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Loch Lomond GC, SCOTLAND 6th hole, 625 yards; Not as easy a hole to design as most would think. Sure, every architect dreams of laying out holes along Loch Lomond but a semi-straight shoreline is hard to which take full advantage. A curving shoreline is preferable as certain strategic options may suggest themselves. The architects in this case wisely 1) left a twenty yard buffer between the fairway's edge and the Loch, 2) left stately old oak trees periodically down the right hand side of the hole to break up any linear hint and 3) placed a bunker directly in between the tee and the green right where your second shot would like to land. Combined with the small raised green complex, the architect's have strategically and beautifully maximized their opportunity.
7th hole, 440 yards; A very clever sucker hole, the golfer actually wants to stay to the outside of this dogleg hole as the green opens up from there. The largest bunker on the course guards the right hand side of the green. With the Loch and Ben Lomond in the background, the architects built the largest bunker on the course. A complex of smaller bunkers would seem out of scale with the glorious surrounds.
9th hole, 340 yards; As previously discussed, this hole (along with the short 8th) stands as a how-to hole: how to turn a relatively flat area into a fascinating hole. 13th hole, 560 yards; Reminiscent of the downhill 10th, the architects built in a lot of elasticity. Whether it is into or down wind, seven fairway bunkers always make the golfer think where he is trying to go off the tee. If you land in one, carrying the creek some 170 yards ahead will prove difficult. And carrying the creek by as much as you can has a distinct advantage given the angled nature of the green. The further back in the fairway you lay up, the worse the angle into the green as you have to contend with several ominous green side bunkers, all on the left side. Why more architects don't incorporate similar strategy into their three shot holes remains a mystery.14th hole, 310 yards; A daring two shot hole, the concept for which Weiskopf and Morrish are famous for incorporating into their courses. A 245 yard carry over the marsh and creek is likely to see the tee ball bound onto the green. Otherwise, the golfer can play left into the fairway provided. The architects encourage you to 'have a go' as the approach from the safe route is none too easy with a deep greenside bunker with which to contend.
18th hole, 430 yards; A final example of architecture living up to a setting. Loch Lomond is on your left on this classic Cape hole and the right to left pitch of the fairway encourages the golfer to stay as left as possible where a flatter stance is afforded. Easier said than done and even Tom Lehman, an excellent driver and eventual champion, bailed into the right hand fairway bunkers in all four rounds of the 1998 Loch Lomond World Invitational. Weiskopf and Morrish's best work is saved to the very last as the three tiered home green is one of the finest green complexes built since WWII. Numerous thrilling hole locations are afforded, with the back right saved for most special occasions. Loch Lomond was always going to be a special course given its unique location, which is perhaps equaled - but never bettered - by any inland course. Lyle Anderson and one of his companies partnered with DMB to provided unfailing support as owner during the crucial stages. However, the ultimate success of the course was dependent on how well the interior holes away from the Loch were designed. And thanks to the time spent on site by the architects, the inland holes were imbued with character and strategic options rarely found in modern architecture. When combined with the holes along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, you have an enchanting course as special as its setting.
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