Gentle Creek

D.A. Weibring hails from Illinois, and enjoyed much of his success on the PGA Tour there as well, but he’s found an especially welcoming audience for his architectural endeavours in Texas. That portfolio includes Gentle Creek Country Club, a residential club located north of Dallas.

Everything is allegedly bigger in Texas, and this course takes that mantra into consideration on No. 9, its signature hole. The par three requires an 185-yard tee shot to a green perched precipitously on the edge of a 20-foot rock wall, which features a waterfall down into a potential watery grave. The hole also includes two sets of tees, which allow match-players to decide whether to play the better line from the right set, or turn the screws on their opponent by challenging the more intimidating leftward tees.

The closing par five is also “bigger,” with clear instructions on the club’s online course tour regarding the final forced carry: “Do not go for it in two.” Sounds like a dare, doesn’t it?