No. 8 at The Cliffs on Possum Kingdom features a large crevice and a beautiful view of the lake. The hole horseshoes around the crevice to a very narrow green, shown here just left of the big trees. (Photo by Clay Stewart)
The Cliffs offers beautiful views, great golf
by Clay Stewart
(Posted 7/23/2010 01:24 pm)
sports@grahamleader.com
While it may well be the toughest golf course in the area, The Cliffs on Possum Kingdom is a beautiful course in amazing condition that will challenge the best golfers out there. The fairways are perfect and so are the greens. There is plenty of rough and both wide and narrow landing areas. Just when a golfer thinks he’s figured out this course, it changes. Distances are from the blue tees, one up from the tips.
No. 1
512-yard Par 5
Stay left of the fairway bunker off the tee, but right of the hills and mounds down the left side. Hitting into the hills causes problems trying to get back to the fairway. It’s hard to tell where the fairway turns left from the tee, but between the hills and the bunkers is a good bet.
Long hitters can reach the green in two, but it’s definitely safer to lay up and have a short iron or a chip shot to the surface. The green is surrounded on three sides by a bunker so stay out of that. The green is 35 yards deep but is only 16 yards long, so going for it in two is very risky.
No. 2
425-yard Par 4
This bender goes back to the left around the corner. There’s scrub down the right side, so stay in the fairway or the “shorter” rough. The approach shot is downhill and it’s easy to hit it over into the big bunker behind the green. That will leave a difficult chip if the pin is on the back with not much green to work with. The green is multilevel so be on the same level as the pin to make putting easier.
No. 3
185-yard Par 3
The most picturesque hole on the golf course is also one of the toughest. The tee shot has to carry a large crevice that is no doubt a haven for lost balls, rattlesnakes and critters.
Carry the crevice or chalk up a lost ball because it won’t be found. The drop area is to the right of the surface, above the hole.
Just in front of the drop area is a steep shelf which drops onto the lower part of the green. It’s hard to stop a putt from that shelf.
Enjoy the view and take par.
No. 4
537-yard Par 5
The hardest hole on the golf course presents another crevice fronting the green. Accuracy off the tee is critical to scoring on this hole.
Take it down the left side of the fairway and avoid the fairway bunker on the left with the second shot.
Be near the crevice with the second shot or bail out to the left.
Miss the bunkers behind the greens and have a chance at birdie.
No. 5
347-yard Par 4
This par 4 is a dogleg left that gives a golfer a bit of a break. There are no real tricks here. Hit it into the fairway and stay out of the mounds to the right and the depression left.
There’s a grass trap below the green on the left, so enter the surface from the right side.
No. 6
146-yard Par 3
This par 3 doesn’t look too tough from the tee, but the bunkers front right and down the left can make it difficult. The green has a narrow opening in front and curls in a reverse-S shape back.
No. 7
398-yard Par 4
This uphill par four undulates throughout the fairway and it’s difficult to land it in a really good spot to have a flat second shot to the green. Stay centered here because there’s trouble down both sides. To the right are mounds that create tricky second shots and to the left is OB.
The green will almost assuradly leave an uphill putt. Avoid the large grass trap in front or have an uphill pitch to the hole. Coming from such a low area virtually assures the ball won’t roll all the way to the hole if the pin is on the back left.
No. 8
533-yard Par 5
This long hole horseshoes around the large crevice to the right and ends just in front of a large cliff that leads down to the water. Stay left of the Pampas Grass off the tee or face a shot from the rough to clear the crevice and hit the fairway. Don’t go through the fairway with the second and the green should be reachable.
Be careful, though. The surface is only 13 yards wide and 19 yards deep. There’s a bunker overlooking the green from the left side and the crevice runs the length of the fairway.
No. 9
175-yard Par 3
This uphill par 3 is dangerous. It runs along the lake and presents all sorts of problems. The scorecard says to check the wave direction on the lake to tell the true wind direction, so don’t trust the flag. There are three bunkers surrounding the green so accuracy is the key here. Slightly short is OK here, but don’t be left or right or face a sand shot.
No. 10
371-yard Par 4
The tee shot has to clear the crevice, but that shouldn’t be a problem for most hitters. The fairway slopes to the right, so try to take it down the left side and let it roll to the middle.
The second shot is the trick here. Stay out of the trees to the left and the bunkers fronting and behind the green. There’s deep grass surrounding the surface that makes chipping tough. A chip shot from the behind the hole will be very difficult to stop near the hole.
No. 11
383-yard Par 4
Aim the tee shot left of the fairway bunker, but too far left is OB. Aim the approach shot to the left side of the green as everything will roll right. There’s not a lot of room around this narrow green, which is 53 yards deep, but only 15 yards wide.
No. 12
145-yard Par 3
This is the easiest hole on the golf course. The water shouldn’t come into play off the tee. There are no hazzards, but it make take an extra club to get up the hill to the hole.
No. 13
372-yard Par 4
Another crevice! Shorter hitters should aim the tee shot at the bunker while longer hitters may be tempted to drive the green. The odds of making it are slim, so take aim right of the bunkers and swing hard. There’s not a lot of room in the landing area, but it should do. The second shot can get lost right, so hit the green with it and make par. The green is two-level, so be on the level with the pin to score well or risk putting it off the green from the top.
No. 14
381-yard Par 4
This is the second hardest hole on the course and it’s debatable to be No. 1. It’s a tough par 4 with a fairway that slopes to the right and runs back to the left. There’s another crevice to deal with, this one right in front of the hole. It doesn’t leave a lot of room for error in front, so either be accurate or lay up and pitch it over and on. There’s mounds with rocks in the back so try to stay on the surface.
No. 15
146-yard Par 3
This par 3 tees off from a big hill, so club down two clubs or so or hit it way over. There’s no margin for error on this hole. Water runs the length of the green to the right and a double-tiered hill runs left. Don’t miss here or make double bogey. It’s a beautiful hole with a great view and little air moving at the bottom.
No. 16
541-yard Par 5
This plays as a three-shot par 5 because of the location of the green. Clear the crevice and enjoy a wide landing area on the other side. Lay up with the second shot but don’t be too far left because trees will block the approach. The green is tucked into an area just past the trees with a bunker on each of the front sides. Deep grass surrounds the green, whichis slightly up on a hill.
No. 17
422-yard Par 4
Aim to the center or right for the best approach to the green. The rough features deep grass that can be hard to swing a club through, so use caution. The green is elevated and undulates a lot so try to put the approach near the hole.
No. 18
439-yard Par 4
The closer at The Cliffs is a tough one. Keep it in the fairway here or risk a shot left onto the driving range or in a fairway bunker. The fairway drops off on the right side and runs onto the eighth fairway.
The green is only 18 yards wide and is protected on the left side by water. The right features mounds and deep grass, so missing should be short. It’s a great closer to a very tough golf course.
The course is in amazing shape and it’s easy to tell it’s well manicured. Grab lunch and play 18, but bring plenty of golf balls to this outstanding course.
Visit www.thecliffsresort.com for a tee time, rates and menus or call (888) 843-2543 for a tee time.
The clubhouse is amazing with plenty of momentos of the trip there, the staff is friendly and the experience is incredible.
THE CLIFFS ON
POSSUM KINGDOM
Green fees
Peak season
March 13- mid Nov:
Members -
Mon-Thurs: $45
Weekend: $55
Accompanied guests –
Mon-Thurs: $55
Weekend: $65
Hotel Guests–
Mon-Thurs: $65
Weekend: $75
Unaccompanied guests:
Mon-Thurs: $70
Weekend: $85
Mid-day/Replay (same day):
Mon-Thurs: $45
Weekend: $50
Twilight:
Mon-Thurs: $40
Weekend: $45
Call for tee times at (940) 779-4520.
Fees include cart fee.
