A Perfect Day at Hawks Ridge

Orignally published August 2002, Points North Magazine

By Carl Danbury Jr.

There are identifiable tracts of land around the globe whose mere mention sends golfers into august genuflection. Courses such as St. Andrews, Muirfield, Ballybunion, Oakmont, Pinehurst and Pine Valley are synonymous with the rich, passionate history of golf.

In Georgia, there are several that many of us want to play. Some of us would bequeath the proceeds of our 401(k) for a round at Augusta National Golf Club. Many of us would provide safe harbor -- for an entire summer -- to a child of the generous soul who invited us to play at Peachtree, East Lake or Ocean Forest. The topography of these magnificent tracts provide the canvas from which architects like Tillinghast, Mackenzie, Ross, Morris, Dye, Alison, Colt and Fazio extract classical portraits for golfers to enjoy for decades, perhaps centuries.

While only a mere 3 years old, you can faithfully add Hawks Ridge to that prestigious list of great golf courses. It is destined to enhance its standing alongside the finest in the world as the years pass, not only because of its sheer design brilliance, but because of its exclusivity, impeccable service and fastidious maintenance. Conceived and owned by Joe Jillson and Mike Nixon, business partners and fine golfers in their own right, Hawks Ridge is located on 550 acres in Ball Ground, just across the Forsyth-Cherokee County line. The golf course and its secluded enclave of prestigious homes unite "old-world elegance" and "present-day luxury."

Invitations to tee-off at Hawks Ridge are greeted with both zeal and muted shock. I received an invitation to play from Peggy R. Smith, general manager of Hawks Ridge in June. If the opportunity to play there comes your way, I exhort you to practice diligently, cancel your meetings or take a vacation day, and fully indulge yourself with one of the finest golf experiences anywhere.

Prior to playing the course I spoke with Billy Andrade, PGA Tour veteran and Atlanta resident, about his experiences at the club. Andrade, who filmed "Playing Lessons from the Pros" for The Golf Channel (re-airs on July 30 at 6:30 p.m. and Sept. 1 at 5 p.m.) at Hawks Ridge, said that the course is one of the finest he has played.

"It is a fabulous place ... the tees are in better condition than most of the greens at other courses in Georgia," Andrade said. "The superintendent [Jim Dusch] does a helluva job."

Andrade said that Hawks Ridge is of the same caliber as those courses that host PGA Tour events in terms of quality and playability. "It's tough and challenging. It's that good," he said. With such an endorsement, I was a bit hesitant about my chances for a good score, given my handicap of 12.

The Approach
Hawks Ridge is a short drive from Cumming off Hwy. 372. The area maintains its rural roots. Signs along the road advertise "Hay for Sale." Tacks Fifth Avenue (horse outfitters) is one of the lone retail establishments along the two-lane road as you travel north from Hwy. 20.

A friendly security guard welcomes you as you enter the gated community. Discreet signposts for some of the more than 100 lots available for purchase in this exclusive enclave (ranging in price from $150,000 to about $700,000) are visible as you head toward the clubhouse. On the right are two gorgeous homes, which have been built during the past year, and around the next curve is another new home currently under construction.

Then, you get your first glimpse of golf nirvana. You wistfully glimpse the third green, a small pond that guards it and a splendid stone wall that surrounds it entirely. Immediately, you are struck by the immaculate conditions -- and you haven't gotten out of your car yet. As you continue along Hawks Club Drive, you will see the second tee box, an executive course lovelier than any you have seen and an enormous home that often is mistaken for the clubhouse. Just before you reach the clubhouse, you see two guest cottages on the right, available for members or their guests to enjoy for an evening or two.

When you finally arrive, valets greet you, extract your clubs from the trunk of your car, and explain that coffee and Danish, lockers and an effervescent locker room manager await you inside the glorious structure.

Greg Barckhoff, one of my playing partners, said that the perfect day at Hawks Ridge starts at the security gate. "It all starts with the drive up [to the clubhouse] and keeps getting better. The staff treats you like you have been a charter member all your life and that nothing is off limits. It has the most customer-friendly and attentive country club staff I've experienced," he said. "Hawks Ridge is all about championship-style golf and professional service. What else is there?"

The Outward Nine
Stepping onto the first tee, I was awestruck. Few carpets are as well maintained as Hawks Ridge's tees. Mike Last, another member of our foursome, said his first round at Hawks Ridge was somewhat distracting. "I found myself stopping to just look around and enjoy the scenic beauty on numerous occasions. The landscaping and course conditioning are [unequalled] in Atlanta. The best part of the round is stepping up to the first tee knowing that you still have 18 holes left to play."

The layout at Hawks Ridge, designed by Bob Cupp (a Jack Nicklaus protege), is like visiting an amusement park with 18 fabulously unique rides in succession. The closely-cropped bentgrass tee boxes are your starting point for a journey packed with marvelous twists and turns through lush Bermuda rough, treacherous sand traps and natural waste areas with an occasional pond, stream or lake that adds to the thrill. Impeccably manicured fairways and bentgrass greens provide solace from the terrors beyond.

The highlight on the front nine is the par-5 fourth hole. It is a masterpiece; one that Andrade called a "major risk-reward hole." The tee shot must hug the left side of the fairway but avoid the sand traps positioned to snare shots trying to cut off too much of the slight dogleg.

Warren Grant, one of our group who had played Hawks Ridge once before, described the approach to the fourth green as "the most memorable of countless memorable shots at Hawks Ridge." Whether it is your second or third shot, "every ounce of shot nuance you've ever accumulated is needed in order to dance around a 100-foot pine tree and the neighboring, ambling stream (with three waterfalls) in pursuit of the green and a hopeful par," Grant said. It is a breathtaking, yet demanding hole.

The par-4 sixth hole is another jewel that measures from 303 to 319 yards. The elevated tee encourages the bold player to attempt to reach the green with a driver, while others will merely lay up in the fairway with a mid-iron. This is another risk-reward classic. The green is surrounded by dense U.S. Open-like rough and also is guarded in front by a greenside bunker and a small stream.

The par-4 ninth hole is a fabulous finishing hole to the front nine. It measures from 354 to 431 yards and provides the golfer with a great view of the stately clubhouse.

The Inward Nine
Before beginning our inward nine, we stopped at the clubhouse to order lunch. Our scrumptious sandwiches and accompaniments arrived within minutes, allowing us to continue our journey quickly.

The perilous 10th hole is one that can terrify even the finest golfer. From the back tees, the par-4 measures 418 to 427 yards. It is one of the most intimidating tee shots I have ever played. With a swamp on the right and the bridge from tee box to fairway on the left, the fairway is elevated on the right side and falls off into thick rough. If you happen to hit the fairway, your second shot is 150 to 200 yards slightly uphill over an intricate bunker complex. With a pin position on the extreme right side of the green, it is nearly impossible to hit it close.

No. 11 is another hairy, yet stunning par-4, and again plays slightly uphill. The green has a V-shaped swale, and the back right pin position gave our group fits. The par-5 13th hole boasts another tormenting tee shot, with a narrow landing area and a steep slope just off the left side of the fairway that can make this 530-yard hole play much longer. The green is perched above the fairway, making it nearly impossible to get home in two.

Cupp's design brilliance is never more evident than on the next four holes. It is here that he calls upon the golfer to demonstrate patience and course management. The par-4 14th measures 321 to 405 yards. It is easy to miss the narrow fairway, which we all managed to do. Cupp placed a bunker about 60 yards in front of the green to dissuade long hitters from trying to take advantage of their length. Those who play it safe from the tee are coaxed into thinking that the green is closer than it appears. The green has several swales that make a two-putt an uncertainty.

There are few courses where a short par-4 is a momentous one. Cupp built two at Hawks Ridge. In addition to No. 6, the 308-yard 15th hole is superb. Trees border the fairway on the right, while a picturesque pond provides the boundary to the left. A precise mid- to long-iron off the tee provides plenty of distance, but it is the approach shot that can send your nerves into convulsions. An L-shaped green with a cascading waterfall bordering its right side is a stroke of genius. A back right pin placement means your approach must be played into the narrowest portion of the green, over the pond, with the creek just yards away to the right. Bravo, Bob!

No. 16 is a long par-3 boasting a huge green with numerous undulations. A three-putt is well within the realm of possibility here. The hole measures from 156 yards to 213 yards.

No. 17's fairway has a slight tilt from right to left and your tee shot needs to hug the right side. The hole plays from 387 yards up to 471 yards, so length is definitely an issue. A long bunker fronts the green, but Cupp left a narrow opening on the right side for short hitters to run the ball onto the green. A steep slope to the extreme right has heavy rough to capture less precise shots.

Of all of the holes at Hawks Ridge, only the final one could be viewed as questionable because of its extreme difficulty. Andrade said No. 18 might be better suited as a par-4 with the tee boxes moved forward. "It has a busy look off the tee. You have to

maneuver the ball off the tee to avoid the bunkers on the left. Then, you hit a long iron or wood into the green and there just isn't much room to lay-up," Andrade said. "But, if you can only question one hole on the entire golf course that's pretty awesome." From the tee box, the 12-acre lake and clubhouse provide an amazing backdrop for the finishing hole.

For the first-timer, No. 18 is a difficult hole and as I found out, making an 11 is not impossible. No. 18 provided a ruinous finale to my round as my scorecard said 72 before the final hole. Despite the ignominious finish, I was disappointed that we ran out of holes.

Can We Have A Mulligan?
Grant said that while your first round at Hawks Ridge is exhilarating, a return visit is crucial. "In truth, it takes a second round, days, maybe weeks later, to look beyond the utterly impeccable amenities and service, and the breathtaking aesthetics of the landscaping, hardscaping, turf conditioning and broad-shouldered glory at Hawks Ridge to acknowledge the course's true strength -- its design balance. Seldom has golf course architecture grasped the value of variety better than Cupp has at Hawks Ridge. The middle of both nines offer short par-4s to provide balance (visually and for playability) to an otherwise lengthy course. Additionally, as a group the par-3s sustain the element of design balance with shots of 150, 178, 138 and 191 yards from the gold tees.

"Hawks Ridge combines the quiet, rolling grace of Wade Hampton, the consummate design balance of Harbour Town, and the sheer anticipation of playing Pinehurst No. 2," Grant said.

Andrade commended Cupp on providing ample landing areas in most of the fairways and making the greens large enough and fair. "The more you play the course, the more you will enjoy it. It is a great place," he said.

The Leaderboard
Barckhoff said that the course rewards good shots and penalizes the rest. He said that in his opinion, only Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh (ranked No. 9 by Golf Week for courses built before 1960) ranks above Hawks Ridge among courses he has played.

Last, who has played a number of the world's greatest courses in the past few years, including Valderrama in Spain, Peachtree and East Lake in Georgia, and the TPC Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra, believes Hawks Ridge is among the best he has ever played. "I've already mentioned to several friends that Hawks Ridge has to be in the top 5 courses I've ever played in terms of conditioning, layout and overall golf experience. A couple of the holes, particularly No. 15, reminded me of Valderrama. I would rank it ahead of both East Lake and Peachtree. Cupp provides a terrific diversity of holes testing all aspects of your game."

Hawks Ridge virtually destroyed my opinions of other fine golf courses I have played or walked within the past few years. I played the course just one week prior to attending the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black on Long Island. The USGA spent tons of money preparing Bethpage for the event. The revered public course was in magnificent condition with finely-tuned fairways, tee boxes and greens for the world's best players. Normally, I would have been mystified by a course so wonderfully manicured, but Bethpage had no advantage over Hawks Ridge.

Ocean Forest for the Walker Cup, Augusta National for The Masters and the Highlands course at the Atlanta Athletic Club for last year's PGA had no advantage either.

The golf course itself provides the initial allure at Hawks Ridge, but the attention to every detail by the staff enhances it. Workers fill in all divots taken after you've finished a hole if your caddie can't. Maintenance crews turn off power equipment if you are anywhere in sight, even if you are a fairway away. Need a driver to use for the day? No problem. Need your shoes shined? Done. Need some ice for your drink? It is already taken care of! Simple perks are provided without an extended open palm or officious formality.

Once home construction begins in earnest at Hawks Ridge, the course won't suffer the consequences. Jillson and Nixon have insisted that ample buffers from the course to the lots exist, yet will still offer future homeowners glorious vistas of the landscape. This is a golf community where the golf course remains the focal point, unlike others that stretch eight miles to accommodate as many golf course lots as possible.

The course and its amenities are a testament to extravagant, yet excellent taste, and the legend of Hawks Ridge will continue to grow as the course matures. The combination of Bob Cupp's design and the owners' attention to detail will secure its position among the world's best courses. A round at Hawks Ridge is truly one of golf's greatest indulgences.

Golf Memberships & Home Ownership
Membership at Hawks Ridge Golf Club is by invitation only. Resident membership and local membership is limited to 290 members (currently there are approximately 140). National memberships are available to individuals who work or reside outside a 100-mile radius from the club. Resident membership is offered for $50,000 (refundable), with quarterly dues of $1,875. National membership goes for $25,000 (non-refundable), with quarterly dues of $575. Local membership runs $65,000 (refundable), with quarterly dues of $1,875. An alternate fee program for local membership was established in February. After an initial payment of $25,000 (deposit and fee), annual deposit payments of $16,666 for three years are required. For details, contact Cindy Wilder at 770-205-6889.

For available lots and homes for sale, visit www.hawksridge.com or contact the real estate office at 678-947-1381.

All photos courtesy of Hawks Ridge.