It is not only a delightful hole to see, which at any rate appeals subconsciously to the dullest of minds, but it is equally delightful to play. It is less difficult than it appears. You feel you are taking your life in your hands, and it therefore appeals, as Mr. Bernard Darwin says, to the “spirit of adventure”—yet a well-played shot always gets its due reward.
There are few, if any, ideal two- or three-shot holes in existence. Some of those coming in at St. Andrews are almost, but not quite, perfect.
The sixteenth (Corner of the Dyke) hole at St. Andrews is almost ideal for its length (338 yards). It was a particularly good hole at the time of the guttie ball, and is so to-day for a short driver, like the writer.
As in the majority of good holes, it is the subtlety of the slopes that makes it so.
The sixteenth hole at St. Andrews.
The green is tilted up slightly from right to left, and it would be a better hole still if the inclination were greater. It is also guarded by Grant’s and the Wig Bunkers on the left-hand side, so that the approach from the right is easy, as all the slopes assist the players, and the approach from the left is exceedingly difficult.
The point about the hole is that it is so difficult to get into the best position to approach the green, because of the proximity of the Principal’s Nose Bunker to the railway, and the difficulty of placing one’s tee shot in such a small space with all the slopes leading to the bunker. On the other hand, there is a perfectly easy route free from all risk to the left of the Principal’s Nose, but the player in all probability loses a stroke by taking it.