A Look At Peek’N Peak’s Upper Course

The Front Nine

The front nine at Peek’N Peak’s Upper Course has undergone a number of changes in the year’s since the Web.Com Tour first visited in the 2000s. To begin, the front used to be the back! Next, the old tenth hole, a par three adjacent to the clubhouse and behind the current ninth green, is now a short game practice area. The new starting hole is the old eleventh. Out yonder, down behind the current 4th green and 6th tee is the newest hole on the golf course. The current 5th hole didn’t exist in the original routing, but the idea of beginning a golf course on a par three hole didn’t appeal to the tour nor the resort. The 5th hole was added toward the end of the first iteration of professional golf events at The Peak.

Why flip the nines? Simple, really. The 9th hole (old 18th) is an interesting hole but not altogether exciting. In contrast, the 18th hole (old 9th) is a reachable par five, fronted by water. It offers the potential of eagle and also of double bogey. A golfer in contention can get two strokes back right quick, but he can also give those strokes away, just as easily.

What are the keys to the front nine? Let’s have a look at the holes on the right and a read of this insight. For starters, find the fairway and green on the first two holes. Both are fairly benign and it won’t take more than hybrid/long iron and short iron/wedge to reach the putting surface. Both greens are modest in contour, so any birdie putt will be a reachable one. The third hole is one of those par threes that cries out: just hit the green, take your two putts, and keep walking. No reason to risk short-siding yourself. Why? The next hole is a par five and a reachable one at that. With smart play and a few good putts, a Web.Com player might find himself minus-two after four holes.

The fifth is an attractive par three with two levels. If your tee shot finds the proper level, you take a run at birdie. If not, don’t get crazy. Reason is, number six is the toughest par four on the front, and who needs bogey-bogey after starting out minus-two after four? Oh, and numbers seven through nine are all birdie holes.

Seven is a short par four, and if you like, take a run at the green over the trees. If not, hit iron-wedge and have a birdie putt. Eight is an uphill par five, but still reachable with today’s technology. Nine is another short par four, but driver is a fool’s errand. Play to the fairway, to the green, and leave yourself another birdie putt. It wouldn’t surprise us to have at least one competitor go out in 30 or 29 strokes. That would be the start of something special!

 

 

Hole One

Hole Two

Hole Three

Hole Four

Hole Five

Hole Six

Hole Seven

Hole Eight

Hole Nine