Celebrating the commencement of your golfing journey at Owl’s Nest Resort, the first hole extends a warm welcome. This straight par four beckons players with its fairway bunker stationed to the right. To ensure a favorable start, it’s advisable to favor the left side when teeing off, granting you a better angle for your approach shot. This initial challenge sets the stage for what’s to come, hinting at the intriguing blend of strategy and skill that defines this exceptional golf course.
As you advance to the downhill second hole, you’ll find a design classic that bears the unmistakable signature of the legendary golfer and course designer, Jack Nicklaus. This hole showcases a characteristic Nicklaus dogleg to the right, calling for precision and strategy. For a strategic advantage, align your shot down the middle, ensuring you avoid being blocked out and steering clear of the water hazard to the left. This hole pays tribute to Nicklaus’s talent for crafting memorable and tactical holes, leaving golfers eager for the challenges yet to be faced.
Moving on to the third hole, you encounter a course’s true test, marked as the number one handicap hole. Here, the fairway features bunkers on the right and water hazards on the left, demanding a precision tee shot. The optimal strategy is to drive the ball straight down the center, despite the lengthy approach it sets up. The green, framed by bunkers on the front left, awaits with a narrow opening, adding an extra layer of complexity to this remarkable course.
The opening trio of holes at Owl’s Nest Resort sets the stage for a memorable golfing experience, with each challenge showcasing a unique facet of the course’s character and the influence of its esteemed designer, Jack Nicklaus
At Owl’s Nest Resort, the golfing adventure continues to unfold with the introduction of the first par 5, a hole that boasts a captivating reverse ‘S’ shape. This three-shot challenge presents a generously wide fairway, with the left side being the preferred route off the tee. As you prepare to take your second shot, be mindful of a sizable water hazard to the right. Strikingly, the further right your second shot lands, the better your angle for the ensuing approach to the narrow green, guarded diligently by deep bunkers at its front. This hole offers a compelling strategic puzzle that golf enthusiasts will relish.
Transitioning to the first par three, you’ll encounter a mid-length hole that requires a well-executed shot over a partial water carry. Your accuracy and poise will be put to the test, as you aim to find the green amidst this watery obstacle. It’s an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your iron play finesse.
The 6th hole ushers in a refreshing change of scenery with its playful design. This dogleg left gem presents an enticing challenge, featuring water hazards to the right and a collection of bunkers on the inside elbow. Despite its relatively shorter yardage, it’s a hole that encourages creativity and strategic thinking. Golfers can opt to soar over the bunkers to set up a favorable flip wedge shot, or choose the prudent approach of laying back for an attacking iron. This hole brings a sense of variety and enjoyment to the round, ensuring that the Owl’s Nest Resort golf course offers something for everyone to savor.
As we delve deeper into the golfing odyssey at Owl’s Nest Resort, the 7th hole beckons with its considerable challenge. This long par 3 tests your mettle, and you’ll find no shame in reaching for the driver to ensure a well-placed tee shot. The green is thoughtfully guarded by three menacing bunkers—two on the right and one on the left. Interestingly, despite its classification as the number 9 handicap hole, many golfers consider it a tougher adversary than its ranking suggests.
After this formidable par 3, the 8th hole provides a welcomed respite with its relatively short par 4 layout. However, relaxation should be tempered by the awareness of out-of-bounds areas on both the right and left. To navigate this hole successfully, it’s advisable to favor the right side off the tee, effectively avoiding the fairway bunker on the left. The challenge doesn’t end with your drive, as you’ll find a long, two-tiered green, with a bunkered front left, awaiting your precise approach.
The 9th hole ushers in the homestretch with a significant dogleg right par 5. For a promising start, consider executing a high fade off the tee—a preferred approach. Yet, be cautious of the bunkers that lurk on the inside elbow, ready to penalize wayward shots. While it’s theoretically possible to reach the green in two strokes for the daring golfer, this feat demands a well-executed approach from the left side. For the majority of players, favoring the left off the tee is advisable, ensuring the best approach angle to the green. The fairway gradually narrows as you near the green, flanked by out-of-bounds areas on both the right and left, adding an extra layer of complexity to this concluding challenge of Owl’s Nest Resort’s golf course.
As we journey through the back nine of Owl’s Nest Resort’s golf course, there are a couple of excellent birdie opportunities to savor. The 10th hole, often regarded as the shortest and easiest on the course, offers a downhill challenge that invites you to take one less club. This downhill nature can deceive the eye and lead to precision on your tee shot.
The 11th hole, a short dogleg left, presents a delightful conundrum with its strategic layout. Here, you’ll need to contend with out-of-bounds to the right and a fairway bunker. When you approach the elevated green, it’s prudent to select an extra club to ensure your shot has the requisite height to find its mark.
Continuing our journey, the 12th hole emerges as a long par 4 that demands precision from tee to green. Favored by keeping to the right side throughout, a ravine slices through the hole, creating a formidable obstacle. Only the most resolute golfers can reach the green from the tee, which adds an extra layer of challenge to this hole.
Next, we encounter the par 5 S-shaped 13th hole, affectionately named ‘The Bear.’ As you address the tee shot, you’ll be met with an uphill challenge that borders a hazardous area to the left and presents a compact landing area. The approach is shrouded in mystery, with the need to position your shot to the right of a prominent rock and perhaps use an additional club to account for the elevation. This two-tiered green adds a layer of complexity, potentially requiring two well-executed putts. It’s a hole that certainly lives up to its name, providing a formidable challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
As we explore further into the back nine, the par 3 14th hole, while offering a picturesque view, tends to be rather forgettable in terms of its challenge. This hole often provides golfers with a moment of respite, serving as a breather among the more demanding holes on the course.
However, the short par 4 15th hole spices up the round with its daring design, practically daring golfers to take risks. For those with a penchant for hitting the long ball, this hole becomes a tantalizing ‘penthouse or outhouse’ gamble. With the right drive, you might find yourself in prime scoring position, but the front bunkers stand as vigilant guardians of the green, ready to penalize wayward shots. For those who prefer a more conservative approach, favoring the right side and laying up strategically can ensure a safer journey on this hole.
As we approach the latter part of the course, the short par 4 15th hole presents a tantalizing challenge, almost daring you to take a bold, even ‘stupid’ approach. For those skilled and daring enough, it’s possible to drive the green, but it’s truly a ‘penthouse or outhouse’ scenario, where success is met with great reward and failure could result in a costly penalty. Front bunkers fiercely protect the green, ready to catch any overly ambitious shots. If you prefer a more prudent strategy, favoring the right side and laying up is a sensible choice.
The 16th hole introduces the longest par 4 of the course, offering a downhill perspective with an intriguing absence of bunkers. To navigate this hole effectively, it’s wise to favor the right side from the tee, and consider taking one less club than you might initially think for your approach shot.
The 17th hole presents a thrilling dogleg right and is a par five reachable in two strokes for those who can expertly shape their shots. To set up for success, it’s advisable to favor the left side from the tee, allowing for a more advantageous angle toward the green.
Finally, the closing hole on this remarkable course presents a prime opportunity for a birdie, provided you find the fairway and successfully navigate the bunkers that line both the left and right sides. The green, while tantalizingly close to the finish line, is well-guarded by bunkers in front, requiring precision and strategy to conclude your round on a high note.
