8th Hole, Par 4, 289 yards to 427 yards
Perhaps no hole better demonstrates the main theme of Crosswater than the 8th hole. It is a target golf through and through with distinct islands of tee, fairway and green. The hole is not without some natural charm with Little Deschutes running in and out of the hole.
As with most holes at Crosswater, the tee shot is an intimidating one for a mid to high handicapper as there are trouble everywhere outside the fairway. Not sure about the strategic nature of the bunkers as anywhere on the green is probably fine for any pin position. Since this is a short to mid length par 4, a driver is certainly not required and probably not the prudent play.
Another common design element at Crosswater is the shallow but wide greens. The main defense for this hole is the distance control with the wedges. If you are not precise enough, you will encounter bunkers short or a shaved collection area in the back.
The green does have some interest with double plateau like features. You definitely need to hit the right section for you to have a good look at a birdie.
This is probably a good a time as any to rant about Crosswater. Here we go...
I am hopelessly confused on exactly what the course is trying to achieve.
I believe the stated goal was to create a "championship" course (to go along with much gentler sister courses on the resort), to challenge accomplished players. I can understand that. Courses like Sawgrass (or PGA West) and numerous TPC courses have similar aim and they punish low and high handicappers alike with its exact demands and punishing hazards. May not be my favorite type of golf, but challenges can be interesting and fun.
However, Crosswater offers very little challenge other than short iron distance control for low handicappers. The fairways are dead flat. There are no bad lies anywhere on the fairway. There isn't much preferred approach angles into the green to speak of. If you hit anywhere in the (fairly generous) fairway, you will have a very good chance of hitting the ball close to the pin. It is like you are playing on the range the entire day.
You would think with this much water hazards, they would provide some additional challenges to low handicappers, but very few water hazards actually come into play. They are usually placed far from the green or fairway. Most are mere window dressings that low handicappers would hardly even notice during their round.
The length is not much of a burden either as, even from the tips at 7600+ yards, due to altitude, it is going to play like a 7000 yard course at sea level. This is one VERY easy course for a low handicapper (unless you narrow the fairways and jack up the green to ungodly speed).
But on the other hand, it is a VERY VERY VERY difficult course for a mid to high handicappers. There are forced carries everywhere and wetlands surround most fairways and chances of finding your ball away from the fairways and rough are not very good. If you slice consistently and have trouble getting your shot in the air every now and then, you are going to have a very long day.
We had a ~18 handicapper in our group and he lost about 20 balls during the round. Almost every drive that he sliced was gone. He hit numerous fat/thin shots that dumped into the water before the green. I am not sure how that could have been much fun. The other guy who was probably low teens handicap also lost about a box of balls during his round.
How could a course be considered a “Championship” course when all it does is punish 15 handicappers? Crosswater calling itself a “championship” course is like a normal guy calling himself a “champion” by finishing first in a Special Olympics event. What is the point?