Bedens Brook

Bedens Brook is a Dick Wilson track defined by its title creek, which flows along the entirety of its wide latitude. That being the case, Wilson does not abuse the body of water as a hazard for his 6,900-yard route.

Instead, Wilson relies on bunkers that sometimes penalize those who make unwise decisions, and sometimes simply punish those who don’t find the fairway. No. 7 is a reachable par five, but getting there in two will require the player to navigate several large fairway bunkers near to the green, as well as a loop of four traps around the putting surface. The number one handicap hole is a 440-yard par four that returns to the clubhouse, and demands accuracy from the tee with a series of bunkers that tighten the fairway.

Bunkers aside, Bedens Brook does make at least one star appearance. At No. 3, another par five, players will hit across the creek, while hugging the inside of the fairway that the creek follows. The final shot will again cross the creek as it moves diagonally before the green. The crescent-shape of the fairway would make big hitters consider cutting the corner by playing down the No. 8 fairway. As at Inverness, however, a tree has been planted to keep these thoughts in check.