Ballantyne Country Club in Charlotte is a place to see Rees Jones playing to his strategic, penal and heroic leanings.
Consider the signature stretch along holes Nos. 11 through 13. The first is a par five, which offers both safe and dangerous routes to a green perched above an inlet to the left. The adventurous can wrangle with the fairway bunker off the tee, offering a long, straight look at the green and an eagle, should they be so bold as to execute the shot. More conservative players can take their time getting to the putting surface on the 510-yard hole.
No. 12 is where things become strictly penal, as players face a 190-yard par three that carries entirely across water. It won’t be the first or last time they carry a lake to find the green on a short hole; other holes include carries of 180 and 210 yards to find the putting surface.
No. 13 has elements of both: On one hand, you’ll almost inevitably be carrying water on your way to the green at this 360-yard par four. How much water will depend on how close you’re willing to try placing your drive to the aforementioned lake.
