PowerPutt Hole Showcase: Dusty Trail 14
Tame this Challenging Par-4 with Some Careful Planning and Spot on Speed
PowerPutt Hole Showcases are here, ready to turn your –10s into –15s and your –20s into record low scores!
The next hole to be dissected is a par-4 that can make you want to rip your scorecard in half when played unsuccessfully. And just like the previous Hole Showcase, it requires two near-perfect shots to get an eagle because the ace simply isn't possible.
Dusty Trail #14 looks quite simple from the tee area, but looks can be deceiving. The strategy and skill level needed to play the hole correctly make it one of the deepest holes in the game.
Your first shot will more or less determine whether or not to attempt for an eagle or simply layup for birdie. The hole starts off by facing your golfer towards an angled wooden wall with steel bindings spread out equally across each boundary. Remember this because it will come in handy later on.
From here, the best way to attack this shot is by using a pool player's approach. Instead of sending your first shot near the open area, line up in between the two steel bindings highlighted in the picture on the right and bank it off the wall. Hitting here will send your ball rocketing towards another angled wall on the other side and then to the other part of the hole.
As strange as it sounds, the direction is not nearly as important as the speed in this instance. As long as your shot is hit somewhere in between the two bindings, your direction should turn out just fine. The speed is really crucial however to get the proper positioning for your next shot. Using the bindings as landmarks at this point can provide a huge advantage.
The ideal position is to be even with center binding along the far back wall. Getting to this spot will require a firm first shot along with a little bit of practice. From here, you'll see two water hazards and a small passageway on the raised portion of the hole. Right behind, and in the center of the passageway, is the actual cup. Guess where your next shot has to go? Uh-huh.
If you set yourself up in the appropriate spot, you should have a good look through the passage. Hit a straight ball through the channel and the water will never come into play, as long as you have the appropriate speed.
Come up short, you're going in the drink. Too hard, and you'll bounce off the wall and find the same fate. Also note the large ramp that you'll be hitting up. This will affect the speed tremendously. Just remember, practice makes perfect.
The second shot should become much easier as you do it more often. Still, it remains a high-risk shot. If you're slightly short or long of this spot on your initial tee shot, you might want to think about going around the water and laying up for birdie. There's no sense ending up with double bogey if the birdie is almost automatic from this position. A lot depends on your comfort level with the hole, and how important that one stroke is at that give moment. Choose Wisely.
Hopefully this gets you going in the right direction. No one said the hole would be easy, hence the showcase. But with a little practice you'll have it down in no time! Check back to powerputtgolf.com for information on the world's most realistic and exciting mini-golf game. Also stay tuned for more Hole Showcases to help you reach new PowerPutt lows!
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