Seven is one of those modern holes that makes us give thanks to the re-discovery of strategic golf principles by the modern architect. Often we are told that a course has a drivable or potentially drivable par 4 or two. We can always count on Coore and Crenshaw, Tom Doak and especially Tom Weiskopf to give us one. (Tiger Woods tells us that this is going to be a trademark feature on his courses - alas, too late - the Scots gave us this kind of hole and it is the trademark of golf on the links if anything.)
Already a feature well-entrenched in the modern oeuvre, it rarely reaches the meritous level of expression seen at Black Mesa. Under the right conditions both the seventh and fourteenth holes are of this type. Seven can be particularly thrilling.
Mere power will not be enough at the seventh hole. Power, accuracy and a little luck are all needed. Perfect line, perfect pace, perfect sidespin and perfect luck will yield a drive that remains on the green. The excitement of a well-placed drive on the correct line includes a period of time when the ball remains out of view and the player must wait in what seems endless anticipation for the final result. A small irregular hill in the line of play is the aiming point and generator of the roll used to get the ball onto the green for most players. Depending on your trajectory and spin pattern, you will use different parts of the hill to hit that perfect shot. A cascading left to right angular green adds to the challenge and charm of the hole. The player can make anything from two to double digits and the ever-elusive Albatross is even in play here as I have had one of my closest ever encounters with that big bird here.
Eighth Hole
Back in the saddle might be the appropriate name for this hole. Up the hill from the seventh green, one emerges from the eastern part of the property through this gap at the north end of the long ridge that separates the eastern part of the property used for most of the first nine holes at Black Mesa. The astute golfer will realize the effect that the wind has on this golf course before this point, but none can escape it here. I have not experienced it and I doubt that this tee shot is ever hit in the calm. The 238 yards from the back tee may seem more like 328 (especially if the pin is back) where the maximum fury of the wind is felt. This hole might have encouraged many an architect to build a flattish green, but Spann must have been in a devilish mood the day he came up with this large green featuring a ridge or three, a false front and a seemingly impossible back right shelf for the golfer’s pleasure.
Ninth Hole
Finishing the first nine and returning to the clubhouse, one finishes an anti-clockwise loop with a par four that is basically straight and perhaps the flattest on the course. Functionally plays as a left to right hole for most. A large complex of bunkers in the fairway to the right helps to dictate strategy. The fairway is much wider than it seems thanks to a blind area to the left further widened by a transitional area of rough. The green is much larger than it seems from the fairway, making deception the order of this hole’s design. Careful control of distance and direction, usually in a crosswind are the extra task to be dealt with here. Deceptive sloping of the putting surface will make many a player become disheartened if even the littlest bit careless. One saving grace with all the wind is that the ground can be used on approach.
Tenth Hole
The tenth hole opens up an entirely new an different piece of the property and gets you started with perhaps the most demanding drive on the golf course. The fairway is set diagonally to the tee and is in a bit of a valley. An ideal tee shot is a leap of faith even after a few plays as it looks as though you are launching your ball into the mountain desert terrain when you take the best line. When you take what appears to be a safe line to the right where you can see fairway, unless you draw the ball hard or are a shorter hitter you are likely to hit into the desert through the fairway. The downhill cant of the fairway does add length to the drive, so it is very critical to control distance as well as line.
A further downhill second shot to a large green further shortens the effective playing yardage, but once again the large severe green can leave you in three-putt territory if a casual approach is hit from a generally uneven lie. Precision and aggression are required to master this hole.
Eleventh Hole
The setting is such that the player feels a bit sheltered from the wind here so it is wise to check it before descending to the tee. At first glance, only from photographs, one might be led to believe that the eleventh is a version of the fourth. Therein lies the fallacy of only evaluating a course through photographs. The green is much deeper and more narrow even though a saddle setting is loosely used for the two holes. The back of the green is a very difficult and dangerous place to reach. A fairly generous area to miss is provided short and right but the deeper the player goes there is little or no relief and plenty of woe.
A nice design feature that I like was used on the eleventh - the back tee is set lower than the other tees to reduce visibility and create some doubt for the better player. This coupled with the narrowness of the green and the ever present crosswind creates many a doubt for the good player bringing the rocks into play. A par three that is well-done for both match and stroke play.
Twelfth Hole
Going dramatically uphill to the twelfth tee is a rewarding trip. The view of the proverbial back forty opens up dramatically and one can see the fourteenth green and fifteenth holes in the background to the left if you can take your eyes off the beautiful right to left hole in front of you. (The panoramic photo of Black Mesa on the home page is taken from this back tee of the twelfth). A clever steep shelf is near the 150 yard marker playing tricks on the player who thinks too much. A drive into the face of this feature will not get anything but a sharp rebound backwards while carrying this feature rewards the player with extra roll. A series of bunkers up the left side of the fairway dares the player to cut the corner as much as he feels that he can handle, but the ball's travel on the ground must also be carefully considered. The bunkers are rather penal if you do not carry it off. This shelf and the bunkering pattern make this another demanding drive. A level fairway lie is also uncommon making execution of the approach more demanding. The green has a general domed shape with several runs-off and chipping areas. A false front adds to the demands of this uphill shot.