It takes two cannons to reach the uphill 524-yard par-4 eleventh at Alpine!
Formerly the Chiangmai Lumphun Golf Club, architect Ron Garl was brought in when this course changed hands several years ago. He made a course with a decent bone structure sizzle.
Set on a healthy 7,541-yard frame from the tips, this course is situated in a valley setting that looks like it could fit into North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains. This is a scenic course with lots of punch for the good player. The neatly manicured fairways and immaculate putting surfaces provide a nice visual contrast to the rough and bright white sand.
There is lots of water to contend with too and the course even has a pretty good replica of the 17th hole island green at the TPC Sawgrass. In this case it’s even longer. And the next hole is just as problematic as it is a Cape Hole to the right in which you gauge how much of the water you want to cut off. In fact, the entire course is set up long, perhaps too long. The Black, Blue, and White tee markers register at 7,541, 7,174, and 6,814 yards while the forward tees are even 5,835 yards. I’m not sure why, as there is no altitude assist here.
Alpine’s “Island Par-3 Green”
Be that as it may, it’s a bit too much challenge for the beginning or novice player, but even from the white tees, there plenty of punch. The 11th is an uphill beast of a par-four measuring up to 524 yards. Again why it is so long is a mystery where even the white tees have it at 475 yards. For my money the short second at 393 yards and the 590-yard sixth and 456-yard ninth were all attention-getters. In fact, the entire course is.
Fagan Grade: B+. For challenge, conditioning, and aesthetics the Alpine Golf Resort rates very high. If you’re not a single digit player, play well up on a forward tee and you will rejoice your choice. Either way, this is not a course to be missed when in the area.
A gorgeous course and friendly caddies await you at Alpine Golf Resort.
