Be patient with the Hill course. It starts off slow but turns into a rollicking roller coaster from the ninth tee until the final putt on eighteen. It’s an out and in design that transverses the beautiful western New York countryside. It may not be the most sophisticated architecturally, but if conditions mean a lot to you, the greens were the best I’ve played all year.
Hill was designed by Xen Hassenplug, a civil engineer turned golf architect whose work is found mainly in the New York-Pennsylvania-Ohio triad. Working on a severe piece of property like this one, he did a great job routing some cool holes. I’m particularly impressed by the cross sloped ones. I also like that he didn’t make the natural water features the dominant hazard. They’re nuanced with plenty of give for those who don’t want to challenge them.
(The 463/450 yard par five eighth plays straight uphill to this green. After being in the meadow down near the clubhouse, this climb sets in motion the drama for the next ten holes.)
(The 346/298 yard par four tenth doglegs slightly left before ascending to a small shelf of a green. Judging the yardage appropriately will be key. Anything short will tumble back down the fairway.)
(The 473/469 yard par five eleventh demands an accurate tee shot between the trees. One can cheat a bit by playing down the left and getting a favorable bounce…
…from there it’s straight uphill to a green that has one of the few bunkers on the course guarding the front left. It’s a good birdie opportunity if you can negotiate the tee shot.)
(The 386/380 yard par four twelth drops down between two small ponds on either side of the fairway before playing back uphill to the green. Notice how the lay of the land design flows effortlessly without the need for sand traps to provide challenge.)
(The 168/136 yard par three thirteenth provides one of those deep breathe moments. No houses, no noise, just peace and solitude listening to the sounds of nature. It’s a lovely shot to a large green that should yield a stress free par unless you challenge a front pin position.)
(The 388/361 yard par four sixteenth comes out of the trees before doglegging left, dropping downhill, and climbing to another elevated green. It’s beautiful hole but I’m unsure of the mowing lines…
…this view looking back shows plenty of grass in the elbow of the dogleg which shortens the hole. I feel this is the line most players take. Regardless, the green is hard to hit and quite challenging once you arrive.)
The Hill is one of two eighteen hole courses at the Chautauqua Golf Club. Together, they make for an ideal 36 hole golf getaway. (Cleveland is just over two hours away) If the first six holes matched the quality of the last ten, the Hill would be rivaling Peak n Peek’s Upper as the best course in the area. Nonetheless, it’s super fun, very playable, and a great value at $58. I know my friends love Deer Ridge in Belleville, and I think they’d have the same affinity for this place. I give the Hills a solid 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play).
(The 389/365 yard eighteenth completes the round with a dogleg right downhill par four. One can fly his approach to the green or use the tumbling fairway to run the ball on.)
(I played the white tees at 5,961 yards. The swing changes from my lesson seem to be paying off and I’m getting more comfortable trusting them on the course. I tied my best round of the year, but the 11 GIR tell me it could’ve been a few strokes better. Golf is a funny game. I shot a 94 the day before. Blog 488)
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