MEDIA CONTEST: Plateau [Willow Lakes Golf Course series pt. 8] Published Dec. 27, 2006 Series Entry 4H ACC MEDIA CONTEST -- Linksmen will notice something different about Hole #8 at the Willow Lakes Golf Course: it's the first hole since two that doesn't have some sort of water hazard. The hole's difficulty lies in the tight fairways and a right dogleg. To help us get to the pin this week, the Air Pulse recruited Lt. Col. Gary Obermeyer, a counterintelligence staff officer at U.S. Strategic Command, who provided us with this detailed rundown. Colonel Obermeyer on the 8th hole: The eighth hole at Willow Lakes is a long, slightly uphill par 4 that doglegs significantly right. At 420 yards from the championship tees it's the third longest par 4 on the front nine. The key to success on this hole can be summed up in two words: fairway and green. Hit them both and you'll likely walk away with a well earned par. Miss either and you may be looking at a large number as you head for the ninth hole and a return to the clubhouse. Colonel Obermeyer on making par: The tee shot is the most critical shot on this hole as it will likely be the difference between par and double bogey. The fairway is framed along the entire right side by large trees, along with a relatively large bunker that could come into play if you are not careful. The left side of the fairway is more open; however, a decision to play too far left to avoid trouble will likely result in a long iron into the elevated green. Standing on the tee box, club and shot selection is key. The smart play is a three wood struck straight down the middle. Shorter hitters can use a driver, but be careful, the fairway at the dogleg runs out at 220 yards. Avoiding the bunker on the right at 175 yards will leave you with between 140 and 160 yards to the green. For the more aggressive players who can work the ball, a faded driver or one played over the trees on the right could leave you with only a wedge into the green ... but aggressiveness could also cost you. Not clearing the trees or ending up right of the trees will leave you with no shot at reaching the green in two. Be sure to add at least half a club on your approach to account for the elevation change - at least a full club if the wind is against you. The green sits atop a plateau which slopes away on the front, left and back sides. Any shots struck left will likely find trees or high grass, resulting in a bad lie (at best) or possibly a penalty stroke for a lost ball. Shots struck long could find their way down the slope into a tree line. If you are going to bail out on your approach, the best bet would be right or short from where you can play a relatively simple chip to the hole. The green is relatively flat compared to others on the course, so hitting the green in regulation almost certainly will result in a two putt par or birdie. Play this hole smart and you'll be off to the final hole on the front nine with no worse than a bogey. [Graphic text] Fade away Golfers have two choices off the tee on hole #8, according to our expert, Lt. Col. Gary Obermeyer. They can take the safe route, outlined here in blue, which involves two straight shots following the dogleg. That route will make it hard to get more than a par from this hole, but you'll risk much less doing it. Your other option, if you're the adventurous type, is to attempt to fade a shot around the trees on the right or simply power the ball over them entirely (shown in red). Do it well and you're looking at a short chip shot onto the green. Do it wrong, and your ball could end up in the foliage.