RISK vs. REWARD

Trophy Lake’s 18th always brings it home with features and hazards from tee to green

Trophy Lake Golf & Casting

Hole No. 18 • Par 5 • 465 yards (White Tee)

BY SIMON DUBIEL • SALES/MARKETING MANAGER & TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

The Setup

One of the true great risk vs. reward holes in the region, the 18th at Trophy Lake has been the decider for many many wagers and the destruction of countless great rounds. Water hugs the entire left side for your layup and approach, before cutting across in front of the green, swallowing up approach shots that fall short. Although the tees you choose heavily influences how you play this hole (blues are 65 yards back) there is little debate what awaits your approach shot, regardless of the yardage you have in. Hit straight and true or look for a splash.

The Risk

Although the tee shot appears to have an inviting fairway, the slope to your right will leave a sidehill lie with the ball well above your feet (for righties) — far from preferred placement considering your options for your second shot. If you pounded one down the fairway and have a yardage you can handle, now is the time to find out if you have the cards to win this hand. Anything short is toast and anything sprayed right is wet as well. If you go left, you will be lucky if you find the last of Trophy’s 80-plus bunkers. Hopefully it only takes you one swing to get out.

The Reward

Imagine being on the 18th tee needing a birdie to win your club championship, or your low round or maybe just to win your $5 Nassau off your best golfing buddy. Your approach here is the Northwest’s ultimate test of brain or braun. Are you David Simms, laying up with your tail between your legs? Or perhaps Roy ‘Tin Cup’ McAvoy, looking to be the toast of your foursome at the Dry Fly Cafe afterwards. Split the fairway and you should have the yardage to get home in two. You are just one good swing away from glory and the 19th hole.

Final Call

If you have some gamble in your game and enjoy looking for trouble, you came to the right place. Water and sand? Sounds like a nice trip to Maui, but it is no place to try to play your golf ball from. If your yardage is 220 or less to the hole, then that stack of chips in the middle of the table is hard to ignore. It’s time to go hit a golf shot, and mark down that four. You got the hand to rake the chips. Just don’t end up making the greatest 12 of all time.