I like to play golf and at every golf course that I have played I have one or more favorite holes. They may be my favorites because of the way they set up for my game or because of their aesthetic qualities. The 8th hole at Lane Creek Golf Club is one of those that fits both qualities.

Hole 8 is a PAR 3 with the distance varying from about 100 yards from the red tees to 170 yards from the tips. The tees are elevated and you need to carry your ball high across a marsh and a creek to land softly on the green. The approach from tee to green looks wide but there is forest on either side and a slight push or pull from the back tees will guarentee a lost ball. Once you cross the creek you still aren't safe. A hook or a slice will require a tricky pitch onto the green.

The green has two levels with the right side being a bit higher than the left. There is a small ridge dividing the two. It slopes from back to front and from left to right. Carry the ball a little long and you end up on a step slop chipping back down to the green, unless you end up in the bunker where you will require a tricky sand shot to hold the green. If you are short left of the green you end up in a deep sand bunker that will require you to get your ball up quickly out of the sand.

The pin on the day this picture was taken was in the middle back of the right side of the green. You can just make out the white flag looking like a bright spot in the middle of the bunker. I must have been feeling some adrenaline on this tee shot because I ended up about 18 feet to the right and above the pin.

Lane Creek Golf Club is located in Bishop, just a few miles from Watkinsville and 20 minutes from Athens. Butch Foust is the owner manager and always like to discuss golf.

By the way, my birdie put slipped just below the hole leaving me about 6" for my par.