

Feb 9, 2001
bub's Trysting Tree GC readme

	I would like to thank you all for downloading Trysting Tree GC.  In this file you will find acknowledgements, the course design philosophy and hole by hole course notes.  I appreciate any and all comments, gfitting@cei.net, thank you.

Acknowledgments

	Bob Fournier (Gofer TPC), Fred Briggson (FreddieB) and I have been working on TT for over 2 months now.  I designed the course based on a real course in Corvallis, Oregon.  Bob took my course design and sketches and hammered them into the APCD.  Fred took over the project and created the finished product that you are about to see. It goes without saying, that without Bob, Trysting Tree GC would never have been started and that, without Fred, Trysting Tree GC certainly would not look the way it does today.  I owe you both a big debt of gratitude.  Great job guys!  Unnar Erlingsson (GS_Unnar) has generously offered to do the logo, the cameo and the splash screen for TT.  Unnar, what can I say?  You never cease to amaze me with your ability with graphics.  If you aren't already, you are fast becoming THE MAN for Links graphics.  Lastly, a big thanks to TPC for hosting the course.

Course Design Philosophy

	Trysting Tree GC is my attempt at bringing as much of the thrill of playing real golf as possible to the computer for Links 2001.
	TT is a tough course.  You have to pay attention off the tee.  Many holes are set up by the tee shot.  Par 5's, in particular, require an exact tee shot to have a chance at reaching the green in two.  Fairway's are squeezed by strategically placed trees.  You must drive the golf ball into the proper position to score at TT.  This, I feel, is one of TT's biggest strengths.
	The greens are difficult to maneuver with both large and subtle slopes.  It is almost impossible to get it close from a tee shot that finds the rough.  You must drive into the fairway to be able to attack the pins.  If you drive into the rough, par will be a good score.  Some greens are so dangerous that you must accept that birdie is out of the question.  Playing for a par on some holes with certain pin placements will be rewarding in and of itself.
	TT has been designed with championship golf in mind.  The course is even difficult with no wind, mild conditions and moderate pins.  For the supreme test of golf, why not try windy/hard/fast with difficult pin placements?  I envision Ryder Cup and/or Championship matches being played on Trysting Tree GC under these conditions.  I do not believe that there is a truer test of ones ability to think, and to execute, themselves around a golf course then Trysting Tree GC under tough conditions.
	I hope you all enjoy it.

Hole by Hole Course Notes

Trysting Tree GC is a 7,413 yard par 72

Hole #1 Par 4 463 yards
	With a deep bunker down the entire right side of the fairway in the landing area and a big tree overhanging the left side of the fairway, you must drive your ball precisely to the right spot in the fairway to attack the pin. A perfect drive will still leave you with a mid to long iron into a green that is small and very shallow with three tiers.  Even a perfect shot into this green will leave a difficult putt for birdie.  Take your par here and you are off to a good start.

Hole #2 Par 4 423 yards
	This hole is not long but demands that you select the right club and to execute the shot to place your tee shot in the fairway.  The green is elevated making it very tough to hit close to the pin from the rough.  It also is two tiered, high side on the left and lower side on the right, with a bunker front right guarding the lower level.  A good drive and a perfect approach shot will give you a chance for birdie.

Hole #3 Par 4 473 yards
	This hole is long and has a severely elevated green.  The tee shot is hampered by a large tree overhanging much of the left side of the fairway.  Water on the right encroaches into the right side of the fairway forcing you to hit a very precise tee shot.  If you pass that test, a mid to long iron to the elevated green awaits you.  This green is protected by bunkers front and back.  It is two tiered back to front.  This hole plays short so be aware to get the right club selected.  A tough hole to birdie.

Hole #4 Par 3 216 yards
	This green has a bunker short left guarding the lower portion of the two tiered green.  This green is very small especially considering the club needed.  Good luck.

Hole #5 Par 5 536 yards
	A reachable par 5.  You only need to navigate the huge waste area to the right of the landing area.  Once you have done that, a fairway wood will get you home in two.  A bunker guards the green on the left and water guards on the right.  The perfect risk/reward hole.  Drive into the fairway and then bite off as much of the bunker or water as you can.  This is the first real birdie hole on this golf course.

Hole #6 Par 4 360 yards
	This is a short par 4 that doglegs to the right.  You are hitting over water to an angled fairway.  You need to select the proper club for the line you choose off the tee, then you need to execute the shot.  Once in the fairway, you are left with a wedge into a fairly large green with a lot of subtle slope.  Another birdie hole if you can find the fairway.

Hole #7 Par 3 209 yards
	This is a straightforward par 3.  It has an extremely shallow elevated green with a large bunker guarding the entire front.  You will need to hit the exact distance to carry the bunker and hold the shot on the green.  Do not go long on this hole because there is a severe slope and you will be left with a next to impossible chip.  It just might be a good idea to place your tee shot in the bunker and take a par.

Hole #8 Par 4 384 yards
	Another relatively short par 4 with a severe dogleg.  You decide how much of the waste area protecting the fairway to bit off.  If you have selected the right club and executed the shot, you will be left with a short iron to the relatively large green.  With plenty of subtle slope to test your putting skill, hitting it close here will give you the best chance at birdie.

Hole #9 Par 5 584 yards
	The only unreachable par 5 on the course, this hole requires two perfect shots in order to set up either a wedge or mid iron (depending on how you lay up) to a green guarded short by a bunker and long and left by water.  This is a birdie hole as long as you stay out of trouble.

Hole #10 Par 4 454 yards
	This is a hole with a forced carry over water to an angled fairway.  Select the line, the right club and then execute the shot will still leave you with a long iron to a tough green.  The green is protected short right by a bunker and a tree.  With two perfect shots, you can set up a putt for birdie.

Hole #11 Par 4 434 yards
	Another forced carry over water faces you on this hole.  With trees overhanging both sides of the fairway in the landing area, a perfectly placed tee shot is necessary to have an unobstructed view of the green.  This green is very narrow with a large mound on the left and a large drop off on the right.  The entire green slopes towards the center so try to leave your approach shot in the right spot for an uphill putt.

Hole #12 Par 4 427 yards
	Here is another tee shot with strategically placed trees squeezing the landing area.  Because the green is almost all carry, you absolutely have to find the right spot of the fairway with your tee shot to have any hope of attacking this green.  Short and left is dead.  Par is a great score on this hole.

Hole #13 Par 3 172 yards
	This is my tribute to the Augusta National 12th hole.  This is a short par 3 with a green shaped at a 45 degree angle away from the tee and to the right.  It is extremely shallow with no margin for short or long shots.  You simply must select the proper line, the exact club and then execute the perfect shot to even find this green.  Then, you are left with a severely sloping green.  Standing on the tee here, you should be looking to make par any way that you can.  Birdie here and it is a gift.

Hole #14 Par 5 568 yards
	A true birdie hole with a legitimate chance at eagle if you can place your drive into the fairway.  A large strategically placed bunker forces you to aim to the left side of the fairway.  But, pull the tee shot even a bit and you will find the bunker and be forced to lay up.  Once in the fairway, a fairway wood shot remains for your attempt at reaching this green in two.  A bunker protects the front of the fairly large green.  It has both severe and subtle slopes so you will need to hit your second shot very close to have a chance at eagle.  A true birdie hole, rare for this golf course.

Hole #15 Par 5 587 yards
	Back to back reachable par 5's.  The tee shot here forces you to select either the left or right side of the fairway to avoid the bunker that is in the middle.  If you can do that, then a fairway wood to a wide open green awaits you.  Again, this green is fairly large with both severe and subtle slopes so you will need to hit it very close to have a good chance at eagle.

Hole #16 Par 4 456 yards
	Now, the going gets tough.  The 16th fairway is protected on the left by a large tree and on the right by water.  The tee shot has to be exact here just to find the fairway.  Then you are left with a long iron to a severely elevated green.  The green is fairly large and open but has a severe slope from back to front.  Making a par here is a good score.

Hole #17 Par 3 226 yards
	Water long, water right and a bunker short left sets this hole up.  Club selection is critical here as well as actually executing the shot.  There is simply no room for error here.  You must take long and right out of the shot so a par is another good score on this hole.

Hole #18 Par 4 441 yards
	This is a tough finishing hole requiring a carry over water to a fairway squeezed on the left and right by overhanging trees.  If you do find the fairway, you are left with a mid to long iron to a fairly large green protected short by a bunker and long and right by water.  With the pin placed back right, don't even think of attacking the pin.  Play it safe and take your two putt par.

George Fitting -bub

	 