The Templates: Redan Redux

The Redan is one of C.B. Macdonald’s templates that has best stood the test of time, which makes it no surprise that modern architects continue to incorporate them. The hole lends itself well to use on sloping landforms and minimalists like Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw and Tom Doak have made terrific versions in recent years. In spite of the advance of technology, redans continue to be relevant, and the various iterations remain among our favorite one-shot holes.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort – Pacific Dunes – 17th – 209 yards

The first of two Redans on the Bandon Dunes property, Tom Doak originally employed the design on the 17th hole at Pacific Dunes. A tough one-shot hole on the closing stretch, this par-3 makes a player hit a downhill target that’s heavily protected by a deep bunker.

Black Creek Club – 7th – 239 yards

Designed by Brian Silva, the Black Creek Club features a Reverse Redan that stretches to a whopping 239 yards. Silva wanted the 7th at Black Creek to play like Macdonald’s original design in the early 1900s. That meant requiring players to run the ball up and utilize the slope to get the ball close. This is an extremely difficult and absolutely beautiful hole.

Bandon Dunes – Old Macdonald – 12th – 237 yards

Tom Doak and Jim Urbina’s take on the Redan at Bandon Dunes’ C.B. Macdonald tribute course has a bit of a twist on the traditional version. The 12th plays from a longer yardage to accommodate modern technology and features a smaller bunker on the left side. As Tom explains, “Our Redan is a bit different; the left bunker does not come across the front of the green as far as would be typical for the hole, but the bank of the green feeds short balls out to the bunker.  Only a straight fade will work here.”

Sweetens Cove – 9th – 152 yards

Architect Rob Collins is making great use of templates in his design 100 years after they were originally created. The 9th hole at Sweetens Cove is a short version of Macdonald’s template. The Redan features are unmistakable as a giant shoulder rests on the right side of the green, allowing players to bank shots off it toward the pin. Read more about the 9th at Sweetens Cove here

The Rawls Course – 16th – 239 yards

Like every hole at The Rawls Course, Tom Doak and the Renaissance Golf crew conjured this Redan out of a flat cotton field. The hole’s length provides most of the difficulty, making it play like Macdonald’s template was intended, but there are also nasty bunkering and contours for additional defense.

Sand Valley – 3rd – 225 yards

Coore & Crenshaw use the Redan heavily in their designs, and they included a bold version hole at Sand Valley. The hole features a massive shoulder that will kick balls to the center of the green. Misses right are not recommended as recovery shots over the mound are dicey, to say the least. A slight difference from the Macdonald & Raynor versions is gentler slope on the putting surface.

Kingsley Club – 16th – 205 yards

Located in Northern Michigan,Mike DeVries’s Kingsley Club features a Redan par-3 on the 16th hole. DeVries adds a spin to the original design with two bunkers behind the green that add penalty to a shot that misses long. Listen to our podcast with Mike DeVries here

Black Creek Club – 11th – 195 yards

Silva’s Chattanooga gem also features a traditional Redan hole that has all the standard template features: three bunkers (one short, a deep left bunker and a long right bunker), and a heavy right to left sloping green.

Tobacco Road Golf Club – 3rd – 157 yards

Few architects have the vision and skill to merge two templates into one successfully. Mike Strantz is on that short list with his talent and creative courage. The 3rd hole at Tobacco Road is a Redan/Biarritz combo — a sight to behold and a joy to play.

CommonGround G.C. – 17th – 243 yards

At CommonGround, Doak threw a tough test right in the middle of the closing stretch with this Redan par-3. The front of the green is open to allow running approaches. Short is the best miss given the bunkers and trees guarding the sides and back of the green.

Arcadia Bluffs South – 5th – 190 yards

This uphill par-3 on Dana Fry’s Chicago Golf Club inspired course plays longer than the scorecard yardage to a Reverse Redan green. Judging distance and direction for the tee ball is a real trick as the Michigan wind whips across this open property.

The Sandbox – 16th – 149 yards

The 16th is the longest hole on Coore & Crenshaw’s par-3 fun-fest at the Sand Valley Resort. It’s a wonderful rendition of the Redan hole, and the C&C team did not cheat players of any of the classic template’s features.