FAIRWAYS AND GREENS: Perfect couple

In numerous Water Valley brochures and advertisements, as well as the cover photograph on the Pelican Lakes brochure, Holes No. 10 and 11 have been featured as the face of one of America’s most unusual golf courses.

Pelican Lakes has the distinction of having more shoreline than any golf course in America and when you play the first and second holes on the back nine, you understand that it truly does.

Both holes have huge water on the right and golfers who have a habit of slicing will find themselves in trouble very early on unless they forget about the long ball and try for a more controlled drive. The Poudre River brackets the fairways on the left but doesn’t really come into play.

No. 10 is a par-four which plays 455 yards from the tips, 383 from the blue tees, 354 from the whites and 304 from the reds. Playing from the tips is intimidating as the elevated tee box sits way back by the club pool and many golfers don’t even realize that it’s part of the course.

Other than the red tees, water must be driven over to reach the fairway. A drive which falls off to the right may end up in a long bunker which sits at 250 yards out between the fairway and Habitat Lake. It is a lot better to keep your drive on the left half of the fairway and not even flirt with the hazards. Your approach shot, between 130-140 yards, will then be straight in from this position and the left and right sand traps near the front of the green can be circumvented.

Once on the green, you will be faced with a shelf which divides the front and back halves so a little strategy will pay big dividends. If the pin is up front, keep your approach shot short and even though it may not reach the green, it’s a better lie than trying to putt from the upper shelf down to the cup and watching your ball roll off the green.

Hole 11 has some of the same features as 10, but it is a par-five and plays 542 yards from the tips, 510 from the blue tees, 479 from the whites and 431 from the reds. Water will come into play with any kind of slice off the teebox, but the fairway is wide and very manageable and your aim should be to the left of the sand traps and the hill which are midway down on the right. A well placed drive in the 250-275 yard range will find the back side of the mid point rise and your ball will roll into great position for a 200-240 yard second shot.

Again, “stay left,” is the advice of the day for 11 as well. Multiple traps and bunkers, and Habitat Lake, will wreak havoc with the scorecard unless finesse is employed on your second and third shots.

An eagle is not out of the realm of possibilities on this par-five, but it will take a well placed drive in the 280-300-yard range and a dead-on 4-wood to have a chance. For most golfers, the risk of getting wet will force them to play conservatively and be happy to find the green with their third shot. But, if you do find yourself in the sweet spot of the fairway and your 4-wood is treating you well, it is a fun one to go for. And there just might be an eagle sitting along the Poudre River in the cottonwood trees as you sink one for 2-under par for the hole.

Bob McNamee is the Director of Golf at Pelican Lakes/Pelican Falls in Windsor.