How The Owner Plays Redstone: Hole 18

Hole #18 — It’s not going to get better than that.

HOLE 18 435 yds (blues) · 455 yds (blacks) · Par 4 · Elevated tee, pond at bottom

Landing area: big, needs 220 minimum from blues · Green: sits up, creek carry, bunkers left and right

The walk from the pond at 17 to the 18th tee runs through the trees. It’s another beautiful stretch. And it’s where I always think about Joe Zanussi.

JOE ZANUSSI — A MOMENT I’LL NEVER FORGET

Joe has since left us, but he was one of those guys. Colourful. An old hockey player like me. A really good golfer. When we were building the back nine he asked for a tour, so I took him around. It was just topsoil and seed out there.

We ended up at the black tees on 18 — the last stop. Sun going down. Joe looked out at the new back nine and said: “This is awesome.”

He had his clubs in my truck. I said, do you want to hit a shot? He turned and looked at me. “Are you f***ing kidding me?” I said no. So he went to the truck and came back with his three wood. He looked like a kid. He must have been about the age I am now.

I had brought a driving range mat. Because I knew I was going to ask him.

Joe teed it up and hit a perfect little draw. The tee is super elevated and the ball flew through the shade for about a hundred yards — and then it hit the sun. When it did, the ball just illuminated. Lit up completely. Because the sun was behind us.

He turned and looked at me. “Did you see that?”

I missed the moment. I said: hit another.

Joe refused straight away. “It’s not going to get better than that.” He shook my hand firmly. Said thanks. And that was it.

I’ll never ever forget that shot.

435 yards from the blues. I usually hit rescue from here — 220 yards, leaves me 130 to 160 into the green. The landing area is big but you need that 220 minimum. The pond sits at the bottom and from the blues with a rescue it’s never an issue.

Today, knowing my score, I reach for the 3-wood. I want just a little more. Not sure why.

Greed and aggressive play are not the same thing in golf. I know this. I reach for the 3-wood anyway. Shades of Joe.

TEE

3-wood. I flush it perfectly. The ball goes through the fairway and into the pond. Red stakes. One stroke penalty.

DROP

135 yards to a middle pin. Creek carry in front, bunkers left and right, green sits up. A-wedge. I top it. The ball bounces into the gunge and the creek.

DROP 2

Calm down. This is still the best round in ten years. Walk the 85 yards. Drop one. Lying 4, hitting 5. Any lapse in focus at Redstone and you are looking for balls. Very common. Very humbling.

5th

50 yards to the pin. 58-degree wedge. Lands 15 feet below the flag.

PUTT

Lag one close. Tap in.

Triple bogey — 7

The scorecard looks like a person who fell apart at the end. But really it was just a 10-handicap having a good round on a mountain golf course he happens to own.

As I walk to the green I am reminded how lucky we are to be part of Redstone and Rossland. The people. The golf course. Truly unique.

Come play it.
And bring your own mat. Just in case.

— Cary