The Templates: Leven

The original Leven, known to the Lundin Golf Club as “Trows,” is somewhat hard to figure out upon first sight. For starters, the green is barely visible behind a hill offset to the left, and only the top of the flag can be seen from the elevated medal (back) tees. From the left forward tees, it would not be out of question to think that the hole plays to the nearby 2nd green on the right. It is this blindness though, along with a burn (stream) running diagonally across the landing area, that give the hole its unique strategy that would be replicated numerous times by Macdonald, Seth Raynor, and others.

The hole is not very long, especially by today’s standards, but it is all about placement of the tee shot. The hill that fronts the green causes two problems: discomfort with the lack of sight and a downslope covered in rough that will either snag short shots or kick them forward and through the green. The hill is slightly offset from the fairway though, which leaves a little opening from the right side where a ball could either bounce on or settle safely short. Generally, the further right and further down the hole you are, the more the green opens up and comes into sight, making the shot both easier and more comfortable. So, play it long and down the right side.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Of course, it wouldn’t be quite as interesting of a hole if just for that.

The aforementioned burn runs across the hole on a diagonal going from closer left to further right before curling up the right side of the length of the hole. This puts it much more in play around the ideal landing area, either punishing or rewarding the more aggressive play further down the right. A more conservative play short and left will result in a blind, often downwind shot over more of the grassy hill with no room to land the ball short.

For the shorter players laying up short of the burn, the approach or layup is a difficult one, as the fairway beyond the burn slopes left-to-right with the green sitting high and left. A well-played shot drawing into the slope will find a narrow upper plateau, and if long enough and properly shaped, may even find the green itself.

This narrow plateau is also the ideal landing area for the long hitter (excepting those 300 yard drivers who can just go after the green, which would be very tough to pull off but certainly fun to try). Getting to this plateau needs either a laser straight carry of about 220 yards or a helping draw played into the slope. Draw it too much though, and the left rough and hill is jail.  Drift a little too far right and catch the slope, and the ball will kick down into the right rough while also bringing the right greenside bunker more into play.

The green isn’t overly large and is defended by four bunkers that are almost evenly spaced around the perimeter. The right greenside bunker is the most important as it guards the right side entry and punishes players who go too long down the right side of the hole. The back and left bunkers prevent players from playing too safely over the hill. They actually sit a little bit above the green, which makes for an awkward and difficult to control recovery shot. The putting surface itself is not overly wild but has some nice internal variation to keep things interesting. It has a slight overall right-to-left slope as well, which gives a little help for those trying to navigate around the front hill to find a left hole location.

The 16th at Lundin is a very clever and simple hole utilizing two natural features in perfect harmony. It is no wonder Macdonald used this hole to inspire one of the more interesting holes at the highly strategic National Golf Links, the short 17th named “Peconic.”

This is a great hole and one that would be fun to play on a daily basis, especially during a dry summer with a trailing wind, both of which would make the hill fronting the green exponentially more difficult to navigate. Even when calm, the hole’s short length is offset by the burn, sloping fairway, and bunkers, which all make the ideal second shot landing areas effectively small and difficult to find. Play aggressively, and a punishment is likely.  It is vexing on its own, but coupling that with the variable and often strong Scottish wind leaves you with a hole where you are very happy to run away with a 4.

Restraint and thought are two skills not often tested enough in golf, especially in modern design. The 16th at Lundin Links tests both, and that is its greatest quality.

National Golf Links of America – 17th – 375 yards

Macdonald’s Leven at NGLA, named Peconic, is his most famous and perhaps most scenic. The hole plays downhill and angles left-to-right. The fronting mound is exposed sand and hides a set of nasty pot bunkers. Modern technology has taken a bit of the bite out of the 17th as the aggressive line up the left doesn’t present the same challenge as it used to.

Chicago Golf Club – 5th – 320 yards

Chicago Golf’s Leven plays slightly uphill with an angled bunker right along the aggressive line. The green on the 5th, with its internal spine and contours is not only one of the best at CGC, it is one of the best in golf. It throws a twist in the hole as the spine and knob make it advantageous to be on the semi-blind left side for a left pin, avoiding having to hit over the spine and worry about landing on its downslope.

The Creek – 10th – 313 yards

One of the most fun and picturesque renditions of the Leven hole comes at The Creek, a Macdonald/Raynor design. The 10th plays along the Long Island Sound and its creek. The beach is on the left and water awaits to the right, but 10th is drivable for long players in ideal conditions. Bailing away from the water left will lead to an obstructed view thanks the sand dune that Gil Hanse restored. The half wedge to a semi-blind green is no easy task. This is an example of a hole that has gotten more compelling with modern technology.

The Course at Yale – 6th – 421 yards

Raynor’s Leven at Yale swings left around a defended corner. Since these photos have been taken, the pines on the left have been removed, restoring the intent of the hole and the creek which guards the aggressive line. Straying away from the creek will lead to an approach shot that has to deal with the mounding left. Like the rest of Yale, the 6th would become one of the better examples of the Leven with a restoration.

St. Louis Country Club – 11th – 389 yards

The 11th at Macdonald’s SLCC plays uphill and over a valley. The ideal line is up the right but it is guarded by bunkers, and artistic mounding watches over the left side. Further tree removal would greatly benefit the 11th and the preceding 10th hole.

Blue Mound Golf & Country Club – 16th – 355 yards

Blue Mound’s Leven is one of Raynor’s simplest designs tee-to-green with the entire left side of the hole available to the player. The difficulty of this version is at the green. A subtle left slope feeds into the bunker and an internal spine makes lag putting tricky.

Mid Ocean Club – 14th – 357 yards

Another artful Macdonald creation, the Leven at Mid Ocean sits in a small valley and works its way uphill to the right. The green is defended by mounding and bunkers that are as beautiful as they are penal.

Country Club of Charleston – 4th – 409 yards

Thanks to the recent restoration work from Kyle Franz, the Country Club of Charleston’s Leven Hole has regained its original glory. The right green-side mounding on the obstructs any tee shot which plays to the safe side. In order to gain a clean look at the green, a tee shot must contend with the bold fairway bunkering on the left, a some 260 yard carry from the back tee box. From there it leaves an approach shot to a green with a vexing false front and a few subtle spines.

Fox Chapel G.C. – 12th – 344 yards

This under the radar Raynor gem is packed with solid templates, including the Leven 12th. It plays along a side hill that feeds tee shots into a right hand bunker. That bunker must be challenged for the best angle into the benched green.

Yeamans Hall Club – 2nd – 362 yards

The Leven at Yeaman’s Hall hits early in the round and provides a birdie opportunity right off the bat. The tee shot moves left, making driver a risky proposition. Playing a tee shot towards the right hand fairway bunkers yields the best angle to approach the green that slopes from left-to-right and contains a few spines. Playing up the left can lead to a blind approach from a disadvantaged angle.

Camargo Club – 14th – 390 yards

Camargo is where Seth Raynor’s most elegant templates can be found, including the Leven 14th. It plays up and over a hill and then swings down to the right approaching the green. A gaping bunker protects the front right of the putting surface.

Shoreacres – 3rd – 312 yards

One of the shortest Levens is also one of the most fun. Shoreacres 3rd plays straightaway with bunkers on both sides. The green is drivable with the right wind, but overzealous shots that miss the mark have difficult bunkers lying in wait.

Old Macdonald – 13th – 346 yards

Tom Doak and Jim Urbina put a special twist on the Leven on their course inspired by C.B. Macdonald. The mound left of the green obscures shots from the right, but can also be used to feed balls onto the green.

Boston Golf Club – 5th – 317 yards

The Leven 5th at BGC is named Shipwreck for a reason – there are numerous ways to wreck a card on this shortie from Gil Hanse. Severe bunkers and mounding down the right must be challenged for the best angle into the extremely narrow green.