Feature Course
Hodge Park’ s
Park-Like Setting Makes for an Enjoyable Day on the Course by John Baccala
The 328-yard par-4 15th at Hodge Park is all down hill from the tee making it play shorter. There’ s water about 200 yards from the tee so using driver here could get you all wet!( Photo by Bill Cromwell)
Some may call it“ interesting,” others may call it“ quirky,” but no one will ever call Hodge Park Golf Course, north of the river just off Barry Road,“ boring.” It is a delightful and delightfully challenging layout featuring some sort of dogleg on 10 of its 18 holes, putting tee shot placements at a premium.
Thinning grass isn’ t an issue( thinning hair, on the other hand …), and neither is bunker play at Hodge. There are only three sand bunkers on the entire course— two on the drivable par-4 14th and the other on the par-4 18th. So, if you are looking for beach time, you’ d better try California or Florida.
“ Because there are so many doglegs and a couple of ponds to negotiate, accurate ball placement to provide a good angle into the green is essential,” said Tim Underwood, PGA professional and on-site manager at Hodge Park. Measuring less than 6,200 yards from the back( blue) tees and barely more than 5,700 from the middle( white) tees, you may think Hodge is a“ short knocker’ s” paradise. Think again!
“ Normally, this would be considered a relatively short course,” Underwood said.“ However, three long par 4 holes and a couple of sharp doglegs make the course play much longer and tougher.” Hodge Park striped Zoysia in its Bluegrass fairways back in 2016. Fast forward to today, and the Zoysia has grown in as plush as carpet. Underwood said it has improved all aspects of the golf course.“ And aesthetically, the course looks much better,” he added.“ You can spin the ball better coming into the greens, and when it gets really hot during summer, we don’ t have to worry about the fairway grass thinning out.”
16 April 2025 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE
The downhill par-4 6th at 304 yards is a hole that does not require a driver for long hitters. The water fronting the green is reachable with long drives.( Photo by Bill Cromwell)
Underwood said,“ If you talk to the majority of our patrons, you will find they think the golf course is tough enough.” And I couldn’ t agree more. Hodge Park may be small in yardage but is mighty in stature.