Wil Collins, the 2016 Navajo Trail Open champion, had the perfect game to conquer the short but tricky Hillcrest Golf Club. His masterful wedge work and clutch putting led to a one-shot victory.
Collins wasn’t the longest hitter in the field or the best ball-striker, but he saved par with regularity when he missed the greens on the longer holes and took advantage of laser-like short-iron play. The winner is likely to have the same formula this year.
Here’s a look at what the players will face on the 18 holes on the rim at Hillcrest:
No. 1: 377 yards, par-4 – The short, downhill dogleg left par-4 won’t yield many big numbers. It’s a relatively easy hole to start on, but longer hitters will face their first of many risk/reward tee shots. The majority of the field will hit a mid-to-long iron or utility club off the tee to set up a straightforward wedge into the green. Anything left of the fairway will need a fortunate bounce to avoid a pond that runs along the entire left side of the hole. Last year, runner-up Sam Saunders hit driver up by the green to start the final round and the longer hitters will be tempted to do the same. “If it’s down wind I’m going for it,” one player said. A well-struck drive over the corner of the lake will leave a pitch into the first of many back-to-front sloping greens. Players can’t be too concerned with the lake, or they might find the trees or, even worse, out of bounds on the right.
No. 2: 421 yards, par-4 – A good drive will leave a short iron into an elevated green. Wayward drives might be greeted by tree trouble guarding both sides of the fairway. The downhill, slight dogleg left will offer plenty of birdie chances if players are accurate off the tee. However, shots coming in to the back-to-front sloping green with too much spin will roll back 30 to 40 yards short of the green, creating an awkward uphill pitch.
No. 3: 548 yards, par-5 – The new tee box up against a fence along Goeglein Gulch Road gave this par-5 a bit more protection. A fairway bunker on the right is well placed, but, if players can avoid or carry it, they’ll have a mid- to long-iron into a well-protected green with bunkers and water hazards on both sides. Certain hole locations on this green, particularly back left, can be very difficult. If players get in trouble off the tee, they can lay up to the middle of the fourth fairway and have a nice angle with a flat lie to attack any pin on the green.
No. 4: 477 yards, par-4 – New tee boxes and matured trees gave the fourth hole a new look last year. Tee shots left of the fairway will encounter thick trees. Front-right and front-left bunkers protect one of the toughest greens on the course. Another back-to-front green will test the short game of any player who hits their approach over the green. Par is good on No. 4. “I really think No. 4 is the toughest hole out here,” Hillcrest Assistant PGA Professional Brett Wolf said. “You have to hit two good shots to hit the green and if you don’t it’ll cost you.”
No. 5: 227 yards, par-3 – The first of four par-3s is arguably the toughest hole on the golf course. It plays slightly uphill and into the wind more often than not and the front right pin is nearly impossible to attack with a front-right bunker gobbling up mis-clubbed shots. Back tee box forces many to hit long irons or hybrids into slightly elevated green. Players who make par will walk off happy and ready to let it rip on No. 6 when the marshal with the radio says it’s clear to fire.
No. 6: 325 yards, par-4 – The sixth offers players a few different options off the tee. Some players will hit a hybrid or long iron to the top of the hill and leave themselves with a straight-forward pitch into a back-right to front-left sloped green. The majority of players wait for the green to clear before ripping a driver over the right corner of the tree that guards the left side of the fairway. Out of bounds right and the longest grass on the course to the left will have some wondering why they didn’t play safe. Birdies and possibly a few eagles will be the reward on No. 6. “You have to make birdie on 6,” Braden Baer said. “If I walk off with par there, I’ll feel like I gave one back to the field.”
No. 7: 406 yards, par-4 – An overhanging limb to the right of this tee box is enough to make players think twice about trying to drive over the trees on the slight dogleg right. A power-fade tee shot is ideal, but anything slightly pulled will go through the fairway and create possible tree trouble. Approach shots into the elevated green need to be precise or they’ll roll off the turtle-backed green. Like many holes at Hillcrest, the approach will be the key to birdie or bogey.
No. 8: 404 yards, par-4 – Though listed as 404 yards, the eighth hole is a 90-degree dogleg left, so the green can approached by the big and bold. While not many shots are likely to find the surface off the tee, a good drive will leave a pitch, a putt and a birdie for many of the professionals. Players must use the correct club as drives can get stuck in the tall pines that guard the dogleg or become stymied by trees that will penalize those who hit it through the fairway.
No. 9: 177 yards, par-3 – Of all the Hillcrest changes made before the 2016 tournament, No. 9 was one the players were most skeptical about. They’ll be hitting short irons into a very tricky green that will send many balls back down the fairway if they hit the surface with excessive spin. “No. 9 is the hole I’m happy with par,” Denver’s Bryan Hackenburg said. “It’s a short par-3, but you have to put yourself in the right spot. With a short iron in my hand I should be able to do that, but if it ends up on the wrong side of the green or I hit the wrong club, I’ll pay the price.”
No. 10: 551 yards, par-5 – The back nine at Hillcrest begins with a golden opportunity to pick up at least a shot. Out of bounds right is a huge mistake considering everything on the left side of the hole is wide open. The green is reachable in two, but anything right will flirt with out of bounds and bad bounce off the cart path can ruin a round in a hurry. Three smart shots should leave a good birdie try, while good second shots will create eagle chances.
No. 11: 327 yards, par-4 - A pair of well-placed fairway bunkers and a big tree in the middle of the fairway might discourage those trying to lay up on the short par-4. That might not be such a bad thing as players will find that an aggressive tee shot over the right bunker with a driver or even a 3-wood will leave a short greenside pitch into a receptive green. There’s more room to the right of this green than seen from the tee, but poor drives to the right will end up over the fence and make for a long and upsetting walk backward to visit the players waiting on the tee box.
No. 12: 197 yards, par-3 - Judging the distance and the wind are key to finding a green that is very wide, but shallow front-to-back and surprisingly firm. Poorly struck shots will fail to carry the water or find the front bunker and lead to bogey or worse. Long putts and a severely back-to-front slope will test nerves. Say hi to the always-friendly spectators behind the 12th green.
No. 13: 482 yards, par-4 - A row of bunkers on the left will attract a number of tee shots on what many consider to be the toughest par-4 on the course. If players do find the fairway, they’ll be lucky to have a flat lie for a difficult approach into a green that gives the superintendent the option to be cruel with the hole locations. Three-putts will be common and pitch shots must be carefully thought out around this wicked green.
No. 14: 376 yards, par-4 - Smart players will hit less club off the tee and end up at the bottom of the hill. This will leave a short iron into a receptive two-tiered green protected by a front-right bunker. Water left off the tee will deter many from hitting driver, but, again, some players might try attempt to drive it up by the green if they need to make up ground Sunday.
No. 15: 203 yards, par-3 – Left is a bad miss on this golf course, and No. 15 will give fits to players who miss in that direction. A drop off left of the green makes par unlikely from down below. A solid mid-iron shot into the green and two putts will be welcomed by even the best players, and they’ll take their chances on 16.
No. 16: 407 yards, par-4 – There’s not much to this uphill par-4 unless the wind is blowing in your face, which is quite common. A good drive should leave players no more than 150 yards and a good birdie opportunity on one of the flatter greens on the course.
No. 17: 570 yards, par-5 – The tee shot on the 17th is critical. Water on the left and a sneaky out of bounds boundary on the right can cause a good round to evaporate. Players have to be aware of out of bounds stakes on the second shot as well. However, a good drive will give players a chance to attack the green in two, which could change the complexion of the tournament late Sunday. Long and left on the approach is trouble.
No. 18: 479 yards, par-4 – Heading back toward the clubhouse, the finishing hole at Hillcrest is a long par-4 that plays all of its yardage. Wayward tee shots will find tree trouble on both sides. Accurate shots will leave players with a mid-iron into a firm green protected by a deep front bunker. Collins birdied 18 to win last year and this year’s winner might have to do the same.
jfries@durangoherald.com
