Randolph North Golf Course
By Scott Behmer, Staff Writer
TUCSON, AZ - Randolph North is the home of lush fairways, true
greens, and every March, the LPGA's Welch's Championship. It combines
a mix of short and long holes, which can make for a fun-filled round.
Take advantage of the short holes, because par is a good score on
the long ones.
The opening hole, a 365-yard par 4, is a perfect example of how
easy the short par 4's can play. A wide fairway leaves plenty of
margin for error on the first drive of the day. Short iron or wedge
remains to a green guarded by a front right bunker. Stay below the
hole on your approach for the best chance at birdie. Land above
the hole, and you have a fast downhill putt.
The par 4 second plays much harder. It's 420 yards, with trees lining
the fairway's left side and a lateral hazard on the right. Further,
on the mid-iron approach, large shallow bunkers protect the green's
left and a bunker short-right catches bail-out shots. This is actually
one of the biggest greens on the course, but the bunkers scare players
out of their normal swings. The green's size also makes it difficult
to get the ball close on the approach.
Listed at 550 yards, the par 5 #3 actually plays much shorter because the tees
are always moved forward. Reachable in two, the key is to find
the fairway. Like every hole at Randolph North, this one is lined
with trees. On this hole, though, the real obstacle is avoiding
the bunkers strategically placed to catch balls rolling through
the fairway. End up there and you're playing for birdie, not eagle.
The green is protected by a front bunker that is very difficult
to chip over and still finish on the green. Below the hole on
this uphill green leaves a relatively easy putt.
Possibly the most important two holes on the course are 4 and
5. Both long par 4's, their fairways are tighter and trees are
more in play. Number 4 has a wide, uphill green with a front bunker
that catches most long irons. #5 has a severe uphill climb to
the green which is even more difficult to hit. Two front bunkers
catch most shots. Make pars on these two holes and you've survived
the toughest Randolph North has to offer.
The only short par 3 is #6. At 137 yards to an elevated green,
two front bunkers provide the only real obstacles. The tough part
is the uphill green. Very large, with ridges running through,
it's tough to get approach putts close. However, it is a short
hole, so you do have a good chance for birdie with a precise tee
shot.
The front nine concludes with a 478-yard par 5. Easily reachable
in two, you're further assisted by the widest fairway on the course.
The second shot will be over water, which only comes into play
if you catch your shot thin. The large uphill green has a steep
uphill bunker in the front right. There's plenty of green to work
with on a chip, so coming away with par is disappointing.
The back nine starts with straightforward holes similar to the
front's. Then you arrive at #15, a 205-yard par 3 over water.
It's the best golf hole on the course. The water runs from the
tee box and wraps around the back of the green. Hit the green
or you're in the water. The green does hold well, so you can knock
it close and make birdie. Of course you can play safe to the far
right to avoid the water. If the pin's back left, however, you're
left with a thirty-yard putt . Once on the green, one can't help
but enjoy the beautiful waterfall off to the side.
The 560-yard, par 5 #16 is also very challenging. A dogleg left,
play to the left or your ball will run through the fairway into
the trees. The second shot is important because you'll want to
advance the ball as far as possible. But stay in the fairway.
Water guards the left side of the green which is severely elevated,
adding an extra five yards to the shot. Again, this very large
uphill green could leave you with a long difficult putt. A front
pin placement is the hardest, because the water looms close so
players hit to the back.
Randolph North finishes with a 440-yard par 4. To par, you must
find the fairway off the tee. Otherwise, trees are so dense on
the right that all you can do is chip out. The very large, undulating
green makes it difficult to get the approach putt close, resulting
in the dreaded four-footer for par. After these tough shots, you'll
know how your game responds to pressure. Number 18 is an excellent
finishing hole, but we would expect nothing less from this fine
championship course.
Web site: Randolph
Golf Course
Course review : Randolph
North Golf Course
