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I'd played Redhawk Golf Club in Temecula several times and had never been overwhelmed. But this trip was different. The grounds were impeccable and the practice putting green was so pure it looked like it should be roped off with tour players putting on it. For this round, I played the blue tees, which play a bit shorter than the 6,755 yards on the scorecard. THE COURSE: An aspect that has frustrated me in the past is the handful of contrived holes that always seemed to drag down an otherwise entertaining golf course. The first hole is one that used to drive me nuts. At 505 yards, it's not intimidating in length. There is out-of-bounds on the right and a creek on the left that takes driver out of your hands. A 200-yard tee shot followed by a 185-yard lay-up left me with a wedge to the green. Playing the first hole well tends to set the tone for the round and it was energizing to finally find a productive way to get through it. The rest of the course is rather sporty with a variety of shots played to crowned greens and downhill to accepting pin locations. There is heavy undulation in a number of the greens, which places a priority on hitting shots the proper distance to avoid long putts up and down steep slopes. THE GREENS: An early morning tee time resulted in near-perfect putting conditions. One of the knocks on Redhawk is the severity of the undulation on some of the greens. For this round, I looked at it as a challenge. The 130-yard, par-3 fourth hole is a great example. It plays slightly uphill and the green has four tiers. Hit it above the hole on the wrong tier and you're in trouble. Another example is the 340-yard, par-4 14th hole. A 200-yard tee shot leaves you with a short iron approach. But from that distance it appears that the green has been subjected to a landslide. With the pin in the front, the steep slope serves as a great backstop for your approach. With the pin on the back shelf, you are left with a tiny landing area. Like any course designed with heavy undulation on the greens, it helps your blood pressure to be putting uphill rather than down. MOST MEMORABLE: All the par 3s will leave an impression. The 150-yard eighth hole plays to an island green. The 145-yard 12th hole plays slightly downhill over a natural waste area, and the 195-yard 17th plays dramatically downhill. Because of the swirling winds and changes in elevation, all the holes play differently depending on when you play them. The most memorable hole was the 535-yard, par-5 finishing hole. I'll be honest and say I don't know how to play it. There is out-of-bounds right and the same creek that causes havoc on the first hole comes back for a final appearance, running down the left side of the hole before crossing the fairway and snaking down the right side. The best tactic I've seen for playing the hole was watching Nationwide Tour player John Merrick at last year's California State Open. Needing an eagle to get in a playoff, Merrick played a sweeping high hook over the trees and onto the fairway. From there he was left an iron into the green. If you can hit a high, sweeping hook on command about 300 yards, I think that's the play off the tee. Otherwise, I'm still searching for a way to play what could be the most challenging hole I've ever played. LOCATION & RATES: Red-hawk Golf Club is located in Temecula. Rates range from $60-$80. Call (951) 302-3850 or visit www.redhawkgolfcourse.com. n |
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