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

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

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

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 throw a wrench into anyone’s game.

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

Scariest Hole at ArborLinks: #11

Par 3, 107-140 yards

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, Assistant Golf Professional

“If you miss the green, this one quickly becomes the shortest Par 5 in the state of Nebraska. The old adage ‘aim for the center of the green’ doesn’t apply, as the center is the smallest section and missing 10 yards left or right almost guarantees you’re going to be watching helplessly from the tee box as it rolls down to the collection area on either side. You have a little more room for error if the pin is in the front, but make sure you hit it solid or you’ll find yourself in a collection area in front of the green and bring double bogey into play. The green is widest in the back, so most golfers benefit from hitting it to that area and hope it only takes two putts to finish out the hole.” – Spencer Schaulis, Assistant 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 double-bogey.

“As for the number 1 most intimidating hole, I would be willing to bet that most people struggle with hole 14 more than any hole out here. Hole 14 has a pretty significant forced carry off the tee with the second shot being even more unbelievably difficult, with the tough green complex and a major change in elevation. Many times, players tend to have a longer club in than preferred, which does not help in the change in elevation issue. The best advice I can give for #14 would be to get as far down the left side of the fairway as much as possible without bringing the fescue into play. This will give the players a shorter, more lofted club in. In turn, this gives players the best chance to hold this tough green, bogey is not a bad score here.” – Jonathan Webb, 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

Honorable Mentions at Briggs Ranch: #2, #13

Scariest Hole at Dormie Club: #8

Par 4, 372-472 yards

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

“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 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, Lead Assistant Golf Professional

Honorable Mentions at Hidden Creek: #4, #6, and #9

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.

Honorable Mentions at Victoria National: #16, #17, #18

“18 at Vic from the back tees is a monster.” – Member poll

“I am an 8 handicap and have never parred #17!” – Member poll

Ready to take these on yourself? Study the full course tours to prepare, then contact any concierge to book your next trip.

And though this is the first time David McLay Kidd has worked in Nebraska, the native Scot is in many ways the perfect choice for the project, considering the Bandon Dunes course he designed in southern Oregon soon after Coore and Crenshaw crafted Sand Hills is equally as important an instigator of the site-driven revival.

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