Hawks Ridge Golf Club

May 17th, 2010

Hawks Ridge Golf Club (Private)

1100 Hawks Club Drive, Ball Ground

STAFF: Chuck Knebels is the PGA Director of Golf; Jim Dusch is the superintendent.

PAR/YARDAGE: Hawks Ridge plays to a par 72 with four sets of tees: Black (7,235 yards); Gold (6,781); Blue (6,036) and Red (5,120). There is also a combo White set (6,601).

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 76.2/149 (Black); 73.9/144 (Gold); 72.6/141 (White); 70.1/135 (White); 71.6/137 (Red).

ABOUT THE COURSE: Among the state’s most memorable, well-conditioned layouts, the Bob Cupp design has drawn raves since its debut a little over a decade ago. The course is immensely enjoyable but a serious challenge, with all aspects of your game tested in a scenic and immaculately kept setting. Membership is no longer invitation only, and like a lot of upscale private clubs, Hawks Ridge is actively seeking new members. Its lure is Cupp’s superb layout and the quality conditioning, with the club maintaining a comfortable atmosphere considering its exclusivity. Hawks Ridge was constructed on some hilly terrain, and Cupp makes excellent use of the elevation changes to create a number of holes that provide great rewards with considerable risks, along with some splendid views from elevated tees. Right off the bat, Cupp presents you with some of the most perilous holes on the course, beginning with the lengthy, water-guarded par-4 second hole, with a hazard along the right side of the fairway and guarding the green short and right. The short, par-3 third requires a carry over water to a tiny target with the par-5 fourth and drivable par-4 sixth both featuring sharply downhill risk/reward shots. Those are among a number of holes where you have to make a strategic decision and follow with a quality shot, even if you’re only laying up. Hawks Ridge is a big course with mostly ample landing areas, but there are enough creeks lining fairways to keep you from getting too comfortable on the tee, along with a few serious carries for shorter hitters. The back nine includes another terrific but testy short par 4 that will truly test your nerves and distance control ability, as well as a dramatic par-5 finishing hole with a sizeable descent from tee to fairway and plenty of water and sand along the way. There is a tremendous amount of variety to Cupp’s layout, with the greens complexes appropriate to the length of the holes, while giving your short game and putting touch all the test you want thanks to the surrounding terrain, considerable undulation and the quickness of the surfaces.

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