The Lake - Hidden Valley

The Lake is one of three courses that call Hidden Valley home. Three different courses and three different looks at the game. Some places that have three or four courses are all pretty much the same. Not here, they all are a different type of course .

This was a hard course for me to write about. Generally after I play a course I get a feeling that the course gives me. The pine trees of Michiwaye. Or the views at Treetops. The tightness at Marsh Ridge.

Then I set down and the words just seem to come. It just didn't happen with The Lake. I couldn't find a theme, anything to put my finger on. There was no one thing about the course that stands out above the other. It's a different golf course.

Oh, I can tell you about the greens.

They are in very good shape and fast. Nice sized with those tricky undulations that those of you that can putt just love. For those of us that can't, we have the challenge of not three putting. The greens are nicely bunkered (large) to give us a challenge and to grab the rare shot that is just a little off. Thank god, we seldom do that do we?

But this course isn't about greens.

Or I can tell you about the lakes.

The have two lakes (back nine) that come into play along with a few ponds. The first lake you come to, you play four holes all the way around it. You start out with a par three that sets on a point that challenges the golfer that fades - trees left - or draws - water right. It's not a good idea to hit it short or long either.

The next hole demands a good poke over water, followed by a hole that only punishes the push or fade and then another par three on a point.

Then you get away from that lake and they give you a par five with a new lake. The fairway follows it all the way around to the green. Any time you work up the nerve you can cut off as much of the lake as your fortitude will let you.

That's five of the last nine holes that you have to deal with one lake or another.

But this course isn't really about water either.

Or I could tell you about the fairways.

They are bent grass, not too large but not to small either. They give you enough room that you can take your driver out of the bag. Beautifully tree lined, they can give you all the trouble you want if you get a little too wild. They give you elevation changes, doglegs, ponds, lakes and sand traps. You will seldom see another fairway and they work around a ski slope. That should give you a hint on the contour of the land.

They have a par four that works up a valley that slopes down from both sides to one of the narrowest fairway that you will ever see. Fortunately , almost all shots kick down to the fairway. (that's different) If you do happen to hang up on the slope, well, how are you at tee ball?

That's followed by great par five that falls away in front of you and a par three that a real thrill to play.

But this course isn't about fairways either

See my problem. I just can't put a finger on what this course is about. It's just different. In fact, maybe that is what this course is all about. It just gives you a different look on every hole. Not that any hole is out of place because they are all very nice holes. You can't say, "This hole is like the one we played back there a ways." The closest you can come to two similar holes are the par threes that stick out in to the lake. Our nerves wouldn't hold up with to many holes like those any way.

When you leave one hole you look forward to what they will give you that's different on the next one, and by golly they find a way to do it.

The Lake gives you something different on almost every hole, and that, in itself, is kind of different.

I even putted well and that was really different.

The day I played the course there were a flock of geese on the lake that were playing like a bunch of kids in a pool. Chasing each other, rolling on their backs, having a great time. One would charge at another and both would dive under water a play a little tag there. I had never seen geese do that.

See what I mean, ------ different.

Ken

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