A Look at Peek’N Peak’s Upper Course: Back Nine

The back nine at Peek’N Peak’s Upper Course is home to the more dramatic holes on the course. This is not to say that the outward half is lacking in interest. The opening nine holes typically run gently from tee to green, with infrequent vertical changes serving to interrupt the common feature. The inward side sees movement on nearly every hole, from manageable to exciting.

As mentioned yesterday in our front nine preview, the nines were reversed at the Peek since the last Web.Com Tour visit, and the change plays into the hands of a dramatic finish. As seen in the gallery to the right, the closing hole epitomizes risk-reward: a stunning, downhill tee shot, followed by a long flight over a fronting hazard, to a well-guarded green. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves; we have eight other holes to develop before reaching the final fairway.

The tenth hole demands an accurate tee ball with a hybrid or fairway metal, to reach the corner of the dogleg and have a view of the green. Sited across a stream, the putting surface is not overly intricate, and will reward a well-place approach with a legitimate look at birdie. A three on this hole will go a long way toward a solid back nine, for the eleventh will be a true eagle opportunity for everyone in the field. A short and gently-rising par five, golfers will come into this hole with long irons or less.

The twelfth hole is the most photographed vista and the hole associated with the Upper Course. Driveable at little more than 300 yards and downhill, golfers will aim for the front bunker and expect to get up and down for birdie. Thirteen is a longish par three, perhaps 200 yards from the tips, with a green that accepts a bounce-in shot to the front.

The combo of 14 and 15 represents the true challenge to this half of the course. Get through them in par and you are properly positioned to attack the closing three holes. Fourteen is a challenging dogleg right, with a fairway that slope left, toward a hazard. The inside of the fairway is protected by three bunkers, making the shortcut a challenging affair. The green is slightly elevated and is protected by sand as well. Fifteen is the longest par three on the course, playing a bit downhill, over a barranca, to a tilted green.

The final triumvirate could produce eagles and birdies, or bogies and doubles. The par four sixteenth is driveable, albeit over a corner of trees and a fronting creek. Seventeen is a mundane hole, but straight from start to finish, with an accessible green with no hidden hole locations. And that brings us to eighteen. A good drive should run out an extra thirty yards, leaving a mid- to long-iron approach, or hybrid, to the par-five green.

For a look at the Upper Course scorecard, click here.

For a look at the Upper Course tour, click here.