TPC Boston

After poor weather and the threat of Sunday storms shortened the Barclays Championship to 54 holes, TPC Boston in Norton Massachusetts is hoping to escape relatively unscathed from hurricane Irene as they prepare to host the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

For the second consecutive week, the focus is on a course remodelled by Gil Hanse, this time a 2007 redesign of Arnold Palmer’s original 2002 layout. Though less than a decade old, TPC Boston carries a maturity way beyond its years, which gives the course the impression that it has always been there. Hanse’s reverence for conserving the natural integrity of the land has produced a masterful design that fits seamlessly through the rolling hilly terrain. Mature trees, wetland areas and a variety of native grasses and fescues frame this picturesque but challenging layout.

Located 40Km south of Boston, the course is 6600 metres long and plays to a par of 71. The short 330 m par 4 1st hole gives the players a number of different options ranging from teeing off with a mid-iron to the longer hitters going for the green if the tees are up. At 495 metres long, the par 5 2nd yielded many birdies and better in the past. However, with chocolate drop mounds now lining the rough in the driving zone, and two gnarly bunkers positioned in the old catch basin to the left of the green along with a strategic mound protecting the left front, par will be a good score.

The 270m par 4 4th will tempt many to go for the green, but the yawning bunker guarding the left front forces consideration of less risky options. The course bares its teeth at the 430m par 4 5th, where the drive must avoid the strategically placed fairway bunker to set up a reasonable approach to a three-tiered green with trouble left and right. The home three holes are perfect for an entertaining and exciting finish.

Water guards the short par 3 16th to the front and left rear of the green. Pin placements close to the water’s edge will jangle more than a few nerves. The quirky 375m par 4 17th gives up its share of birdies and will prove pivotal in the final outcome. The 480m par 5 18th yields eagles and birdies for the brave, but will also bring heartache for many on the traditional Labour Day finish on Monday.

Golfweather Editorial