TPC Boston Before/After 9th Hole

The TPC Boston's 480-yard par-4 9th, with the view prior to last fall's Hanse-Faxon-Wagner renovation and the after shot below.
 

 

Comments

[Hub Hacker]

I love what they've done with the ninth. Along with the changes at four and seventeen, this is one of the three best "new" holes.

The landing area for the tee shots is much narrower than before (though still plenty wide), and there's a penalty for taking a more aggressive line (more of a risk/reward shot than before). In addition, they completely re-did the entire green complex. This green is now one of the larger ones on the course, and interestingly enough, it's a bowl (everything slopes to the middle). What you can't tell from the photos, but what is a clever architectural characteristic, is that the new bunker in front of the green is actally about 30-40 yards short of the putting serface. In addition, missing the green is now very penal; those chocolate mounds around the green are about six feet high. I don't expect many pros to be in them, but it's visually stunning.

Finally, one thing about the TPC Boston that makes the course maddeningly tricky is that you can see the bottom of the flagstick (and the green itself) on only a handful (5-6) of the holes. Look at this picture of the ninth, or the earlier pictures of the renovated seventh; these pics must be taken from on a stand about 12 feet off the ground, and you still can't see the bottom of the stick. Visually, it's very disconcerting for a player hitting his approach shot... you may "know" the pin position, but the approach shots are sort of blind.

[Adam]

Geoff, This is a wonderful illustration and lesson in how changing subtle differences, has a huge impact on the whole.

Well Done!

[Tighthead]

Hub - not seeing the bottom of the flagstick makes the shots much more difficult than one would expect, especially on days when the game is a little leaky.

[Otey]

The changes are striking and a vast improvement.

Congrats to all.

[Smolmania]

Hub, I love the info about the bunker not being directly abutting the green -- a very Ross-like feature which can bedevil you when you hit what you think is a great shot, only to walk up and find your ball short of the green! All of these photos look great.