Page 126 - Cityview_May_June_2014

Spring 2014 Golf Guide

Six of Knoxville’s

Most Challenging Holes

Everyone has one.

So how does one conquer this gi- help to minimize the possibility of find-
In fact, they’re much akin to fishing stories. ant and close out a round strong at ing extra damage to one’s score from
There’s always the tale and the myth-like
Stonehenge? huddleston says success the hole.
aura that surrounds a golfer and his or her is found off the tee box.
however, the only true way to
interpretation of a favorite course’s most
difficult hole.
“If you can get the tee ball to advance conquer this hole, says Jones, is to hit
out far enough, you can make it over a skilled shot—a feat that is easier said
Just as No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass with
its Island Green haunts PGA Tour golfers, the water easily on your second shot,” than done.
he says. “If your tee shot isn’t great, just
Knoxville has its fair share of difficult holes
that bring sweat to a golfer’s brow when he lay up.”
No. 4 at Avalon Golf and Country Club
or she simply ponders how to conquer the
course’s challenge.
At Avalon, golfers have no choice but
No. 12 at Cherokee Country Club
to start quickly or face the 430-yard
However, a few Knoxville professionals
have the inside scoop on how to emerge Don Jones, director of golf at Chero- wrath of No. 4.
kee Country Club, isn’t shy with his The par-4 is enough to challenge even
victorious on some of East Tennessee’s most
challenging holes.
description of No. 12 at Cherokee.
the most elite golfers, says Matt hillman,
“When you tee off on No. 1, you’re assistant golf professional at Avalon.

thinking about what you’re going to do The hole boasts a dogleg left that
No. 18 at Stonehenge Golf Club
when you get to No. 12,” he says with a bends around and uphill with an esti-

The finishing hole at Stonehenge chuckle.
mated 180 yards remaining to the green
golf Club is no walk in the park.
This hole, however, isn’t one’s typical after the turn in the fairway.

It’s a 398-yard, par-4 finisher—and par-3.
An elevated green is protected by
has everything needed to end a golfer’s The relatively straight hole is pro- bunkers to the right and left, meaning

round on a sour note: a water hazard in tected on its right side by out of bounds a miscue with an iron or driver can
front of the green, bunkers guarding the and a railroad track that has “frequent easily leave a golfer attempting to save

hole, and a long-distance approach shot.
train traffic,” according to Jones.
a double bogey from the sand.
“It’s a pretty setting,” says Warren The left side of the green is guarded The longer a player can boom their

huddleston, head golf professional at by a significant creek that trickles near drive, says hillman, the better shot
Stonehenge, “but that approach shot and guards the left side of the green.
they have of defeating this score killer

requires some precision.”
“It requires a player to play a skilled of a hole.
That “precision” huddleston shot to a small target from a long “Me personally, I play all of our dif-

references is not mentioned lightly. distance,” says Jones. “There’s just no ficult holes about the same: not very
Without an accurate tee shot, hud- place to run and hide.”
well,” says hillman with a laugh. “The

dleston says, golfers are likely to end Jones recommends laying up and way to play No. 4 depends on how far
up in either the bunker, the water, or playing the hole as a par-4 if a golfer you can hit. If you hit 290 yards off

out of bounds—instead of safely on the lacks the boom in his or her iron or the tee, you can lay up and hit an 8- or
amphitheater green.
hybrid play; this strategy, he says, can
9-iron and be okay.”

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cityviewmag.com may june 2014