Tournament #5: Limpachtal
Welcome to a preview in lead up to my fifth tournament of the season.
The tournament season so far this year has been okay, no great rounds, no standout performances, but decently solid with no terrible rounds either.
Overall, it has been fine.
In this upcoming tournament I head to Golf Limpachtal, home of the only Par 6 in Switzerland. It is a course I have played the full 18 only once before and played the front 9 a single time before that.
Getting into the state of game quickly, it has been trending better. I am giving myself good opportunities for good scores and as recently of yesterday my irons have finally started to hit a groove. For me this is huge as it has been a true struggle this season with my irons and that has been my biggest concern.
So let’s get into the course.
This is not a course for the faint of heart, with a Course Rating of 73.2 and Slope rating of 138 this Par 72 courses stretches just over 6800 yards and with plenty of water and OB, the course requires patience and will no doubt be a grind on every shot.
Hole 1 – Par 4 Index 11 – 332 Meters
The opening tee shot offers plenty of room to the left, but with a trench that seems to be a magnet for golf balls. The right side in lined with OB stakes that while they should not be in play, they often are as it looms for more than just this single hole.
The first hill and bunker shouldn’t really be in play, but the second set are most definitely there. That said, this is a perfect mini driver hole. As my driver puts me right where everything pinches in and gets tight. The mini driver offers me carry to clear the first bunker/mounds while allowing me to be short of the second and with a bit of luck around 100 meters into a two tiered green.
The greens here from my recollection are tricky and slopey, so being in the right portion or giving yourself uphill putts is crucial.
This is a good opening hole, with an opportunity for a simple, straightforward par and maybe a sensible look at birdie.
Hole 2 – Par 3 Index 17 – 150 Meters
A simpler par 3 that may look tricky on the overview should play a standard. With water long, left and short taking the proper number to get there and play to a back hill is the smart play. The bunkers on the right are not the worst spot in the world wither. This green is once again quick slopey and just ensuring getting enough club to get there and give myself a simple 2-putt is the goal.
Should be a 7-iron, but given winds or even iron set (full WITB at the end) it could be an 8 iron.
Taking a quick not of the pin placements, Pin 1 does not look like fun here, but the more ideal pin on the prior hole.
Hole 3 – Par 4 Index 1 – 420 Meters
This is a true take your medicine hole. This is not a hole to push an immense amount or try to be a hero. In fact, taking this as a par 5 is a quality strategy. There is a ton of room off to the left, and I do mean a ton as there is a whole other hole on the left which is okay. With right being OB, error left. All day, every day. Of course, going left also bring in the water and you could find yourself blocked out by trees, at the same time so can be going too far right.
There is a reason this is the hardest hole on the course. We haven’t even gotten to the green yet either.
Protected by 3 bunkers and slops and just a weird angled green making a decent up and down for par would be an ideal goal.
The plan – Driver with a slight error to the left. Being on part of the fairway is great and hopefully space to get between the trees with a 6 or 7 iron that will be up to the front of the green. Depending on the Pin it is either a go or no go. Back pin, just play it to the front and trust the short game to get me up and down. Front pin, then push a little bit more and then a bunker shot won’t necessarily be the worst. Keep in mind this green is nearly 35 yards long.
Hole 4 – Par 4 Index 15 – 357 Meters
Okay, now we get into a fun hole that definitely plays a heck of a lot different from white tees versus the yellows. We normally play whites from/for these events.
From the tee it is a long long ways to get to the far water. So driver is the call here. Plus it could offer enough distance to take some trouble out of play. The issue is that going too far left also brings some trees into play and can block out the green a little bit.
The green is incredibly sloped, pitched up a little bit so taking a half club more is ideal, plus there is a massive false front and large tier.
The Plan – Driver off the tee, to about 130 or so meters. Nothing big or overpowering here. Take the 8/9 iron into the green and leave myself a simple two putt for par, with a little luck a look at birdie.
Hole 5 – Par 4 Index 5 – 405 Meters
I really like this hole, to the point it may be one of my favorites on the course in truth. It feels very linksy and just is everything I love about golf. There is an open tee shot that has hidden hills and mounds that make you think and have to just trust the bounces work your way.
This is a second shot hole, the second shot that needs to be on point into a green that is truly brutal. It has a massive crease in it that means nearly no matter what your approach shot is chances are you are not going to get that close to the pin, but either a good up and down or sensible two putt will make for a really good, solid par on a tricky hole.
The Plan – Driver to 140 or so and have 7/8 iron into the green and error on the proper side. Sensible play, do not push, just play smart.
Hole 6 – Par 5 Index 7 – 500 Meters
The first time I played this course and hole I actually went over the green in 2, but we were playing from yellow tees. The second time around I put one a bit left, not OB, just enough to make things miserable. Given the way things pinch in at 250, depending on wind I will either be driver, or the mini-driver. Playing this as a true 3 shot par 5 is likely the smart call here.
Play short of the bunkers and mounds, then a 8 or 9 iron before the water, or hybrid up to close of the green. This will depend on lie, but I will need to make sure that I know my distance in order to clear the water and just make sure that is not an issue at all.
The green itself is not simple, but it is straightforward with a bit of two tiers and some bunkers that are just there to cause trouble.
The plan – be on my feet, play short of the trouble, play over the water and leave a simpler pitch shot into the green to leave a simpler two putter par.
Hole 7 – Par 4 Index 13 – 330 Meters
From the tee and overview this hole looks like a greater challenge than maybe it is? Breaking this hole down you have plenty of trouble. OB all along the left, for the first time in a while. Water hazard long and right. A three tiered green that ensures you need to make a proper approach shot.
Okay, yeah lots to take in, but at its core maybe it is simpler than maybe it looks. In the two times I have played it I have taken different approaches. One being driver, another being hybrid. Hybrid left me way too far out and a very difficult shot in. Driver being a bit too far left, but in a good distance. So maybe Mini driver is the call here, or even 5 wood that would leave me in the range of 125 or so into the green.
My miss this season has been right, so playing a club that leaves me without fear of water is crucial.
I am going to take driver out of the cards here. Instead it will be a mini-driver or 5 wood. Rely on my iron approach to get me to the middle of the green and in a good spot in order to have a simpler putt. That’s the plan at least.
Hole 8 – Par 5 Index 3 – 500 Meters
Another hole where there is just a lot to take in. The tee shot isn’t necessarily the trouble here. It is far back and there are trees in view, but I should have enough juice to take the water out of play and leave it before the road.
The second shot is where things get interesting. There is plenty of room left, but even if I am a decent drive I will still be 250 meters out. The hybrid is definitely the call here as it should allow me to go over the bridge and water and leave me between 100-50 meters into the green. I honestly don’t remember this green all that well, but I believe everything slopes and feeds in so a chip up and around the green and allowing the slopes to do their work is the plan.
Again, a lot to take in, but simple Driver, hybrid, wedge and two putter is the going plan here.
Hole 9 – Par 3 Index 9 – 192 meters
This is a long one and with 180 meters (nearly 200 yards) to the front of the green taking enough club here is the important part. I am thinking it is going to be 4 hybrid, but we will see how the wind plays out.
Let’s just hope not for position 4 for the pin placement as that looks brutal, but either way I am want a simple middle of the green, don’t look at the flag and solid lag putt for a “easy par”
Hole 10 – Par 4 Index 2 – 395 Meters
So this is a longer hole, but I am also not quite sure as to why it is the next hardest rated hole. Maybe it is because I played it well the last and only other time I have played it, or maybe it is because I don’t see as much trouble or think others could be more difficult. Either way, the driver is straight forward, the water isn’t necessarily reachable and the big downfall here is there are some trees around the water that can block you out from the green or at least block your view.
A good drive, erroring a bit left can leave a fairly simple approach into the green. The little pot bunkers aren’t in play, but given the adjustment over to the left the front bunker is most definitely there and looming.
This is definitely a simpler green and one that just going middle will leave a legitimate birdie look.
Let’s see how it goes!
Hole 11 – Par 6 Index 4 – 666 Meters
Okay, the hole all of you have been waiting for. The only par 6 in Switzerland that is more challenging than you can imagine.
Working from the tee box forward, it is not a driver as 250 yards or more means into the water. So 5 wood or mini-driver is definitely the call here. Going closer to the water or the hazard means more of an uphill awkward lie, so it makes you want to play even further back.
From there, it will either be another mini-driver or another 5-wood which let’s say that leaves me at 230 meters out. What to do then?
The bold call is to just say screw it and go for it, but the green is a nightmare, so best course of action is likely going to be lay up short of the water and rely on a good, smart pitch shot to the middle of the green.
Then forget about counting strokes, just make a smart 2 putter and get away with par. This hole is tricky and patience is a must because this is a hole unlike any other most any of us have played before.
Hole 12 – Par 3 Index 16 – 131 Meters
I truly love this hole despite making an absolute mess of it last time, it is a great par 3 that isn’t long, but demands a good, sensible tee shot.
The plan should be 9 iron to the middle of the green and then just be smart with a putt to the pin.
Not much more to add in here.
Hole 13 – Par 4 Index 10 – 354 Meters
This is another great hole, lots of bunkers, lots of errant trouble, but can be very simple and straightforward as well. A solid drive should clear me of the first 3 bunkers and I don’t think I can make the fourth bunker, so if I manage to stay somewhere around the 110 meter mark it would be very ideal.
The green is not difficult, but it does have clear swell in the middle that can funnel the golf ball in nice and close.
This hole is truly great, and one that I am looking forward to playing.
The Plan – Driver, PW and two putt for a wonderfully simple par.
Hole 14 – Par 3 Index 14 – 180 Meters
This hole is far harder than it looks here. For starters it normally plays into wind and to follow up it is all uphill. The green has a huge ridge that makes landing on the green a feat, but landing in the right area is even more important. This hole is a struggle and I am thinking it will be another hybrid or possibly 5 iron into the green and then work for a two putt par.
Hole 15 – Par 4 Index 8 – 359 Meters
This is another hole that I really like, but also don’t entirely remember. The tee shot is pretty open all things considered and just playing out to the 100 meter marker is the call. There is a tree in the fairway that could cause problems if the right ball is in play, but a simple straight forward tee shot is the given call here. The long green and false front means take an extra club to be on the safe side. No need to leave it short and going middle of the green also takes the front right bunker out of play.
There is trouble on this hole, but I don’t feel it is in the way, it is in places I either can’t or won’t hit it to.
The plan – Driver, 9 iron and two putt par.
Hole 16 – Par 5 Index 6 – 479 Meters
So you can see the overview, are you scared yet? This hole ist just all sorts of trouble. It is long and with OB all along the right (my current miss) water on the left and just a tight fairway there is trouble looming all over.
The image shows the trouble, so let’s get into the plan.
Driver off the tee, try to clear the water and edge to miss a bit left if anything. The follow up shot will be from 230 or more meters out and there are bunkers at 45 meters, so rather than trying to push way up, playing a 6 iron short of those bunkers and to good chip/pitch range is the clear smart choice. The green from what I remember is pretty sloped and just going middle of the green is going to be the smart call.
I like this hole, but it is the beginning of a difficult final three hole stretch.
Hole 17 – Par 3 Index 18 – 140 Meters
So while the rating makes it look easy, let’s just look at it for a second.
There is a creek short if you chunk one, there is water long and left along with a nice bunker before that.
The green itself sloped heavily back to front so even just being on the green means you have a difficult putt to work with.
I am looking forward to this hole, but very much not at the same time.
Hole 18 – Par 4 Index 12 – 337 Meters
The tee box here is so far back and really makes this hole visually difficult. Now while it looks quite difficult it is a shorter hole which opens up some options.
The play here is driver and get it to about 100 meters. Error off the first time really all round a bit to the right and then play up (whole hole plays up) to the green. The green is another tricky dual tier and is protected well again with bunkers and water.
So that is the the course, it is far from easy. It is going to required a grinding round as there are no easy holes that just let up and that is kinda what I love about this course.
Even if the tee shots are easy, the greens are maybe the trickiest I will play all year. The course demands a lot of variety and a lot of focus from first tee to final putt.
My WITB for Limpachtal
Driver – Titleist GT2 with TPT 17 Hi Nitro
Mini-Driver – Titleist GT280 with XXXX
5-wood – TaylorMade Qi35 with Diamana
4-Hybrid – Titleist GT2 with Project X
HZRDUS Black5-Iron – Titleist T200 with Accra TZ85i
6-PW – TItleist T150 with Accra TZ85i
GW – 49* Titleist Vokey SM10 with Mitsubishi MMT
SW – 53* Titleist Vokey SM10 with Mitsubishi MMT
LW – 57* TItleist Vokey SM10 with Mitsubishi MMT
Putter – L.A.B. OZ.1i with TPT
Golf Ball: Vice Pro Plus Blue/Orange Drip
Rangefinder – Vortex Anarch
Bag – Ghost Mavrik Anyday 5.0
Cart – SunMountain Ridgeline
