Having two courses at any golf facility is a nice luxury, often allowing tournament play on one course, combined with open play on the other.
Having two courses that offer two distinctly different tests of golf takes the value of the facility to a whole other level.
Such a place can be found at the Red Hawk Golf and Resort.
The Lakes
The Lakes course is a 7,140-yard Robert Trent Jones II design featuring natural desert landscape flows. The course offers the perfect amount of water, sand, and grass to provide a memorable golf experience.
The following are some of my highlights of the course that carries a rating of 73.3 and a slope of 131. I recommend the blue tees that play to 6,278 yards, a 69.1 rating, and a slope of 124.
After an innocent opening hole – a great way to ease in – a 534-yard, par 5 awaits on the second hole, one where you get a preview of what awaits throughout the round. The hole features eight bunkers – there are 101 bunkers on the course – and the hole is framed by hills throughout the hole.
It doesn’t take too long into the round to face the No. 1 handicap hole at No. 3 – the 373-yard par 4. It is protected down the right side and is considered one of the signature holes. You can play safe down the left side but take the risk on your second hole.
The fun continues with No. 5, a 410-yard par 4 that features a blind tee shot. It is another green with an undulating green, a common occurrence with the Lakes course.
The 6th hole, a 464-yard par four has water both left and right. It is wider than it appears but crush it to the left and you will be wet. Water comes into play big time as a lake guards the green.
You are coming into the wetlands area of the course that dominate and enhance the natural beauty of the Lakes course.
The wetlands gather their water from a 26-mile hand dug canal back a long time ago. They are simply stunning and create a fantastic aesthetic for the course.
The ninth hole – a 417-yard par 4 with the wetlands running the length of the hole – completes a great front nine with tough, but fair greens. Get the ball started on the right line and be rewarded.
On the back nine, the par 3 12th, a 164-yard hole where there is an abundance of water is an amazing hole, but not the best par 3 on coming home holes.
By the time you get to the 15th, a 367-yard, par 4, the big dog will be ready to eat, and this is the hole for you to grip it and rip it.
The three closing holes are all appetizing as well.
The 16th is a 492-yard par 5 with a wide-open fairway. There is water down the right throughout the hole, but it takes a pretty errant tee shot to find it.
The 17th is an amazing 185 yard, all carry over water par 3 that is the entrée of the closing holes and one of my favorites on the course. Of course, when you stick it to seven feet off the tee, it creates fun memories.
You close out the round with a 394-yard par 4 where once again you can hammer your tee shot as there is ample landing room. The approach can be a bit dicey as people dining outside at the grill can appreciate your approach or chuckle at your misfortune.
It really is an amazing piece of real estate that provides fun, but at times a stern test of golf. It also is a wonderful way to spend time outside!
By Dennis Miller