E I G H T   L A K E S   C O U N T R Y   C L U B

Designer:  Nick Bunch
Credits:
 - Textures:     Pebble Beach (Strober, Anderson, McHale)
 - Trees/Bushes: Whisperwood (Dickinson)
 - Tee Markers:  Monterrey Shores (McHale)

Eight Lakes Country Club (ELCC) was designed as a balanced challenge for all players.  The course features holes with substansial length, as well as those that are short, yet still challenging.  For the design contest, the course was required to have three certain holes, a short par 3 (under 140 yards), a short par 4 (under 320 yards), and a short par 5 (under 500 yards).  For me, I selected the following places in the course to do so:

Short Par 5 - 13th Hole
  After coming off the short, but difficult par 5 10th hole, the tough 11th hole, and the par 3 12th hole, I felt it would be good to give the players a chance to pick back up strokes if they were unfortunate enough to give them away on the previous few.  In a tournament situation, this would be anyone wanting to mount a late charge would have to start making some headway.  Eagle is a possibility, however it is not a given.  Those wanting to make up shots would be forced to challenege the water and hit the big drive through the narrow opening of trees.  The green on this hole is very large, and can be difficult to putt if your approach is not in the vicinity of the flag.  

Short Par 4 - 16th Hole
  The finish at ELCC was not designed to be a punishing test, rather one where a player two or three shots back could quickly jump into contention.  The 16th can be reached by the big hitters, yet missing the green can be very costly.  One large bunker protects the left side, and a set of two bunkers guard the front.  The green here is very small, and very sloped from back to front.  Don't expect many easy putts.

Short Par 3 - 17th Hole
  Again, part of the finish that requires leaders to make birdies to keep their leads.  At around 120 yards, depending on the pin placement, this one-shotter has plenty of trouble.  Another small green awaits here with water and bunkers waiting to gobble up any errant shot.  

I hope you enjoy ELCC.  I finished this course early in the summer of 2001, and in the time since have begun to work on two sister courses to ELCC.  My plan is to not release those courses until the contest is completed.

Par:  71
Yardage: 6606
   OUT : 3416
    IN : 3190


Hole 01 - Par 4 - 358 yards - HDCP 13

The first hole favors those who can play a hide fade around the trees on the right and avoiding the large fairway bunker on the left.  However, it also allows shorter hitters to easily get into their round with a mid iron, and still have another mid iron into the green.  The putting surface slopes from back to front, so below the hole is important to those wanting birdie.  The pot bunker guarding the green is not a fun place to be.

Hole 02 - Par 4 - 479 yards - HDCP 1

The second hole is a stiff challenge.  Water down the right side, coupled with a fairway that slopes from left to right makes the teeshot extremely difficult.  A good teeshot in the fairway is important if you want to hit the green in two.  Bunkers surround this miniscule green.  Don't let a bogey on this hole ruin your around.

Hole 03 - Par 4 - 432 yards - HDCP 3

The third hole plays back down the same water hazard as #2, and is again on the right side.  The second shot is the most important here so hopefully your drive found the fairway.  The green is inspired by the 17th hole at Sawgrass and the 6th hole at Riviera.  Yes, and island green with a bunker in the middle.  Depending on the wind, the drive, and the pin position, players can be attacking this large green with anything from a 4 iron to a pitching wedge.  

Hole 04 - Par 3 - 169 yards - HDCP 11

The fourth hole is the first of two par 3s on the front nine.  Water guards anything short and right, but the real hazard on this hole is the green.  Sloping from back left to front right anything long of the pin is a treacherous putt.  Anything in the bunkers behind the green is deadly.  Take comfort if you can make it through the first four holes without a bogey.

Hole 05 - Par 4 - 351 yards - HDCP 17

Five, six, and seven are the scoring holes on the front nine, so be sure to take advantage of them.  The short fifth hole requires a booming teeshot to a wide fairway.  Blowing it right is not a bad thing as you can play off the fairway of the sixth hole.  A large tree and a large bunker guard the green.

Hole 06 - Par 4 - 410 yards - HDCP 9

The sixth hole is a sharp dogleg right.  Aggressive players can cut the corner, but must risk being blocked out by the tree guarding the fairway.  More conservative players can play a medium iron out to the left and have a longer shot into the green.  My suggestion:  Take the agressive route.  More often than not you will have a decent approach into this front-to-back sloping green.

Hole 07 - Par 5 - 544 yards - HDCP 15

This medium length par 5 provides another birdie oppourtunity.  A good drive sets up a reachable green.  A lone bunker guards the front, and three line the right side.  Only major trouble is hooking one left into the water.

Hole 08 - Par 4 - 455 yards - HDCP 7

The eighth hole is a straightaway par 4 which features a difficult green protected by water on the right.  Big hitters will have to be careful to keep the drive left to avoid going into the water hazard or the bunker on the right.  If you miss the pin too much to the right, your approach might kick into the water.

Hole 09 - Par 3 - 218 yards - HDCP 5

The ninth hole is a long, difficult par 3.  The green is challenging, sloping from back to front and featuring a false front on the left.  Par is an excellent score here.

Hole 10 - Par 5 - 509 yards - HDCP 6

The back nine starts with the first of two reachable par 5s.  The teeshot must negotiate two bunkers and make it around the bend if the player wants a clear look at this green.  The green is protected by water on the left and a slopey putting surface.  Many will be thinking birdie, but walking off with bogey on this hole.

Hole 11 - Par 4 - 383 yards - HDCP 4

A blind teeshot around a bend that must carry a good 225 yards to the fairway.  From there a large green is protected by a marsh-filled lake in front.  If you end up in the rough off the tee, I would recommend laying up on your second.

Hole 12 - Par 3 - 160 yards - HDCP 12

A medium length par 3 protected by two bunkers front left and front right.  Long is not good here as the green complex is set on a hill and will kick balls away.

Hole 13 - Par 5 - 492 yards - HDCP 16

The closing stretch begins here for anyone wanting to win a tournament.  This par 5 tempts players to carry the water with a 240 yard carry.  Taking this route will leave you with a long iron into this large, undulated green.  Those more conservative players can drive out to the right, taking care to avoid the fairway bunker 235 yards away.  

Hole 14 - Par 4 - 390 yards - HDCP 10

The par 4, fourteenth hole features a sharp dogleg right at about 290 yards from the tee.  Players should keep their tee ball left in order to have the best look at this green protected by three bunkers in front.  The second shot is uphill, about 10 feet, so club selection becomes important.

Hole 15 - Par 4 - 477 yards - HDCP 2

The longest, most difficult par 4 on the course.  Driver is necessary, with a slight fade around the tree line in order to have a chance to reach the green in two.  Five bunkers guard the undulated green.  Par is an excellent score here.

Hole 16 - Par 4 - 305 yards - HDCP 18

A short par 4 begins the final stretch at Eight Lakes Country Club.  Many players will be licking their chops here thinking easy birdie, if not eagle.  However, three bunkers and a tiny, heavily sloped green await.  Most players will drive it deep and be left with a tricky chip over the two bunkers closest to the green.  Beware of the green, it can be difficult.

Hole 17 - Par 3 - 118 yards - HDCP 14

From an elevated tee, the 17th hole is guarded by water front and right, and three bunkers left.  The green is small so accurate club selection is a dire necessity.  

Hole 18 - Par 4 - 356 yards - HDCP 8

The 18th hole takes some inspiration from the 18th hole at Harbor Town Golf Links.  A cut out of fairway on the left is the best driving area, however many players will block the ball right into one of the three bunkers on the right.  A total of nine bunkers guard this hole, as well as a steep slope deflecting any approach shot that comes up short.
