Hole #3 "Gorilla"
Par 5
Stroke 2
Tillinghast considered par 5s the most difficult holes to design because he did not want even the best players to be able to reach them in two shots. On this hole he succeeded!
As is often the case with Tillinghast, the most efficient route to the hole is the most dangerous. The best drive favors the left side of the fairway, but out of bounds lines the left side the entire length of the hole and the thin rough encourages the ball’s journey into the woods. Hitting to the right side, away from the out of bounds, may be prudent, but excessive prudence will leave the golfer blocked in a line of oaks.
The all-important second shot must be carried over a minefield of mounds running across the fairway. Once again left is better as the reward on the dogleg right is a shot that crosses only fairway to a long up-sloping green protected on three sides by bunkers.
The third shot challenges the golfer to negotiate a false front and find the correct tier on the narrow and deep undulating, multi-tier green. Golfers following the shorter route from the right side of the fairway must fly a series of bunkers and bring their shot to rest on a narrow green. The lightning-fast green can produce profound disappointment even in those fortunate enough to be on in three shots.