Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Hacker's World

Welcome to Hackers World. The latest trip was to Belvedere Country Club, one of the top 10 courses in the state.

Lets get one thing straight right off the bat  the ranking is well deserved.

Belvedere Country Club was established in 1949 and is a true 18-hole course. It was purchased by the current owners two years ago and has been almost completely renovated. The club offers a bar and grill, along with a banquet room.

Ryan Browning is the club pro, and while the pro shop carries a good line of clothing, it doesnt carry much in the way of golfing equipment. However, anything a golfer wants can be ordered.

Belvedere is a semi-private club, meaning the public can use the services offered. Green fees are $45 during the week and $55 on weekends. This price includes cart rental. Memberships and unlimited green fees are $100 a month. For those who like to play late, twilight fees are $27.50 after 3 p.m., and this also includes cart rental.

Because of the number of golfers playing the course, tee times are required. The dress code calls for players to wear shirts with collars.

The course itself was renovated in 1986, and is a challenge for golfers of all skill levels. It is a championship level course, and not for the faint of heart.

David Wagnon and I hit the links and were quickly put in our place. The first tee is literally right outside the pro shop. Its a beautiful sloping downhill hole with a slight dogleg the left. David pushed his opening drive to the right, while mine wound up slicing into the sixth fairway. For the most part, this was as good as it would get.

One of the fun things about this course is literally every hole has some kind of hazard  be it sand traps or water, usually both. The greens are bent grass, but were lightning fast on this particular day. The slightest tap sent the ball from one side of the green to the other.

My drive on the second hole wound up in a pond off to the left, while Davids again went to the right of the fairway. After two holes my score was 14, while David sat on 15.

The third hole is a par 3, 154 yards  downhill with sand traps on either side and a pond off to the right. After dropping my drive in the drink, I managed to stay out of the water with the second shot, but just barely. The chip rolled across the green and into a bunker. I played in the sand a while before managing to leave the hole with a nine.

From there, I forgot how to hit my driver and topped almost every drive until we were nearly done. David was more consistent, as most of his drives went right all day, though he did get a few in the middle of the fairway.

By the time we finished the first five holes David suggested we start again. At the time I was sitting on a score of 36, while he had a 38. He did better on the next four holes, ending the front nine with a 59. At the halfway point, my score was 62. David joked saying I should tell people I shot a 62 at Belvedere. I said anyone whos seen me play would know better.

I would love to say the back nine was easier than the front nine, but Id be lying. Its just as tough.

The 10th hole is a straight par 4, 419 yards long, with sand on either side of the green. In theory it should be a fairly simple hole. This isnt the case when the drive is topped and only rolls about 150 yards. The worst part came on the green as I couldnt get the ball to fall and ended up with an eight.

I began playing a bit more consistent until we reached 16, a 477-yard par 5, uphill. Foolishly, I thought I could hit my drive to the top of the hill. Nothing could have been further from the truth, as I sliced it into the rough. I tagged the second shot right into a tree, where the ball may still be as we couldnt find it anywhere. The fourth shot was a good one, clearing the bunker, but ending up on the far side of the green. Fortunately, I misread the break and got in some extra putting time, ending up with an eight.

Next was a short par 3, 144-yards, with bunkers on either side of the green. David lofted a pin-high shot just off the green. I topped my drive onto the cart path, watched it bounce up, clear the sand, but come to a stop about 50 feet from the pin, to the left of the green. I opted to putt from there, but failed to take a slight rise on the green into account. I figured the greens had been blistering fast all day, so it wouldnt take much to cover the distance. Wrong again, and I ended up with a five while David parred the hole.

The 18th is a 484-yard par 5 with a dogleg to the left. David got things started with a good drive to the right, ending up in the fairway. I hit the best drive of the day, fading it around the dogleg and ending up about 30 yards ahead of my partner. His next shot went to the left of a bunker by the green, while I hit a worm burner off to the left near the cart path. I chipped just off the green, leaving myself about 25-feet from the hole. Davids shot rolled to the back of the green.

At this time I thought I was putting for par, as I hadnt bothered to check. I left the putt six inches short and was disappointed thinking I was going to wind up with a bogey. Davids putt ended up four-feet short, but we both made par.

The end result was a 117 for me and a 109 for him. I lost seven balls (most in the water), while he lost two.

Anyone wanting to reserve a tee time can call 501-321-3591. Lessons are offered for $40 each, and last between 45-60 minutes.

A Tight Lies tour event will be played at the course June 23-26, and It is free to the public.