Driftwood Golf & Ranch Club
Hole 18 / Par-4 / 480 Yards
Architect: Tom Fazio (2024)
Driftwood, Texas, USA
The pairing of renowned architect Tom Fazio and Michael Meldman of Discovery Land Company has been a highly successful one. Producing an array of varying compelling golf properties throughout the United States and internationally.
Discovery has brought to fruition golf properties focused on providing members and guests a comprehensive immersive experience.
The golf side of the equation is bolstered by Fazio’s team skillfully creating landscapes that accentuate golf skills in concert with natural existing beauty.
Driftwood’s concluding hole is a testing closing long par-4. Akin to an honest judge — no bribes accepted. Present your evidence of a sound golf game. Yes indeed — a mandate in skillful execution is front and center.
The long two-shot hole bends slightly to the right. A single fairway bunker lurks on the left. This placement pushes the golfer’s eye to the immediate right.
Those seeking to avoid it must pay equal attention to a man-made creek which winds ever so near the line of play. The most advantageous position is getting as near as possible without finding one’s ball submerged within it. Adding to the rigors is a narrow landing area forcing execution of the highest order — calling upon sufficient length and uncanny accuracy.
Eric Puls, Director of Agronomy, explains the strategic calculations. “The water feature on the right side dictates your line from the tee. The grade of the creek on the right is very subtle and not extremely visible.”
Even with the general prevailing wind assisting players, the placement of the tee shot is paramount.
Once in the fairway the rigors of the challenge escalate.
The approach is a tenacious test. There is a pond short and left. A creek bed hugs the left side of the green in the same manner as a kindergartner clutches his mother’s hand on the first day of school. The slightest approach tugged too far will find doom.
A single greenside bunker is artfully positioned on the front right side. If the pin is placed in the frontal area the room between the creek and bunker narrows down considerably.
The construction of the hole is a masterful blending of art and science.
Puls outlined the process.
“The constructed water feature for hole 18 is more complex than most. The feature has intakes and returns to the lake seen on hole 17. The cumulative flow rate is 1,500 gallons per minute (GPM). The head waters of the system are actually piped to three different locations allowing for different flow rates over multiple sections of the system.
Creating such a system that works in unison was essential in providing a more natural fit.
“The biggest challenge in creating water features is avoiding the temptation to overdo them,” said Puls. “Fazio Design took great care to make sure the water feature of hole 18 feels natural and blends in, as if it has always been here. Long days were spent placing individual rocks and metering the series of valves along the discharges to develop this natural looking water feature.”
Even when players arrive at the putting surface they encounter an array of devilish internal movements that mandate keen reading blending with the surest of strokes.
Driftwood’s final hole is the sine qua non of golf talent. You’ll find out quickly where you stand. One’s visit to the 19th hole will be either a rewarding celebration or a drowning of one’s scorecard sorrows.
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For more info on Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club click HERE
Images courtesy of Evan Schiller
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