Known for its beauty, the par-3 picturesque 11th hole at Davis County Golf Course offers more than that. In fact, some days it offers too much.
They call it their signature hole, surrounded by trees lining both sides of the fairway, and with bunkers to the left and right of the undulating green. It makes for a straight shot right down the middle.Head golf professional Brad Stone says it is challenging, yet beautiful and secluded. I like it because if you don't hit it well, only you and the others with you will see that.
At 188 yards from the blue tees, 168 from the whites and 138 from the reds, it makes for a very reachable par-3.
If you lose your ball in the jungle to the right, it is considered an unplayable lie and you have to go back to the tee and hit again. It is considered stroke plus distance so you would be hitting 3 on your second tee shot.
If you pull it to the left, (my favorite direction on that hole), there are more trees and a small water hazard, (which I swear has some type of magnet in it). If you are lucky and you find your ball, you can take a two club-length drop, no closer to the hole. If you don't find it, you must go back to the tee and tee it up again, hoping this time that 3 is a charm and you'll pop it right up on the green.
If you hit it straight down the middle and onto the green, it is the greatest feeling, knowing you just tackled all those other elements in that peaceful yet difficult setting.
You better hope that that preciseness carries over to your putting. The green itself is not easy with its undulations and ridges which makes them hard to read.
Davis Park Golf Course located just off Highway 89 between Salt Lake and Ogden is situated in a good location. It is in good condition and well manicured. Most everyone has fun playing there because of its versatility. Stone suggests it is challenging enough for good golfers yet fun for the average golfer.
I suggest you give that No. 11 hole a try and let me know how it goes. My girlfriends Betty, Barbara and myself all took double bogeys on it last Monday. My friend Gayle parred it and made us all feel better . . . or would that be worse?