Palos Verdes Golf Club
Palos Verdes Estates, CA
The 15th hole at Wilshire Country Club plays brings in two different layers of decision-making and strategy based on the setup.
When the hole is played back at 528 yards it will force much of the field to lay-up and play this as a three-shot hole.
When the tees are moved up to 459 yards, most players will be able to reach the green in two. Historically, players' scores have ranged from eagle to double bogey.
528 yards - The Second Shot. The longest hole on the course gives players the chance to make birdie or better, but they will need to navigate the 14 bunkers that line the fairway. From the back tees, only longer players that aggressively challenge the bunkers on the right-hand side will have the opportunity to reach the green, and then must decide whether they can hold the green with a wood or lay up to their preferred distance.
459 yards - From the front tees, most players will have a chance to make birdie, given that they find the fairway with their first shot, missing the bunkers that line the fairway. With most players being able to reach the green, the strategic decision comes into play with their second shot. The green is protected by a deep creek in the front that also wraps around the back left, so players must choose whether to play aggressively at the flag, or the more conservative play towards the bunker protecting the back-right.
While there is potential trouble, the 15th hole is a scoring opportunity that players will want to take advantage of, especially when the tees are moved up. The scoring average on this hole drops from 5.02 to 4.52 when the hole plays 459 yards.
