22 TEE BOX THE BIG PICTURE The 130-yard seventh (foreground) and 100-yard eighth holes at the Gravel Pit, a 13-hole par-three golf course in Brainerd, Minnesota. The course was designed by Scott Hoffmann and photographed by his son Nicholas. “The seventh plays downhill to a peninsula green,” says Hoffmann. “The putting surface is quite large at about 11,000 square feet. The left side of the green is very approachable but divided by a small bump that requires good placement on the proper side for a birdie opportunity. The right side is quite narrow, requiring a very accurate approach, and has subtle contours. “The eighth is an uphill 100-yard version of the Short hole, with a large upper level but with a smaller thumbprint in the centre of the lower level that plays larger than it looks. The green slopes from three sides to the pin areas. The right pin behind the bunkers is probably the most difficult to get to. A left side miss will receive the benefit of the side slopes. Right or long is trouble. The green is about 9,000 square feet but with four distinct, pinnable areas.” Read more about the Gravel Pit on www.golfcoursearchitecture.net
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