Callaway Gardens: Lake View Course

The Lake Holes of the Lake View Course

Posted by Alistair Orr

Built in 1949-1952 the front nine at Lake View is Callaway Garden’s original course and was designed by J.B. McGovern, long time assistant to Donald Ross, to be a playable course for all. Dick Wilson later expanded the course to 18 holes in 1961 but maintaining the flavour of McGovern's original design. It is a much shorter test than her younger bigger sister, Mountain View, but don’t let her short wide fairways lull you in to a false sense of security for there is still plenty if bite in this track. There are two lakes which come in to play on the Lake View Course, Mountain Creek Lake and her smaller cousin Wren Lake. The 7th through 14th holes are all routed around or over some portion of Mountain Creek while the smaller Wren plays an integral role in the design of the homeward hole. In addition to the presence of the lakes, sharp doglegs, elevation changes, small well protected green sites and strategically placed overhanging trees all add character to this layout and wreak havoc with your senses (not to mention your club selection).

Course Stats:

Par 70, 4883 - 7057 yards, rated 68.2 -73.5, slope rating 122 - 163

Public

Location:

Pine Mountain, Georgia. A hour south of Atlanta on US Hwy 27, 15 minutes east of I185.

Editor's Shot Makers Picks:

*Hole #10

Feature Holes Descriptions:

Hole #9 is a sweeping dogleg left par 5 which skirts the edge of the lake culminating with an elevated green complex tucked behind two tall pines which stand guard some 40 yards short left. Two facing bunkers protect the approach and the long ball will find sand in the rear. Number 10 is as pretty as it gets. Topping out at 163 yards, and featuring an island tee, players must fire across the lake to a false fronted  “T” shaped green protected by bunkers all around. The original clubhouse serves as backdrop to this little beauty. The closing hole is a brilliant shot makers challenge. This sharp dogleg right is not a beastly hole but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for with slight-of-hand. A long iron or utility is required off the tee to position the ball past the corner to a flat left of centre some 125-135 yrds out. What remains is a nerve jangling pitch over an inlet to a narrow green that slopes severely down to the waters edge on three sides. The approach that lacks the required oomph will draw back down the bank to a watery grave, yank it left and the same fate awaits while long will leave a slippery downhill chip.

Related Articles: Callaway Gardens Mountain View Course: A Shot Makers Paridise

Contact:

Callaway Gardens

17800 US Hwy 27

Pine Mountain, GA. 31822

706.663.6799

[website]‎

*Courtesy of Callaway Gardens