Hole by Hole Guide - 17th
Thursday 5th July 2007
Name: Island
Par: 4
Championship Tee: 461 yards
Medal Tee: 433 yards
Colin Says: A brutal hole where I feel the Championship will be won and lost. They'll look to move it about 250 yards off the tee but they'll have to decide how much of the Barry Burn they're willing to pinch off. It requires two great shots and don't be surprised to see them hitting 3-wood, 3-wood to get up. The green is not overly difficult but it's getting there that's the problem.
Fergus Says: This can be a real card-wrecker if you don't approach it correctly. Most amateurs will play it as a three-shotter – don't be embarrassed to do the same. You can aim further right off the tee than it appears, then try to get it somewhere close to the front edge with your second shot.
Paul Says: The 17th is always a tough hole. With no wind or into the wind you're hitting driver off the tee up the right to go into the green with a low 3-wood or 2-iron, over the bunker at the front. It tends to be the hole, I think, that has the highest scoring average.
