The Course at Tallgrass

Tallgrass, designed by noted architect Gil Hanse, offers a unique round that will introduce you to some of the principles that make up playing golf on a links course – the type of course traditionally built in Scotland and England where the game of golf began many centuries ago. You’re going to notice at first glance that this is a wide-open course with generous fairways. But you’ll have to deal with mounds and bumps that can divert your drives and pitches from their goal. You’ll also take on more than 70 hand-crafted bunkers of various kinds – waste bunkers, sand bunkers in mid-fairway, pot bunkers. Gil Hanse says he had to move more earth at Tallgrass than he typically does at courses. “We took what was basically a fairly flat site and provided more character by digging down about 35 feet into a central sandy area,” he says. “I like the scale of the sand and the amount of sand we have on the property. I also like the interesting character of the greens that are very different in size and shape. … We kept the scale of the property intact. It feels natural.”

The front nine plays around the top of the central sandy area while some holes on the back nine move into and out of this sand “quarry,” as Hanse calls it. It’s not an overly long course – par-71, 6,587 yards from the tips – but it offers plenty of hazards and challenges, as you’ll notice in the description of some of our holes. You’ll start out your game with a par-5 (521 yards from the back tees, 444 from the forward) that requires a well-placed tee shot to the right center of the fairway. Among those who do this with skill, the long hitters can go for the green. Others will need to lay up short- right of the green. “This can be an easy birdie for the first hole in order to get your game started,” says James Schutte, former head golf professional at Tallgrass. According to Hanse, No. 4 is one of the most picturesque par-3s he has ever designed. This hole (178 yards from the back tees and 114 from the forward) “has a beautiful look to it with its exposed sand and tall brown, wispy grasses,” he says. Accuracy is the key on No. 5, a par-4 that plays 375 yards from the back tees and 317 from the forward. Johnson advises players to avoid their drivers off the tee. “Use a three wood or a three iron,” he says, in order to avoid a gully or waste bunker that is about 130 yards short of the green. And be sure you aim for the right-center fairway. Then as you are making your approach shot on No. 5, you’ll have to go for more club than usual because the green is very elevated. “It’s a well-protected green with lots of bunkers,” he also says. No. 6 (295 yards from the back tees and 219 from the forward) is a shot par-4 that has plenty of options off the tee, says Hanse. “You can actually drive the green or it will set up well for a second shot.” On No. 9, a par-5 that measures 536 yards from the back tees and 414 from the forward, you need to make a solid tee shot slightly to right center to avoid the pot bunker that is the center of the fairway. Be careful with club selection on your approach shot depending on the pin placement as the green is very long from front to back.

No. 11 is one of the more memorable holes on the course, both for its challenge and its beauty. “This can be a birdie hole,” says James of this par-4 that measures 384 yards from the back tees and 292 from the forward. On this hole, you’ll have to fire your ball between a high berm on the right and a long waste area on the left. “There’s a great approach to a stadium green that is partly hidden on the left,” says James. “The green also has a false front.” Gil Hanse calls No. 12 (323 from the back tees and 220 from the forward) a good short par-4 with “a lot of bunkers and an interesting crowned green. On the tee you have to be careful to see where the pin is and try to hit into an area that will give you good access to the green.” The problem is that Hanse laid a hog’s back ridge down the middle of the green. So you’ll want to place your ball off the tee to the right or left depending on where the pin is. Otherwise, your ball could end up on the wrong side of that tricky ridge. No. 16 is the longest par-4 on the course. You need two good shots to get to the green. The best possible tee shot on this hole, that measures 472 yards from the back tees and 370 from the forward, is just left of the large bunkers on the right. A long second shot requires a carry over more bunkers that protect the green. On No. 17, long par-3 (217 yards from the back tees and 143 from the forward), you need to pay special attention to the wind direction. You’re making a blind shot to the green, so make your tee shot over the right center of the bunker in front of the green. Short and right is the safe place to be as the green is sloped from front to back. Your round is over, but you’ll want to return again soon for another try.

Distance, ratings and slopes at Tallgrass Country Club: 6,587 yards (72.3/124); 6,148 (70.2/121); 5,613 (68/112); 5,044 (68.6/116).

The Course

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