Naturally, the best golf holes in the world are, at their essence, exceptional in their design merits. But they almost always have a setting, an ambiance, a natural beauty, that truly makes them worthy of the accolades. In other words, they playbeautifully and they look beautiful! The par-5 11th at Blackhawk is such a hole.
A gorgeous, down-the-hill, par-5 that begins the exceptional stretch of “valley holes” at the private Blackhawk Golf Course near Edmonton, the 11th always serves up one of the most exciting moments of the round.
Of course, “excitement” accompanies the golfer throughout a round at Blackhawk. The routing, which features plenty of perched tees, breathtaking bunkering, cunning contours, and heroic shot options, is, rightfully regarded as one of the top private golf experiences in the country. Last year Blackhawk, which is located just southwest of Edmonton along the pine-coated banks of the North Saskatchewan River, was ranked No. 15 in SCOREGolf’s rankings of the Top 100 Courses in Canada.
Designed by architect Rod Whitman (an Albertan who grew up just an hour, or so, south of Blackhawk near Ponoka), Blackhawk was to some extent, a groundbreaking achievement. Although it boasts similar trademarks of his earlier work at nearby Wolf Creek, this was one of the first courses in the country to embody the contemporary “minimalist” style.
Unquestionably, Whitman gravitated to that style – think heavy use of natural features, non-formulaic and highly-strategic holes, hand-carved bunkers that appear natural, fairways that simply follow the lay of the land, etc. – thanks to his extensive work with arguably the two most important pioneers of the “Golden Age” renaissance. That would be the late Pete Dye and his good friend, Bill Coore.
The “Golden Age” of golf course architecture was, predominantly, the 1920s when great architects such as Alister MacKenzie, A.W. Tillinghast, and Canada’s Stanley Thompson built many of the world’s finest courses.
Not surprisingly, this influence is noticeable throughout Blackhawk, including, of course, the fantastic par-5 11th, which is dubbed “Peninsula.”
“First of all, the setting there is stunning,” says Whitman. “From high on the bench where the tee is situated, you’re treated to a beautiful sight of the valley and the river. The anticipation is always high.”
Indeed, with many pivotal holes yet to come, this is definitely “gut check” time for the golfer. And the 11th is a hole where many things – some good, some bad! – can happen.
“To me, the fact that everything is running away from the golfer on the second shot is ideal,” says Whitman. “When it plays firm and fast, which it’s supposed to, even the average player has a chance of knocking it on the green in two here and making an eagle.”
Fittingly, it’s the low running shot that uses the natural landforms that is the ideal play to the green. However, as Whitman is quick to point out, there is plenty of trouble.
“Having the main hazard behind the green and also to the right of the green presents issues. The good player must control distance. And missing to the right is one of the most common mistakes in golf. So needless to say, there is plenty of trouble, yet there is a great opportunity for a low score on the hole.”
While the hole, which covers 532 yards from the regular member tees, isn’t “short,” the big elevation change and firm-and-fast fairway certainly makes it play much shorter. A clutch of beautiful bunkers (the hole features a massive bunker complex down the right side) and a newly added wood bulkhead around the green (the Pete Dye influence?) are other key aspects of the hole.
“This hole is always a favourite with our members,” says Blackhawk’s Head Golf Professional, Kevin Chow. “It kind of has it all. In my opinion, it’s truly one of the great holes in Alberta.”