Strategic Concepts - Gradually Narrowing Fairways

By: Jeffrey D. Brauer


Another way to create a golfer's consensual choice to lay up is to gradually narrow the fairway, from 40-plus yards at 225 and at 300 and beyond. This is sort of the equivalent of cooking a lobster slowly, so he won't know he is in trouble. Depending on accuracy and length, each golfer will have a crossover point where the narrower fairway simply isn't worth the extra length.

With gradually diminishing fairway width, the golfer must judge where the crossover point between the advantages of a shorter approach versus possibly missing the fairway occurs, and play accordingly, considering hole length, fairway width, hazard type, etc.

This arrangement was favored by 1950-60s' architects like Robert Trent Jones and Dick Wilson (and some of their disciples) for tournament-level courses. Any hole with hazards pinching both sides is quite difficult, although the gradually narrowing fairway is a technique that makes the course adaptable for all - shorter golfers who find wider/bigger fairways with some ease, while longer/better players have adequate to great challenge.

I have found, however, that shorter golfers, or those who have "duffed" their drives, can find the numerous fairway bunkers on their second shots. Of course, longer, wilder players can also struggle with this type of hole.

If used on long par-4s, this makes for a very hard hole. Golfers feel compelled to use driver, requiring both accuracy and length, essentially making it a penal hole. On mid-length par-4s, the option to lay back is more viable, as it might be for mid-length, reachable par-5s.

If laid out normally downwind, reduced spin slightly improves distance and accuracy, making the full drive more tempting, while a headwind becomes a paradox - you really need that extra distance, but the head wind tends to deflect shots more off line, increasing risk. Either can work, or you can provide one of each on holes of different pars and different wind directions.

Lastly, to me, bunkers both sides of the green (or none) seem appropriate here, to mirror those fairway bunkers. If you are going to have a hard tee shot, the approach might be easier (although that negates the distance need somewhat), or you accept it as one of the few holes requiring full tee-to-green accuracy, and hopefully, give golfers a break with their putts.

Jeffrey D. Brauer began his career as an apprentice in the Chicago area in 1977. His first project was Kemper Lakes, which shortly after hosted the 1989 PGA Championship. He formed GolfScapes in Arlington, Texas, in 1984. In the last 29 years he has designed and consulted on a wide spectrum of projects, ranging from partial renovations to international resorts. His recent work includes teaming with the design team of Pascuzzo and Pate on a remodel of the world-famous La Costa Resort & Spa in California, and renovations at Superior National Golf Course in Lutsen, Minn., and Mesquite Municipal Golf Course in Mesquite, Texas.

He has been a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects since 1981, serving as President during its 50th Anniversary year in 1995-96. Jeff still studies the classic works - both old and new, and has played more than 75 of the best courses in the world.

Jeff gives many presentations and is a regular architecture columnist for many publications and websites, including Golf Course Industry and Cybergolf.com. He has also been a strong advocate for the "Tee it Forward" campaign and strives to make his courses fit the description of "fun to play every day."

Jeff's work has been spotlighted in most of the world's major golf magazines. Golf World ranked him as one of the top-20 golf course architects and Golf Inc. ranked him as the world's fourth-best value in golf architecture in 2010. Jeff's portfolio and reputation keep him at the forefront of desired designers for new courses, reconstruction and renovation projects. For more about Jeff, visit http://www.jeffreydbrauer.com/sites/courses/layout.asp?id=859&page=48451.