You'll Have More Choices at Timber Creek and Sierra Pines than You Have Clubs in Your Bag

A golfer will never tire of playing Timber Creek & Sierra Pines. Each of the three nines has its own distinct personality. Club pro Mark Gouger said it is the sentiment most often expressed by residents and public guests alike, followed closely by comments about what a good value it is to play. The variations allowed by having three nines to choose from make the challenges of playing at Timber Creek/Sierra Pines a joy.

When Billy Casper and Greg Nash designed Timber Creek and Sierra Pines, they sought to incorporate the course gracefully through the community and also to carefully preserve sensitive environmental areas, including our designated bird sanctuary. The Lakes and Sierra Pines are noted for their lovely ponds and waterfalls and the Oaks nine for being almost secluded within the groves lining its fairways.

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Throughout the three nines, 142 large and small sand bunkers define fairways and surround greens. Bent grass tees lead to fairways carpeted with perennial rye. Manicured bent grass greens are large and fast, covered with breaks of subtle undulations.

But the real challenge comes when you step on the tee box of each nine.

THE LAKES

The relatively open fairways of the Lakes are interspersed by water on six of nine holes. The first hole is a slight dogleg left with a fairway which narrows. The large green requires a precise club selection for the second shot. While hole number two appears to be a short par five, the fairway is crossed by a creek prohibiting all but the longest hitters from carrying it from the tee box. Because of the mound crossing the middle of the green, the best way to get close to the pin is by hitting the third shot carefully.

Number three could be a possible birdie hole for the golfer who places a drive safely on the left side of this par four. But beware because the green slants toward the water. The first par three on the Lakes is short and slightly uphill. The green slopes back to front making it the second hole in a row where a good score could be found.

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The second par five on the Lakes, hole number five’s fairway is guarded on the left by water. Going for the green in two must be weighed with the grassy waste area on the green’s right. The second par three is also intimidating, for the sixth green is almost engulfed by water. Don’t miss club!

The seventh is one of the signature holes of the course. The large fairway is flanked by a large waste area right. The massive green demands careful club selection on the second. Like the preceding and following holes, the eighth is a par four. The similarities to the 7th end there, because the eighth is tight left with bunkers and right with out of bounds. Sand and water guard this undulating green, left and right respectively.

The Lakes’ finishing hole is a par four flanked right of the fairway by OB and water. One of the largest greens on the course is guarded by enough water and sand to demand uncommon accuracy.

THE OAKS

The Oaks nine begins with a four par demanding accuracy from the tee and a second shot which could vary by as much as three clubs because of the size of the green. A large namesake oak guards the eleventh fairway right. The second shot requires strict consideration of the pin placement.

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The twelfth is one of the best birdie opportunities on the course. A short par five with a lateral hazard, an occasion to go for the green in two is not unusual. The short par four thirteenth eliminates the need for driver, but the narrow fairway demands accuracy. Still, birdie is definitely possible.

Fourteen’s challenge is decided by the par 3’s tee location. Back locations can require a long iron, front can be a short iron. The gambler will try to cut the corner of the par four 15th. A large oak at the corner must be circumvented to have a shot at birdie.

A slightly uphill par three, sixteen requires a critical club selection to make par. The seventeenth is a difficult par four with oaks and bunkers on the right side. Prepare for a mid to long iron second shot.

The signature finishing hole of the Oaks offers many options. Water guards the fairway left off the tee and then to the right down to the narrow-fronted green. A splendid finishing hole, par is a welcome score.

SIERRA PINES: VARIATIONS ON A THEME

The stand-alone nine hole Sierra Pines course has more combinations than a good safe. From its five sets of tees, golfers can choose to play the course from 3,175 yard par 36 Casper tees to the 2,005 yard par 31 Executive tees. Or any of three other sets of tees in between. Hazards include environmental areas, towering oaks and water in the form of ponds and creeks meandering through the course.

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The first hole has an environmental area left of the open fairway. The large green slopes back to front for a good introduction to the course. The tee shot for hole number two is significantly more difficult, requiring a carry over an environmental area.The second shot encounters a narrow opening to a green resting between oaks right and pond left.

Hole number three is a par 4 with a water hazard right. The green is large and guarded by water and bunkers. The first par 5 is number four. Trees and bunkers on opposite sides of the fairway demand a straight tee shot. Reaching the green in two is possible, but the best play is a short-iron approach to the two-tiered green.

Sierra Pines’ first par 3 has its own inherent variation depending on the wind. Bunkers of grass in front and sand behind the green gather the errant shot. A short par 5, positioning the tee shot on number six is the key to success, whether carrying the waste area or laying up. The creek fronting the green demands the approach shot to the shallow green be precise.

Residences form the major hazards on either side of the fairways along the par 4 seventh. However, because the enormous green is three clubs deep, the second shot is key. Hole number eight is the longest of the par threes. Sand right and grass right narrow the large green more than it appears.

Sierra Pines’ closing hole is a short par 4 with a gentle dogleg to the left. Trees left and a fairway bunker right demand a careful tee shot to leave the green open. Sand and grass bunkers surround the slightly elevated green.

When combined with excellent pricing options, Timber Creek/Sierra Pines becomes a golf destination with more choices than the average golf bag.