The tenth hole starts what can only be called the greatest nine finishing holes in the state. The tenth is a great example of visual intimidation and challenges the player to select the right club.

The hole is a par four that plays from 312 off the front tees to 457 yards off the back. Calling for a draw off the tee, the player can choose less club and take advantage of the fairway’s natural slope away from the player.

The two bunkers framing the left side only really serve as an aiming point for the player. With a bluff on the left and the ridge on the right the tee shot appears much narrower than it is. In fact, this is actually one of the easiest tee shots at Black Mesa because the fairway is designed to funnel shots to the middle and into a landing area in the 150 yard range of the green.

Long hitters must carry the bluff on the left as well as the landing area with their drive because the design actually works against them. Most long hitters who carry the ball ÒDown the MiddleÓ will find themselves in the right rough and face a very difficult sideways lie and down hill to the green for their approach shot.

For the approach shot, players playing between 150-120 yards will have a level lie while those playing from 120 yards and in will have the perfect slightly uphill lie.

The approach shot to this green is unique. The right front part of the green slopes from back to front and has one premier pin location. The left mid front of the green has another pin location where a shelf is guarded by bunkers in front and to the left as well as the aforementioned first location on the green. This shelf is also higher than the back of the green so stopping a ball here will require distance and spin control.

The back portion of the green slopes from left to right and away from the fairway and is well above the level of the ground on the right. Chips from the right must be hit high and soft to blind pin placements. Shots from the fairway must only carry the front of the green and should be played to the left side to allow the ball to run to back placements. Pin placements on the right rear part of the green will appear to challenge the ego by carrying the steep slope on the right of the green, but is really designed for intellect to prevail by playing to the left. If you are too short with your approach shot on the left the designer has placed a hollow slightly above the shelf on the left front which will gather shots and leave you with a downhill chip.

I love this hole because there are so many options to play the hole. The second and even third shots are never straight forward and require thinking to make a score.