The Golf Course at Hunting Hawk
Hole 1
The first hole will present a comfortable start to the golf course. A medium-length par 4 begins with a tee shot uphill to a landing area protected on the right by a large and deep sand bunker. Gently rolling hills covered with natural grasses define both sides of the hole and surround the green. A series of grass hollows on both sides of the approach to the right of the green await to collect shots hit short or off-line. A sand bunker protects the left side of the green, while the front of the green remains open to accommodate all players as they begin their round. The putting surface is divided by subtle rolls, creating numerous exciting pin placements.
Hole 2
Golfers will be presented with a number of interesting strategies for playing this short, but dangerous par 4. The fairway winds around a large pond down the left side of the hole. Playing away from the pond will bring a series of bunkers into play on the right side of the fairway. The bunkers closest to the tee must be carried to reach the portion of the fairway that offers a safe route away from the water. The shallow green is guarded by water on the left and front with a bunker framing the rear of the putting surface which provides a variety of pin placements all demanding well-placed approach shots. Although the green will appear to be reachable from the tees, accuracy, not length, will be the key to success on this hole.
Hole 3
The first par 5 on the golf course can be reached with two well-played shots. A large, intimidating sand bunker will capture shots hit to the right side of the fairway and provide a challenge for players trying to position their shots to reach the green in two. A small bunker on the left side of the fairway offers a good target to set up the shortest route to the second landing area approach to the green. A small wetland will come into play on the left side of the fairway for those electing to play away from deep sand bunkers surrounding the front and right side of the green. Successfully negotiating these bunkers will set up an attempt at birdie, while failure to do so could be disastrous. A pronounced terrace divides the putting surface of the green creating two small targets, so that even short third shots must be well played. Pin placements on the lower left tier are much more inviting than those on the upper right tier although there is a mound for a backstop behind the right rear portion of the green. A good birdie hole, but the opportunity for larger numbers looms as well.
Hole 4
With three holes behind them to warm up, players are now faced with one of the strongest holes on the golf course. A very long straight-away par 4, this hole is played from elevated tees, downhill all the way, giving golfers a clear view of the challenge ahead. The best tee shot is down the right side of the fairway flirting with the bunker to catch a downslope for extra yardage. A small, deep bunker located in the left center of the fairway creates a good target for most players, but could be a problem for longer hitters. Players unable to reach the green in two shots will have a clear approach from the left side of the hole. Shots hit too far to the left of this large, elevated green will be collected by a series of grass hollows making for an exciting recovery for par. A long sand bunker protects the right side of the green and contains errant shots from going out-of-play into the adjacent natural area.
Hole 5
This is a beautiful par 4 playing uphill to the fairway flanked on the left by large trees and a sand bunker on the right. Playing down the left side of the fairway will set up the best approach to the green for most pin placements. Players attempting the shortest route to the green down the left side of the hole will have to avoid a sand bunker protruding into the fairway, just past the landing area. The green perched on the side of a small hill contains a narrow, diagonal putting surface with a number of demanding pin placements. Shots hit wide to the right of the green can only hope to find the one small bunker or end up down a steep slope, well below the putting surface. Deep bunkers to the left and rear of the green will present very challenging recovery shots to avoid the steep slope on the other side of the green. Oak trees to the left and behind the green provide an attractive setting.
Hole 6
This sixth hole is the first and shortest par 3 on the course and one of the most dramatic. Elevated tees provide players with a good view of the challenge ahead. The green offers one of the smallest putting surfaces surrounded by sand bunkers. The placement of these bunkers demands accuracy and their depth will make recovery shots very formidable. Large trees to the right and left of the hole, along with the long, winding bunkers, will give the hole a striking quality and players reason to pause before hitting their tee shots.
Hole 7
The tee shot of this lengthy par 4 will have to be well placed to avoid an environmentally sensitive area running through the fairway just beyond the landing area. Most low handicappers must play a long iron tee shot and a long iron second shot. Higher handicappers must try to get as close to the fairway dropoff without going in to provide an oppotunity to reach this very difficult par 4 in two. From the "island" landing area, players must hit a long second shot to a narrow, elevated green. Approach shots hit wide to the right of the green will fall into one of the grass hollows surrounding the edge of the putting surface. Sand bunkers located well below the putting surface will catch shots that miss the green to the left. Shots hit straight into the green will have to deal with the undulations running through the front and right of the putting surface that protect all of the pin placements. Par here is like a birdie, while bogey is no disgrace!
Hole 8
The second par 3 on the front nine, No. 8 requires a relatively long and straight tee shot over a small stream and environmentally-protected area. Trees lining both sides and the rear of the hole create a beautiful setting and present the green as an inviting target. However, steep slopes in the front, on the left and behind the green will make this a difficult target to reach by rejecting all poorly hit shots. Well placed bunkers and the contour of the putting surface will increase the challenge further when pin placements are located throughout the middle of the green.
Hole 9
The finishing hole on the front nine is the longest hole on the course. The landing area is elevated and the green will be visible across the small pond on the right side of the hole. Long hitters beware!! Hitting tee shots over the fairway bunkers on the right leads to big trouble in the form of marshlands!! Tee shots that are hit convincingly down the left center of the fairway will take advantage of a downhill slope on the backside of the landing area to gain extra length. From the bottom of this slope the approach to the green, and possibly the putting surface, might be reached in two shots; however, errant approach shots to the left will find a marsh and those missed short or right will find woods and water. Tee shots that are hit off center will find the sand bunker on the right side of the fairway or unique grass hollows on the left. While players may be tempted to go for the green, the realistic strategy will be to the second landing area left of the pond because this is a true three-shot hole. The green is elevated, with steep slopes on the left and sand bunkers across the rear, making club selection for the proper distance a must. Substantial undulations in the putting surface will present another challenge for any shot that has not been hit close to the pin.
Hole 10
The back nine begins with this medium-length par 4. This is a difficult driving hole due to the very narrow fairway angling diagonally from the player standing on the tee. The hole plays slightly downhill from the tee to the fairway guarded by a large bunker on the right side and smaller, deeper bunkers on the left. Playing away from the larger more impressive bunker only adds more distance to the hole. The best tee shots carry over the right side bunkers and feed downhill to the ribbon-like fairway. Approaches must be played with authority to negotiate a small stream that cuts diagonally across the front and left of the slightly elevated green. Sand bunkers and grass hollows guard the right side of the green and await any shots that have been played away from the stream. The putting surface is of good size, offering an ample target for a reasonable shot at par for the first hole on the back nine.
Hole 11
This par 5 is one of the most dramatic holes on the course. The tee shot is played from an elevated tee over a small stream to the landing area on top of a hill. Sand bunkers flank both sides of the fairway and must be avoided if attempting the green in two shots. From the landing area, players will have one of the best views on the course. The fairway winds around the left side of a long pond and is framed in the second landing area by a series of bunkers. The green forms a peninsula jutting into the pond, surrounded on three sides by water. The tranquil pond and large, stately trees lining the hole create a serene setting in which players can contemplate the difficult decision to either play safely to the second landing area while avoiding the bunkers or to take a gamble and go for the easily reachable, but demanding target presented by the green. Approach shots played from the second landing area will have to contend with sand bunkers around the left side and behind the green, as well as a putting surface containing a large terrace sloping away towards the water. A recovery shot from any of the bunkers to a pin located on the lower portion of the putting surface in the front of the green will test even the best players.
Hole 12
This medium-length par 3 is straight forward, playing over a natural area of wetlands and low growing vegetation. Large trees surrounding the tee and along the edge of the natural area give the hole a peaceful quality, but players need to remain focused to reach the green successfully. Tee shots must be hit with authority to reach the green and with accuracy to stay out of the grass hollows surrounding the putting surface. The large, rolling putting surface will provide pin placements that present a variety of challenges. A tee shot on the green does not guarantee a par.
Hole 13
This is the second longest par 4 on the course and may prove to be the strongest, playing uphill all the way. The tee shot must carry a natural area to the landing area that is heavily bunkered on the left. Shots hit away from the bunkers to the right side of the fairway may find a subtle downhill slope and a large tree will make the approach shot to the green even more challenging. The long, narrow green is guarded on the right by a very deep sand bunker but open in the front to allow an easy run-up shot to the elevated putting surface. Approach shots to the left of the green will find a series of grass hollows. The large trees surrounding the green provide a beautiful setting.
Hole 14
From the elevated tees, this medium length par 4 will offer one of the more exciting views on the course. The hole plays over a natural area running in front of the tees and down the entire right side of the hole. A long, winding bunker along the right side of the landing area serves as a buffer to the natural area and helps to contain shots that are hit slightly off-line. A small bunker on the left of the fairway provides a target to the safe line of play, usually with a fairway wood or long iron off the tee, into a gentle hillside. The approach shot must be played to a slightly elevated green bordered by the natural area on the front and right. A series of deep bunkers on the right of the green will save shots hit wide, but result in a very challenging recovery shot. Playing to the left may find the small bunker tucked into the putting surface or grass hollows around the rear of the green. The putting surface has a terrace running through the center creating upper and lower areas for pin placements.
Hole 15
This is the longest par 3 on the back nine and will require a well hit tee shot to reach the green. The hole plays slightly downhill over a subtle swale making club selection more difficult for the proper distance. One small bunker in the right front gives the green the appearance of an easy target, but steep slopes and grass hollows to the left and rear of the putting surface will create a variety of challenges for shots that miss the target. The putting surface is large, but long and narrow with numerous undulations making long putts for par or birdie an adventure.
Hole 16
No. 16 begins a strong set of closing holes for the course. This medium length par 5 will be another very scenic hole with a pond located along the entire left side of the fairway. Tee shots must be played over a natural area to an elevated landing area. Large trees to the right of the fairway will come into play for shots being played away from the water. To reach the green in two, a tee shot must be hit long and straight, taking advantage of a downhill slope at the end of the landing area to gain extra distance. Even without a long tee shot, the green will offer an enticing target. The pond fronts the green on the left, but players will find the fairway is generous in the second landing area and to the right of the green, enabling shots played short or wide to the right to result in an easy approach. The green is on the small side with some severe undulations, requiring accuracy whether shots are being played from the first or second landing areas. Sand bunkers on the left and right front of the green will save short shots from the pond, but present a challenge to get close to the pin.
Hole 17
This is a relatively short par 3, requiring tee shots to be played over a pond to a green surrounded by sand bunkers. A steep slope in the front of the green will reject any short shots back into the pond. Playing long to avoid the water runs the risk of catching one of the bunkers and resulting in an exciting recovery shot back towards the pond. The putting surface is the challenge here with three tiers to separate pin placements, so that players must not only clear the water, but hit their shots close to the pin to avoid a long, breaking putt.
Hole 18
This difficult finishing hole will present one of the strongest challenges and prettiest views on the course. A stream meanders down the left side of the fairway and cuts in front of the tees requiring that shots be played with length and accuracy. The landing area is generous, but shots straying too far to the left will find the stream or a large tree and for those straying too far to the right, a series of sand bunkers. A big tee shot hit over the tree (or with a right to left draw around the tree) on the left will result in the best approach to the green. The approach shot is long and slightly uphill all the way to a large, rolling green guarded by bunkers on both sides and surrounded by large trees. The front of the green is open to allow a good chance for recovery from shots that have come up short of the target. Par on this hole will be a satisfying end to an exciting round of golf.
