Soleta Golf Club: Hole 17
Alex Elias
Though short Par-4s aren’t new, with Golden Age courses such as Cypress Point Club, Riviera Country Club, and Ridgewood Country Club all featuring risk-reward Par-4s, they have certainly become more common—almost a given—on modern designs. Since 1995, when Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed Sand Hills Golf Club — widely regarded as a catalyst for modern golf course architecture — with its short Par‑4 7th, most modern courses have featured one, with recent examples including the fifteenth at Ladera Golf Club, the eighteenth at The Tree Farm, and the seventeenth at Soleta Golf Club.
“Golf is such a risk-reward sport and short Par-4s give every player a chance to be a hero, and who doesn’t want to be a hero?” said Aaron Crooks, Director of Golf at Soleta Golf Club.
As Soleta Golf Club features ribbon tees with no set markers—designed to be played differently each day—decisions on seventeen are dictated entirely by the yardage. When the tees are forward and the hole is drivable, players must shape the ball from left to right, knowing that anything left runs into a massive native-covered sand dune, too far right brings water into play, and long is unplayable.
“If you decide to be aggressive, a perfect tee shot can lead to eagle or birdie, but anything less opens up trouble in every direction, leading to a possible big number,” said Crooks.
Though a 3-wood eliminates much of the risk, players must still be precise, aiming up the left center with their tee shot for the better angle.
“From the left center, with the green angled like a reverse-redan, players are rewarded with a shot into the length of the green, but need to nip their approach shots perfectly, as the green slopes away,” said Crooks. “Too far right off the tee, and players then face an approach over a bunker to a green that measures only 35 paces front to back.”
Although laying-up may seem like the wiser decision, Crooks believes architect Nick Price's strategic placement of the hole changes much of the decision.
“It’s brilliantly placed. It has the ability to make or break your scorecard, and many matches are won or lost there before you even reach the final hole,” said Crooks. “If it came earlier in the round, more players might acknowledge the ‘right’ decision—but given the chance to change their round, the risk becomes far more enticing.”
