Well, time is getting close to opening the Vale for play again and the 8th green is one that I like a lot. I really like #8 as a golf hole both strategically and visually. The contour of the hole hitting up over the hill and looking down on the green, beside the pond, makes for some interesting shots and some great views. I think the new green compliments the rest of the hole very well.
The 8th green is not very heavily contoured but with the water on the left, a bunker on the right and 448 yards of length, it doesn’t need to be heavily sloped. We added 1,560 square feet of area to its existing 5,782 square feet, making this the largest green on the Vale at 7,342 feet. This is large enough to accept a shot hit with a long iron or hybrid from the hillside.
An accent point in the center of the green serves to divide the putting surface into 3 distinct areas with the low part in the front-left being the most interesting. It is a small area that drains toward the lake and the hollow in front. The area between the pond and green has been set to become low-mowed Bluegrass while the low area on the right has been sodded with bent grass. A lot of shot types can be played from these areas.
Rick Robbins, ASGCA
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