| Hole of the Month |
|
Steve Burns, ASGCA
Designer Notes:
Although it's tough to pick an absolute favorite, I do have a couple types of golf holes that we try to include on every course. One is the reachable par 5. Another is the driveable par 4. The fifth hole at Hawks Nest is an excellent example of the latter. The short fifth plays 40 to 50 feet downhill. The cautious player can lay up, into the generous landing area, with anything from a middle iron to a fairway wood, leaving a short pitch to the green. From the back tee, the bold player faces a shot of 269 yards to reach the front left edge of the green. The drive to this position must flirt with dense woods on the left and a creek about 10 yards short of the green. A bunker separates the creek from the front right of the green. Behind the green is a steep hillside with two more bunkers that are more for aesthetics than penalty. A severe ridge flows from the hillside to divide the green in half. The ridge challenges putts from the wrong half of the green, so the golfer that lays up needs to be accurate with their pitch to have any shot at a birdie or an easy par. From the appropriate set of tees, almost any golfer has some potential to go for the green, so this hole isn't just enjoyed by the biggest hitters. The smart play, however, is probably to just lay up. |
