Blackwolf Run The River Course Holes 7-9

Hole 7
Glencary
Par 4
426 | 401 | 374 | 352 | 293 yards

The 7th hole is a dogleg left that doesn't reveal too much off the tee.  A domed landing zone lies straight ahead from the tees.  A short carry over a ravine is required to reach the fairway.  That shouldn't really pose a problem but the bunker that sits below the left side of the hole might.  This is a giant trap, stretching nearly 200 yards and guaranteeing anyone who tries to cut off the dogleg down the right- and misses will be punished with at least an extra stroke.

Trees wrap down the right perimeter of the hole but there is actually a little room to miss down the right.

Depending on how far you advance your tee ball your view into the green may be partially obstructed by how the fairway bulges.  This may not be a bad thing as an unobstructed view of the approach reveals how much peril there is up near the hole. Two bunkers flank the hole short of the green by 50 yards.  Closer up the fairway pinches down as it reaches the green.  A spine runs down the fairway as well with the right half sloping towards the single green side bunker on the right.  Missing left brings deep rough into play, and missing far right brings in the trees.  This is not an easy approach.

After the 7th hole you come upon "the turn" a concession stand that you come to before the 8th and 12th holes.

Hole 8
Hell's Gate
Par 5
532 | 524 | 492 | 470 | 401 yards

A very demanding tee shot on the second par 5 awaits you here.  You must navigate a very narrow chute of trees down the the fairway that sits a good ways below the elevated tees.  Not as dramatic a vista as the 5th hole, and certainly a much tougher driving hole.

Anything hit down the right will find the myriad of trees that line the bank of the river that flows along the length of the hole.  There is more room to miss left, however a pair of large trees  is likely to knock down balls hit over there.  Even a straight ball can find trouble, with a bunker sitting straight away that is reachable for long hitters off the tee.

I hit a great shot that was perfectly placed down the right half of the fairway and leaving me only 220 yards out.

As you play your second shot you have 2 options.  A lower fairway is the safer shot to the left.  This will require a third uphill shot to the green.  The angle into the green from this lower approach is OK but you do also then need to carry a large bunker that sits between the fairway and the green.

The other route plays to an elevated fairway on the right.  This is the smaller of the two fairways and can bring into play the trees and the river down the right. If you play successfully down this fairway the green is exposed for an easy unguarded pitch in.

Hole 9
Cathederal Spires
Par 4
361 | 337 | 316 | 302 | 238 yards

The final hole on the front is a short par 4.  This is an interesting hole that offers 2 different approaches to playing.  The first thing you take in here is the river that hugs the right side of the hole all the way up to the green.  Dividing the hole in half are a grove of tall pines (the spires in the holes name?).

Because of these trees you have 2 very different approaches to the hole.  Play to the right and take on the river and the narrow target.  This side rewards a good shot with a short pitch to the green.  If you are brave enough to try this shot and pull it off a bird is a real possibility.  if you mess up a big number is certain to be had.

The other route is to split the trees to the left.  This is the wider target but leaves a longer distance into the hole.  There is actually a little bit more room to the left than what the trees down that side would show.  Be warned though, behind those trees is a large pond that requires a 200 yard carry to avoid if you stray too far left.

From this left option the hole is much more guarded on your second shot.  Two large bunkers sit between the fairway and the green.  One thing you do have going for you is that the green exposes its widest portion from this angle, though the view in may be somewhat blocked by the mounding running up the center of this hole.

Perched on the hillside above this hole is the Kohler factory.

Blackwolf Run The River Course Introduction
Blackwolf Run The River Course Holes 1-3
Blackwolf Run The River Course Holes 4-6
Blackwolf Run The River Course Holes 10-12
Blackwolf Run The River Course Holes 13-15
Blackwolf Run The River Course Holes 16-18