Cooking on the back nine

Over the years high school and college friends have asked Oldgolfdawg for recommendations on where to play while on visits to central Ohio. If money isn't an issue and they don't mind driving to Nashport, they are always directed to Longaberger Golf Club. If they don't want to break the bank and don't mind driving 25 miles south of Columbus, they are directed to Cooks Creek.

Designed by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and former Ohio State All-American John Cook, Cooks Creek opened for business in 1993 and measures 7,071 yards from its longest tees for a par of 72. The well-maintained course has a rating of 73.7 and a slope of 131 from its back tees. Golf Digest has awarded it 4 1/2 stars and Oldgolfdawg can't argue with such a rating.

No two holes at Cooks Creek are alike. They all are interesting and provide a variety of challenges. Breaking 80 on Cooks Creek is cause for celebration for Oldgolfdawg. In an estimated 40 rounds at the course over the years, he's been lucky to do it just a handful of times.

More times than not, the biggest hurdle has been the last hurdle, aka the 18th hole. It's a 474-yard par 4 from the Scarlet tees (6,648 yards, par 71.3, slope 128) that has bitten Oldgolfdawg in the butt more times than he cares to remember. That's why it has earned a spot as the first hole on the back nine of Oldgolfdawg's Elegant Eighteen lineup.

The 18th hole's tee shot must be pounded in order to reach the green in two. A faded drive to the right can run into a pond the runs all along the right rough. A pulled or hooked drive to the left can also find a watery grave but more than likely will be stopped by a waste bunker the runs along where the left rough ends. A well-hit drive of 250 yards will leave one with a 3-wood shot to a green nestled on top of a gradual rise that is protected by seven bunkers and a steep drop-off to the right. Hitting uphill, the golfer can't see the surface of green, only the front fringe and the upper portion of the flag.

Three menacing bunkers lined in a row protect the left front of the green and anything hit in them or to the left of them in high rough is a punched ticket to a bogey or worse. Another bunker protects the right front, leaving a gap of about 40 feet to fit a shot through. Two more bunkers protect the middle left and back left of the green, respectively. A seventh bunker sits off the back right of the green to catch shots hit long. The worse place to be is right of the green in the drop-off valley below. It makes for a very demanding third shot to a large green with many undulations.

Repeated crash landings on the 18th hole have left a mark on Oldgolfdawg's psyche, but not to the point that he doesn't want to give it one more go. His only advice to those taking on the beast is to bring your A game. If you bring your weak stuff, it will be rejected.

http://www.cookscreek.com/