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HATTERAS, SEA SCAPE AND SUPERWO/MANBy Anthony ScaggsWhat do Hatteras, Sea Scape and Superwo/man have in common? They all have capes. In this case, Dare County, North Carolina has two of them—Cape Hatteras and the Sea Scape Links Golf Course.
Art Wall, the 1959 Masters champion, designed the course and cleverly used the natural terrain to challenge the more experienced golfers while still making it fun for those newly addicted to this sport. Sand, dune grass and bushes awaited the errant swing or the improper address resulting in a misalignment. Mr. Goodwrench cannot help you here. Sea Scape set the tone immediately. The first hole is their number one handicap. Standing on the 592-yard par five tee box, you need a pair of binoculars to see the green. The narrow fairway is huddled between miles of sand and bushes. First, you must drive over the sand, dune grass and shrubs that fill the first sixty yards from the tee box. One may say to themselves “at least there is not a water hazard.” Think again. If your ball lands in the forbidden zone, you will gladly take a two-stroke penalty just so that you do not have to go back in the sand with the razor like grass and needle sharp limbs that prick you at every turn. The second hole is a short 415-yard par four lined with homes. If you can drive a straight long ball, your second shot is a short iron to the green. If you cannot hit a straight drive use a three or five wood and then your long to midirons. The green drops behind a ridge. Only the pin can be seen. Beware, the green is the size of a postage stamp and it slopes away. The third hole is the second longest hole on the course. It is a 511-yard par 5, dogleg right. Cut the right hand corner with your drive and you have a chance for a birdie. Hope for an eagle but once you see the three bunkers protecting the green, a par looks good. If you do not cut the corner, aim your drive for the middle or left of the fairway. Make sure that you are in position for your second shot to the green. It will be about 242 yards away. In addition to the bunkers protecting the approach to the elevated green, there are fairway bunkers. I was glad that I brought my beach towel and suntan lotion. On hole #4which is a 185-yard par 3, I landed in the bunker. The pin was towards the back but it appeared that the ball would roll down to the pin if I cleared the bunker and landed on the front edge where the speed of the ball and the slope of the green would do the rest. These are the shots that you try in practice and only for the ego, not in tournaments. I chipped out to within three feet of the pin and salvaged a par. The 100 yards of natural landscaping between the tee box and the bunker may have intimidated my swing. Will you be as lucky? When you get to the par 3, hole #9, you will wish that you were back on #4. You will love the #13 par 3. The par 5, 460-yard hole #5 is a dogleg left. I was tempted to cut the left corner but after dodging a bullet on #4; I decided to turn down the ego and play it safe. At the bend, the fairway is shaped like the side of a bowl and the ball appears to run right to left. If you are too far to the right, you will be left standing on a slope to hit your second shot. I played my ball left to middle. Hole #6 is a 413-yard par 4. The dogleg left leaves very little room for error. If you try to cut the left corner, hit a provisional ball. On the other side of the trees are more trees and a huge bunker that slopes to a pond. The green is the size of two postage stamps. If you think that you can draw the ball just around the bend, your next shot will be at a 45-degree angle off the side of a hill. Save the glory for another hole. Take a 5 wood or a long iron and hit to the end of the fairway, then use a mid-iron to short iron to hit onto the green. Give yourself a chance for a birdie or a par. Since you are at the beach, you probably have your bathing suit and snorkel gear. Bring it with you when you play the 165 yard, par 3, #7 hole. If you hate water hazards, this hole and #16 will either cure you or push you over the edge. Trees surround the elevated green on three sides with a body of water in the front. The longer you look at the water the bigger it gets. Did I forget to mention that if you get the ball in the air above the trees there is gusting wind that could blow the ball back towards the tee, ergo the water hazard? The back nine was equally as challenging as the front. If you hit a long straight drive then #10, #11 and #12 will be fun holes. Beware of #12, it is tricky. On #12, I hit a long straight drive hugging the trees along the left side of the fairway. I did not try to cut the corner. The trees are tall and there is a home at the corner. The green is tucked behind a sand and dune grass barrier that is wide and long. My pitch missed the pin and I was left with a 60-foot putt for a birdie. I will get it next time. The fairway is wide and lined with trees on both sides. I suggest a drive down the middle or towards the left. Do not hug the trees; I was lucky this time. Holes #14 and #15 require good course management. On #14 use a 5 wood or a long iron off the tee. Keep the ball to the right or middle and it will roll down towards the green leaving a short second shot. On #15, get over the ridge and it is wide open.
Contacts: Dare County Tourist Bureau, Outer Banks, North Carolina, (800) 446-6262, http://www.outerbanks.org Sea Scape Golf Links, off U.S. 158 E. at Milepost 2 1/2 Kitty Hawk, 66052-yard, par 72, (252) 261-2158. Bryan Sullivan is the PGA Golf Professional and John Wade is the assistant. Call the Pro Shop for tee times and prices. The rates are reasonable and passes are available. Cape Air provides regularly scheduled service with small plane luxury between Norfolk, Virginia to Dare County Airport on the Outer Banks (800) 352-0714, http://www.flycapeair.com Images: copyright 1999 SearchWrite |
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Cape Hatteras also has the tallest brick lighthouse in the
country and the only one relocated in the summer of 1999. This
superwo/man-esque feat, moving the 4-ton obelisk in one-piece 2,900 feet, was
covered by national television. The very ocean from which it was protecting
seafarers was threatening the lighthouse.
I visited Dare County’s beautiful area to eat fresh seafood,
enjoy the sand and sun, visit the scenic areas and play golf. In my misspent
youth, I lived on the Virginia coast and visited the Outer Banks frequently.
Now that I live in the West and away from oceans, it was even more pleasurable
to go back to a region filled with pleasant memories, to see the ocean and to
play a game that I love. Life is good.
Everyone needs a few surprises in life. When you get to
holes #16 and #17 think lots of water, big trees, narrow approaches and small
greens. Hole #17 is the signature hole for the Sea Scape Golf Links }. The green is at the far end where the trees seem to meet. The green
is small and protected by overhanging limbs as well as water, lots of water.
Have fun.