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A look at nine local holes as the golf season comes to an end.Hole: 12th,Valley HoleCourse: Myopia Hunt ClubLocation: WenhamPar: 4/5Yards: 446 (mens); 439 (seniors), 453 (ladies) If the 12th hole at the Myopia Hunt Club Golf Course was an opponent then it would already have landed a right hook before you even put your tee in the ground. It’s mesmerizing and scenic 360-degree views puts the golfer in a relaxed state not ready for what is going to happen next. And what is next is an upper cut that will knock you back a few steps. The “Valley Hole,” as it is named, is in Chris Millard’s book, “Golf’s 100 Toughest,” which lists the most difficult holes in …
Hole: 17thCourse: Wenham Country ClubLocation: WenhamPar: 4Yards: 300 (blue tees); 290 (red) Out in the distance you see a hill. After that, nothing. Your obvious reaction is that you want to be on top of that hill so you know where to aim and what hazards are awaiting you. On the 17th hole at Wenham Country Club you better hope that is where you are on your second shot, or third shot for those who can’t drive 175-200 yards. Because what lies ahead is as dangerous as they come: a small green that has very little give for shots that aren’t near-perfect. The green is on a plateau. On the left …
Hole: 9th (Pond Hole)Course: Myopia Hunt Club Golf CourseLocation: HamiltonPar: 3Yards: 136 (mens); 130 (seniors), 128 (ladies) The 9th hole at Myopia Hunt Club Golf Course is not too long – 136 yards from the men’s tees. But a pond right in front of you and bunkers surrounding the entire small green and if you don’t hit itstraight and on the green you are most likely in trouble. For these reasons the Pond Hole is one of the top 100 holes in America, according to Golf magazine. Along with the 4th hole, Myopia is the only course in New England to boast two holes on the list. “If you hit your …
Hole: 5thCourse: Lakeview Golf CourseLocation: WenhamPar: 3Yards: 121 (blue tees); 107 (white); 95 (red) Who doesn’t love to see a high, arcing shot that seems to be suspended in the air for eternity? The anticipation of whether it will land on the green for a birdie attempt or find its way into a hazard can take your breath away. That is unless the possibilities of a hazard far outweigh the ball landing in a safe spot. The fifth hole at Lakeview Golf Course may look like an innocent, 121-yard par 3 that doesn’t have a blind green or is straight uphill that adds on scores of yards. Don’t let …
Hole: 4th (Miles River Hole)Course: Myopia Hunt Club Golf CourseLocation: HamiltonPar: 4Yards: 398 (mens); 360 (seniors), 327 (ladies) You can take your friend’s word. And you can take a playing partner’s word. But when the history books show that a professional player 10-putted a hole then you know the green is the toughest around. During the 1905 U.S. Open a player once took 10 putts in order to get the little white ball in the round hole. That is difficulty at its best. Miles River, as it is named after the river that runs along the left side of the fairway, is the 398-yard, dogleg left, …
Hole: 10thCourse: Wenham Country ClubLocation: WenhamPar: 3 (4 for women)Yards: 216 (white tees); 209 (red) All anyone wants on a par 3 is to have the chance to putt for birdie. And if that doesn’t happen I am sure no one would say “no” to carding a 3. Most times the par 3 is one of those rare times on a hole where you can pull out an iron and smack it onto the green. But usually when a hole is short in yardage it is difficult in hazards. For the 10th hole at Wenham Country Club, it has both – length and pitfalls. And to make matters worse, the 200-plus yards are actually longer because it is…
Hole: 6thCourse: Lakeview Golf CourseLocation: WenhamPar: 4Yards: 229 (blue tees); 153 (white); 194 (red) If you have never played a course before, all you have is the scorecard to try and figure out how to navigate a hole. And, obviously, a piece of paper usually doesn’t do the special holes any justice. It is no secret that Lakeview Golf Course is a simple, straight-forward layout that has occasional challenges but rarely any surprises. That is until you hit the sixth hole. It is a relatively short par 4 that is a dogleg right, but you are forced to lay up with a 125-yard shot or you will …
Hole: SeventhCourse: Wenham Country ClubLocation: WenhamPar: 3Yards: 229 (white); 142 (red) Wenham Country Club has seen three different centuries, opening in 1899. So it is not a surprise that some holes don’t look exactly as they did back when the clubs were rudimentary. The hope is always that the change will be for the better. In the case of the 7th hole at Wenham Country Club, a total reinvention of the tricky par 3 couldn’t have worked out better. About 10 years ago the now-153 yard hole was a straight-forward, no-hazards blip on an otherwise fun and at times challenging 18-hole course…
Hole: ThirdCourse: Lakeview Golf CourseLocation: WenhamPar: 3Yards: 171 (blue tees); 147 (white); 133 (red) With a par of 31 for the course, obviously Lakeview Golf Course is going to be littered with par 3s. So it will take something to set the five holes with the shortest yardage apart. All you have to do is finish the first two holes before you get to the most challenging par 3 on the 2001-yard layout: the 171-yard third hole. First it stands out with its three different tee box levels. Then when you look out at the fairway you notice it is as narrow – with woods on the left and a few …
