfers following the
shorter route from the right side of the fairway must fly a series of bunkers and
bring their shot to rest on a narrow green. The lightning-fast green can produce
profound disappointment even in those fortunate enough to be on in three shots.