Mike Strantz

I am just back from my annual Pinehurst trip with my normal group of guys.  As we always do we finish up the weekend with a stop at Tobacco Road on our way back north to I95.  As always, Joe Gay and his staff rolled out the red carpet and the course was in fantastic shape as you can see from the pictures.

Tobacco Road is so different from the rest of the courses in Pinehurst and it has really carved out a nice niche for itself as a must play while you are there.  I have never been shy about my love for Tobacco Road…I just think it is one of the most visually intimidating yet immensely fun courses I have every played.

Many have said Tobacco Road is like golf on LSD.  Though I have never taken LSD, if the trip is anywhere as fun as Tobacco Road it must be a pretty good time.  I think Tobacco Road offers some of the best risk / reward shots as any golf course I have played.  There aren’t many shots the golfer stands over and has a simple straightforward decision.  Every shot seems to have two or three different options depending on risk appetite.

Hole #1

This is the hole and shot that everyone that plays Tobacco Road.  I have come to like the shot and view from the first tee, but I think toning down those mounds would allow the golfer to take a different mental picture away from Tobacco Road.  Otherwise this is the one shot everyone remembers.

Green #1

Hole #2

A fairly blind layup shot leaves the golfer a shot iron in to a downhill green with a scar of a front bunker.

Green #2

Hole #3

Strantz’s contribution to the Biarritz Hole.

Biarritz Green #3

When the pin is in the middle hole in ones await…

Hole #4

The first of several Cape par 5s that tease the golfer to hit it very close to the hazard off the tee to allow for the green to be reached in two.

Second Shot #4

Hole #5

One of favorite on the course.  Always against my better judgment I always give the green a go with my driver.  I usually end up right in front in the grass hollow trying to pinch a shot pitch shot to the table top green.  I usually make more bogies than pars from 30 yards…ugg.

Approach #5

Green #5

Hole #6

There are more tee locations on this hole than any other I have ever played.  You can play it anywhere from 95 yards to 170 yards and from about 180 degrees of different approach angles.  Just a fun little hole.

Green #6

The green is about 50 yards wide (or long depending on your tee location)

Hole #7

Semi blind tee shot to the widest fairway on the course (which I missed)

Approach Shot #7

Green #7

Wow, look at this crazy green.  Two putts here and you have done something.

Hole #8

Strantz’s contribution to the Redan hole.

Reverse Redan Green #8

Hole #9

One of the best tee shots on the course.  I would love to see Strantz’s panting in his mind of this hole.

Approach Shot #9

This used to be my least favorite shot on the course, I am coming around on it now though.  I think it is a little too severe uphill to such a small green.  At least you are hitting wedge.

Hole #10

Another hole I would love to see Strantz’s painting of…

Green #10 looking back

Hole #11

The second Cape par 5 that challenges the golfer to be aggressive.  The fairway is really really wide, but to reach the green in two you have to really bring the immense bunker on the right into play.

Green #11

Hole #12

Hole #13

Maybe my favorite hole on the course.  I always just blow it waaay right and try to hit it over the trees.

Approach #13

If you clear the trees with your drive you can have a mid-iron to a Dell green.

Green #13

As you can see the green is fairly wide but quite shallow.  Go long and you on the highway..I know.

Hole #14

Hole #15

Green #15

Look at this absolutely crazy green!!!

Hole #16

Green #16

Hole #17

Hole #18

Now THAT is an intimidating tee shot.  What a way to end your LSD trip…

Approach Shot #18

Another blind approach to the final green.

Green #18

What a fantastic ending to this awesome course.

Summary

I love Tobacco Road more and more each time I played.  We played the next to the back tees and managed to get it around in 73 and got killed…my opponent, Dan,  threw up a little 65 with a bogey on 18.  Tobacco Road continues to be one of those course that I want to head directly back to the first tee when I walk of 18.