Right in Our Region
6 Memorably Monstrous Golf Holes
T
ypically, the nicer and more picturesque a golf hole is, the more memorable and difficult it is. A 500-yard hole that’s dotted with blossoming trees, calming waters and neatly manicured bunkers may look great in a photo, but these elements can also create some serious trouble for golfers. There are many picturesque golf courses around our area that present the right balance of charm, length and dastardly distractions, but these three courses require a particular attention to accuracy, skill and patience.
Pottawatomie Golf Course
Stretching 489 yards, the first fairway at this nine-hole course in St. Charles involves some strategy right out of the gate. It’s tempting to drive the green in two shots, but in most cases, golfers wind
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Smart Living Elite
April 2022
up in the trees along both sides of the fairway. A shot too far to the right lands out-of-bounds. “Decide which shot to hit into the green and play it backwards from there,” says Ron Skubisz, head PGA pro. Skubisz suggests aiming the first shot about 180 yards off the Hole No. 1, Pottawatomie Golf Course in St. Charles. tee. Position your second shot down the fairway, hopefully somewhere left third of the green also slopes down, that’s one easy shot from the green. so you’re just aiming at one-third of the As if the start wasn’t hard enough, green. You need to hit a long, high and the 420-yard ninth hole brings its own accurate shot to reach a narrow target.” challenges. Skubisz speaks so highly of this clos“The ninth hole is the longest par-4 ing hole that he believes it can compete on the course, and by far it’s the hardwith some of the world’s best fairways. est hole on the course,” Skubisz says. “If you put that hole on Pebble Beach “It requires a fairly straight drive and a Golf Links, in California, or on another really long drive. The right third of the great golf course, that course will get betgreen slopes down into a bunker, and the ter,” he says.
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(St. Charles Park District photo)
By Jermaine Pigee, managing editor
