MEDIA CONTEST: End game [Willow Lakes Golf Course series pt. 16]

  • Published
  • Series Entry 4P
ACC MEDIA CONTEST --  As the fall chill draws another golfing season to a close, the Air Pulse presents the final two holes in our series on the Willow Lakes Golf Course. A hearty thanks goes out to all the local experts who made it possible.

To that end, we asked Senior Master Sgt. Hector Campos, superintendent of operational engineering with the 97th Intelligence Squadron and Offutt's base golf champion, to help us out again on the final two holes of the course. Sergeant Campos claimed that title Aug. 13, beating out the nearest competitor by five strokes.

We are proud to present the best golfer at Offutt's take on the last two holes.

Sergeant Campos on Hole #17

The 17th hole at Willow Lakes Golf Course is the easiest hole, according to the handicap rating of 18. It measures 338 yards from the blue tees and 318 yards from the white tees. It might be considered the easiest on paper but don't let the rating fool you, it beckons you to go for the green with your tee shot.

More often than not, it has had its way with quite a few of us by making us believe we can easily make birdie by going for the green. But we end up having to settle for par or worse.

This hole can be reached in one by the big hitters as they shape the ball with a gigantic draw over the bunker and the cluster of trees to the left of the 100 yard fairway marker. I have been suckered into going for the green in this fashion and have paid the price by getting left with no open shot to the green. The shot for a short hitter like myself is to hit the ball down the middle of the fairway leaving you with an approach shot of 80 to 100 yards. The green has a bunker protecting it on the right side and really doesn't come into play.

Once on the green, you can be faced with an uphill or downhill putt depending on the pin placement. In reality, there isn't much to this hole but I will tell you that this hole demands respect.

Why, you ask? The next time you're at Willow Lakes, take a look at the scorecard that's displayed showing the course record of a spectacular round of 63 and you'll see that the 17th hole gave up a bogey that day.

Sergeant Campos on the final hole, Hole #18:

The second longest par five on the course is the 18th hole at Willow Lakes.

It is 538 yards from the blue tees and 509 yards from the white tees.

This hole is one of my favorites because it is the last hole and whether I'm playing good or bad I know the round is just about over.

The tee shot here is very important and the only forseeable trouble is the fairway bunker about 260 yards from the tee.

You can play a nice draw over the bunker or hit a shot right down the middle and be in good shape for your next shot.

As usual, the big hitters have an advantage as they can attempt to hit the green with their approach shot, but I believe in playing it safe and hitting short to set up for a third shot onto the green and have a go at a birdie. This is an amazing green and is protected by bunkers on the left and right along with a deep dead area behind it that used to be a bunker.

The green slopes severely from the back of the green to the front. All I can really say about this green is that I hope you practice putting on a daily basis because this green will have you begging for mercy.

This is a fantastic finishing hole and if you haven't played at Willow Lakes, you should go out and enjoy the course and let the outstanding Willow Lakes staff take care of all your golfing needs.