Aviara Golf Club
Carlsbad, CA
This week's hole focuses on Aviara Golf Club's 16th hole. A Challenging par 4 that can play at 285 yards from the front tee or 375 yards from the back tee.
285 Yards - From the forward tees, the 16th becomes a drivable par 4, and is from where Minjee Lee stunningly made an ace in 2016. The more risk averse player will set up a wedge to attack the accessible hole location.
375 Yards - When the hole is playing 375 yards, longer drives will catch the slope, and may be rewarded with up to three clubs shorter on approach to this tricky green. The risk vs. reward on this hole comes down to the second shot. hole locations will be tough to access given the deep green protected by water and funneling towards the sand in the back.
285 Yards - Aon Insight is that players should be aggressive when the hole is playing from the shorter tees. In 2018 the forward tee was used in the last two rounds and 36% of the field drove the green.
375 Yards - Aon Insight is that players who hit the green in regulation in 2018 only made birdie or better 38% of the time, so this green is a test in and off itself and three-putts are common (with a total of 87 over the past three years).
Risk and Reward abounds on this volatile hole.
285 Yards - To gain an advantage, players must be strategic off the tee and determine whether the calculated risk of attempting to drive the green is one worth taking.
375 Yards - Players must decide if an approach shot to a back hole location is worth going for with water and bunkers in play or play sage to middle of green where a 3-putt is still possible.
