[Bill Satterfield]

The back nine starts out with an uphill par five that turns left about 125 yards from the green.



The 11th hole is a 472 yard par four that features a unique "drop-off" behind the green.  If you blade your approach shot beyond the catch bunker behind the green your new Pro V1 will suffer to long, painful death down a rocky tree covered cliff side.



The 12th hole was my favorite hole of the day at Gozzer Ranch.  It is a driveable par four featuring a tree, bunker, and natural rock in the middle of the fairway forcing you to shoot high and go for the green or shoot low to the more generous landing area offered there.  The hole measures 364 yards and plays a bit downhill.  I hit probably my best drive of the day up the high side and was thrilled to find my ball resting barely on the green.

Looking back at the 12th:



13 is a long straight par four with little trouble.



14 is a shorter par three that plays over a man-made pond to a relatively shallow, but wider green.



15 is the hole man would call the signature since you climb to the top of the property to a green that features panoramic views of Lake Coeur d'Alene.  Some of you may have noticed this hole as the backdrop for Andrew MaGee on his Golf Channel show (The Approach I think is what it is called)



16 is a short par five (I went driver, 7 iron to reach it in two) that plays way downhill and then back up to an elevated green.  From the tee it is nice to play a little cut shot but hit it hard enough to carry the bunker in the middle of the fairway.

The approach to 16:



The 17th is a nice little par 3 with basalt rock framing the right side of the green and large bunkers covering the left.



The 18th finishes on a 495 yard par 4 with a plateau feature in the middle of the fairway the forces most tee shots down to the left side of the short grass.  A final view of the lake is featured at the end of a beautiful round.

[Richard Boult]

added to http://delicious.com/golfclubatlas/Idaho

[Anthony_Nysse]

Wow...not one response. I thought that course looks great-it must be the name of the architect. Fazio seems to be able to design the some of the most appealing courses on any type of terrain, anywhere.

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TX

[Tom_Doak]

The short par-4 does look like a cool golf hole.

This particular associate of Fazio's has picked up some visual tricks from looking at our work, I think.  Some examples of stuff the way I like to do it:

1)  Having the putting surface on the 11th profiled against the trees with no collar or anything showing in back.

2)  Getting the elevation of the green on the 14th just right, so that the flag shows up in the middle of the lake instead of being lost against the trees.

3)  Taking the mowed grass up around the back of the 16th to provide a good backdrop for the flag.

[Cory Brown]

Tom,

Those are really interesting points you make about shaping the course to affect what the golfer sees as the backdrop for the flagstick.  As you stand in different parts of the fairway is it difficult to keep that same perspective, or do you simply attempt to achieve this look from the ideal landing area?

[Mike Nuzzo]

I agree with not seeing the collar on the back of 11 - that isn't typical.

Tom,
What do you think of the 3 trees on 16 behind the green?
If there is green to the right of the bunker - I'm guessing you'd like the pull of the trees towards the left green side bunker.
If they frame the green you wouldn't.

Cheers

[Cory Brown]

Mike,

Those look like 60-70 foot native Ponderosa Pines I don't think they would be too happy about being pulled anywhere.

The course looks really good.  Does anyone know how far it is from Black Rock?  I thought it was supposed to be on the other side of the lake, which actually could make them quite far away from each other.  It will be interesting to see how well the north Idaho area handles all these new developments.  The area is growing very quickly, but with the current economy it could be tough times for some of these high end developments.

[Daryl David]

You are right.  Other side of the lake and a long drive due to the winding road that follows the shore.  Both Blackrock and Gozzer are fine courses and you should not miss either if you have a chance to get on.

[Bill Satterfield]

I agree with not seeing the collar on the back of 11 - that isn't typical.

Tom,
What do you think of the 3 trees on 16 behind the green?
If there is green to the right of the bunker - I'm guessing you'd like the pull of the trees towards the left green side bunker.
If they frame the green you wouldn't.

Cheers

Mike, that photo is a little deceiving from a "framing" perspective.  That photo is really taken from the right side looking across back to the green.  Granted, there is a short grass area and a pot bunker up that right side, but if you were just playing straight up the continuous fairway that is offered you would end up with an approach shot inbetween the two large trees on the left which would force you to carry the bunkers on the left.  So, from the angle I took this photo those three trees appear to frame the hole but if you are playing the hole from the fairway those trees are off to the left of the green and just apart of the grouping of smaller trees and rock there.

[Rob Rigg]

Bill,

Those are great pics - thanks for posting them.

The trees are magnificent - very PNW'y.

The 11th and 15th greens are very cool with the "lands end" look and 12 is great par 4 - the risk/reward elevated tee shots are fun to play - as is the tee shot on 16. Lot's of adrenaline.

The 14th seems really out of place (?) - the ol' par 3 over the man-made lake - snore. I always sigh when I come to one of those unless it really fits in with the setting.

But aside from that it looks like a fun course in a spectacular environment.

[Kalen Braley]

As nice as the front 9 was, the back 9 is even nicer.  Its too bad Bill didn't include a pic of the approach into #10...its terrific.

#11 is everything it billed to be and you can use kickboards to bounce the ball in from the right.

12 - I wish I had a crack at this one again, so many ways to play and just terrific visuals to go along with the many decisions on how you will play it.

14 - This par 3 had a neat beach sand theme going on..as one who rarely see this, it worked quite well and the green was no pushover either.

15-18 were just beyond epic.  The 16 th is a fantastic short 5 that really tempts you to go for in two.  I'm not long by any means and even I was tempted to go.

This really is a must play if the opportunity presents itself and was better than Black Rock IMO which I really liked as well.

[Andy Troeger]

Agreed on Gozzer Ranch being a fantastic course. Unfortunately my photo of #10 green isn't very good either. There are many good holes out there, but the best stretch IMO was probably #7-12. There's a good variety in that stretch and not a weak hole in the bunch, even though they aren't the lake view holes. #12 is a great short four and #10 and 11 both had great green sites. I would have to think opinions between Gozzer and Black Rock would be pretty split even though both of them are great fun. I'll take Black Rock, but its close. I would expect this one to be coming to a Top 100 list near you sooner rather than later--its one of the best Fazio's I've played.

I have to admit that while Jim and Kalen both seemed to really like #14 I thought it was one of the weaker holes on the course. I didn't think it fit in all that well either. Its not a poor hole at all as its good a good green with some interesting contour, but compared to the rest of the course its not the best.

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