Black Mountain Golf Club
18 Holes | Par 72 | By Phil Ryan |
Opened 2007
About
the course
The most important features are the natural creeks that
run throughout the course and the rocks that have been used
in the design of some holes. The course aims to be a test
for the top golfers in the world, but also very playable
and enjoyable to the average golfer. It offers generous
fairways for the shorter hitter, but becomes narrower for
the longer. All the holes proide a safe route, but for the
more adventurous player there's a higher risk option with
a potential greater reward. The greens are large with many
pin positions, different degrees of difficulty, and are
well protected by beautifully sculptured bunkers.
Playing
the course: Blue tees
The 4th 351 yards par 4 is a downhill drive
to a generous fairway, which should give you a bit of run
on the ball. The second shot is a dogleg left to an island
green that often causes a few wobbles, but you should be
left with about a 7 or 6 iron, so keep it straight to avoid
the bunkers that effectively guard a gently sloping and
long green. Pin positions vary in difficulty, just to make
the hole even more challenging! Any short shots tend to
run back down the green so try and pitch up to the flag.
The 6th 569 yards par 5 plays
downhill from an elevated tee to another generous fairway.
Don't worry about the distance, as it plays much shorter
than the yardage and the hole is less daunting off the regular
tees. The second shot gives you a risk-and-reward option
straight at the green, or a safe route to the right, but
the shot looks much shorter than it really is so get a correct
yardage. If you go for it in two, you must take on water
surrounding 60% of the green, sand and a lone tree blocking
the direct route to the flag.
The 14th 165 yards par 3 is
the pick of a great set of par 3's. The tee shot is straight
at the mountains over a lake, to a large green that's framed
by massive bunkers covering much of the left side. If the
pin is back left, you must gamble by hitting a slight draw
to hit it close and let the ball run up from the front of
the green. The right side is the safer option, but get your
putting boots on if the flag is left. You'll be putting
uphill and over a ridge to get to the hole.
The 19th
hole
The location of the clubhouse was chosen to give a panoramic
view over the whole course, as well as positioning the 1st
and 10th tees and the 9th and 18th greens directly in front.
No expense has been spared to make the course as good as
possible and the same is true of the clubhouse. The facilities
include fine dining in the restaurant, a well stocked pro
shop and luxurious locker rooms, Black Mountain intends
to offer service and dining to standard that's normally
only found in the finest hotels. Construction of villas
and condominiums with course views is denderway.
