Dream Hole

Dream Hole

Randy King of the Roanoke Times has put together “The Dream 18” in the Sunday April 15, 2007 edition of The Roanoke Times. In the multimedia piece, Randy talks about the best 18 holes of golf in the Timesland area. The list is quite exclusive as it includes holes from Pete Dye’s River Course in Radford, Sam Snead’s Homestead, and other prestigious courses. Countryside is represented on the dream course with the fearful #16.

This hole is quite the challenge. King points out that you can’t miss it short and you can’t miss it long. I would also add that the only place to miss it is in the trap right behind the green or in a little flat area directly across the lake.

A golfer on this hole tees off from an elevated green and tries to hit a relatively narrow green down below on the other side of a fairly wide lake/pond. The X factor on the hole is wind. It always seems to funnel through the natural valley between the tee and the green most often blowing left to right. This really messes with club selection on a hole that its imperative to know your distance.

Randy has chosen wisely by putting this hole on his Dream 18. I think he could have chosen several other Countryside holes. Specifically, # 7 and 17.

Here’s what Countryside (take the “course tour”) says about #7

“At 510 Yards, #7 is one of the most difficult Par 5’s on the course. Your aiming points are the two fairway bunkers guarding the left side of the fairway. Your driver will do fine on this hole which features a fairway that slopes left to right. Ike’s Creek guards the right side of the hole, but really only comes into play up near the green. A solid second shot should leave you with a short iron into this elongated green. Favor the left side of the green because Ike’s Creek guards the entire right side of the green.”

Here’s what they say about #17

“#17 is a 450-yard par 5 with a lateral hazard all along the left side. Favor the right side of the fairway on this uphill par 5. The fairway slopes from right to left. You have a real chance to get home in two on this hole. If you do elect to lay up, you want to favor the left side of the fairway on your second shot. This will take the greenside bunker out of play and leave you with an easy pitch to this left to right sloping green. #17 is another real opportunity for a birdie 4.”

I think the description of the fairway as sloping “…from right to left….” Really undersells the effect. This hole kills me every time I play it.