George Ward favorite...

[mpetre]

It's Thursday night and I'm a little bored. Wanted to start a thread concerning favorite hole at Ward. I'll start and if anyone wants to chime in with their vote and reasoning go right ahead.

My favorite hole would have to be... #11 whether it be in the short, long, (or longest although I haven't had the pleasure of playing it yet) positions. The hole itself is pretty wide open, but the close trees from the tee force you to make some immediate decisions about the throw (and I've seen those decisions cause some really good players to choke at times.) I love that there are right and left-handed routes with equal chances of a two (reachable even by me on a good throw.) The dense thicket on the left is always to be avoided, but the roll-off to the right could be just as nasty for an errant throw. Sure 10 is probably easier to wind up with a four on, but that's more often an unlucky bounce, on 11 it's almost always a truly bad throw that causes problems. Of course my favorite throws are 12 and 15, but that's a different category. I would love to hear your opinions...

[Greg T]

For me this has to be #13. Not the hardest of holes, but it is my favorite.

[Jebb]

my fav two holes are extension holes B and E because of the immense challenge just to par each consistently. as for regular holes, 6 and 15 I'd say just from the huge variety with each hole's pin placements.

[mpetre]

For me this has to be #13. Not the hardest of holes, but it is my favorite.

For someone who threw only sidearm when he started, I'd have to say 13 is one of my very favorites too. It's the first time I realized that I had to become a backhand thrower too or I would never be even competitive in the Intermediate divisions. BTW, I agree with Jebb that Ext. B is one of the best separator holes on the entire course. As a side-armer I never had a chance to bird this hole, but I'm pretty sure with a straight roc shot I could occasionally. I can't believe I used to deliberately float a sidearm over the creek and pray it would come back... ugh...

[mpetre]

my fav two holes are extension holes B and E because of the immense challenge just to par each consistently. as for regular holes, 6 and 15 I'd say just from the huge variety with each hole's pin placements.

Do they ever actually change 15? :)

[Greg T]

Do they ever actually change 15? :)

I last saw 15 in the far right spot in April around Golden George time.

[drdisc]

15 has two other positions. WE really need to re enforce or get a new bridge to use the long positions. The long right is a a sidearm/lefty favorite.
________
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["Tiger"]

Do they ever actually change 15? :)


lol, well the funny thing is that most people LOVE 15 across the creek. I prefer it straight or in the right position myself. But its definately not my favorite hole. For that I would have to go with either 5 in the long (yes, I like the really long holes), 13 in the long (unless you played the golden george you've probably never even heard of this position) or16 in the super long (same thing as 13 long, only around for the george). Slight trend with the distance, but I think those holes have a good mix of distance AND accuracy :cool:

[Parkntwoputt]

Why would I not be surprised that two of Drake's favorite holes would be two of the longest ever at George Ward Park.

I really cannot decide on my favorite at GW. #5 long is really great, #11 ultra long is really great, and #16 ultra long is really great too.

But these are not good only because they are long, but they require multiple shot skills. You not only have to be good at long drives, but you have to successfully execute upshots and fairway shots, as well as being a good putter. Notice all greens either have reasonable obstacles or have slight elevation changes. These three holes are few of the only true "golf" holes at GW. Most holes lightly called "pitch-n-putt" are done so because of the need for only one good throw to do well. And that throw could be either drive, putt, or upshot. But 5,11,16 in the longest positions require perfect execution at all points along the hole.

I agree with Drake in the fact that #15 across the creek "peninsula" position is one my least favorite holes on the course. I can say that even while having an ace and multiple metal hits on it. But it is a duece or die hole. And when I say die, I mean it. In a tournament there are a great number of dueces as well a great number of 4's or higher. This is because the possibility of a penalty shot assigned on a missed putt is very high. Sure you might argue that you need to make your putt not to get penalized, but at the same time the roll aways become trivial to a point. Especially if the competitors are not on the level where making the putt is a near guarantee and the percentage of "bogey or worse" is smaller.

But you guys playing at GW have to realize that #5 long is a very famous hole. Players from across the nation know this hole, and that in itself should say a lot. You are very lucky to be able to practice on one of the best disc golf holes in the world.

Tomorrow I will be off to my lil' Mid-Atlantic Pitch and Putt course.


Oh and case you are wondering, there are many holes I have played and liked really well where throwing far was not an advantage, #14 at White Park in Bowling Green for example. Holes like this are "long" but you are best off using putters for the whole hole.

[mpetre]

Really enjoying some more experienced opinions on this, thank you guys...

[Justin L]

Just trying to throw a little variety in here.....plus the beers have me thinking.

First, 15 is my obvious first choice...three distinct pin placements, three distinct shots makes a great hole.

But I have to say 17 in the long position is a favorite of mine, easily parable but not easily birdieable. It's a great "golf shot" especially for right handers as you have to throw a slight turnover but line holding shot with a threatening OB to your fade left. IMO that's one of the hardest shots to execute for a RHBH thrower.

[mpetre]

Just trying to throw a little variety in here.....plus the beers have me thinking.

First, 15 is my obvious first choice...three distinct pin placements, three distinct shots makes a great hole.

But I have to say 17 in the long position is a favorite of mine, easily parable but not easily birdieable. It's a great "golf shot" especially for right handers as you have to throw a slight turnover but line holding shot with a threatening OB to your fade left. IMO that's one of the hardest shots to execute for a RHBH thrower.

Justin, you would have really gotten a laugh watching me try to roll (sidearm and backhand) on 17 the other day. I rolled 8 discs for grins, 5 went flying down the "cliff" on the left (both the BH and FH shots for some reason) and 2 in the ditch with one good BH roller actually doing what I was dreaming of and going right up the embankment. I knew I wouldn't actually do these shots in a game, but putting the disc on the ground can really be just as interesting as watching them fly.

[ditchell]

i think my favorite is 4 (in any position) its me vs. a tree limb and sometimes i win.

i hear all you big arms hatin' on 15. after the forest wrecks my game (entered +2 best game ever, left +7 crying yesterday) 15 is a little break and i love pulling out the orc and throwing the biggest nastiest spike i can.

[Parkntwoputt]

i hear all you big arms hatin' on 15. after the forest wrecks my game (entered +2 best game ever, left +7 crying yesterday) 15 is a little break and i love pulling out the orc and throwing the biggest nastiest spike i can.


Ditchell, it is not about being a big arm or short arm on the dislike of #15 in the short left position.

First of all you (and any player) can get just about any disc to make it to the pin, with the elevation drop combined with the path which follows the discs natural flight you can get any disc to make it there. I have seen people hit basket with everything from an Omega SS to a Z-Extreme. It is not the shot which people don't like. It is the putt, basically you can land inside 30ft from the basket and if you miss your putt you can end up OB because of the slope down to the creek. Basically you have to land within you "gimmie zone" to make your drive worth it, if you don't basically you are forced to lay up an easy shot or risk going OB.

A really cool shot using 15's short position is to tee off from the access road behind 13's basket. The creek's orientation on the approach shot makes for a really interesting hole.

[chris]

#5 uber long position, fun second shot.

[Putts With A Fist]

#15 Uber short. Why? Because I am a short arm and I've eagled it twice...

[Thomas M]

I know I am always a little behind on the lingo but how do you eagle a par 3?

[dnr24]

My first favorite was #15. I've since grown to like #7. I started out unable to even make it up the slope, let alone to the treeline. I can now make it to the trees and have hit par on my last three attempts. For me, it is a challenging par and very satisfying to make par on #7. The slew of thick trees make you think outside of the box if you land just short of them. I am also enjoying the short position on #3.

[Tim Keith]

2 long left and 15 long straight and 5 long these are my favorites in no certain order.

TK

["Tiger"]

I would have to add 7 in the left now that I think about it. A nice tight s-curve shot coming around the left side of the wall of trees or a skip coming throught the right side are equally fun and tough shots.

[MAJ DG]

I would have to cast a vote for 7, because it's just beyond my driving range most days, and when I crank a good one and birdie it, it feels special. It can also be difficult to par sometimes just because of the way all three greens are protected in some way. Eleven in its back locations because of the same reasons, only its usually a three that feels special.

[ditchell]

7 is a good one. and saturday was the first time i'd ever played it on the left.

it was also the first time i'd played 6 up the hill. i had a great tomahawk shot over the trees that almost went in on it.

i can't wait til the days get longer and after work DG becomes standard again.

[mpetre]

I would have to add 7 in the left now that I think about it. A nice tight s-curve shot coming around the left side of the wall of trees or a skip coming throught the right side are equally fun and tough shots.

How's the health coming along Jeremy? I can't believe the last time I saw you playing Tracy and I were just a few weeks into things. I hope you are feeling better.

BTW, after the Tuscaloosa trip... my favorite hole is anything where I'm not going to lose a disc or hit a tree 4 feet in front of me.

[Parkntwoputt]

BTW, after the Tuscaloosa trip... my favorite hole is anything where I'm not going to lose a disc or hit a tree 4 feet in front of me.

Then your not going to like the N. Virginia courses.

["Tiger"]

How's the health coming along Jeremy? I can't believe the last time I saw you playing Tracy and I were just a few weeks into things. I hope you are feeling better.


I'm actually feeling a whole lot better. I was able to get in a good 9 holes today. Its getting to be a little below my temperature threshold, so I didn't play the back, but it was just nice to get out and throw some plastic again. No pain... just a little tired after walking up 9's hill. I NEVER used to get tired after playing even two rounds... looks like I'm gonna have to build my fitness back up :cool:

[Putts With A Fist]

I know I am always a little behind on the lingo but how do you eagle a par 3?

That's my non boastful way of saying I've aced it twice...:cool:

[Thomas M]

I was starting to think I had offended a rec player playing it as a par 4. Nice ace's. I've only hit basket once.

T

[Putts With A Fist]

No offense taken here. First time I was drunk. Second I was playing with some new guys I didn't know and prefaced the shot with, "I don't feel like putting today, I'm just going to put this one in". I haven't seen any of those guys around in a while...I think they quit. ;)

[brianlmoon]

I am surprised I have not seen this hole mentioned. Maybe it is because we don't get to play it much anymore. Hole #4 when it is by the spring. Ah, that hole is so cool. Granted, it was even cooler when the tree was smaller. Why, back in my day, the tee was way back half way to hole 3's pin. The tree was smaller and you could get a nice slow hyzer all the way there, flirting with the water. And then you would follow that up with 5 in the long position. Old school 4-9 was a tough stretch. You had:

4 near the creek and about 300' then.
5 was super long and the shule was never trimmed. It got tight back there.
6 was up on the hill and there were two full grown trees in the fairway that are dead now.
7 had a huge tree where those first bushed are now. The pin stayed in the left position. There was no high hyzer route due to the tree. You had to go low or turn over.
8 was to the right and the foiliage seemed more dense.
9 was long and seems like there was another tree on that hole too back in '96.

What a run.