TOBACCO ROAD #1

Mike Strantz / Par-5, 547 yds / 1999

If an opening hole’s primary role is to set the mood for the remaining architectural journey, Tobacco Road might be the best opening hole in golf [pictured, below]. Few holes pinpoint the essence of the forthcoming experience with more clarity. The jaw dropping, awe-inspiring scene is chock-full of hints and suggestions of the wild ride on which you have just embarked—offering that feeling of “There’s no getting off the roller coaster now.”

Tobacco Road shocks the player with an almost freakish scene that’s meant to overwhelm and play with the mind. Commenting on the architect’s intent for first-time visitors, Tom Woodard, the course’s co-owner, said it best: “I think Mike Strantz wanted people to shake in their boots.” And while many do just that, Mike Jones, one of the premiere shapers on the project, offers some reassurance: “Everything is an illusion from the tee, but in reality it’s much easier than it looks.”

A relatively young hole in course architecture, it’s likely not fair to identify any progeny via inspiration, but doubtless this hole is inspiring and will continue to inspire architects in various ways. Considering its potential impact, perhaps it’s not the physical form of this hole that will be a source of influence and inspiration to others, for that might carry the same trap that concerns soulless copies of the famed island green (next page). Rather, its strength might be more in how, as the opening bell, it embodies the architectural personality of the site and showcases the unique architectural language of a course that captivates and thrills players from start to finish.

The importance of nailing the opener should not be overlooked—it’s the architect’s best chance to prepare the player for understanding, enjoying and appreciating the architectural excursion—and Tobacco Road does all of that and more.