Tucked away in the forest-like acres of Papillion’s Eagle Hills is what has to be one of the toughest string of holes anywhere in the Omaha area. Slender is a good word.
The holes are certainly not overfed on space. What they lack in breathing room, holes 11 through 14 hold more than their fair share of flat-out tough shots.The current front nine actually was built later than the current back nine. That changed when the course officials realized golfers needed to be more than warmed up for the opening holes. But because the front nine is newer, it lacks the features - specifically the use of mature trees – that make the later holes special.
However, the differences are part of the charm of Eagle Hills. Enjoy the front nine, the regulars say, because the hard part is coming.
And each of the four holes I’ll call ‘The Challenge’ are vastly different, guaranteeing most golfers in your foursome will judge each hole differently.
A closer look
We’ll start with the back nine, since that’s where the action begins. (The first nine isn’t devoid of challenges, by the way.)
Enjoy No. 10, a straight, clean par four that hosts bunkers right where you would expect them.
Now for ‘The Challenge.’
Place your tee shot near the middle of the fairway on eleven and you’ll be fine. However, the fairway cuts off shorter than your eyes see from the tee box.
A wrong angle for your second shot cuts off a chance at the green and severely hampers birdie seekers. You’ll remember this hole for two reasons: the electric fans you see surrounding this green to help with moisture problems, and the feeling you’ll get when you look around you. It's as if you’ve been dropped in a ravine with tall trees keeping you from sunlight.
Survive eleven and No. 12's sky-scraping tee box awaits. It’s a monster downhill that tugs at the heart of your decision making. Rely on everything you see - the yardage, the wind, your eyes, and your common sense - in picking your club.
No. 13 beckons to be played simply. Trees block your view of the green and substantially shorten your tee shot, unless you play a fade. It’s easier after the tee shot, and the more you play this hole, the better you’ll play this hole.
Fourteen is the final hole that beckons your complete attention. A three-step approach gets you home clean, but stray on just one shot, and a par slips away. The claustrophobic will feel ill on the first and second shots.
If you play the back tees, you’ll really enjoy the location of the tee on No. 16. It’s tucked way back in the trees and allows only a view of the water and the fairway.
Water could be a problem on 17, as well as the out of bounds directly behind the green. The 18th is a great finishing hole. You can see everything in front of you and the land contours your focus toward a big final green.
On the front nine, No. 5 is a lot of fun with the water sitting in front of the green, and the par-three sixth features more water.
No. 8 has a terrifying two-tier green. Be double sure you know where the pin is. The final hole before the turn requires a blind tee shot for long hitters. A tee shot over the small hills can cut the distance by three or more clubs.
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