Conquering Industry Hills Golf Club's Championship Courses
Table of Contents
An In-Depth Look at Industry Hills Golf Club
Nestled amongst the rolling foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, Industry Hills Golf Club has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most challenging and picturesque golf destinations in all of Southern California. Consisting of two fully-stocked 18-hole championship layouts - the vaunted Eisenhower and Zaharias courses – Industry Hills offers a world-class golf experience matched by few daily fee facilities in the United States.
Together, the Eisenhower and Zaharias courses present a breathtaking landscape of elevation changes, rolling fairways, extreme doglegs and strategically-placed bunkers guarding small, sloping greens. With total yardages stretching over 7,000 yards from the tips, Industry Hills readily tests every shot in a player’s arsenal while demanding peak concentration and execution for 18 holes. Here, we’ll take an in-depth look at some of the toughest driving holes, pin positions and course management challenges posed by these beautiful yet beasts of golf courses.
Eisenhower Course
The Eisenhower Course, originally designed by William Bell and renovated in 2020 by architectural expert Casey O’Callaghan, pays tribute to President Dwight D. Eisenhower – one of history’s most passionate golfers to occupy the Oval Office. The layout encompasses many of Bell’s iconic design features – domed greens, strategic bunkering and water hazards, dramatic elevation changes and clever doglegs that compel golfers to bite off as much of the course as they can chew.
Hole 3 – Par 4, 459 Yards
This staunch par 4 gives little margin for error off the tee, with a landing area pinched by bunkers left and a barranca crossing the fairway. Longer drives must challenge bunkers and slope right for the optimal approach. Eisenhower’s 3rd green then plays significantly uphill, calling for precise distance control to avoid rear bunkers or a tightly mowed chipping area behind the putting surface leading to delicate trouble.
Hole 6 – Par 4, 486 Yards
Arguably the most demanding par 4 at Industry Hills, the 6th hole is a sever dogleg left defined by a lateral water hazard crossing the fairway. Big hitters can attempt to shorten the hole by challenging the corner, but anything shoved or blocked right is wet. Layup drives avoid the water but leave an uphill approach of 200+ yards to a dual-tiered green fortified by deep bunkers. Precision and finesse into this putting surface is a must to walk away with par.
Hole 14 – Par 4, 418 Yards
Risk/reward options abound at the short par-4 14th. While conservative tee shots to the wider right portion leave a clean look at the green, they come at the cost of a longer approach. Tee shots challenging left fairway bunkers and water open up the angle but require more precision. Eisenhower’s 14th green is then well defended upfront by sand and slope, daring golfers to fly it close or utilize deft short game skill to save par.
Zaharias Course
Named after the legendary pioneer athlete Babe Zarharias, Industry Hill’s second 18 seamlessly flows across canyon landscapes once dotted by citrus groves. Bill Bell Jr. – William’s son – incorporated the San Gabriel Valley’s natural elevation changes and desert washes into a strategic layout posing options and trouble from every tee. With canyon carries, sloping greens and cavernous bunkers throughout, the Zaharias course readily exposes any golfing weakness in damaging fashion.
Hole 4 – Par 5, 555 Yards
Risk and reward abound on the devilish par-5 4th hole. After an uphill tee shot avoiding fairway bunkers right, bold second shots challenge a canyon crossing for a chance to reach the green in two. But anything splashed or rattled through the hazard leaves a difficult third over water. Zaharias’s 4th green is also well protected by a front-left bunker and slope running off the putting surface.
Hole 7 – Par 4, 421 Yards
This dramatic par 4 demands precision off the tee to avoid desert right and a fairway crossing canyon. Conservative drives leaving wedge approaches must be precise, with little margin for error to an elevated green carved into the side of a hill. The putting surface is also ringed by deep bunkers, requiring conviction in shotmaking to attack tightly mowed hole locations. Anything lacking commitment or indecision is severely punished.
Hole 15 – Par 3, 227 Yards
In signature Industry Hills fashion, Zaharias’ 15th asks for a heroic uphill tee shot across canyon trouble to an elevated and heavily bunkered green site. Playing over 230 yards from the tips, the hole carries a par 3.5 rating demanding mid- to long-iron precision into ever-changing winds. Once past trouble, nerves must resettle to navigate Zaharias’s 15th green, one of the course’s most demanding surfaces.
Conquering Industry Hills: Course Management Strategies
Successfully managing Industry Hill's 36 championship holes requires equal parts strategy, precision shotmaking and poise under pressure. Beauty alone does not score at this facility. Rather, those conquering the Eisenhower and Zaharias courses typically come armed with sound course management principles, patience during crunch time and well-rounded golf skills.
Course Management Fundamentals
In championship golf, proper course management begins with making smart, percentage decisions based on your individual game. Industry Hill's landscape dares better players to take risks in turning high scores into red figures. Yet at the same time, overly aggressive decisions here are severely punished via penalty strokes, exploded holes or rounds ruined by compounding mistakes.
Rather than chasing risk/reward options and forcing hero shots beyond your skill, embrace making disciplined pars that keep momentum and scoring continuity. Pars allow talents, rather than ego, to shine through at Industry Hills. Let birdies present themselves through solid overall play versus pressing for them hole-by-hole.
Tee-to-Green Strategies
Conquering Industry Hill's championship tests requires disciplined execution of proper shot shapes tee-to-green. Driver and iron play must be emphasized in range sessions along with crafting versatile short game shots capable of saving pars.
Mastering sidehill, uphill and downhill trajectory windows allows golfers to hold Industry Hill's extreme elevation changes and sloped greens. Learn to flight mid- and long-irons both high and low while becoming a wizard with wedges from 100 yards and in.
Do not overlook putting and lag putting either. Industry Hill's turtleback greens and ever-changing hole locations demand elite distance control on long putts. Players making the fewest putts, chips and pitches usually tame Industry Hills.
Embracing Poise During Crunch Time
With cantidad teeth showing from every corner, Industry Hills inevitably places golfers under extreme pressure whether playing leisurely rounds or competing in tournaments. Remaining mentally resilient, embracing smart decisions and committing to shots proves vital when facing testing moments coming home.
Avoid compounding errors when facing trouble by taking safe routes back into holes. Do not chase sucker pins or force creative shots your game cannot support. Let safer lines toward middle of greens and two-putts keep momentum churning forward rather than risking complete derailment.
Likewise, pre-round routines build poise and conviction before executing pressure shots. Commiting to targets through sound fundamentals allows talents and instincts to shine. Playing relaxed, confident golf makes conquering Industry Hill's championship tests possible versus letting tension breed mistakes.
In closing, Industry Hills' Eisenhower and Zaharias layouts live up their reputations as two of the most challenging daily fee courses in California due to elegant design features melded with beautiful yet brutal landscapes. Yet through proper course management, resilient mindsets and embracing percentages over ego, these championship beasts prove tamable hole-by-hole and on the way to red numbers and personal bests.
FAQs
Which course is more difficult at Industry Hills, the Eisenhower or Zaharias?
While both courses demand precision shotmaking and course management, most golfers find the Zaharias layout slightly more challenging. With canyon carries, elevated greens and deep bunkers throughout, Zaharias exposes weaknesses in ball-striking and short game execution.
What type of golf shots do the Industry Hills courses demand?
Industry Hills requires ability to shape shots both ways while controlling trajectory windows. Players must master flying approach shots high and soft as well as low dart-like runs. Short game imagination and touch prove essential around slippery greens.
What is the recommended handicap to play Industry Hills?
While all skill levels can find appropriate tee boxes, scratch golfers to mid-handicappers tend to fare best at Industry Hills. Precise ball-striking and course management allows talents shine on these challenging layouts.
What is the dress code for playing Industry Hills Golf Club?
Industry Hills is a soft-spike facility with collared shirt dress code required. Non-metal spikes help maintain high course conditions. Practicing standard golf attire guidelines creates an upscale playing experience.
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