Playability big plus for Tara Hills layout

VAN HORNE -- Tara Hills Country Club is within shouting distance of Belle Plaine Country Club and just a short drive from Wildcat Golf Course and a dozen other good public golf courses.

Competition for rounds is fierce, but Tara Hills definitely has playability going for it. It's a fair course that might not wow single-digit handicappers, but will keep golfers with a 10-to-15 handicap interested.

With a convenient location not far off Highway 30 and a sporty layout, Tara Hills fills a niche. It's a low-pressure round, one for the family or one with friends in which you don't sweat over a 90-degree dogleg and a big-water carry and a million bunkers.

Your biggest obstacle at Tara Hills might be the wind. It can pick up quickly here in the fields of western Benton County. Luckily, it was breezeless and in the low 90s with crushing humidity the day I played.

The standout sight at Tara Hills is its barn clubhouse that overlooks a pond with a fountain out in the middle. It's a renovated barn that was moved from across the road when the course was built in 1985. It has a large bar and dining area on the first floor and a reception area on the second floor. The basement has a weight room, sauna and locker rooms.

I started my round with a great drive that faded right down the middle of No. 1, a 392-yard par 4. I was thinking I'd be within 100 with a sand wedge in my hand.

But no.

My ball smacked the 150 marker and stopped dead.

What kind of omen that is, I don't know.

The traffic at the course was sort of slow, but this was one of the hottest days of the season. I also hit it the day after a night thunderstorm, so the course was soft and balls picked up mud in the fairways. There was little roll, so the course played longer than its 3,314 yards from the tips.

Not a knock on the course, just the wetness we ran through that fourth week of June. The course is very well kept. Veteran superintendent Brett Pace and crew won a great battle against the rain.

My favorite hole was No. 7, a 510-yard par 5 that doglegs slightly to the right for the last 75 yards or so. You face an uphill drive with some decent-sized trees on the left and more trees on the right. An unexpected 3-wood nearly put me on the green in two.

For the most part, you'll find Tara Hills an open course with a low-degree of difficulty. Plus, it has a local rule that allows a free drop from around shrubs and small trees.

Sometimes, it pays to take the time to actually read the score card.

The lowdown on Tara Hills

Toughest hole- The score card says No. 2, a 390-yard par 4, and why not? The big hangup is a pond that sits way right atop a bit of a hill. The problem is you can't really see it, so you don't know it's there. The fairway has a slight dogleg to the right and is guarded on both sides by trees and rough. There's not much room for bailout around the green, especially left. My tee shot drifted a little right and settled in the rough at the bottom of the hill that leads to the pond. I missed the green left and wound up in some tall grass. I found it, but the ensuing chip was short. I ended with a double-bogey six. A disappointment after a decent drive.

Easiest hole- I thought No. 8 was a digestible par 3, 145 yards with a bunker guarding the left edge of the green. There were some trees to the far right, but you'd really need to lose one to get that far. I plopped a high 9-iron on the left edge (thought it was bunker city) about as far away as you could get from the pin and still be on the green. Left my birdie effort way short, but made the 8-footer to save par. Got to love those 8-foot par putts. (And yes, the sarcasm alert is on DefCon 4 now.)

Overall impression- I played behind a family of four -- mom, dad, daughter and son. Tara Hills is a great place to take the family. It has the high handicapper (or novice or triple-digit dreamer, whatever you want to call me) in mind with the wide-open fairways and relatively tame greens. Wonderfully kept course. Unique and beautiful clubhouse. Tara Hills has its place in a competitive market.