CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Sports Network) -- When a course is only open for a short period of time, history usually does not fit into the equation. But Black Creek Club is an exception.
Course designer Brian Silva, Golf World's 1999 Architect of the Year, specializes in designing courses that borrow ideas from some of the masters of his profession, most notably Seth Raynor and C.B. Macdonald, and Black Creek Club combines the best of these vintage designers.
And indeed, Black Creek Club made history in southeastern Tennessee in 2003 as the Nationwide Tour selected it to host the Chattanooga Classic, an event that has become an annual stop on the developmental circuit.
The course starts off with a solid par 4, bending slightly to the right following a downhill tee shot. A fairway bunker some 320 yards off the tee is an excellent target, as this hole favors a fade on your opening shot. This will leave a short iron to a very narrow green with sand right and left. The putting surface slopes from back to front and features a pair of ridges, hence the name "Double Plateau."
The second is a dogleg left par 4 that requires a draw off the tee to a fairway protected both right and left with sand. In fact, 3-wood might be the play, as the left bunker is 273 yards. Remember, the hole is a dogleg left, so don't confuse the very visible third green which sits to the right. The putting surface is actually snug against the base of a hill with grass swales left and right, making this a definite birdie hole, as the green slopes gently from left to right.
The first signature hole on the course is most definitely the third. This shortish par 3 of just 168 yards is played downhill to a green surrounded by four large bunkers. The putting surface features a horseshoe swale in the center, so make sure you select the right club so your tee shot can be on the correct side of the green or a three-putt could be in the offing.
The course gets its name from Black Creek, the meandering body of water that wanders throughout the layout and first shows up on the par-5 fifth. A fairly straightforward hole, the creek cuts in front of the tee box and ventures its way up the right side of the hole within 100 yards of the green.
Your approach shot must be played down the right side, as to set up the best angle to the green, which is set off the left. The putting surface is protected on the left side by a daunting bunker, while the green itself is broken into three quadrants of slope, making par a good score.
Accuracy, not length is the key on the fifth. A short par 4 by today's standards at 375 yards, this hole requires a fairway metal or an iron off the tee, as a huge bunker right of the fairway stands in plain view. A short-iron approach must clear the marsh area at the end of the fairway to a very small green, protected left by sand and right by a shaved chipping area. The putting surface is fairly simple, so birdies can be made.
Although the longest hole on the course at 562 yards, the par-5 sixth can be reached in two. A small bunker in the middle of the fairway, 250 yards out must be avoided to have any shot at getting home. Laying up will leave a 100- to 125-yard blind shot to a green that sits down. Aim for the directional target behind the green. Missing left or right will end up fine, as the 14,000-square-foot green slopes to the center, leaving a sure birdie attempt.
From the longest par 5 to the longest par 3 on the course, the seventh is a brute at 244 yards from the tips. Playing slightly downhill, the hole requires a fade off the tee and plays slightly easier than the yardage indicates due to the hillside to the left of the green. Short and right could spell doom with a deep abyss bunker, and your short game will be tested here in order to make par.
The eighth is a strategic, dogleg right par 4, as its 376-yard length would indicate. Directional bunkers protect the landing area in each and every way, so picking the right club off the tee can make all the difference. Bunkers left and right guard the landing area at 220 yards out. More sand occupies the corner of the dogleg on the right, 250 yards away from the tee. And for the big hitters, how about a pot bunker in the center of the fairway, 295 yards out?
The closing hole on the front is an outstanding par 4, stretching 435 yards with out of bounds left and right. Let's not forget the sand on the right (224 yards out) and left (274 yards away). Usually into the wind, the player is left with an intimidating second shot that must cross Black Creek, which runs on the right side of the fairway crossing the front and left portion of the green.
Bailing out right, your shot will land in a shaved chipping area or worse, you guessed it, another deep bunker. To make matters worse, the green is broken up in to three distinct quadrants, making putting a difficult chore.
If you thought the front nine was outstanding, wait to you play the inward holes. No homes, no townhouses, just beautiful scenery and one difficult golf course.
The 10th is a certain risk-reward type hole. Just 339 yards from the tips and playing downhill, a player has the option of going long with the driver or playing safe with a fairway metal or iron. With the big stick, the player must go right over the two deep fairway bunkers, as the greens is set to that side.
Don't miss left off the tee or run through the fairway, as it drops severely into an abyss. The lay-up approach will leave a sand wedge to a plateaued green that features the deepest bunker on the course. The putting surface is fairly flat, so birdies can certainly kickstart your nine.
Yet another picturesque hole, the 11th is a downhill par 3 of 181 yards. The rectangular green is protected in front and back by a pair of deep trench bunkers. The putting surface slopes from back to front and is extremely quick.
Some of the finest golf on the back nine awaits the player as he stands on the 12th tee. Black Creek's version of "Amen Corner" starts with a dangerous par 4 of 462 yards. With the signature creek running the entire right side of the fairway, the player must bomb a tee shot down the left side toward the two framing bunkers 307 yards out.
A mid to long iron will remain as the second shot must cross the creek which cuts right in front of the green, reminiscent of the ninth. Bail out right, as the green drops severely down to the water. The putting surface has little undulation, so getting up-and-down should be an easy task.
The second handicap hole on the course, the 13th is another brute at 458 yards. Requiring a fade off the tee, the player must avoid the fairway bunker set in the right-center of the fairway, 250 yards out. By the way, Black Creek runs the entire left side of the hole through the green. The second shot, which plays uphill should necessitate a mid to long iron to a narrow green that slopes from back to front and falls off on the right and left. Making par on either one of these two holes or both will be a miracle.
The par-5 14th, with one of the most scenic views on the course, concludes the outstanding threesome of holes. The climb to the tee box is 40-50 feet above the previous green and provides a beautiful panorama of the course.
Getting back to business, the tee shot must be played from right to left, as the hole will kick all balls to the right. This hole can be reached in two, however the second shot must clear a cluster of deep bunkers which sit 50 to 100 yards short of the green. The putting surface, rectangular in shape, is raised and slopes from left to right. A large collection area awaits the player who bails out right of the green, which will make getting up and down very difficult.
The 15th is a birdie hole, but beware as water hazards loom large down the left. Just 353 yards, the hole plays shorter than its yardage indicates due to its downhill nature. A driver with a draw can be played in attempts to reach the green, however if you are less than perfect, you'll be left with a tough pitch from the undulating fairway to a small green that slopes from back to front. Water left and sand right protects the putting surface, so don't be ashamed making 4.
The 16th is somewhat simple ... or is it? 417 yards and downhill from the tee, the fairway features four bunkers, two down the right side requiring a 250-yard carry and two in the center 290 yards away. Your second shot now must be very accurate as the narrow, rectangular green is protected right and left by sand and in the center by a spine that runs the entire surface.
The 17th can play as little as 180 yards from tips or it can stretch to 225 with the pin in the back, but the 18th will test your strength and your mind. The home hole features Lake Silva on the left, which stretches from the tee box down the fairway. This par 5 can be reached in two, but the player must flirt with the water down the left to have any shot.
There is no shame in laying up short of Black Creek, leaving yourself a 100-yard pitch. The green is protected by sand right and left with an additional bunker further left for those players attempting to get home in two. The putting surface slopes from back to front, providing for many anxious moments.
Over the years, the course has garnered several awards. They include being ranked no. 8 in Tennessee by Golf Digest (2003), No. 7 in Tennessee by Golf Digest (2005) and No. 97 in the Top 100 Modern, Classical Courses by Golfweek in 2003. And there is no question that it will climb the rankings as the years go by, as its beauty and style are outstanding. Black Creek is not just a player's course, as it features four sets of markers starting at 5200 yards and stretching to 7088. And how about that perfect practice facility set at the base of Raccoon Mountain?
Black Creek is a must-play if you're in the outskirts of Chattanooga, and offers players a chance to compete on one of the finest layouts in the state. Silva created a masterpiece of angles and shapes with outstanding bunkering throughout. It's certainly a course that makes you think, with many different options on each and every hole, and one that will entice you to come back again and again.
Even when you're done, you'll have plenty of time to sit on the back porch, sip a cocktail and admire the ninth and 18th holes. This is one course you will not get tired of playing and viewing.
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