Lake Arbor Golf Club
Use Lake Arbor to bring fine-tuning to your golf game
Lake Arbor is a tranquil tree-lined lake that forms the centerpiece for our 5,900-yard, par-70 course, built in the mid-1970s. Our city-owned course is unusual in that it has six par-3s and four relatively short par-5s, a layout that demands precision off the tee and an excellent short game in order to score well.
The first hole is a short par 4 (370 yards from the back tees and 348 yards from the forward tees) with water to the right of the green. "So an iron or fairway wood is the best play for most golfers off the tee," says Dick Dorn, our director of golf. "That should leave a short iron to the green. A good approach shot will set up a decent chance for a birdie." You'll find that the No. 2 hole is the easiest on the course even though it's the longest par- 5 from the back tees (516 yards from the back and 385 from the forward tees). So look for a birdie opportunity here. "The tee shot must be very straight and there are out of bounds markers on the entire left side and water that is reachable on the right," says Dorn."The second shot also must be straight because you can go out of bounds on both sides of the fairway and a bunker guards the right side of the green. The third shot for those players not reaching the green is two should only be a short iron." The most challenging holes on this course are par-3s and No. 6 (153 yards from the back tees and 136 yards from the front tees) is a good example of that. "It is an uphill par-3 with out of bounds on the right to be avoided at all costs," says Dorn."Par is a good score on this hole." You'll finish the front nine by playing a short straightaway par-4 (345 yards from the back tees and 310 from the forward). This is an easy hole that should give all players a chance for a birdie or par in spite of the out-of-bounds area on the right side.
Lake Arbor is one of those infrequent courses that have back-to-back par-5s. You'll run into this situation as you start out on the back nine. No. 10 is a relatively short par-5 (483 yards from the back and 407 yards from the front tees), but don't let the length make you complacent. "The green is narrow and deep and flanked in front by a pond and on the right by a tree and bunker," Dorn says."A birdie can definitely be made on this hole but there is also an opportunity for a big score if you are not careful." The 11th hole (492 yards from the back and 401 from the forward tees) is relatively straight but has out of bounds markers on the entire right side of the fairway and a native area in play on the left. The left and right front of the green is guarded by bunkers. The green is slightly elevated, but it is fairly flat, giving players an excellent opportunity to sink a birdie putt. No. 17 is a good example of the short, tight par 4s on the course.The hole measures 341 yards from the back tees and only 171 yards from the forward tees, but you can hit out of bounds on both sides of the fairway. In addition, the bunker short of the green should be avoided at all costs. A very unusual finishing hole awaits you; it's a par-3 that measures 172 yards in back and 154 yards in front. "The hole plays downhill with a bunker on the right side of the green and out of bounds left and right," Dorn says. "Club selection can be difficult and the prevailing westerly wind can make a player uncomfortable. This hole has ruined many a good round."
Distances, ratings and slopes at Lake Arbor are: 5,841 yards (66.5/109); 5,631 (65.5/106); 4,832 (66.3/113).
