 Hole
Profile - The 12th Hole at Breckenridge Offers a Tempting Risk/Reward
Opportunity
By Shane Sharp
Regional Staff Writer
June 14, 1999
BRECKENRIDGE, CO -- Picking out a favorite hole at the Breckenridge Golf Club is a lot like trying to choose your favorite ski run on one of the Ridge's numerous slopes. Lucky for us, Errol Miller, Head Pro at BGC, was quick to supply the 12th Hole as Hole of the Week fodder - a hole that most consider the signature hole of the course. A par-5 that approaches 600 yards from the tips, with a tee box that sits at over 9000 feet in elevation, who are we to argue. The Hole: The 12th Hole at Breckenridge Golf Club - a par-5 that plays 580 yards from the racks, downhill towards a green guarded by water. Greens and tees are bentgrass while the fairways and rough are bluegrass Architect: Jack Nicklaus, 1985 The Layout: Is 580 yards of pure Colorado golf hole. From the tee box the view encapsulates the snowfed streams that meanders beside the hole, and that according to Miller, "flow right into the beaver pond in front of the green, creating one of the great forced carries in Colorado golf. Continues Miller, "This hole comes out of a narrow shoot out of the mountains, as you are coming back down out of this shoot the mountains and the beaver pond unfold before you." The Strategy: Is in the Strategy, which in all irony is the name of the hole. Why the coincidence? "I would not call it target golf, but Jack has put an emphasis on placing the ball in the right spots on this hole," says Miller. "Risk/reward thoughts dominate the play on this hole. To hit driver or three wood off the tee is a big decision. The greens are below average in size. If you miss the green, a lob wedge is almost essential to get back into the game." The Average Golfer: "Should be weary of the temptations of the hole," warns Miller. "The hole entices you to hit driver so you can get on in two. That is probably not the right choice. Use a three wood and then a long iron leading to a wedge into the green. More birdies will be had by playing it that way." "It does entice you to try to play the long ball. At 580 yards down hill at this elevation the hole can give you up to 20% more distance." Don't Play: An over-zealous drive that could go astray and turn this healthy par-5 into a par-7 or 8. Stick to Miller's advice and seek to get on in regulation and take your chances with the putter. Play the Hole: Being on the back stretch, rare is the chance to play the hole in the early morning. But it makes for a great Colorado evening hole and even sets up quite nicely in the middle of the day. Wanna Play?: CLASSIFICATION: Public
GUEST POLICY: Open
DRESS CODE: Collared shirt, no cutoffs, denim OK
SEASON: May 25 to Oct 15
TEE TIMES: Accepted 4 days in advance.
EARLIEST TIME TO CALL: 7:00 AM
PRO SHOP PHONE: (970)453-9104
PRO SHOP OPENS: 7:00 AM
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