The par 5 sixth hole at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay
photo by contributed by Bear Trace
The signature "Punchbowl" par 5 at Black Creek Club
photo by contributed by Black Creek
The narrow sixth at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club
photo by contributed by CG&CC
The challenging par 5 sixth hole at Council Fire Club
photo by contributed by Council Fire
The par 5 sixth hole at The Honors Course will challenge participants in this summer's U.S. Senior Amateur
photo by contributed by USGA/Russell Kirk
After years of uncertainty and financial struggles, The Ooltewah Club has experienced an amazing renaissance over the past few years under new ownership.
Formerly known as The Champions Club, the facility has made huge strides in becoming a vibrant contributor to the local golf community. The recent addition of an indoor golf simulator and lounge coupled with the immaculate course conditions across the challenging layout has brought renewed enthusiasm to the club.
The Ooltewah Club hosted its first Tennessee Golf Association championship last summer when the Women’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s Senior Amateur tournaments were staged there, providing golfers across the state a glimpse of the club’s upward trend of late.
Further evidence of the favorable reviews was sealed when voters selected The Ooltewah Club’s No. 5 hole as the latest member of the Chattanooga area’s Elite 18. The par 4 lined by mature trees along both sides of the fairway with a creek guarding the green was added to the honorees, joining:
No. 1: WindStone Golf Club
No. 2: McLemore Highlands Course
No. 3: Bear Trace at Harrison Bay
No. 4: Chattanooga Golf and Country Club
Now, onward to hole No. 6. Our panel of local professionals and top amateurs came up with 11 different sixth holes nominated among the 25 golf courses in consideration. With distances measured from the back tees, the top nominees are:
Bear Trace at Harrison Bay, par 5, 536 yards: The hole is lined on both sides by mature trees, making a precise drive a must. The dogleg left is protected by bunkers at the elbow, but can be reached by longer hitters in two with a pair of well-placed shots.
Black Creek Club, 559 yards, par 5: This template hole features the “Punchbowl” style of classic golf architecture and was named by Golf Digest among the best 18 holes built since 2000. Golfers aim at a directional sign behind the hidden green, forcing a carry on the blind approach over a fortress-like embankment of native grasses and bunkers 70 yards from the green.
Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, par 4, 408 yards: The narrow, straight-away hole may appear like a benign challenge from the tee box, but plenty of trouble awaits errant shots. The right side of the fairway is fully tree-lined and out-of-bounds lurks mere paces away. Strategic bunkers on both sides of the hole snatch misfired shots, and finding the proper landing spot on the undulating green is required to have a chance at birdie.
Council Fire Club, par 5, 606 yards: This hole represent the ultimate risk-reward opportunity for longer hitters forced to navigate a pair of tall trees in the corner hoping to find the green in two. A hazard with thick native grass lurks to the right of the fairway, and shots pulled left are forced to layup short of the creek that bisects this dogleg left hole. The elevated green presents ample challenge with its vast contours, and approach shots missed right must deal with a cavernous bunker and a penal hazard.
The Honors Course, par 5, 546 yards: This challenging par 5 turns to the right and requires a precise approach into a narrow tree-lined chute. The green is uphill with a tree guarding the left side, and features a noticeable slope from back to front.
You can make your preference known at the poll below. Voting will remain open until Saturday at 6 p.m., with the final results revealed on Monday when we introduce the candidates for the Elite 18 Hole No. 7.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com