The Golden Tee Blog

Last year it was Savannah 17 – without question the toughest hole in the game and perhaps the toughest hole of all-time. While Heather Pointe fans may have a bone to pick with that, there’s plenty of holes in GT history that have become famous with the challenges they present.

Flash back once again to ’09, which sounds odd but you know what I’m getting at. It seemed like no matter what I tried, including a 4-hybrid chip and all sorts of horrendous cut shots, I got wet on Savannah 17. Usually my next shot would go in the hazard as well, and suddenly that potential –23 turned into a –16. Just like that.

Tilt. Say it with me, fellas… TILT.

While these challenging looks can be frustrating, they are also what make the game great. They forever go down in GT lore as the true round busters, but when you play them perfectly it makes it all worthwhile. They also force us to be creative. Who would imagine using a 4-iron on a 75-yard shot? I mean really?

A perfect example of this is Monument Valley 17, which leads off this mini-series as my fifth hardest hole in 2010. It gives players an amazing look, but it can be a black eye on the ol’ scorecard if the ball doesn’t roll your way.

17 is a par-3 that has tee boxes surrounding the hole on pretty much all sides. The distance can range anywhere from 95 to 160 yards.

The green, which might be one of, if not the toughest in the game, has a ten slope that can vary in direction depending on which tee box you are placed. There is a bunker surrounding the back, front, or side of the green, (once again depending on placement).

This hole provides a true challenge because the green is really tough to stick at all angles. And even when you do stick it, there’s the possibility that you’ll still have a very missable putt for birdie. The potential to really blowup is there as well. End up in the water and you’ll have a drop that is far from easy. Well, maybe not for you pros out there, but certainly for us donks.

If you have a good club with a nice out or cross wind then the birdie opportunity is very possible – but this easy opportunity won’t be there often. I highlighted 12 games I played on the hole and I got exactly 36 strokes, for an average of 3 strokes per time played. Not bad, especially with a few doubles in there.

Everyone out there has probably played and seen all the new courses and holes in 2010, so I put the question to you. Is Monument Valley 17 one of the top five hardest holes in the game?

Comments as always are welcome and appreciated. What do you think?

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Attention Fans of Golden Tee Golf: there’s a possible scandal among us, the gravity of which is unfathomable.  I present to you the following communication, which was intercepted by Incredible Technologies’ Information Observation Team (aka, ITIOT) on October the first, year two thousand and nine.

Great Wall #3

This hole is definitely a rip-off of my design-a-hole entry “star maker/star breaker” which got an honorable mention on GT.com on the 15 designs that didn’t make the cut for voting. WTF….

…yes it is the plnwheel green par 3, I have no pics, my design was drawn on paper with no copies made. My green was star shaped with the pin placement at the ends of the arms of the star requiring a shot in the middle of the green for any chance of a birdie.

Author: MOCHEEZ

Source: Let’s Talk Golf Message Board

*chk* black helicopter 1 to base: requesting profile information on subject, MOCHEEZ, over. *chk*

East China? Coincidence?

PROFILE: MOCHEEZ

Goes by Doug Smalley.  Claims East China, Michigan as his home. Database confirms,  2009 Design-a-Hole Contest semi-finalist.  Known as a “hardcore” member of “Let’s Talk Golf”.  Once shot a -27 on Bonnie Moore to win $2 and was last quoted stating “I’d be a banger if I could hit ‘em straight.”

*chk* black helicopter 1 to base: Roger.  East China, Michigan? hmmm Sounds fishy…  Requesting further profile information.  One James Zielinski, over. *chk*

Grilled Cheese - MOCHEEZ? Coincidence?

PROFILE: JIM ZIELINSKI

Goes by “Jimmy Z.” and known as the co-creator of Golden Tee Golf.  Noted as the game’s virtual course architect and has designed every hole, including Great Wall #3.  From the Chicago area and has been featured in dozens of magazines and TV programs.  Also an acclaimed creator of food and drink, including Golden Tee Grilled Cheese and the creme’ de menth/Goldschlager concoction called the Golden Tee Gulp.

*chk* black helicopter 1 to base: Roger that.  Requesting further details on the scandal…  And aaaa, can we get some of those cheese sandwiches up here? Over… *chk*

THE SCANDAL: HOLE GATE 2010

Doug “MOCHEEZ” Smalley claims that James “Jimmy Z.” Zielinski ripped-off his Design-a-Hole entry “Star Maker/Breaker” when designing hole #3 of The Great Wall.  MOCHEEZ goes on to claim that not only did Jim Z. glean design ideas from him but from other non-suspecting Design-a-Hole Contest semi-finalists. Jim, a proud artist, vehemently denies borrowing any ideas, be them conscious or subconscious.

*chk* black helicopter 1 to base: Roger, dodger.  Requesting further evidence…. and… aaaa… base – those sandwiches please? over.*chk*

EVIDENCE A: STAR MAKER/BREAKER

EVIDENCE B: GREAT WALL #3

*chk* black helicopter 1 to base: 10-4, base but aaaa… where in the hell are the trees and the dirt mounds? And did you say sand – was that sand, base?  This is INSANE.  IT’s black helicopters have WAY more work to do than this – I’m out…  And – aaaaa – screw those sandwiches.   I’m going to get one of those Golden Tee Gulps… over and out.*chk*

YOU TELL US…

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Thank you for your cooperation during this critical time.

- ITIOT Agent Duffer Dan Schrementi

ps: we love you, Doug.

AK: We’re on our final course, and once again thanks for offering up an inside look at your latest creations, Jim. Last but certainly not least is Southern Oaks – give us some background on the course.

JZ: Southern Oaks is a more championship style golf course. Many will find this course the closest thing to real golf in almost any of the GT courses we’ve created. As a whole, the course is relatively flat with thick woods surrounding every single hole. There’s a lot of water and a decent amount of sand that will come into play.

AK: How would you rate Southern Oaks in terms of difficulty?

JZ: I would say it’s certainly above average in terms of difficulty, and might be the toughest course in the latest update. On face value, a course without shortcuts and little to no elevation would seem easy, but that’s not really the case. There’s a tons of trees, a lot of water that can be found by shots that aren’t on the mark, and the greens are guarded extremely well by bunkers and mounds.

AK: A lot was made about Southern Oaks because as you said, it has no shortcuts. Can you elaborate more on that?

JZ: The term shortcut can be misconstrued in some of these instances, but Southern Oaks does have a much different feel than any other course in GT history. There are still drivable par-4s, and par-5s will still require an outstanding second shot to reach the green in two. These shots, however, will not have some of the gimmicks or tricks that there have been in the past. Players will have to use a variety of shots to shoot well, and they won’t be able to simply get by off of course memory.

AK: Another item that will resonate unique with players that have played plenty of your courses is the fact that the 18^th hole is a par-4 that is not reachable in one. What led to this unique ending?

JZ: We’re trying to avoid the sort of cookie-cutter mentality, which is why we decided to switch it up. Players have grown to expect a drivable par-4 for hole 18, but we thought that Southern Oaks would be the ideal spot to go with a different approach. The final stretch will still provide plenty of fireworks, and there will be potential to gain and lose strokes. Hole 16 is one of the tougher par-3s in the entire game and Hole 17 is a drivable par-4 that will really test a player’s skills. Hole 18 will provide a very different challenge, and is going to be a tough birdie to come by especially with a tough setup.

AK: Which would you say is your favorite hole on the course?

JZ: On Southern Oaks my favorite hole is the 11^th, and by now you’ve probably noticed a pattern in the holes I like the best. They usually involve strategic options at the tee, and rewards for well placed shots after that. This hole is a good example. It’s a par-4 and the fairway has sort of a “Y” shape. The landing area for the tee shot spans 250 yards from left to right. You can choose to hit your tee anywhere along this span. The water on the left side won’t allow deep drives so any shot hit to the left will have a longer second shot to the green. The right side has trees to contend with. If the tee shot is too far and deep, the second shot requires a fade shot around the trees and over the bunker.

What I like about this hole is that there is no “right” way to play it. I think we’re going to see players choosing different strategies based on different equipment and different conditions.

This hole represents what I think is most fun about Golden Tee. It gives the player many choices and opportunities to make good or bad decisions. That’s the real fun. Make the right decision, then execute. A well-executed shot reaffirms your strategy. There’s a lot of satisfaction when you’re successful.

AK: Jim, thanks so much for joining us. We appreciate all your help on breaking down your masterpieces!

Three down, two to go. And these final two courses happen to be my early personal favorites in 2010.

While Golden Tee 2010 is set to ship on September 29^th (whoop, whoop!), we thought we’d tide everyone over with a quick peak at all five of the new courses. And what better source to chat with about GT 2010’s five new gems than the actual source himself.

Course designer Jim Zielinski is here to discuss some of the intriguing factors you can expect to see when playing the update in a matter of days – oh how sweet does that sound! Next up, Monument Valley!

AK: Jim, thanks once again for helping us out at the GTB. We’re in the final stretch and up next down the line is Monument Valley. Give us some background of the design of the course, and what separates it from other GT courses?

JZ: Glad to be here, Adam. Monument Valley is set in northeastern Arizona, and unlike the common perception this isn’t actually a canyon course. Monument Valley isn’t tucked in between canyons the entire course, as both Kings Canyon and Rattlesnake Ridge were. In fact, there’s really only one position where you’ll have to hit an accurate shot between two canyon-like walls. With that being said, there’s plenty of large rocks that come into play and lots of sand and dusty dirt because it is located in the desert.

AK: How would you rate Monument Valley in terms of difficulty?

JZ: In general, I would say the course will play fairly average in terms of difficulty – IF you decide to play it safe. Hole seventeen can be extremely challenging with certain looks, but other than that you should be able to play for birdie and end up just fine on most of the holes.

AK: Okay, but what about those of us who are feeling lucky on a particular shot or would really love that eagle versus settling for a birdie?

JZ: That’s where things get a lot more interesting. Besides the rocks and other items in play, Monument Valley has the most elevation of any course in 2010. Not as much as Black Hills in ’09 but there still is a noticeable amount. And then there’s the risk vs. reward, which can be extremely rewarding but also very punishing if you’re off your mark. The giant rocks create some very fascinating, drivable par-4′s that can be wonderful for your scorecard if you hit the right shot. End up astray, behind a large rock, and it could be a potential blow up.

AK: Which hole on Monument Valley would you say is your personal favorite?

JZ: Actually, I think I like the finishing hole the best – the 18th. Normally I like to design a drivable par-4 to finish the round. The double eagle potential gives players a glimmer of hope even if they are down by a few strokes. On hole 18 of Monument Valley, the double eagle is still available, but this time the round finishes with a really long par-5.

The hole has two levels, and the tee and first fairway are really elevated. The second fairway along with the green sit 200 feet lower. The green is tucked into a nook in the cliff that is protected on 3 sides by walls, and in the front by water, which the green slopes hard towards. This makes the second shot one a real fun one.

If you choose to go for the green, you’d better know how to compensate for wind. Because of the huge drop, the approach shot will stay in the air much longer than a normal shot. Usually the winds on the 18th are pretty severe so it’s not going to be easy. You don’t want to be long on this shot, because the back cliff will ricochet the ball right into the water. The cliff walls around the green can also help a shot. Because it’s semi-enclosed, bad shots can rattle around the cliff walls and some actually go in. I think this will end up being a great YouTube hole!

AK: Thanks again, Jim! Can’t wait for 2010!