least showed some sense in playing the Norman Course from the
white tees, 6,049 yards (though still
a 132 slope rating). Wilson said he
considers the course, “Norman in a
softer mode.” Well, choose the right
tee and he could be right. Venture
to the back tees ( 7,332 yards and a
145 slope) at your own risk.
The course is relatively flat and
open with expansive fairways, but
stray from them and shaggy rough,
marshland, creeks or larger watery
tracts, along with extensive white
sand bunkering, will exact a price.
This is particularly true on holes
six through nine, which Norman
called “The Hardest Mile in Golf,”
and he’s not kidding, since from
the tips the four holes measure ex-
actly 1760 yards—one mile.
“The back nines of both courses are beautiful,” said Wilson.
“First time players may find the
RTJ II course a little easier to score
on, but it really heats up from the
12th hole on.”
Indeed, these money holes turn
deeply into the woods, along those
stone walls from the 1700s, and
heavily into strategic play. With the
regular tees on the Jones course
just under 6,000 yards (132 slope),
