New golf course an impressive sight

By Matt Tasler/sports@trcle.com

July 02, 2009 04:15 pm

— For me, the moment came on the eighth hole.
I was taking a tour of the revamped Cleburne Golf Links with city of Cleburne spokesman Charlie Hodges on Wednesday morning when we approached the eighth hole.
I took one look down the fairway and toward Lake Pat Cleburne and said the word Hodges said he has heard at least once on every tour he has given.
“Wow,” I said as I looked at the layout of the course.
I was awed by the design, landscaping and beauty.
I snapped a few pictures of the scene and we climbed back into Cart No. 22 and went rolling down toward the ninth hole.
Later on in the tour, Hodges relayed the story of how every person he led on a tour had my reaction at some point, reminding me that mine came on No. 8. Hodges said he considers several holes to be among his favorites, and after seeing the course, I would have to agree.
The 7,025-yard course includes tees for championship level players, men, beginners and youth players.
A driving range and chipping-putting area are available for golfers to hone their skills before hitting the links.
Hodges said it is a long course, just a few hundred yards short of Bethpage Black, where the U.S. Open was recently contested.
But he said the degree of difficult wasn’t on that level.
The youth tees were an interesting addition, in my eyes, because younger kids could be disheartened if they struggled by teeing off from one of the adult tee boxes.
Depending on the hole, the youth tees are roughly 150 yards from the green. Some are pushed back a little farther from the hole, while others are a few yards closer.
Throughout the course, the designers placed white poles marking 150 yards from the hole to help players gauge which club to pull out of their bag for their second shot.
Hodges said hole No. 17 plays about a club longer than a golfer would expect because of its uphill tilt.
The same can be said for 18, which he said plays two clubs longer.
Another feature of the course that I found compelling was the lack of sand traps. In leiu of sand traps around the greens, the designers implemented drains around the greens.
Hodges said the course is a “true links course” since golfers play out and don’t return to the clubhouse until the 18th green.
At other courses, golfers play the front nine, make the turn at the clubhouse before No. 10 and then play the back nine.
Golfers are encouraged to bring water and snacks with them during their round, though water coolers are set up at several of the holes.
Hodges said carts with beverages and snacks will circulate the course throughout the day for golfers to purchase refreshments.
Two restrooms also are available on the course, in addition to the ones inside the clubhouse.
In addition to other quirks of the course, the 10th hole provides a challenge for golfers who may think they can drive the fairway and reach the green quickly.
A rock creek lies between the fairway and the green, in an attempt to make golfers play it safe and take two shots to reach the green.
Since the course lies adjacent to the lake, Hodges said golfers typically will feel a breeze of some sort for a majority of their round, no matter the temperature.
Upon returning from their round, golfers can cool down on the patio on the back side of the clubhouse, which features tables and chairs, not to mention a breathtaking view of the lake.
Hodges said the course designers hope to lure area tournaments in the near future.
I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a day.

Matt Tasler can be reached at 817-645-2441, Ext. 2334

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