If you’ve ever played Ridges at Sand Creek, you’ll remember the 14th hole, a short par 4 (270 to 311 yards, depending on the tee box), played from an elevated tee. Paddy cake golf? Not quite, thanks to the creek flowing through a deep ravine 20 or so yards short of the steeply elevated green– one that’s about the width of an ironing board. And then there’s the precipitous slope just off the right edge, descending to a copse where the trees are huddled closely enough together so you’re left with nothing if you miss right. And of course there’s OB just left of the green. No problem going for the green on your drive– just as long as you land the ball squarely on the putting surface; otherwise you’ll likely wind up either in the creek, in the woods or out of bounds.
Because of the distance to the green and the narrow target, golfers routinely lay up off the tee, hitting shots anywhere from 150 to 200 yards, depending on their choice of tees. They then face approach shots of 100 to 140 yards. A difficult two-level green makes par a welcome score for most of us.
But then we have the alternative strategy favored by first year BMC member Andrew Hooyman, whose spontaneous sense of humor and easygoing manner belie his fearless style of play. Just ask Andrew about number 14: you simply take aim at the green, smash your drive and take your chances from there. Which, in the BMC’s July Getaway event at the Ridges, is exactly what Andrew did, driving the green from the blue tees and two putting for a ho-hum birdie. Following the round, Andrew explained that he’d played the hole three times before: the first time he tried to lay up but hit his tee shot into the creek; the second time, eschewing a layup, he went for the green, missed way right into the adjacent fairway and made a miracle birdie from there; and the third time he also went for it but missed left, somehow keeping the ball in bounds and making par. So, seriously, is there really any reason not to go for it? Through adept shot-making, you simply render the unlikely likely.
By the way, Andrew and playing partner Tuyen Thieu won the Getaway by a remarkable five shots, assembling a scintillating final score of ten under.
Great shot, Andrew! And congrats on an impressive round, Andrew and Tuyen!
Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590