How do you feel about "Island Holes"?

[12StonesScott]

I have played the one at East Roswell and at Golden Hills in Virginia, but those are shorter holes with not as much challenge for a noodle arm like me.

12 at East Roswell isn't an island, it's a "fake lake". OB area of rocks in front of the basket area with the perimeter marked by logs (and paint/string for tourneys). Lots of places to lay up or opportunities go around it, but at only about 200 ft (and only what, 170 to the far side of the "lake", nearly everyone can drive the pin. The challenge (like everywhere else at ERP) is avoiding the trees that are all around; even on a big lazy hyzer around it or a tomahawk over it, there's always a risk of hitting a tree and catching a bad ricochet into the OB area. I'll usually take the risk and run straight at it from the red or blue tees, but the tree right in front of the black pad gets in my head and I usually hyzer around from there.

 

[12StonesScott]

Played out here for the first time today. With a 20 MPH in the face I just made it on the "island", and promptly missed the putt. It does give a rather boring hole layout a little challenge, so I don't mind them occasionally on courses.

My best tournament ever was Hotlanta at Mosley a couple of years ago -- made the island with no problem the first three rounds, and was only a stroke back of second when we hit 11 during the final round (with only hole 12 to play after it). Weakest drive of the weekend (fourth round, 95 degree heat and high humidity) had plenty of distance but too much hyzer and skipped out. Second place made the island (for only the second time of four) and finished four up on me when I pretty much ran out of gas on 12.

The local island hole I dislike is #1 at Alexander, which seems to always get turned into an island for tournaments. Different TDs make the "island" different sizes, and in some cases it's stupid small. The edge is usually right at the end of my noodle-arm range from the longer tees -- I can usually get 4 of 7 in the circle in practice but always seem to miss during tournament rounds. With that one in particular, it just seems to punish those of us who can't throw out of our own shadow since there's no viable alternative -- there've been times when there's a headwind I've been tempted to just drop the disc off the front of the pad and go take my third stroke from the drop zone, since I know I can consistently leave myself with a drop-in from there.

 

[DannyThunders]

there've been times when there's a headwind I've been tempted to just drop the disc off the front of the pad and go take my third stroke from the drop zone, since I know I can consistently leave myself with a drop-in from there.

Wouldn't it make more sense to go for it, atleast if you go for it there's a chance of making it, and if you go OB you get to throw from the drop zone anyway

 

[smyith]

all the challenge and none of the lost disc:thmbup::thmbup:

whats not to love

for those who 's argument is gimmicky or contrived I would add your salty cause you stink at placement golf

i prefer these over "real" island holes. much rather curse about missing the island than curse about missing and going in the water.
we used to have a tournament locally around here back in the day that would rope off a really open course and actually make it difficult....I miss Bruce's yellow rope fetish these days....

 

[BionicRib]

^There will be a permanent island hole there when its done

 

[smyith]

^There will be a permanent island hole there when its done

i know, but if you played that tournament back in the day it still wont be the same. basically the old days of, oops you went in the long grass...OB! haha.

still cant wait tho....impatient with that happening. between Marengo, Fox River, the new Silver Lake (no idea on timetable), and the new RL....its finally getting to be some good discin a short drive away.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

Never played in Hawaii b/c the courses were pretty weak. Hope that helps'

 

[_MTL_]

the island concept in disc golf was started at the USDGC and was intended for professionals on professional courses. Now they are overused.

 

[Cgkdisc]

And even the USDGC messed up originally by not having an appropriate drop zone rule. Having skill appropriate drop zone(s) and hole lengths are key to making island holes work well for all levels.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

Here is a quote from a trusted reviewer from a course which plays almost entirely as an island style course with every shot requiring placement not to interfere with other parts of the park or go into water, all located on a tiny sliver of multi-use crowded space.

This is one of the quirkest courses I've ever attempted to play. My conclusion is: If this was my home course, I believe I'd switch to badmitton or bowling or porn or something. I couldn't afford the disc bills or the aggravation of playing here. I think I'd need a therapist! I think I need a therapist after just attempting it. I might well be scarred for life.

Here discs are actually lost or someone gets hit- not just offering crap up-shots.
Risk is generally > than the reward for drives on bad island holes which I believe is the biggest issue and makes for an overall boring hole often with poorly designed drop zones like Chuck stated above.

 

[Thumber]

If you are going to have island holes then a drop zone is imperative. I played in a tourny last summer where Open players were forced to tin cup the drive until they got one on the green. Ams got a DZ

I was playing on the same card as the tourney leader. He had the field by 2-3 strokes. It took him 6-7 drives to get on the island and his tournament was over.

Stupid hole that caused unfair balance.

 

[gdub58]

Idlewild has four island holes - 3, 11, 15, and 16. This design element an integral part of the love/hate relationship most of us have with the course. We sometimes play them where everything off the island is OB, and sometimes only play the creek OB (often referred to in tournaments as the "IdleMild" layout).

The islands vary in size/shape, with 11 being the smallest and the only one that has a drop zone. None of them are reachable from the tee (with the possible exception of 16 but you'd be crazy to try it), so they bring a lot of strategy into play.

 

[chrishysell]

I'm not talking about holes that are out in water. That's a hole other story!
I'm speaking specifically about those holes with defined O.B. that requires you to land on an "Island" with the pin.

This is the same hole.
Here's an example

this hole got me and cost me a win. The island is easy to hit. Unfortunately there is a hexagon in the mulch made out of wood that surrounds the basket about 5 or 6ft radius. My nice shot hit the wood and skipped and rolled just out of bounds.

 

[optidiscic]

Thats what u get for showing off Chris lol

 

[Shamis]

I like them. I like them even more when they are real water.

I like courses that brutally punish players for every mistake.

 

[chrishysell]

Thats what u get for showing off Chris lol

and now the rest of the story....

the island is mulch so I threw a spike with a Ti Buzzz. I got a huge skip off of the wood. Hey, it worked in practice.

 

[1978]

What about hole 18 Hornets Nest/Web? Like, dislike. I think it was hole 5 in the '12 Worlds final 9.

 

[_MTL_]

What about hole 18 Hornets Nest/Web? Like, dislike. I think it was hole 5 in the '12 Worlds final 9.

The worst hole of the 30 or so unique holes on the property - and it's not even remotely close.

It doesn't fit the course. It throws directly over a parking lot towards a parking lot and the green is literally a traffic circle. It's green is located literally about 15 feet from TWO tees and worst of all, it's the classic "oops, we need another hole" filler hole. However, this filler hole happens to be the last hole on the course.

I generally like most of what Stan does, but this hole is about a 1.5 out of 5 if you were using this sites measuring.

 

[Cgkdisc]

Too small of a landing area. Probably improved if you only put hay bales on the back half perimeter and none in front.

 

[Tokyo]

Love em especialy the one at the Lodge in Pawhuska with a true island hole it's scarry but fun.