MEDIA CONTEST: Tricks and traps [Willow Lakes Golf Course series pt. 11] Published Dec. 27, 2006 Series Entry 4K ACC MEDIA CONTEST -- The second hole on the back nine is pure Robert Trent Jones - at least, that's what the experts the Air Pulse recruited to help us with these write-ups tell us. Hole #11 is actually one of the easier par threes on the course, but it's still filled with tricks that can leave you shaking your head and looking for your ball. To help us navigate this short but difficult hole, we sought the advise of not one but two local golf experts: Rick Nobles at U.S. Strategic Command, and Murray Krambeer of the 55th Services Squadron. Rick Nobles on Hole #11: A first look from the tee on Willow Lakes Hole # 11 can be deceiving. You see a fairly lengthy and inviting green (26 yards deep), and if you don't study the layout carefully you can be caught unaware of the hole's hidden dangers. Like most Robert Trent Jones par threes, this hole will rewards a good tee shot, but will break your round if you underestimate it. In June 2000 I scored my only hole-in-one here from 163 yards with a 7 iron. However, in 2002 during the Willow Lakes Club Championship #11 got me back. I pulled my tee shot left of the green and into the creek, and by the time I worked my way through the hole, I had a triple bogey. The 11th green is set up in a typical Robert Trent Jones Sr. fashion. Bunkers guard the green on the left and right, and a slightly elevated face to the green keeps short shots from crawling up onto the green. The green is narrow in the front; making it a challenge not only from the tee but also from either of the green side bunkers. To further complicate things, the green slopes from both left to right and front to the back. Murray Krambeer on Hole #11: The 11th hole at Willow Lakes is one of the four original par threes designed by course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr (the 15th hole was originally designed as a par four). The original design intended this hole to be played from 178 yards at a maximum. The additional 14 yards were added by the Golf Committee around 1985. When you place your ball on the tee box from any distance you will notice the tee box will line up towards the green. This is a slight departure from some of the other par threes on the course - a common Robert Trent Jones design characteristic of the 1950's and 60's was to have the tee box pointing away from the green like on hole #3 and #7. A more standard characteristic of the hole is the double bunkers guarding the green. This hole is also framed by trees on both sides of the tee box and a stream running the length of the hole to your left. Rick Nobles on getting par: If you look further to the right you will start to notice the trees and out of bounds (marked by the perimeter road). A shot just to the left of the left bunker will find the slope, most likely carrying your ball into the hazard or into the creek. This means if you get sloppy off the tee, as I did in 2002, a big score is your reward. The wind typically blows South-Southeast-but the trees and houses on the hills to your right will hide this from you. Look at the tree tops just beyond the green to get a reading on the wind before selecting your club. While the elevated face keeps short shots from reaching the green, when the weather is dry a shot to the middle of the green to normally runs through the green and onto the fringe in the back. Putting on this green can also be deceptive. Putts coming from the back to the front of the green are downhill, but go against the grain and will be slower than you think. The front part of the green appears to have more break then it does, while the putts in the back of the green often break more then your read. So look at the trees beyond the green, read the wind, use a little more club for your shot, and make a smooth swing if you want to master Willow Lakes #11. Par on this hole is a good score; so take your 3, count your blessings, and enjoy the rest of the course. Murray Krambeer on getting par: How do I play this hole? The best way is to hit the ball onto the middle of the green, two putt and walk away with par, which is easier said than done. The actual shot which best fits this hole is to hit the ball lower than normal and concentrate on the area between the bunkers called the green. The wind is a huge contributing factor on the hole and the undulation of the green is so critical of where you hit the tee shot that short siding yourself will result in bogey. The bunkers on either side of the green are almost always bogey and obviously hitting the trees will lead to bogey. The best place to leave your tee shot is short and straight if possible. A chip and putt will give you satisfaction of par. I know many of the state's top players have no problem leaving this green with a par or bogey. A birdie will result in a phenomenon known to many golfers as a 'skin'. I don't know what a skin is but many of my friends often smile when they birdie this hole. [Graphic text] Stuck in the middle Hole #11 can be a discouraging place for golfers who can't swing straight. Trees line the hole on both sides, out-ofbounds markers guard the right and a stream waits for balls on the left. Also, the green has two bunkers; one on each side. Good luck!