Babylon
Ridge is nestled beneath the Rocky
Mountains in a relatively flat valley and
home to a large lake system. Mike Jones
released this design fairly quickly after
Atlantic Point in July 2003, and it is
his shortest design to date at just over
6,500 yards and a par 70. The course
offers up a number of short par 4 and 5's
which are meant to encourage players to
attack. However, none of these holes are
without their risks, with water and
bunkers constantly in play. Conversely
its par 3's are on average slightly
longer and tougher than his usual
designs, making this a very different
challenge when playing. Babylon Ridge is
very green verdent looking course, with
varied textures and large expanses of
water and also has a very natural feel,
with nothing really eye catching in terms
of colour or unique objects. It has been
left for the trees, scrub planting and
lakes to shape the views here, backed of
course by the distant mountain range.
Four
Favourite Holes
Hole 6
- This is a short 360 yard par 4 which
runs alongside the lake, with the green
curving around behind it. The tee
incorporates a view overlooking farmland
to the left with a distant farmhouse. The
decision here is simply how far you want
to drive down an ever narrowing fairway
to leave a short shot into the green.
Laying up too far back will make the
approach over the lake much more
difficult, but you really must find the
fairway. One of the best looking holes on
the course.
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Babylon
Ridge (6th hole)
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Hole 11
- My favourite hole on the course, this
is perfectly designed as a right to left
dogleg at 415 yards which requires you to
drive over a series of bunkers to the
fairway. You must decide how much to cut
the corner and execute it, pull it left
and the bunkers will gobble you up, too
far right and its deep rough or worse
still blocked by the edge of the trees.
You can lay up short and right but this
then leaves a longer approach to the
green. Strategically this is a fabulous
hole with a nice overgrown area near the
tee.
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Babylon
Ridge (11th hole)
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Hole 13
- This is a mammoth 500 yard par 4 that
plays over the lake to a left to right
fairway. The distance to the hole forces
you to take the driver and tee off over
the lake and also you must clear a set of
bunkers. There is also a fairway bunker
to make this awkward, and a high change
here that you will find trouble off the
tee. Even if you find the fairway you
still face a wood shot into the green.
This is usually the hardest hole on
course and if you walk away with a par
then you have done well.
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Babylon
Ridge (13th hole)
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Hole 15
- Another short par 4 at 310 yards
curving around the small lake and looking
great from the tee. There is a simple lay
up on offer but anything pulled left is
in real trouble. The temptation here is
severe as a slight following wind enables
you to clear the water and land this
green direct off the tee. It is a great
hole which just asks to be attacked, but
this will not always be the best option.
Think carefully over this tee shot.
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Babylon
Ridge (15th hole)
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Babylon Ridge is
to be commended for offering up a
different type of challenge with many
shorter par 4's and 5's, and it is the
ultimate in risk versus reward strategy.
On the other hand it is probably the
least dramatic of all Mike's designs and
if you are not fond of water hazards you
are in for a torrid time. It is probably
the most natural course that he has
designed, and the more limited planting
pallette used makes this feel much more
like a local course than a championship
venue which is no bad thing at all. I do
really enjoy playing this course and for
a nice change you can leave the driver in
the bag for much of the round.
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