No break at the turn

Playing a round at EaglesSticks Golf Club in Zanesville requires a commitment of time and travel for someone living in Columbus, but Oldgolfdawg feels cheated if he doesn't make at least one visit to the scenic course each year.

Tackling the ups and downs of its hills and valleys is a real challenge and great fun. The course, designed by Michael Hurdzan and opened in 1990, plays 6,412 yards from its longest tees. It has a course rating of 70.1 and a slope rating of 120. Oldgolfdawg would suggest playing it from the back tees, with the possible exception of No. 10, the sixth member of his Elegant Eighteen.

The 10th hole, a 168-yard par 3 from the blue tees, has given Oldgolfdawg more than his share of lumps over the years. If you happen to emerge from the front nine with a chance to break 80, No. 10 quickly reminds you that the exit ramp off that street of dreams is just one bad swing away. If you play from the back tees, it becomes a 193-yard par 3 straight from the pages of a Stephen King horror novel.

From an elevated tee box, you must hit your ball over a large, foreboding pond that protects the front of the green. Shots lacking character or hit without conviction will find a watery grave, setting one up for a probable double bogey or worse. If the flag is placed near the front of the green, one must have the guts of a burglar to land their ball near the pin.

The green, which is severely sloped in areas, is also protected by a large sand trap on the front left. A smaller bunker on the back right side of the green catches a lot of tee shots that come in too hot from the elevated tee. The green itself is sort of in a bowl with a rising bank off to the right. Shots hit off to the right in the bank leave golfers with difficult chip shots.

This is the kind of hole that requires one's full attention. One might consider skipping the extra pressure of trying to woof down a hot dog at the turn before getting to the No. 10 tee box. On a bad day, you'll end up with mustard on your shirt, a double bogey on your card and string of expletives rolling off your lips as you head to No. 11.

For more information on EagleSticks, check out: http://www.eaglesticks.com/homepage/start_page.php