The par-5 7 th hole has a semi-island left fairway and a right fairway that is much easier to hit. This hole is all about risk and reward. Going for the left fairway is risky, but if you reach safely, you can cut down the hole yardage dramatically versus the longer, safer right fairway.
Full Answer
What is the fairway on a golf course?
It’s the target from the tee for golfers when driving off on a par-4 or a par-5 hole. The grass on the fairway is cut shorter making it the ideal ground from which to play a second shot towards the green on a par-4 or short par-5, or into position for approach with a third shot on a longer par-5.
What are some of the best split fairways in golf?
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw also have some split fairways on their resume. A great one can be found on the Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa in the Arizona desert. On this desert course, the par-5 14 th hole curls to the right and has a second fairway that can cut down the yardage acting as an island within the desert sand.
Can fairways be wider than normal on PGA Tour?
PGA Tour guidelines take into account situations where fairways must be wider than normal. For example, in areas where narrowing a fairway to fit the guidelines would force fairway bunkers to be deep within the rough, the tour will likely permit the fairways to be wider than usual.
What is the difference between the fairway and the Green?
The green is even mown more closely than a fairway and tends to be firmer. The fairway is the target from the tee on par-4s and par-5s whereas the green is the target from the tee on par-3s. If your ball finds the fairway, your next shot will be played with an iron, hybrid club or fairway wood and will be played in the direction of the green.
What is considered the fairway on a golf course?
The fairway generally measures 30 to 50 yards between the tee box and the green. You'll notice that this part of the course has tightly trimmed grass, which makes it easier to hit the ball away from the fairway when compared to other areas of the course.
What are the 5 major parts to a golf course?
To play with the right club, you have to have a better understanding of the hole you are playing, especially its parts. Each hole in a course has 5 major parts namely Tee, Fairway, Green, Rough and Hazards. Understanding these parts allow you to plan your shots right.
What is the difference between the fairway and the green?
Fairway and rough The area between the tee box and the putting green where the grass is cut even and short is called the fairway.
What does hitting the fairway mean?
Fairways Hit: A statistical measurement of driving accuracy, a fairway is considered hit if any part of the ball is touching the fairway surface after the tee shot on a par 4 or 5.
Is the fringe part of the fairway?
The fringe is the section of the fairway, typically forming an apron shape at the front, that links the green and the fairway together. The fringe is usually cut at an interim depth to the shorter green and the longer fairway, but all should allow for a ball to roll across the surface.
What is the difference between a 4 and 7 iron?
As Golf.com's Jonathan Wall explains, a 7-wood aids you in getting the ball in the air and traveling to achieve consistent distance. Plus, it lands softly into greens where needed. Even if you do not strike your ball in the sweet spot, you will still enjoy moderate carry and distance. A 4-iron delivers a lower launch.
What is the sandy area on a golf hole called?
Bunkers (or sand traps) are shallow pits filled with sand and generally incorporating a raised lip or barrier, from which the ball is more difficult to play than from grass.
Why is it called the fairway?
The original term used by golfers to refer to the playing area was the 'fair Green'. This was mentioned in Rule 4 of the first Rules in 1744. The word fairway did not appear until a century later.
What is the water called on golf course?
In other words, "casual water" is water on the golf course that isn't meant to be there by design. Casual water can be anywhere on a golf course outside the water hazard, which is now called the "penalty area." If there's water somewhere in the "general area," then it's casual water or temporary water.
Is the first cut a fairway?
When applied to the rough on a golf course, "first cut" refers to the grass that is immediately alongside the closely mowed fairway, but grown slightly higher than the fairway grass. That rough that adjoins the fairway is the first cut of rough.
What is the edge of the fairway called?
Rough. The rough lines the fairways.
Is second cut considered fairway?
Types of Rough on Golf Courses The "first cut of rough" is a term applied to rough just off the fairway that is higher than the fairway but lower than the "second cut of rough." You guessed it: The "second cut of rough" is the really thick stuff.
Why do golf fairways have to be shaped?
The levels of the fairway have to be shaped to allow for shots to be played from it, to appeal enough for shots to be played at it, for it to be aesthetically pleasing and visible for the approaching golfer, and to tell a story, or sometimes sell a story about how the golf hole should be played.
What are the two parts of a fairway?
The fairway consists of two main parts, the fringe which links the fairway with the green, and the landing zone (s) which are designed to receive a ball and set up a shot to a second landing zone or to the green. The size and shape of a fairway is usually governed by its surroundings, but should also provide strategic options as to how ...
What would happen if there was no fairway in golf?
Without the fairway as the central focal point of the golf hole, there would be no hierarchy of targets to be aimed at, the hazards would simply be floating in an empty field, and the hole would struggle to make sense. The fairway's relationship with the rough is also very close.
What is fringe in golf?
The fringe is the section of the fairway, typically forming an apron shape at the front, that links the green and the fairway together. The fringe is usually cut at an interim depth to the shorter green and the longer fairway, but all should allow for a ball to roll across the surface. The fringe has become a fashionable element of the golf course, ...
What is the anatomy of a golf course?
The anatomy of a golf course - fairways. The fairway was originally a description of the desirable area within which to land the ball. The original links golf courses wouldn't have had clear cut fairways that would be recognised by today's manicured standards, but the term originates from ...
What is the conscious designer's strategy for golf?
The conscious designer will look to create a naturally shaped rough line which generally follows the contours of the hole and interjects the playing line at points that will challenge the golfer.
How many landing zones are there in a standard golf hole?
The standard hole shows tees playing to one landing zone, whereas the improved hole shows tees playing to four staggered landing zones. The size and shape of a fairway will vary greatly depending on the available space for each hole.
What is the fairway in golf?
In golf, the fairway is the grassy area situated between the tee box and the green. The grass on the fairway is cut short enough to make shots off it easier to hit, but it is not cut as short as the grass on the green. The Rules of Golf defines the fairway as a "closely mown area.". The goal is to hit your tee shot onto the fairway to avoid ...
What is the goal of a golf fairway?
The goal is to hit your tee shot onto the fairway to avoid the longer grass, called "rough," and such hazards as water and sand.
Why do groundskeepers cut the fairways?
To make golf courses more challenging for tournaments , groundskeepers often cut the fairways more narrow. Doing so requires a player to be more accurate off the tee or risk having his golf ball land in the rough – longer grass on both sides of the fairway that makes it more difficult to hit the next shot.
How long should grass be for a golf course?
Northern golf courses require grass that is more resistant to cold weather. The length of the fairway gras s is typically kept at 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch, depending on the turf species .
Can you use a driver on a golf fairway?
Most players won't use their drivers for a shot from the fairway, although doing so is technically possible. The fairway grass provides little resistance to getting the golf ball airborne, meaning that use of a low-lofted club is possible.
Do all golf holes have fairways?
Exceptions. Although the majority of holes on golf courses have fairways, not every hole does. Some shorter par-3 holes, for example, consist of a tee box, a green and a large hazard such as water or sand. A notable example of this is the 17th hole on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Why are golf fairways wide?
Widths vary for a variety of reasons, including course theme, hole design, natural conditions and the effective throw of the irrigation system. For example, dense trees often suggest narrow fairways, while prairie sites and public courses may feature wider fairways to fill space and account for windy conditions and poorer players.
Why should par 4 be wider?
Longer par-4 holes should generally get wider fairways since golfers need to hit big drives to get home in regulation. While longer hitters probably want short par-5 holes to have wide fairways to let them really rip a tee shot to get home in two, shorter hitters see this as an unfair advantage.
How long is a par 4 layup?
Layups work best where they create a two- to three-club approach difference with a maximum length of 175 yards, because few lay to create substantially long approach shots. If all long par 4s have wide fairways, while short ones get narrow fairways, they may get too similar.
Is it better to be conservative on forward tees?
So, it’s better to be somewhat conserva tive, especially for the forward tees. A little design thought goes a long way in creating enjoyable golf, and fairways are too important to be designed, cut, or maintained without thinking through play considerations first – even if there is some mowing to be saved. GCI.
How wide is a fairway in golf?
But fairways usually are narrower for major championships, averaging as little as 24 yards wide. Oakmont Country Club, for example, has played host to many majors on the men’s and women’s tours. Oakmont’s average fairway width is usually 28 yards, although it was narrowed to 26 yards for the 2007 U.S. Open.
How wide should a golf fairway be?
While the tour believes fairway width must vary on holes for a variety of reasons, its guidelines call for fairways to be 25 to 30 yards wide in the expected landing area for a tour player’s drive on par-4 and par-5 holes.
How wide is a typical golf course?
Non-PGA Tour Course. A typical American golf course’s fairways are 35 to 45 yards wide, according to Brauer. The course architect notes that scratch golfers will hit a 32-yard-wide fairway about two-thirds of the time, while 20-handicap golfers require a 40-yard-wide fairway to achieve a 66 percent success rate.
What changes do golf courses undergo?
Golf courses must typically undergo some changes when they play host to PGA Tour events . One of the key changes the tour suggests is the narrowing of a course’s fairways. By offering a course with more rough and less fairway space, the typical tour venue provides a challenge worthy of the best golfers in the world.
When do agronomists visit a golf course?
A PGA Tour agronomist will typically visit a course two or three months before a scheduled tournament. The agronomist will make recommendations regarding the course, including its fairway widths and shape.
What are the guidelines for the PGA Tour?
PGA Tour guidelines take into account situations where fairways must be wider than normal. For example, in areas where narrowing a fairway to fit the guidelines would force fairway bunkers to be deep within the rough, the tour will likely permit the fairways to be wider than usual. The tour also allows for wider fairways to permit proper approaches ...
