The Scariest Hole At Each of the Network’s Seven Clubs

Category: CoursesMedia: BlogClub: ArborLinksClub: BallyhackClub: Briggs RanchClub: Hidden CreekClub: Dormie ClubClub: Victoria NationalClub: GrayBull

Oct 16

Written By Guest User

Even if you’ve got a solid tee box strategy, nothing instills fear like looking down the fairway with a trio of bunkers in the way…or maybe it’s a peninsula green, or a blind dogleg. At the Network’s clubs you’ll find all of the above, with a few surprises along the way that could amp up anyone’s game.

We polled members and the golf professional team, who said these were the absolute scariest across the Network.

You Voted: These are the Most Difficult Holes at Each of the Network’s Seven Clubs

ArborLinks #11
Ballyhack #14
Briggs Ranch #1
Dormie Club #8
GrayBull #7
Hidden Creek #12
Victoria National #14

Scariest Hole at ArborLinks: #11

Par 3, 107-140 yards

Drew Seubert, Head Golf Professional at ArborLinks — *Drew Seubert, Head Golf Professional*

A picturesque par 3 from an elevated tee. Your mid or short iron will send your ball to the small hourglass-shaped green. A misdirected tee shot here will test your short game.

“The green is visually intimidating—play for the middle of the green, as anything off makes for a difficult up and down!” – Drew Seubert, Head Golf Professional

Honorable Mentions at ArborLinks: #18, #12, #9, and #17

Scariest Hole at Ballyhack: #14

Par 4, 271-408 yards

Hole fourteen is a short par 4 that plays to a natural plateau fairway across the Ballybrook. The player can be as aggressive as he chooses in taking his line to the green which sits beyond the brook. The second shot is played to a green that is one of the smallest targets at Ballyhack and features a false front. The green has the “plateau” characteristic of many historic courses and has a bold pitch from back to front. Birdies will be made here, but too aggressive a play may result in a double-bogey.

"Hole #14 at Ballyhack seems fairly harmless when looking at the distance from tee to green printed on the scorecard but standing on the tee box, you quickly realize that walking away with par is no easy feat. The hole welcomes you with a visually intimidating tee shot only to be followed up by a green that isn't a walk in the park in its own right. A 210-230 yard tee shot gets you in the fairway which is almost a must with precision required on your approach shot. Your approach shot will typically play anywhere from 10-15 yards uphill, but the challenge will be gauging wind conditions with players being protected by most wind directions. No worries though as any shot that lands in the middle of the green results in short. Short leaves players with even the best short game shaking at the knees and long of the green can quickly result in being in front of the green. Your best chance is hoping whoever is cutting hole locations that day is in a good mood and places the hole in the bowl!" – Spencer Schaulis, Lead Assistant Golf Professional.

“14 at Ballyhack is one of the most difficult approach shots on the course...that green is mean!” – Member poll

Honorable Mentions at Ballyhack: #4, #16

Scariest Hole at Briggs Ranch: #1

Par 4, 389-455 yards

The opening hole at Briggs Ranch Golf Club starts off with a dogleg left par four with a hidden green complex. A drive that draws off the tower in the distance can help you avoid the two fairway bunkers, but there’s another challenge ahead: a narrow approach to a thin, well-guarded green.

“An intimidating hole to start on! My advice for is to find the fairway off the tee box. Simple advice but it works.” – Tucker Allgood, Lead Assistant Golf Professional

“This difficult opening hole gives players options off the tee. The bail out to the right side of the fairway leaves a 200+ yard shot into a narrow green, guarded by a deep bunker and slopes that run away from the putting surface. Playing aggressively down the left brings a bunker into play. Once you get on the green it is difficult to read and has several undulations making putts break in weird ways like you ball is haunted.” - Michael Frost, Head Golf Professional.

Honorable Mentions at Briggs Ranch: #2, #15

Briggs Ranch hole #15 — *Briggs Ranch #15*

Scariest Hole at Dormie Club: #8

Par 4, 372-472 yards

Gabby Steiner, Lead Assistant Golf Professional at Dormie Club — Gabby Steiner, Lead Assistant Golf Professional

The number one handicap hole features another blind shot to a fairway with a massive right-to-left slope, so it’s imperative to start your ball on the correct line. Anything too far to the left will be blocked out by the tree line and too far right will leave you at the top of the hill. This green slopes hard towards the lake on the left, giving you options as to where you play your second to get it close. A par at this hole should make any golfer proud.

“#8 is definitely one of the scariest holes. The tee box you’re playing from can make a huge difference: I’ve played from all three tee boxes, and all three teeing grounds make this hole completely different and very challenging no matter the distance.” – Gabby Steiner, Lead Assistant Golf Professional

Honorable Mentions at Dormie Club: #10, #18, #17, #5

Dormie Club hole #17 green — *Dormie Club #17*

“17 at Dormie Club might be my favorite in the entire Network. Playing up the hill over the great hazard strikes fear in higher handicappers, and then you get to that scary green!” – Member poll

Scariest Hole at GrayBull: #7

Par 4, 91-157 yards

The par 3 seventh is the hardest hole at Dormie Network’s seventh club, GrayBull.

“What makes #7 scary is the only bail out is long and left. With the typical wind coming from the south this makes a short hole with 3 sections very hard to get close to. Depending on the wind this 160 yard hole can require a PW to a 5 iron. Bunkers surround the front and middle sections of the green making this the shortest "par 5" in Nebraska.” – Landan Maassen, Head Golf Professional.

Honorable Mentions at GrayBull: #2 and #6

Scariest Hole at Hidden Creek: #12

Par 4, 376-462 yards

The par 4 twelfth is the hardest hole at Hidden Creek, and accuracy and precision are a must! The fairway bunkers left force you to aim right, but any shots that leak right will land you in the pines. Greenside bunkers are plenty on this hole, and in case you haven’t had enough fun on this hole, the green provides a stern test.

“In my opinion, #12 is the scariest hole, especially for those that don’t hit the long ball off the tee. Starting with an uphill tee shot, if the player is not capable of hitting roughly a 250-yard drive, they are left with a 200+ yard second shot into a green guarded by bunkers on the left and a very diabolical green, making par a difficult score. Making a bogey and moving on to the next hole is not a bad thing. The best way to attack this hole is to try and stay down the right side the entire way, so you can stay away from the bunkers and native areas on the left.” – Brecken Whitfield, Head Golf Professional

Honorable Mentions at Hidden Creek: #4, #6, and #16

Hidden Creek hole #16 — *Hidden Creek #16*

Scariest Hole at Victoria National: #14

Par 4, 347-471 yards

The fourteenth is the number-two handicap hole, offering the toughest tee shot on the course. You’ll need to hit enough club to have the best chance of getting to the green in two, but the fairway off the tee is very narrow. Your second shot is into an elevated green with no room to miss long, left, or right. Many players are happy to leave the fourteenth with a bogey.