Hills Heart Of The Lakes Golf Course

$26 (cart included), played on Friday, June 2023 at 8:00 AM

Normally I write about the many first time courses I haven't played, but I felt I needed to pen a update on Mike Hill (PGA Pro) "Hills, Heart of the Lakes."

I last played seven (7) years ago. I mostly say "Great conditions from Tee to Green," but here I have to add "Border to Border." In these drier-than-normal conditions, not a patch of brown grass.......Anywhere.

The Front 9 though short at 2,548yds / Par 34 by adding large front sand traps on #1,#3,#6, and #7 those trying to get on in one (1) will need to look at the yardage carry a second time. The many trees planted lining "side by side fairways" are now tightening fairways. The #9 at 365yds Par 4 has its Hcp 2 by still having that large oak tree 220yds out and hitting your approach shot uphill to a blind green from the valley.

The Back 9 (2,924yds/Par 35) hole #12 at 365yds has your 2nd shot hitting down to it and long is gone. Those RH/LH fairway traps on #14 squeeze the fairway to 15 yards wide so plan your target distance carefully. I already talked about holes 16-18 but on #18, it's 160 yards from The tees to the sweet landing zone, leaving 120 yards uphill to the blind green. We all really enjoyed playing here today for $28 18/cart with me shooting 38/39 w/32putts on a well-conditioned rolling course layout.

$26 (cart included), played on Sunday, October 2016 at 2:09 PM

Haven't played here since 2004 and decided to revisit Mike Hills (PGA Tour Pro) course and give it a rating.

Front 9 layout is the original layout (side by side) playing 2,548yds Par 34 with great conditions but no real problems. The Back 9 steps up with rolling fairways w/ bunkers, non-typical greens, green side bunkers well placed with 2,924 yds / Par 35 of new challenges.

Yardage markers could be better but most second shots are lower irons which are easy to figure.

Holes 16, 17, 18 are the ones that will stay with you long after you leave, as they are the most challenging. The #16 (#1 hdcp) playing 410yds being the best, for your 2nd shot is over 180-190 yds of water to a tucked green (miss left) sitting on the bank of the pond. Follow that with a uphill, sand protected #17 at 260yds Par 4 to a "Gum Drop" green that anywhere but on the green is bad news. Finishing with #18 at 280yd Par 4 and a non-level, left to right slant fairway that will put ANY fade hit ball in the RH trees with a bogie being a gift from there.

Golfing family owned/run so they know how to maintain the course and keep the golfers coming back. Shot 38/38 w/35 putts and bogie on #18 with the next time hitting a iron off the tee to the flat 100yd marker. (That's a tip)

Its a Short layout (5,472yds/Par 69) but fun for kids and couples that want a great golfing experience from a local golfing icon.

$26 (cart included), played on Saturday, September 2007 at 10am

They really need better yardage markers in the fairways. It was very difficult to find the markers, as they were buried in the fairways.