Post by virtualgolfer65 on Jan 20, 2021 14:45:07 GMT -5
Wild rumors abound of a mysterious golf course on a remote island of parts unknown, but no one has ever confirmed it existed.....until now. The scuttlebutt is that you need to know a member who will sponsor your trip to the island and then vouch for you on the golf course. You won't find amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts or other things to draw non-golfers to it. Guests are flown in via helicopter to play their rounds of golf and then whisked back to the nearby mainland where a luxury hotel is located. Four lighthouses protect ships in the night from being crushed by the rocky shores and perhaps are the watchers over this mysterious land. Can you solve the mystery of Lighthouse Falls? Read on if you dare.....
Lighthouse Falls is 18 holes of golf carved from the rustic and elevation changes of an island found by the eccentric owner of the club. High elevation changes, water seemingly everywhere, and even rock formations, a hedged maze and mysterious number signs found at the teeing areas and on trees of the golf course. What do they all mean and do you dare finding out?
I've scheduled a helicopter to pickup you and your guests at 7am sharp, which gives you time to warmup before your round. Read on for notes from me, the designer and please help me spread the word of this fantastic course.
Special mysteries to solve: The eccentric owner believed in the mysterious and unknown of the island and had numbered codes placed on the odd numbered tees and on trees in the fairways of holes, save for unlucky #13. Can you solve the mysteries of these numbers? (Super secret hint: the owner was an avid movie follower, so perhaps entering the numbers and words related to movies in a search engine will uncover the mysteries. Feel free to direct message me you answers/thoughts and help unravel these puzzles.
Note from the designer: Holes 1, 14-18 on this course were created for the TGC Design League #4 contest (published as Lighthouse Falls 6 V1) On that 6-hole course the routing was 14-18 and the current #1 hole was the finisher. Working with the huge, rocky cliffs and raw landscaping, the course rises and falls hundreds of feet. Huge waterfalls and features are found throughout the island, which is sandwiched between the two working lighthouses on each end. Players may recognize a variety of template green configurations and holes demanding a variety of shot types. Here’s a little more information for your round(s):
Published name: Lighthouse Falls
Course designer/creator: CragleRock65 but go by virtualgolfer65 on forums
Location: Somewhere in the southern hemisphere between Hawaii and Australia.
Season: Late Summer/Early Fall
Suggested Winds: Low or Medium setting. South & Southwest winds will play the easiest, North & Northeast tougher.
Green speeds: Designed for 7.3 (158), but can go to 7.6 (164) for the brave and 8.0 (175) for the truly insane.
Tees: Four tees offered for varying levels of distance, but the teeth of the course are bared no matter the one you choose. Might we suggest you play your first round on the black tees and pin 1 for your first round?
Pins: The pins are set in major order, that is, if the course ever held a major tournament, then play would be pins 1 for round 1, pins 2 for round 2 and so on. Pins 3 & 4 are set in fair, but very difficult locations. Of course, we suggest you play each of the pins to see the strategy and beauty of each hole.
Hole by hole:
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Hole 1 - ⚫ 480 ⚪ 453 ⚪ 425 🔴 417
You are whisked up a cart path in a specially designed golf cart fashioned off the stability and grip of mountain goats and soon you're standing on the 1st tee. Take a moment to scan the beautiful and majestic views of 5 level, smaller waterfall behind you, the massive waterfall in front and the views of the clubhouse and main lighthouse behind you. In front of you you seen a brutish, dogleg right par 4 across “Endless Lake” to an elevated fairway. Players wanting to cut the dogleg will face the real possibility of a penalty and re-teeing. The optimal aiming target gap in the trees in the distance, but don’t leak your shot further right or face a watery grave. Club down for the downhill approach shot to a Biarritz green that on some days is pinnable in the middle. Use the slopes to your advantage and don’t get near the unfenced right-side cliffs. Plan your shots and use the slopes to your advantage and birdie is possible on this opener.
Hole 2 - ⚫ 187 ⚪ 184 ⚪ 177 🔴 174
A medium-length par 3 fronted by two bunkers left and one on the right, with a two tiered green moving left to right and front-to-back. A bunker sits across the fairway about 40 yards from the green, which can skew the distance to the heart-shaped green. Shots far left and long face a watery grave and far right bound down a long hill. Tip: aim short and bounce the shot into the green.
Hole 3 - ⚫ 362 ⚪ 354 ⚪ 303 🔴 296
It’s only 362 yards long and plays shorter due to the elevated tee, but this hole can create just as many big scores as birdies. This is the first of three consecutive par 4 holes that measure less than 375 yards each, but reckless play will result in bigger scores. The safe play here is a fairway wood, which leaves about 140-150 yards into the good sized green. Hit driver and you can have a short wedge in for a better chance at birdie. Don’t go long or left, else you face the water that awaits.
Hole 4 - ⚫ 371 ⚪ 365 ⚪ 350 🔴 344
Another seemingly short par 4, until you realize you’re a few hundred feet above the clubhouse and there’s nothing, but water to the right and left. This hole was redesigned with a longer and wider fairway, after the original design meant that players on the back tees couldn't reach the fairway, unless they hit driver. Now fairway woods can be played, but will result in longer shots into the long, narrow green. Choose your path and fate, as birdie is accessible, but so is double bogey or more. Par is a respectable score here.
Hole 5 - ⚫ 373 ⚪ 369 ⚪ 358 🔴 352
This was another redesigned hole where a bunker in the fairway landing area was removed. The drive is the most important shot on this short par 4 and an accurate one is required. If you don’t hit in the water then you’ll face a short wedge into a sloping green. The green has a false front, so shots need to carry far enough on or they’ll roll back off. The back of the green has a big slope where balls can bounce into the water. A birdie is a bonus, but run off this hole with a par and be happy.
Hole 6 - ⚫ 551 ⚪ 547 ⚪ 542 🔴 535
Your first look at this hole you'll see a fairway in front of you, but further exploring will show a fairway to the right, guarded by a tree in the middle that leads to chance to hit this green in two. You’ll need to fly it over the guardian tree and keep in the narrower fairway. Those who want to play safe can hit down the left fairway, but face a much longer approach. Water protects the left side of the large green, which rewards great shots, but can also result in very long putts and 3-putts or more. Roll the dice for a lower score or play three safe shots to get a possible birdie or par.
Hole 7 - ⚫ 502 ⚪ 501 ⚪ 482 🔴 474
The longest par 4 on the course, this dogleg left hole demands the tee shot be played left of the center of the fairway for any chance to hit the green. Aim at the reddish tree in the middle of the fairway and keep it left of that. Approaches will normally be a long iron or hybrid into the large, double-plateau green. Treat it like a par 5 and you’ll likely score better than if you attack it.
Hole 8 - ⚫ 444 ⚪ 437 ⚪ 419 🔴 412
Take a moment to enjoy the view of the majestic waterfall cascading down the cliff to your right before facing the drive. Water down the right side and over the undulating green tests the player’s nerves. A successful drive leaves a short wedge to the multi-level green. Knowing where the pin is can ensure you’re on the correct side playing into the plateau green.
Hole 9 - ⚫ 421 ⚪ 413 ⚪ 386 🔴 378
You stand on the tee of the final hole of the front 9, which is a dogleg right par 4. Note where the pin is on the multi-tiered green, so you know which side of the fairway gives the best approach shot. Most days that will be the the left side. Use the slopes to move the ball toward the hole best and be sure you're on the correct level. Head into the clubhouse for a quick lunch and then get ready for the epic back 9!
Hole 10 - ⚫ 420 ⚪ 414 ⚪ 405 🔴 398
The opening hole of the back 9 is a medium length, dogleg left, par 4, where the further left off the tee, the better the angle to the green. Aim at the furthest bunker down the left side with a slight left-to-right shaped shot. Shots hit the right will be blocked by trees, so be forewarned. The approach will depend on the location of the pin on the lion’s mouth green. Birdie is possible, but walking away with a par is a great start!
Hole 11 - ⚫ 482 ⚪ 473 ⚪ 438 🔴431
This par 4 can be extended from 431 yards to a very long, 482 yards off the tee. Players can choose from two paths off the elevated tee; the left side is safer off the tee, but leaves the player needing to shape a right to left shot around trees to reach the green. Players who challenge the right fairway option will face a long fly across the water, but the reward is straight shot to the green that rolls slightly front to back.
Hole 12 - ⚫ 614 ⚪ 610 ⚪ 605 🔴 603
While this is the longest hole on the course, it plays further than it’s yardage due to the punchbowl green being almost 30 feet above the tee. This is a three-shot par 5 where birdie is possible, but only if you hit three great shots and sink a medium to long range putt. There are no hazards surrounding the green and shots, even wayward ones will still feed toward the middle. A ridge separates the middle of the green, so being on the correct side will make putting that much easier. Nothing tricky here, but just hit accurate, bruising shots and try avoid the big number!
Hole 13 - ⚫ 398 ⚪ 391 ⚪ 369 🔴 359
A generous fairway and green invite the player to relax, but don’t. While not a long hole, the long biarritz green can create havoc, if the player is on the wrong side of the deep dip in the middle of the green. Going long may result in the ball going down the runoff area and into the water. A great chance for birdie if you play your shots right!
Hole 14 - ⚫ 223 ⚪ 217 ⚪ 212 🔴 205
After a walk across a narrow, bridge high over the water and past one of the four lighthouses, you arrive at #5. This spotlight hole is a slightly uphill, long par 3, across the water to an elevated Eden green. A severe false front catches any balls hit short, while large bunkers surround the sides & back. A throwback hole where par is a great score!
Hole 15 - ⚫ 435 ⚪ 427 ⚪ 405 🔴 397
This is a solid par 4 with the water left and two fairway bunkers right, which is the optimal place to hit the second shot from. A prominent “principals nose” with two bunkers sits about 60 yards from the double plateau green. A large bunker grabs any stray shots from those guarding against going into the water left. A middle-right tee shot opens the approaches of 155-175 in. When the pin is on one of the two plateaus then a running short on one into the slope would be optimal for staying on top. Birdies are accessible, but so is double-bogey!
Hole 16 - ⚫ 596 ⚪ 582 ⚪ 542 🔴 529
Standing on the tee one might see the beauty and peacefulness of the trees and not realize the danger ahead. A long par 5 that sweeps left and downhill to a three-tiered Cape green. A generously wide fairway, also offers slopes for some truly long tee shots and just might make the player consider going for the green in 2. Bite off what you want, but a second shot in front of the green leaves a short wedge to pins on one of three levels. Shorts hit too short can roll back down and possible off the end of the green. The “Diablo Cinco” awaits.
Hole 17 - ⚫ 463 ⚪ 456 ⚪ 449 🔴 443
Hole 17 is a beastly, uphill par 4 to a elevated & double-plateau green. Water surrounds 3 of 4 sides of the generous fairway to gobble up any wayward shots. This is also your first look at the biggest waterfall on the island and is rumored to actually be used to drive the under-island hydro generators that provide electricity to the island residents and a few other local countries. The first order of business is to hit the fairway with a long drive, but be aware of the tiers for pin 2 (left) and pin 4 (right) as you’ll want to miss on the correct side. A great chance to play angles and use the slopes to ones advantage, unless you’re on the wrong side.
Hole 18 - ⚫ 226 ⚪ 226 ⚪ 226 🔴 182
Here we come to the final and main spotlight hole on the course. Redesigned from a brutish 225 hole, it still boasts having to hit a long iron to a heart-shaped green that’s lovingly surrounded by bunkers and water. The roar and power of the waterfall will be evident and take a moment to soak in the beautiful lighthouse to the left. Three shots and run to the elevator that will take you to a cart that returns you to the clubhouse.
You survived your round, so head in for a drink and enjoy recounting the tales to others. Be sure to schedule a trip to the mysterious ruins and maze near the 10th tee and ask your host to arrange a tour of one of the island lighthouses before departing.
Thank you for visiting Lighthouse Falls and feel free to embellish your stories, as no one will believe any of it anyway.