Olde Cypress Hole Profile - No. 12 (Oasis)
Over the course of the next few months, we're spotlighting select holes from our P.B. Dye-designed golf course. We're getting it started with none other than our signature hole, the par-3 12th, named one of the best island green holes in the U.S. by Golf Digest and Golf Channel.
The back story from golf course architect P.B. Dye:
"At the time the developer needed a solution for the drainage and pumping from the surrounding agricultural fields. So, I said, 'why don't we build an island green.' We moved a tremendous amount of earth up and down, not side to side, on that hole. Looking out at all those rock boulders from the tee box, it's a sight to see. It's one of the only holes of its kind that I know of."
Director of Golf Joe Conforti on the importance of No. 12 to the course's routing and layout:
"To me it makes the entire golf experience. In today's game, we've lost the art of the short par 3. Most modern courses have part 3s that are 175 to 200 yards long. No. 12 plays anywhere from 73 to 133 yards, but that doesn't mean it's a pushover. Because of the complexity of the green and the visual intimidation, I see as many bogeys as birdies. It's not as intimidating as the par-3 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass [Stadium Course], but for the average player, it's just as daunting."
How to play No. 12, according to Conforti:
"The green is so trickly; take a half club more and aim to the dead center of the green and swing away. Get on the green, take your two putts and get out of there! No. 12 features a classic two-tier green and for pin placements, we split it into quadrants. The 'Sunday' pin is bottom left – that's the most difficult location because there's not much to hit. The more our members player it, the lower their handicap, the more they can take dead aim at the pin."
About No. 12's alternate tee box:
"We also take the tees and move them to the back of the 13th tee box," Conforti says. "It's around a 98-yard shot from that tee box, and we'll put the pin back right or front left and you feel like you have nothing to shoot at."
No. 12 – where aces abound
"We have so many holes-in-one on No. 12. We've had around 28 aces on the course this year and I would say 24 of them are on that hole.
Fun Fact:
There's a "birdie" bell at the cart turnaround as players can ring as they walk off the green. For members who card an ace, ringing the bell brings even greater satisfaction!
Interested in learning more about golf membership at Olde Cypress? Click here to contact Director of Membership and Marketing Melissa Hansen today.