Hatchet

A sharp elevation change that runs vertically down the fairway on Hatchet defines this hole.

From the tee box, the left side of the fairway is the ideal position as the approach to the green is much more open. Those missing right will find a slope that pulls their ball further right and players will face a more challenging approach over the corner of the mound sitting short-right of the green.

Ball control will be crucial to hold the green from this tricky position.

HOLE STRATEGY

Hole Designer: Nicklaus Design

Nicklaus Design senior design associate Chad Goetz talks us through the thought process on Hatchet and discusses how our teams may approach it:

Chad says: "This is actually one of the first holes we designed by TGL presented by SoFi. It’s a par 4 with a dogleg to the right and the thinking process behind the hole was we’d do a very wide fairway with bunkering down the right side and around a 270-yard carry.

"So the players are really going to want to drive it down the left side of the fairway, which is a ledge that narrows the farther they drive it down there. If they can get to that ledge, they will have a much more open angle into the green.

"But the question is: 'Do I want to take a risk and hit it down the ledge to get it closer or do I want to lay back and have a longer shot into the green?'

"If they do miss right, the slope in the fairway will pull their ball to the right and they will need to negotiate part of the mound near the green on their approach shot. There’s a lot of strategy off the tee on this one."