Shadow Mountain Country
Club: No. 14 a Water-ing Hole

By Ryan Finley,
Staff Writer

SUNSITES, Ariz. - Ernest Hemingway once wrote a book about it.

As “The Old Man and the Sea” describes an elderly man’s fight with a fish, and, more notably with the ocean.

Even for the experienced, the 14th hole at Shadow Mountain Country Club in Sunsites can be a bit unnerving. Not “Hemingway” unnerving, but a pain.

The 14th: a par 5, 535 yard doozy that includes an elevated tee, a dogleg, and (get this) a water-treatment plant to the left of the green.

• More info: Shadow Mountain Country Club • Recent GolfArizona.com course reviews • Past articles by Ryan Finley

Simply put, botch this hole and pay.

“Messing up this hole definitely can ruin a score,” head professional Dick Sanders said. “Bogey is a pretty good score if you’re playing this one straight up.”

The hole goes like this: the 397-yarder opens up with a dogleg to the right. The lake starts roughly 160 yards from the trees and continues for another 60 yards. One the average golfer reaches the green, he/she will reach a curious obstacle: a water treatment plant.

“There’s a treatment plant on the left of the green,” Sanders said. “It’s a definite pain for golfers. Some don’t see that it’s only 10 yards from the corner of the green. Hit the ball just a bit left and you end up at the plant.”

The green itself is incredibly narrow, undulating back to front in a wavelike fashion.

All in all, Sanders recommends attacking the hole.

“I always try to hit the driver to the corner of the lake,” he said. “Usually, I’ll try to hit a 5, 6 iron the green.”

For mortal golfers, it might be wiser to take the safe road: high irons all the way to the pin. Either way, the 14th hole will prove daunting for even the most experienced golfer.

The Shadow Mountain Country Club is located off Interstate 10 at Dragoon Road. From the exit, take Dragoon Road 16 miles to Route 191. From Route 191, go eight miles to the course.

Shadow Mountain Country Club
1105 Irene St.
Sunsites, CA 85625