How The Owner Plays Redstone: Hole 2

Hi there,

Hole 2 is exactly the opposite of what a golfer should be thinking.

Just remember — it’s the six inches between the ears that counts.

From the moment I pull my ball out of the cup on Hole 1, I’m already licking my chops. If I’m fortunate enough to make par on the first, I’m practically striding to the second tee like I own the place…

Which, unfortunately, I do.

Hole 2 is a 468-yard par 5 from the blue tees.

And the last 120 yards are downhill.

It gets better: most days there’s a slight down-hole breeze toward the green. On windy days, the second shot can absolutely soar.

So for today’s exercise, let’s call it a light breeze and a middle pin.

This hole is a scoring hole. Eagle is in play.

And for me, it becomes a full-blown mental trap.

Off the tee, it’s basically grip it and rip it. The only real trouble is a fairway bunker on the right — very much in play for golfers in my boat.

The truly bone-headed move is the snap hook into the forest.

So I step up there telling myself, play a slight cut.

Let me stop right there.

A 10 handicap should be thrilled trying to hit a straight ball.

But in my head, there’s a little voice saying:

Tempo. Smooth. Swing 80%.

And then there’s the evil little voice:

Carry the bunker. Set up 180 in. Make eagle.

You can only imagine the shame when you overswing on the best scoring hole on the course and snap it, top it, or sky it into nowhere.

So… stop that thought.

Swing 80%.

Let’s pretend I actually listen.

I swing 80%, land it around the 200 marker, and roll out nicely. Now I’ve got about 190 yards left.

And this is where it gets fun.

With the downhill slope and the breeze, that 190 often plays more like 175. People guess wrong here all the time and end up laughingly long.

The green has a pot bunker front right, another bunker lurking back left, and a downhill slope that will feed a ball onto the putting surface.

Anyone who hits that hill and scrapes out a birdie from a mediocre shot can thank Les Furber for a little generosity.

This hole is built to score.

There is one exception:

Pin placement and green reading.

That’s the difference between birdie and eagle.

Walk all the way around the hole. Look at it from every side.

As my friend Kevin always says,

“Did you just see that ball roll uphill?”

And I say,

“Kevin… it’s impossible.”

And Kevin says,

“Cary, just look at it from all sides.”

He’s right.

Because even when you hit the green in two or three, the real question is:

Why three-putt on the easiest hole on the course?

So here I am at 190. I choose a 7-iron — a club I normally hit about 180 — because today that’s the right number.

The flag is middle, sitting on a left-to-right spine.

Let’s assume I bail out a touch and end up left of the hole.

Congratulations.

You have found one of the worst putts in golf:

Uphill… then crosshill… then suddenly moving away from you downhill.

This simple-looking pin can turn into a three-putt in a heartbeat.

If you’re below the hole, you’re in great shape.

If you’re above it… good luck.

On a great day, Hole 2 is an eagle, and you feel like you’re about to have a stellar round.

On a bad day, you walk off with a double on the easiest hole on the course.

Mountain golf has a sense of humor.

Next up: Hole 3 — where Redstone stops flirting and starts demanding precision.

See you up here,

Cary, Owner