Hippodrome Complex - Hogback - Old Layout reviews
3
2
Ravined 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Sep 24, 2011
Played the course:once
Pros:
Challenging mini-ravines to avoid - or to putt out from.
On same site as Hippodrome course.
On same site as Hippodrome course.
Cons:
Navigation: To access the course, you must walk (better yet, play!) the Hippodrome course. From basket-14 of the Hippo, follow the broad path towards the fence. Eventually, find tee-1 to the right - basket-1 is down the slope to the left, barely visible, just before the fence.
The online map, while somewhat useful, was not correct. Holes 1-5 were a match.Real-6 = map-10. Real 7-9 = map 6-8. Real 10-11 = map 11-12. Real-12 not on map, but plays back/parallel to real 11&13. Real-13 = map-9. Holes 14-18 were actually 13-17 on the map. Follow all that? Let's just say it was a bit challenging to figure out when playing the course for the first time!
The online map, while somewhat useful, was not correct. Holes 1-5 were a match.Real-6 = map-10. Real 7-9 = map 6-8. Real 10-11 = map 11-12. Real-12 not on map, but plays back/parallel to real 11&13. Real-13 = map-9. Holes 14-18 were actually 13-17 on the map. Follow all that? Let's just say it was a bit challenging to figure out when playing the course for the first time!
Other Thoughts:
Short and (bitter) sweet, you'll only have a few holes on this course which are primarily open, and even these few aren't overly long, so this course is definitely about control ... and luck, definitely some luck. While shorter holes 1-5, with the ever-looming fence, and longer, more open-than-wooded holes 15-18, were all fine, the more memorable part of the course were holes 6-14.
Holes 6-14 are set in a small section of mid-sized pines. The ground is blanketed with pine needles, and the trees are scattered enough that all throwing lanes are quite fair - there's more air then lumber to hit, so to speak. Holes 6-9 are short, but the baskets are located on ridges or near the edges on min-ravines - maybe about 8' deep, and about that wide. A drive, or putt, even, could certainly find itself in one of these ravines - repeatedly! (Note: there are a couple ladders strategically located about to aid you in getting in and out of these ravines). You'll definitely need some good fortune to have a round where you don't enter a ravine.
Basket-10 is hidden in a small box-canyon, requiring a right-turner to enter. Holes 11-14 are longer and straighter than the earlier holes that play amongst the pines, but are actually tighter, as more trees (potentially) come into play.
The Hogback is certainly an interesting course to play, and will present you with many opportunities to work on your control game - and/or to putt from a ditch!
Holes 6-14 are set in a small section of mid-sized pines. The ground is blanketed with pine needles, and the trees are scattered enough that all throwing lanes are quite fair - there's more air then lumber to hit, so to speak. Holes 6-9 are short, but the baskets are located on ridges or near the edges on min-ravines - maybe about 8' deep, and about that wide. A drive, or putt, even, could certainly find itself in one of these ravines - repeatedly! (Note: there are a couple ladders strategically located about to aid you in getting in and out of these ravines). You'll definitely need some good fortune to have a round where you don't enter a ravine.
Basket-10 is hidden in a small box-canyon, requiring a right-turner to enter. Holes 11-14 are longer and straighter than the earlier holes that play amongst the pines, but are actually tighter, as more trees (potentially) come into play.
The Hogback is certainly an interesting course to play, and will present you with many opportunities to work on your control game - and/or to putt from a ditch!
