Rock Hollow Golf Club
Peru, Indiana
Somehow Liddy was able to take a course with water in play on a dozen holes and make it feel like the average player could get around without losing a ball. Mostly this was accomplished by providing large hole corridors and keeping the water to the side of play. Three large waste areas are also in play but otherwise the bunkers are largely an afterthought, unless one finds them. The elevation changes are mostly the star at Rock Hollow and they do provide some wonderful holes. The climb up the sixth, the downhill tee shot on the third and the blind nature of the sixteenth create some wonderful thrill moments around the course.
The wide hole corridors are also critical to the holes as Liddy uses angles of approach very well on several holes. Instead of the typical bunker on the side that is preferred he just provides a flatter piece of terrain. It is a very understated approach to the design of a course that provides some extremely beautiful holes.
With all of the elevation changes, Liddy tried not to overdo it on the green ends of the holes. Most of the green surfaces are mild in design, while a couple are almost flat. But there is some variety, as the eighth and fourteenth greens are evidence. The fourth is even home to a solid impersonation of a Biarritz style green. Liddy appears to have learned that one should never steal the show from the main attraction, especially in Peru.
Holes of note:
Hole 3 537 yards A gorgeous elevated tee presents a wide fairway. The approach is concealed by two bunkers on the right that hide a gap to the green. The green runs from left to right smoothly.
The view back up the hole
Hole 4 167 yards A built up Biarritz style hole. The green features the Biarritz style swale but instead of bunkers alongside the hole, Liddy raised the green surface almost ten feet above the surrounds.
From the tee
The green contours
Hole 6 601 yards - The sixth runs up hill all the way to a shelved green at the holes highest point. Getting in position to make a solid approach is the key to success on this par five.
The approach to the elevated green
Hole 8 219 yards A Liddy template par three with the terrain running towards the hazard and also providing help for the running shot to go towards the putting surface that runs directly towards a hidden pot bunker behind.
Hole 10 542 yards Perhaps the tightest tee shot that goes out to a ridge. The approach though runs downhill to a green that runs away from the player. A lone bunker short of the green complicates the idea of trying to bounce one in as distance control becomes paramount.
From behind the green
Hole 13 332 yards Perhaps the best hole on the course. A lone bunker defends the landing zone in the fairway. The smallest green on the course by a left to right slope and steep fall offs to a bunker encircling the right and back sides of the green.
This lone bunker causes all sorts of havoc
Hole 14 228 yards The scariest shot on the course is the tee shot on the Reverse Redan. The green runs from front left to back right in typical style. A nasty hole that allows very few threes.
Quite an imposing tee shot
Hole 15 537 yards The tee shot reminds me of the 8th at Crystal Downs as it goes out over a wetland area. But the comparison ends there. The second is blind over a rise. Playing along the left side is ideal if one is not afraid to walk over the hill and find their shot. If one lays back, the right side of the fairway does allow a view of the green. The two sectioned green is a great equalizer for the long bombers who get home but have to putt to the other half over a ridge.
From the tee
The blind second
The view from behind the green
Hole 16 326 yards - The sixteenth uses a pond as the deterrent on the inside line, but the ideal path to the hole is on the outside of the slight dogleg to get an elevated and flat landing spot to get a great view of the green. The sixteenth green looks like something from a William Langford course with the style of green construction.
Tee shot
Hole 18 427 yards A typical Dye style finishing hole with a dogleg around water. The tee shot is beautiful, but very intimidating.
The gorgeous tee shot to end the round
The routing of the course seems to make great use of the terrain and provides a start to the course that just builds momentum until the end. Also, Liddy utilized several vistas to provide multiple hole views across the property. All of this while keeping the course extremely walkable. When all is said and done, I think Rock Hollow challenges for the top spot in the state for public courses, at least in my book.