Although a public track, Diamond Hawk Golf Course stacks up well when compared to private clubs. It has a handsome clubhouse, a beautiful classic-style course designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan in 2006, and an expansive practice facility.

Built on fairly flat terrain, a lot of earth was moved to create contoured, rolling fescue-lined fairways that often funnel your ball into the center as the hole narrows near the green.

It’s not a particularly long course, but many holes will test big hitters. No. 5, a 589-yard par 5 and the number one handicap hole, is a challenging elongated “S” with bunkers and wetlands crossing the fairway that threaten your second shot. Big hitters will go for it.

Jim Furlong, director of golf and general manager, says his favorite hole is the No. 8. “It’s a par-4 classic. From the tee you’re looking at two tall trees in the distance, and it seems you are trying to hit between them. When you get closer, you realize the fairway is to the right of the trees. A pot bunker protects the green.”

Watch out for red-staked lateral hazards. “If you took them out, the slope would go up by 10 points,” says Furlong. “I can’t do that. We are a public course, after all.”