Post by LucasEatWorld on Nov 11, 2020 19:27:23 GMT -5
Welcome to a small piece of heaven.
Located in Bristol, Indiana and created in 1956 by the legendary golf architect William Diddle and renovated in 2006 by Arthur Hills, Elcona Country Club has a proud history and deep heritage of excellence in golf course management.
Stunning mature tree lines, beautiful multi-tiered Poa Annua greens, and impeccably maintained Bentgrass fairways provide a relaxing retreat from the everyday. The course offers a little something for everyone, with holes that move both left and right, par-3's of a variety of lengths and orientations, and reachable risk/reward par-5's that bring could very well bring eagles into play.
Elcona has played host to many golf legends; from Sam Snead and Fuzzy Zoeller, to Chi-Chi Rodriguez and Curtis Strange. In fact, Andy North, winner of the 1978 US Open, played Elcona the day following his impressive U.S. Open win. Countless celebrities have played the course as well including Johnny Bench, Joe Louis, Lou Holtz, Ara Parseghian and Duke Ellington, to name but a few, have all enjoyed the fairways and greens of Elcona.
"Bob Murphy described the greens as being the best he's ever played," according to Tom Thome, Head PGA Professional at Elcona.
"Bob Murphy described the greens as being the best he's ever played," according to Tom Thome, Head PGA Professional at Elcona.
When asked about the club's signature hole, Thome said, "Hole #18 creates a specific challenge for the putter...the severity of the green has decided many a match at the Club."
A true jewel of Northern Indiana, Elcona has hosted various major state championships and tournaments.
Combined with a friendly staff, picturesque grasslands and fairways, and challenging, yet rewarding greens, Elcona Country Club is well worth the visit.
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HOLE DESCRIPTIONS
Hole 1 (Par 4: 316 Yards)
The opening hole at Elcona Country Club is a very slight dogleg right, which may be reachable to some in favorable conditions. The smart play might be a long iron or hybrid, which will leave you with a short pitch into a green sloping towards two bunkers on the left. Don’t go long, as the road behind the green and beyond is marked OB.
Hole 2 (Par 4: 423 Yards)
The second hole is a medium length par 4. A driver off the tee will carry two bunkers on the left side of the fairway, but will have a more narrow landing area, whereas an iron or hybrid will contend with the bunkers and leave you with a longer approach, but a slightly wider landing area. The green is guarded by a bunker left and short of the green on the right.
Hole 3 (Par 3: 172 Yards)
Considered by some the first signature hole, the first par 3 on the course will require a mid-iron into a green sloping towards a pond on the right and protected by bunkers on the left side as well as behind it.
Hole 4 (Par 5: 570 Yards)
The first par 5 on the course is also the longest of the four. A relatively straight hole, your tee shot still requires accuracy with trees lining both sides of the fairway and a bunker on the right. Should you decide to layup with your second shot, a roughly 50 yard landing zone short of the green comes in handy, with a bunker tucked in between the two portions of fairway. Upon approach into the green, be aware of a bunker protecting it on the front left side.
Hole 5 (Par 4: 460 Yards)
The par 4 5th hole is the longest par 4 on the course. A bunker on the right side of the fairway will persuade many tee shots towards the tree line on the left side of the fairway. Your approach is lined with 3 bunkers on the left, and a large oak tree short right.
Hole 6 (Par 4: 430 Yards)
A slight dogleg left, the 6th hole is also protected by a bunker on the right side of the fairway. Once again, the smart play might be to layup short of the sand, especially if conditions warrant it. Your second shot into a green will be protected by a bunker on each side to eat up any errant shots.
Hole 7 (Par 5: 502 Yards)
The shortest of the par 5's provides a good scoring opportunity for players. Your tee shot will contend with another fairway bunker on the right, and if you can find the fairway, most will have a mid to long iron into a large, multi-tiered green showered with many bunkers in front. If there's a big headwind, laying up on the left portion of the fairway before most of the bunkers might be the best option.
Hole 8 (Par 3: 203 Yards)
The 8th is a slight downhill par 3 playing roughly 200 yards with bunkers protecting each side of the green, which, like most greens at Elcona, slopes back to front and toward the road on the left. Beware of any shots too far off course to the left of the pines, as OB is marked via the road and beyond.
Hole 9 (Par 4: 327 Yards)
Making your way across the road, the 9th is a shorter, uphill par 4. Take a long iron or hybrid in the wide part of the fairway, or risk getting closer with a driver with the more narrow landing area further ahead. Watch out for the driving range to the left, which is marked OB with white stakes near the mounds. Make sure you get your approach up the steep hill to a very shallow green while also avoiding the deep bunker short right. Anything short of the putting surface or anything with a decent amount of spin will likely roll all the way back down into the fairway. Also keep in mind the terrace and patio areas behind the green are OB as well.
Hole 10 (Par 4: 335 Yards)
After getting some refreshments, players are enticed by another shorter par 4, this time downhill, that is reachable in some circumstances. However, know that is protected by a pond short right which could eat up a lot of balls from aggressive players as well as a small bunker long. For some, a mid to long iron just short of the fairway bunkers might be the best option to set up your approach. Much like Hole #1, the road behind the green is OB as is the maintenance facility just to the left of it through the pines.
Hole 11 (Par 3: 223 Yards)
The longest par 3 at the Club will require a long iron or hybrid, depending on conditions, into a green guarded by a bunker left and an even bigger one short right. Like most greens at Elcona, if the flag is up front and you are long, excellent touch will be required to stay on the green.
Hole 12 (Par 4: 450 Yards)
Your drive on the par 4 12th is guarded by a bunker on the left and trees on the right. You'll have an approach shot into a green that slopes in many directions and has a bunker short right to eat up any bad shots.
Hole 13 (Par 3: 170 Yards)
The final par 3 of your round is a deeper green complex surrounded by a pair of bunkers on each side. Finding the right tier is key, otherwise a 3 putt isn't out of the question. This is also the last chance to grab any refreshments before your round comes to an end with the halfway house on your left.
Hole 14 (Par 5: 560 Yards)
Hole 14 has biggest body of water on the course and it's definitely in play off the tee if you take driver, so accuracy is a must. If you can find the fairway with your drive, you have a decent chance of getting to the green in two, but be weary of a bunker left as well as two on the right that are protecting it.
Hole 15 (Par 4: 419 Yards)
Another picturesque hole, 15 is another one of Elcona's signatures. An iron or hybrid is probably the safest play off the tee, but you can try and take driver over the trees on the left, just be aware of an even bigger tree line on the right. Your approach will fly over another pond as well as Zimm's creek flowing in on the right. Fun fact; this is the only hole on the course with no sand.
Hole 16 (Par 5: 557 Yards)
The 16th hole requires yet another accurate drive if you want to hit the green in two on the final par 5 of your round. A bunker lies to the left as well as a massive plot of trees on the right. If you miss right, your best plan of action is to just pitch back out into the fairway and take your medicine, otherwise, scores over par are not out of the question. The green complex is a deep, narrow one that is surrounded by three bunkers and a tree sanctuary at the back.
Hole 17 (Par 4: 420 Yards)
Once again, the 17th offers you a couple of options off the tee, as you can lay up in the wider portion short of the bunker on the left, or you can tempt fate by taking driver over it, but watch the tree lines on each side. Much like the previous hole, if you find yourself in the trees, you'll most likely have to punch it back out. A bunker awaits errant shots on each side of the green.
Hole 18 (Par 4: 340 Yards)
As you make your way across the road to the final hole, when you tee it up, it may appear to be a pretty straightforward, simple hole. That's not necessarily the case however. If your tee shot finds the short stuff, you have an uphill approach roughly 25 feet to another multitiered green, protected by a dauntingly deep bunker on the front left side. Watch out for that front pin position. If that's your pin and you find yourself on the back half of the green or long, precise touch will be vital getting it close, or your ball will be back down in the fairway.
PICTURES
Approach at 1
Tee shot on 3
Side view of 3
7th Hole
Hole 9 approach with practice facility to the left
Hole 10 greensite
11 green with 8 tee behind it
13 tee
Pond on 14
15 greensite
Looking back at Zimm's Creek on 15
18
Clubhouse area
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HOLE DESCRIPTIONS
Hole 1 (Par 4: 316 Yards)
The opening hole at Elcona Country Club is a very slight dogleg right, which may be reachable to some in favorable conditions. The smart play might be a long iron or hybrid, which will leave you with a short pitch into a green sloping towards two bunkers on the left. Don’t go long, as the road behind the green and beyond is marked OB.
Hole 2 (Par 4: 423 Yards)
The second hole is a medium length par 4. A driver off the tee will carry two bunkers on the left side of the fairway, but will have a more narrow landing area, whereas an iron or hybrid will contend with the bunkers and leave you with a longer approach, but a slightly wider landing area. The green is guarded by a bunker left and short of the green on the right.
Hole 3 (Par 3: 172 Yards)
Considered by some the first signature hole, the first par 3 on the course will require a mid-iron into a green sloping towards a pond on the right and protected by bunkers on the left side as well as behind it.
Hole 4 (Par 5: 570 Yards)
The first par 5 on the course is also the longest of the four. A relatively straight hole, your tee shot still requires accuracy with trees lining both sides of the fairway and a bunker on the right. Should you decide to layup with your second shot, a roughly 50 yard landing zone short of the green comes in handy, with a bunker tucked in between the two portions of fairway. Upon approach into the green, be aware of a bunker protecting it on the front left side.
Hole 5 (Par 4: 460 Yards)
The par 4 5th hole is the longest par 4 on the course. A bunker on the right side of the fairway will persuade many tee shots towards the tree line on the left side of the fairway. Your approach is lined with 3 bunkers on the left, and a large oak tree short right.
Hole 6 (Par 4: 430 Yards)
A slight dogleg left, the 6th hole is also protected by a bunker on the right side of the fairway. Once again, the smart play might be to layup short of the sand, especially if conditions warrant it. Your second shot into a green will be protected by a bunker on each side to eat up any errant shots.
Hole 7 (Par 5: 502 Yards)
The shortest of the par 5's provides a good scoring opportunity for players. Your tee shot will contend with another fairway bunker on the right, and if you can find the fairway, most will have a mid to long iron into a large, multi-tiered green showered with many bunkers in front. If there's a big headwind, laying up on the left portion of the fairway before most of the bunkers might be the best option.
Hole 8 (Par 3: 203 Yards)
The 8th is a slight downhill par 3 playing roughly 200 yards with bunkers protecting each side of the green, which, like most greens at Elcona, slopes back to front and toward the road on the left. Beware of any shots too far off course to the left of the pines, as OB is marked via the road and beyond.
Hole 9 (Par 4: 327 Yards)
Making your way across the road, the 9th is a shorter, uphill par 4. Take a long iron or hybrid in the wide part of the fairway, or risk getting closer with a driver with the more narrow landing area further ahead. Watch out for the driving range to the left, which is marked OB with white stakes near the mounds. Make sure you get your approach up the steep hill to a very shallow green while also avoiding the deep bunker short right. Anything short of the putting surface or anything with a decent amount of spin will likely roll all the way back down into the fairway. Also keep in mind the terrace and patio areas behind the green are OB as well.
Hole 10 (Par 4: 335 Yards)
After getting some refreshments, players are enticed by another shorter par 4, this time downhill, that is reachable in some circumstances. However, know that is protected by a pond short right which could eat up a lot of balls from aggressive players as well as a small bunker long. For some, a mid to long iron just short of the fairway bunkers might be the best option to set up your approach. Much like Hole #1, the road behind the green is OB as is the maintenance facility just to the left of it through the pines.
Hole 11 (Par 3: 223 Yards)
The longest par 3 at the Club will require a long iron or hybrid, depending on conditions, into a green guarded by a bunker left and an even bigger one short right. Like most greens at Elcona, if the flag is up front and you are long, excellent touch will be required to stay on the green.
Hole 12 (Par 4: 450 Yards)
Your drive on the par 4 12th is guarded by a bunker on the left and trees on the right. You'll have an approach shot into a green that slopes in many directions and has a bunker short right to eat up any bad shots.
Hole 13 (Par 3: 170 Yards)
The final par 3 of your round is a deeper green complex surrounded by a pair of bunkers on each side. Finding the right tier is key, otherwise a 3 putt isn't out of the question. This is also the last chance to grab any refreshments before your round comes to an end with the halfway house on your left.
Hole 14 (Par 5: 560 Yards)
Hole 14 has biggest body of water on the course and it's definitely in play off the tee if you take driver, so accuracy is a must. If you can find the fairway with your drive, you have a decent chance of getting to the green in two, but be weary of a bunker left as well as two on the right that are protecting it.
Hole 15 (Par 4: 419 Yards)
Another picturesque hole, 15 is another one of Elcona's signatures. An iron or hybrid is probably the safest play off the tee, but you can try and take driver over the trees on the left, just be aware of an even bigger tree line on the right. Your approach will fly over another pond as well as Zimm's creek flowing in on the right. Fun fact; this is the only hole on the course with no sand.
Hole 16 (Par 5: 557 Yards)
The 16th hole requires yet another accurate drive if you want to hit the green in two on the final par 5 of your round. A bunker lies to the left as well as a massive plot of trees on the right. If you miss right, your best plan of action is to just pitch back out into the fairway and take your medicine, otherwise, scores over par are not out of the question. The green complex is a deep, narrow one that is surrounded by three bunkers and a tree sanctuary at the back.
Hole 17 (Par 4: 420 Yards)
Once again, the 17th offers you a couple of options off the tee, as you can lay up in the wider portion short of the bunker on the left, or you can tempt fate by taking driver over it, but watch the tree lines on each side. Much like the previous hole, if you find yourself in the trees, you'll most likely have to punch it back out. A bunker awaits errant shots on each side of the green.
Hole 18 (Par 4: 340 Yards)
As you make your way across the road to the final hole, when you tee it up, it may appear to be a pretty straightforward, simple hole. That's not necessarily the case however. If your tee shot finds the short stuff, you have an uphill approach roughly 25 feet to another multitiered green, protected by a dauntingly deep bunker on the front left side. Watch out for that front pin position. If that's your pin and you find yourself on the back half of the green or long, precise touch will be vital getting it close, or your ball will be back down in the fairway.
PICTURES
Approach at 1
Tee shot on 3
Side view of 3
7th Hole
Hole 9 approach with practice facility to the left
Hole 10 greensite
11 green with 8 tee behind it
13 tee
Pond on 14
15 greensite
Looking back at Zimm's Creek on 15
18
Clubhouse area