Local risk-reward holes?

[ChrisPUTTS]

I have read some people saying that there are not many risk reward holes around this area.  What courses and holes would you say can be classified as a risk/reward hole?

[shawn]

not to many in this area.

thought of a few but they are not as worthy as some of the par 5's at true championship courses..  I believe that is what most are wanting to see..

[skipache]

Hole 4 alternate tee at Streamwood, this exellent tee placement puts the creek into play at just the right distance. Risk: short or left in the water, or in the water off a tree. Reward: 360' hyzer shot onto the green for a putt for 2. Players must choose between going for it or laying up for a rather routine par three with small chance of birdie

[Jon Brakel]

Risk vs. reward and par 5 holes are two different but equally challenging and enjoyable concepts. We don't have many risk vs. reward holes but I'll try to list a few examples.

Hole 12 at Round Lake for non-big arms and you play the swamp OB (tournament play). If you can only make it across the swamp sometimes then you have a risk vs. reward situation. Are you feeling good on the tee pad, is the wind right, etc. all come into your decision whether to go for it or lay up short.

Risk: OB
Reward: Much easier 3 or even a chance at the deuce. If you don't have an arm big enough to always clear the swamp then playing short is going to result in a 4 almost every time.

Hole B at Bevier. Do you layup your drive short of the creek and play for the 3 or do you crank one out to thread the needle and try fo the deuce?

Risk: Creek OB, or in deep doo doo in the woods after a deflection off a tree.
Reward: A shot at the deuce.

Hole 2 at Adler. You can crank out a forehand or a slow anhyzer and go for the basket or you can throw something straight and land just before hole three's tee pad and play for a long putt or the 3.

Risk: Much more of chance to get deep in the woods.
Reward: Deuce shot.

[Jon Brakel]

Hole 4 alternate tee at Streamwood, this exellent tee placement puts the creek into play at just the right distance. Risk: short or left in the water, or in the water off a tree. Reward: 360' hyzer shot onto the green for a putt for 2. Players must choose between going for it or laying up for a rather routine par three with small chance of birdie

And that points out the differences of skill when designing risk vs. reward. Risk vs. reward has to be designed for a particular skill group. An all around course ideally would have risk vs. reward shots for all skill levels. A hole that requires a 360' shot for the reward shot would not be a risk vs. reward shot to me. I'd be playing the safe shot on that one every time!

[ChrisPUTTS]

Thank you for different examples of risk/reward.  I have yet to play any of the courses that you listed but i intend to start driving up north to try and play out there.  I am mainly stuck in the I-80/55 area.

I shoot a forehand TeeBird as my main driver in the average range of about 300-325ft.  So for me a 360 foot hole with water would have to be a safe shot. 

[Jon Brakel]

One thing that we have found by designing holes with extra OB for tournaments (i.e. the yellow rope island hole at Fairfield) is that most players do not understand the risk fully. On any given day, on any given hole they can make that shot...but not every time! So they go for it every time! Players that don't quite get the risk concept usually do poorly on those holes unless they are spot on that day.

[stpitner]

One minor risk/reward hole is hole 8 at Oak Brook.  There's a fairway that is an anhyzer around some trees towards the basket, placing it out there will line you up for an easy 3.  There is a clump of trees straightaway from the trees with a narrow gap to get through.  However, if you nail that gap at a decent height, you can sail right through and get a much better shot at a deuce.  There's also a really small tree slightly blocking some of the path towards the opening.  Unfortunately that tree has looked really sick since the cicadas were out and about, and I don't think the tree is going to make it.  Removing the tree will help people want to go for the narrow gap all the time.

[skipache]

i always go for it at oakbrook sometimes im behind the trees and bogey though thats a good hole