Hidden Creek Golf Club, NJ, USA

5th hole, 395 yards; A modern day architect has many tricks up his sleeve in order to challenge the golfer. Some ways aren't so subtle like forced carries over water (by the way, there are no water hazards at Hidden Creek) and others are subtle, like creating depth perception problems. In the case of the bunkerless 5th, rather than cutting a bunker into the slope at the right front of the green, Coore & Crenshaw brought in piles of dirt and built a hazard that obscures much of the green. The catch here is that the 5th green is the second deepest green on the course at 48 yards and without a good view of the hole, the author imagines that good players wll struggle in gauging the right distance for their approach shots, especially to the back hole locations. 

As captured early in the morning, the 5th green is partially hidden from an approach from the right. 

6th hole, 445 yards; Similar to Alister MacKenzie and A.W. Tillinghast, Coore & Crenshaw design long two shotters that remain fun for all levels of player. Central to the enjoyment of such holes as this one, the 8th at Chesseessee Creek and the 9th at Cuscowilla is the fact the playing conditions be fast and firm. And in Green Keeper Jeff Riggs, Hansen has the right man to insure that the course plays as Coore & Crenshaw intend. With 17 years in the course maintenance field, Riggs appreciates what will and won't work in the climate of south New Jersey as he has been at Blue Heron since its inception in 1993. Also, with the Head Golf Professional Ian Dalzell being from Portrush, Northern Ireland and Hansen's love of links golf in the U.K., the key people at the Club are all firmly being the pursuit of fast and firm conditions as well.

With fast and firm conditions, all level of players will enjoy the 6th hole. Seeing a well struck three
wood carry this sprawling front right bunker and run the last 30 yards
up onto the green will delight any golfer.

8th hole, 300 yards; A multiple route short two shotter with the day's hole location dictating which side of the central bunker to play. With the hole left, the player should go left off the tee and with it right, the player should go right. Matters are complicated at the green where a large mound in the green's center can send approach shots or putts any which way. With the central bunker and the mound in the middle of the green, the architectural merits of placing the challenging features down the center of the hole as opposed to its sides is highlighted as multiple playing angles/strategies unfold with hazards that are centrally located.

A bunker way right, a bunker in the middle of the fairway, and the top of the flag nestled in 
its own little dell are what the golfer sees from the 8th tee. Given today's hole location,
the play off the tee is to the left of the middle bunker.

10th hole, 475 yards; A drive that passes the two bunkers down the right can catch a 'power slot' and be propelled well forward to the green. The golfer will appreciate the shorter club into the green as it is located at the crest of a hill, from where the entire green falls from front to back.

The wide cut though the fescue signifies that everything is done to encourage walking at Hidden Creek,
from caddies to pull carts to motorized pull carts to carrying one's own bag.

There is a mound in the fairway just to the left of these bunkers that can kick a tee ball well forward.

This view from behind the 10th green indicates just how much the green slopes from front to back.

11th hole, 120 yards; In the classic Donald Ross give and take mode that make his courses such a delight to play,  Coore & Crenshaw constantly mix up the demands of the holes at Hidden Creek. The reachable three shot 3rd is followed by a long and difficult one shotter, the 470 yard two shot 16th is followed by another reachable par five and here the tiny 11th is sandwiched between the mighty 10th and 12th holes.  

The 11th calls for a crisp pitch up the hill to a skyline green, which at 4,400
square feet is the smallest on the course.

12th hole, 465 yards; Overstating the excellence of Coore & Crensahw's routing at Hidden Creek is impossible and it's highlighted at the 12th. The tee is on the crest of one hill, the landing area on the broad crest of another, and the green further ahead on yet another. All this makes perfect sense when playing the hole yet try finding this hole within 750 acres while the land is nothing but hardwood trees and underbrush! The fairway effortlessly flows across this rolling portion of property and it is the kind of natural hole that would have been impossibe to find on the flat site at Blue Heron Pines.

The distant bunker on the left is at the crest of the a hill while the green is located on the crest of another.

continued >>>

© Copyright GCA 1999 - 2000. All rights reserved.