Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
**Overview:**
I found the Rawls Course, a 6825 yard (from the scarlet red tees) par 72 course, to be a very playable course for a double to triple bogey player, and challenging enough for a more skilled player. In fact, it is the course for the Texas Tech University golf team, including former student athlete Ludvig Aberg now of PGA fame. With pockets of trees and only two holes with water, the carries from the tee box and vast amount of sand traps provide the needed challenges for playing smart golf. The wind posed the greatest challenge but provided a nice tailwind for a little extra distance on others. I was able to register online with no issues several weeks in advance. Course fees of $50.00 which included the GPS enabled cart, is very reasonable and was well worth it. The Rawls Course staff was friendly and extremely helpful, even when I had a unique request that took extra time. The warm-up range was limited in space, however, range balls were high quality and were not charged extra.
**Description:**
The Rawls Course at Texas Tech is a mirage in the vast desert flatlands of the Texas Panhandle. The course is well thought out with decent but manageable carries off the tees that lead to varied width but open fairways. Strategically speckled upon every hole are fairway, approach, and green-side bunkers. The architecture of the course brings the illusions in the desert to life with healthy green grass and unbelievable undulating and tilting fairways and greens.
The day I played the course, the grounds team were on the last few weeks of renovations. Two holes (15 and 18) were closed, and a few others had empty sand traps (one of which worked in my favor allowing my ball to bounce solidly out). We were notified by the marshal at the start, and surprised that he offered to allow us to replay 1 and 2 to make up for the closed holes – which we chose against.
I played this course one other time in 2010 when I dropped off my oldest son at Texas Tech University. This was before I started playing golf and just hacked my way around. However, the beauty of this course always stuck with me. And this time as I played with my oldest bonus-son who is in his first year at Tech (and a pair third who was a course member) I was not disappointed to see that my memories held. Those memories included the rolling fairways, the abundance of sand, the tightness of the greens to the tees of the next hole, and green grass in the desert. What I forgot was the freaking wind.
I am not sure who coined the nickname of Chicago as the Windy City; however, I would bet they never stood on the elevated tee boxes of The Rawls Course in March. The day we played, the winds were steady in the upper teens. The wind provided assistance on the first hole in building confidence as one starts the course, but it did make the high arched tee shots of my stepson stall out on a few holes. The course member was able to play low and avoid the reversing effects of the wind at altitude and his knowledge was superbeneficial on smart playing the course around the sand traps.
**My Favorite Hole: #12**
Among the course’s standout holes, #12, a 416-yard Par 4 with a course handicap of 7, captured our group’s admiration.
Looking from the tee box, the fairway can be found after a very short carry over the tall grasses, however, placement in the fairway appears to be everything. Hit to the left or get a bounce and roll in that direction on the tilted fairway, you will be forced to take a blind shot to the green that is hidden over a hill. Hit it to the right and you are poised to view a gap that provides a sneak peek of the green. Each hill forming the gap is home to sand traps that make a safe lay up shot to the throat of the gap even more challenging. Through the gap lies 65 feet of manicured lawn.
How I played it. Being the third on the tee, and my playing partners both going to the dreaded left, I aimed (the best I can) to the right of the fairway. I was able to achieve this flight path and luckily not at the best distance for my driver, as I would have been too far right and hidden behind a patch of trees. Having 200 yards remaining to the center of the green, I chose my 22 degree hybrid and tried to make the gap, with the expectation that I would fall short safely near the gap. Of course, I hit it weakly and short again for the club. After using almost every second of my 3 minutes, I finally found my ball had landed in a patch of grass that bordered the sandtrap on the left hill… I am now hitting blind to the green. Using a full swing lob, I drop my third stroke to the left of the green.
If you were playing with me, you would know at this point that the simple chip shots were my nemesis of the day – playing army golf with the greens (left, right, left). I took a 9-Iron for an easy bump – low and behold, I pin the ball. And then putted out for my third non-double bogey of the day! And the other two guys? One saved par after a blind approach with a 7-Iron, and the other also bogeyed after losing his ball on the hill.
**Adjusted for Renovations:**
Due to ongoing renovations, Holes 15 and 18 were closed during my round, altering the course’s par and yardage to 63 and 5,829 yards, respectively. Despite these adjustments, I managed to card a respectable 92 (+29), showcasing the course’s adaptability and continued appeal.
**Performance Summary:**
– Par: 1
– Bogey: 5
– Double Bogey: 6
– Triple Bogey: 4
– Penalties: 2
In conclusion, The Rawls Course stands as a testament to thoughtful course design and offers an enjoyable golfing experience amidst the Texan landscape. Whether navigating its challenging holes or reveling in its scenic beauty, this course leaves a lasting impression on all who play it.
