The 6th at The Creek Club
You’re thrilled to be at the top of the bluff looking at one of the great vistas in golf. There’s the great holes below followed by the holes in the dunes and finally the sound beyond.
We all love the thrill of a big drop off the tee on a long hole. The tee shot appears fairly simple because there is tons of room out on the right and the bunker barely comes into play so there’s little intimidation, but you really need to be on the left to have a reasonable chance at approaching the green. That’s where the complications begin. The forest on the left of the hole defends the ideal line and a shot into the forest is a lost shot. Therefore you must hit a light draw around the tree line to gain position on the flatter plateau for the approach.
The approach is a stunner. The green is a reverse redan falling hard to the back right and Raynor has lifted the entire surrounds to create a deep punchbowl setting for the green. This is the most unique and wonderful green complex I have ever seen.
The shot is either a fade into the approach to access the front pin, or to the front half of the green to access the back pin position. The ball will release and run a long way from both spots, although short right will take off right and into the bunkers.
The joy of the hole is that it uses the rambling hillside to define the locations of the landing area and then a diagonal ridge to dictate the approach. Since the hole goes with the grade the whole way everything blends in magnificently.
It is my favourite hole because of the audacity of the punchbowl redan green site.
