Probably the most famous landmark at Baker National is located directly behind the first green: the famous red barn. This barn, which is a replica of a barn that the original landowners had on the premises, sits just a few feet off the putting surface on this first hole. Though the barn is not visible as you tee off, as soon as you make your way over the hill in the middle of the fairway, there isn’t much else you will notice. I thought the barn might be distracting, but actually it frames the green nicely, and actually helped me to stay focused on where I wanted to hit my approach shot. If the barn had actually helped me to avoid the two big bunkers guarding the front of the green, then I would really love it. Aside from having the barn located here, this par-4 is a very strong test of golf, measuring 466 yards from the back tees. The second half of the hole definitely plays downhill, though, so that should help a lot of people reach it in two.
The 3rd hole is another difficult one, as witnessed by the fact that it is the #1 handicap hole at Baker National. Measuring 446 yards, this is another long par-4, however golfers are helped by the fact that it heads quickly downhill. The peril of this hole comes from the fact that the fairway is exaggeratedly skinny, especially as you get closer to the hole. Not only does the fairway get skinnier, it also curves around a grove of five mid-sized hardwoods that seem to have popped up out of thin air in the right rough. Even a well-struck drive that somehow finds this thin fairway has a good chance of having a blind shot at the hole because of these five evil trees. Throw in a huge sandtrap situated in front of the green, and it can seem as though there is no good place to aim.
The 5th hole is the start of three straight holes that are either butted up against the shore of the aforementioned Spurzem Lake, or just a few short yards away. The 5th is a short par-4 measuring 348 yards from the back, and with the lake looming dangerously close to the right fairway, I’m thinking an iron or fairway wood off the tee might be a good choice. A fairly large fairway bunker guards the left side of the fairway, so you may want to tee off with a shorter iron than you previously considered. Another big bunker fronts the left side of the green, which is elevated a few feet above the landing area.
The 6th hole has a ribbon-like fairway that sneaks first to the right and then back to the left along the shore of Spurzem Lake, which is on the right. A steep slope and thick rough border the left side of the fairway all the way to the hole, making this very skinny par-5 much more difficult than the 468-yard length would have you believe. The landing area for your tee shot looks very small, especially with the lake jutting into view so prominently. If you know you can hit a straight shot with a club that will go about 200 yards, that might be a prudent choice. Or if you are confident in your driver, you can try to cut off some of the hole by hitting over the water. You better hit that driver as straight as an arrow, though, or you could be in some deep trouble. I just love short par-5s that really make you think about how you want to play them. This is one of the best.
The 7th is not actually located on Spurzem Lake, but the lake is very visible just a few yards away. And, just because the lake doesn’t come into play does not mean that there isn’t any water to contend with. A big, lovely pond sits midway between the teeing grounds and the green, with a picturesque fountain gurgling in the middle of it. The green sits at about the same elevation as the tee box, 162 yards away. This green is a fiendish two-tiered monster that doesn’t seem to have a flat putt on it. Throw in a couple of small-to-medium sized bunkers around the green, and you have a very photogenic hole that has the ability to cause panic attacks in even the best golfers.
The back nine at Baker National does not have any lakes to add to the scenery, but it is chock full of wetlands, sandtraps, and great golf holes, just like the front. The fun starts right away at the 10th hole, a 512-yard par-5 that heads downhill at about the halfway point. This is a warning for anyone playing this hole for the first time: do not aim at the green on your second shot unless you are sure you can reach the green. That’s because the green is tucked directly behind three very large fairway bunkers that reach from about 125 yards out to right in front of the green. Aim a little to the left if you want to lay up and hit the fairway. Two more giant bunkers flank the green on either side. This hole alone is proof that there is a lot of sand on the back nine at Baker National.
The 13th hole is the first on the back that utilizes wetlands as a hazard. This is a 538-yard par-5 that curves ever-so-slightly to the right around a pretty good sized wetland. The wetland sits several yards off the fairway on this hole, so it probably doesn’t cause too much trouble for most players, but it is much more threatening on the 14th hole, in which golfers are forced to hit over it twice. The tee shot on this 422-yard par-4 must be hit over an arm of the wetland to a pretty wide, but not very deep, landing area, but then another arm of the same wetland must be traversed on the way to the green. The key to this hole is to make sure you hit the wide landing area on your tee shot. If you pick a club that will get you to the 150-yard marker from the tee box, you should be OK.
The 18th hole at Baker National is a tough finishing hole. The tee box is high up on one side of a ravine, and the fairway heads down to the bottom of the ravine, and then back up the other side. Your tee shot on this 425-yard par-4 has to travel about 275 yards in the air if you want to find a flat spot to hit your second shot. If you don’t, an uphill lie will face you as you try to reach the green, which is still another 10-15 feet above your head. Three big fairway bunkers add to the difficulty of hitting your tee shot in a good place, and two more big bunkers sit next to the green, making approach shots difficult. This is a tough hole, and a good one to end your round on.
Baker National is a wonderful, yet tough, course in a beautiful setting, and is sure to be a great test for all golfers. If you don’t think you are ready for such a tough test, there is also the Evergreen Course on the premises, which is a par-30 executive course that is a lot of fun. Baker National is a full-service golf facility that is sure to become a favorite for everyone. Check it out!
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