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 Water, hills, sand, trees, marshes and sloping fairways look lovely from the tee, but hitting your ball in one of those hazards or locations can often lead to distress. But we're golfers. We love that stuff. It's why we go to the back tees when we know we shouldn't. It's why we pull out a driver when the smart thing to do would be hitting a hybrid club or a fairway wood. It's why we gather at the 19th hole to talk about the brutal par-4 where we lost three balls instead of the nondescript par-5 that we birdied. Looking for a tough test? Check out these 15 holes at some Los Angeles-area courses. Good luck. CALIFORNIA COUNTRY CLUB Where: Whittier Designer: William F. Bell Hole: 10th Par: 3 Length: 167 yards Description: An elevated tee box provides a picturesque view of the back nine with its mix of palms and various mature trees, along with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background. All of the trouble on this hole is on the left side, where water and a greenside bunker must be avoided. Quotable: "When playing the course for the first time players can look at the flag above the clubhouse to [check wind direction] to see how much club they need to take off," said membership director Dianne Gardner. ROBINSON RANCH Where: Santa Clarita Designers: Ted Robinson Sr. and Ted Robinson Jr. Hole: 15th, Valley Course Par: 4 Length: 414 yards Description: The hole plays from right to left and the big decision comes on the elevated tee box, where you must choose how much of the dogleg you want to chew off over the old oak trees. To make things interesting, the fairway is surrounded by a natural habitat hazard. Once in position to play your approach shot, it's crucial for your ball to wind up on the proper tier of the green. Otherwise, you're looking at a three-putt. Quotable: "The beauty of the hole is that it is carved out of a natural habitat and is a great risk-reward hole," said head professional Larry Atlas. LOS VERDES GOLF CLUB Where: Rancho Palos Verdes Designer: William F. Bell Hole: 15th Par: 4 Length: 445 yards Description: The tee shot is blind, it's a dogleg left and you must avoid the left side of the fairway because of a bunker 245 yards out. If you hook it, you're out of bounds. Push your ball into the right rough and you're not much better off because trees block most shots to the green. Find the fairway off the tee, however, and you'll enjoy a great view of the ocean and Catalina. Savor the moment because you're now faced with an approach shot off a downhill lie to a green with a bunker on the left. Quotable: "It is one of the most beautiful views to have on the golf course," said head professional Mike Buroza. LAKEWOOD GOLF COURSE Where: Lakewood Designer: William F. Bell (redesigned by Casey O'Callaghan) Hole: 12th Par: 3 Length: 248 yards Description: Trouble lurks everywhere on this par-3 that plays into the wind - especially around the green, where a water hazard and bunker protect the left side of the hole. Those choosing to lay up short and right with their tee shot will face a delicate pitch over another bunker to a green that slopes back toward the water. Quotable: "Forget your hybrid. Pull out the driver and aim right," said Mike McMonegal, assistant golf director for Los Angeles County. TRUMP NATIONAL GOLF CLUB Where: Rancho Palos Verdes Designer: Donald Trump Hole: 1st Par: 4 Length: 350 yards Description: You'd be advised to pull out something other than a driver on this opening hole. Hit it too far and you'll run the risk of having a tricky pitch to a green surrounded on three sides by water, including a giant waterfall just beyond the putting surface. Also, by laying back a little off the tee, you'll more likely find a plateau that provides one of the few level playing areas on the fairway. And, you'll have a better view of the pin. Quotable: "The farther the pin is placed on the left side of the green, the narrower the green becomes and the less room there is for error," said general manager and director of golf Mike van der Goes. "When the pin was placed on the left side during our LPGA event, the stroke average on this par-4 was 5.41." INDUSTRY HILLS GOLF CLUB Where: City of Industry Designer: William F. Bell Hole: 7th, Babe Zaharias Course Par: 3 Length: 300 yards Description: When the Babe reopens on July 10, it will feature what's being touted as "the world's first 300-yard par-3." But don't fret. It's not as tough as it sounds, other than the fact that it's a 300-yard par-3. Coming out of a chute off the tee, the hole can be visually intimidating, but the strategic mounding acts like guard rails so less-than-perfect drives feed toward the green. There are no bunkers and when there's a breeze, the hole plays downwind. Quotable: "It's a fun hole to look at with the palm trees and the green being so far out there," said director of golf Dave Youpa. LOST CANYONS GOLF CLUB Where: Simi Valley Designers: Pete Dye and Fred Couples Hole: 17th, Sky Course Length: 175 yards Par: 3 Description: The tee shot is all carry over a ravine to an hourglass-shaped green that sits diagonally against the Santa Susana Mountains. With the putting surface perched on a bluff, the only bail-out area is one of the three greenside bunkers. Tee shots long or short will go into the hazard. Other than that, it's a piece of cake. Quotable: "It is the most intimidating golf shot that I hit," Couples once said. LOS ROBLES GREENS GOLF COURSE Where: Thousand Oaks Designer: William F. Bell Hole: 13th Par: 4 Length: 350 yards Description: Don't be fooled by the length of this hole - what it lacks in distance it makes up for with character. An ancient oak sits in the middle of the fairway, 170 yards off the tee. The green, guarded by three bunkers, slopes severely from right to left. You'll do well to get down in two from anywhere above the hole. Quotable: "Players can go right, left or over the tree with their tee shot before facing the challenge of landing the ball on the correct side of the green," said general manager John Barr. BALBOA GOLF COURSE Where: Encino Designer: William F. Bell Hole: 3rd (redesigned by Timm Golf Services) Par: 5 Length: 500 yards Description: What was once a benign 336-yard par-4 is in the process of becoming a challenging par-5. Aside from its additional length, the redesigned hole will have bunkers on the left side of the fairway and an expanded greenside bunker. Adding to the difficulty is a bunker 30 yards in front of the green, which gives the illusion that the hole is shorter than it is. The new hole will be unveiled in mid-July. Quotable: "This hole brings an added and welcomed challenge to the course," said Los Angeles city golf manager James Ward. "Golfers will be delighted to see the changes that were made." SANTA ANITA GOLF COURSE Where: Arcadia Designer: William F. Bell Hole: 18th Par: 4 Length: 434 yards Description: Considered one of the toughest finishing holes among the courses operated by the L.A. County Golf System, this tree-lined dogleg right plays into the wind. Even with a decent tee shot, the stance for your approach shot could be awkward because of the rolling mounds that dot the fairway. The undulating green slopes gently from back to front. Quotable: "It's a great hole," said head golf professional Ed Howard. "Many tournaments have been won and lost on this hole." L.A. ROYAL VISTA GOLF CLUB Where: Walnut Designer: Ted Robinson Sr. Hole: 4th, North Course Par: 5 Length: 481 yards Description: With a slightly elevated tee box, this hole is reachable in two for big hitters. However, bombers beware: a watery grave awaits some 300 yards off the tee. On top of that, two greenside bunkers guard an undulating, elevated green with the clubhouse serving as a backdrop. A smart play might be laying up in front of the bunkers with your second shot and taking your chances on getting up and down for a birdie. Quotable: "It's a great risk-reward hole," said director of golf Danny White. "Players who do not reach the green in two or three will have a difficult time making par." TIERRA REJADA GOLF CLUB Where: Simi Valley Designer: Robert E. Cupp Hole: 11th Par: 3 Length: 200 yards Description: This par-3 plays downwind and has four bunkers on the right, two of which abut the large green. Club selection is critical because any shot over the green will be in a ravine or leave a delicate chip. The preferred play is to land your tee shot on the left side of the green, where a mound often leads to a favorable bounce toward the center of the putting surface. Quotable: "There is a great view of the Reagan Library, as well as the Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountain ranges," said head professional Mark Peifer "Also, it's undoubtedly the toughest par-3 on the course." MOUNTAIN MEADOWS GOLF COURSE Where: Pomona Designer: Ted Robinson Sr. Hole: 9th Par: 3 Length: 162 yards Description: Distance control is key on this par-3 with a green guarded by a pond 100 feet below the tee. Tee shots hit long will end up out of bounds, in the trees or in the back bunker, leaving a scary downhill shot toward the pond. Once on the relatively large putting surface, a two-putt is no guarantee, especially if your ball is above the hole. Quotable: "The hole is visually distracting because it's more downhill than it appears with all the trees and hazards that surround the tee box and green," said assistant pro Kevin Stuehrmann. MONTEBELLO COUNTRY CLUB Where: Montebello Designers: David Rainville and Gary Bye Hole: 16th Par: 3 Length: 155 yards Description: Your tee shot must carry a lake that guards the front portion of this wide but shallow green. When the pin is on the left side, a longer carry is required to clear the water. Playing to the right side, however, will leave you a long putt over a subtle ridge. Also, take note: The hole plays downwind and shots hit over the green will leave you a demanding chip from a steep slope - with the water waiting to swallow any shots that are hit too firmly. Quotable: "It is a beautiful hole," said operations manager Fernando Garcia. "Many golfers are so worried about the trouble in front of the green that they forget the hole is just as troubling from behind the green." ROOSEVELT GOLF COURSE Where: Los Angeles Designer: Los Angeles City Landscaping and Architectural Department Hole: 8th Par: 4 Length: 346 yards Description: Don't let the shortness of this hole lull you to sleep. It's a dogleg right, but a straight shot is required to find the plateaued fairway. Hit it left and you risk going out of bounds; bail out right and you're faced with a tricky uphill or sidehill lie; hit it too far and your ball will be on a downslope, leaving a difficult approach to the green. Shots that come up short might land in one of two bunkers fronting the green or roll back down the fairway. Quotable: "It is easy to see why this is the No. 1 handicap hole [on the course]," said starter Jerry Baxter. "There is so much trouble you can get into on such a short hole." |
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