Southern Star

Par 28 - Level 3 - 84 Slope Rating

Plays from 1,085 - 1,682 yards

 

It’s ironic that the true “star” of the Southern Star golf course - named after a celestial body light-years away - is the shortest shot you’ll play all day. The 7th hole is my favorite. It’s 101 yards from the golds. Not much, by cosmic standards. But golf, like astronomy, isn’t really about distance. It’s about perspective.

The 7th is all look and feel and trajectory. You need a high-lofted shot to land the green, and when you watch the ball climb, stall, and fall, it’s your best excuse all round to stare up into the sky. Which feels appropriate for a course named after a star. For a brief moment, you’re less golfer than amateur astronomer, tracking a small white object against a big blue background.

 

The actual Southern Star - the brightest star in the nighttime sky above the South Pole - is nearly 300 light-years away. It’s called Sigma Octantis. Our Southern Star golf course has three holes that feel at least that far. The 3rd, 5th, and 8th are long-range moonshots, especially for the brave (or foolish) launching from the blacks. These are telescope holes.

 

And if you prefer your skyward viewing with rotors instead of optics, there’s a terrific drone flyover by Don Wiley, the Gold Wingnut, showing both Southern Star and its sibling, Yankee Clipper. Think of it as the satellite view of what is coming your way: Southern Star and Yankee Clipper golf courses - YouTube. 

 

Ok, time to do some stargazing:

 

Your first shot launches toward an elevated green, walled water guarding the right flank and a bunker holding position on the left. Precision matters. This is less “swing away” and more “check your instruments.” Hole #2 offers a brief atmospheric re-entry - a chance to recalibrate before the course tilts back toward the cosmos.

 

The 3rd hole is the first of three true celestial shots. At 180 yards, it looks manageable, just don't look at the full-length pond tracking your ball along the right side like a dark void. There’s a bailout left, but it’s narrow, and the hole plays longer than it appears - just like space itself.

 

The 4th lets you breathe again. It’s the only par four and the only place you’ll pull your driver out all day. This is your best birdie chance. Swing easy down the left side and the rest of the hole opens up easily.

 

By the time you reach the 5th, you’ve hit the equinox. Everything changes. It’s a long climb, demanding commitment and a good follow thru.  Don’t worry, you can’t go long. The 6th is shorter, but the green is trickier.

 

Then comes the 7th, pointing south and delivering the most interesting shot on the course. It's like our favorite extra-terrestrial, E.T - it's short and looks a bit odd. The green slopes hard left, encouraging a flight over the trap and a gentle funnel toward the cup. Or maybe the smarter play is to aim low left and skip the theatrics. Fun or smart? Exploration or caution?  Phone home?  Either way, it’s my favorite shot of the day!

 

The 8th is your final moonshot: 172 yards to a massive green beside an oversized bunker. This one begs for a launch sequence. SpaceX would approve.

 

And then, reluctantly, you step onto the 9th tee, knowing your journey to the stars is almost over. It’s a downhill landing – smooth left-to-right rolling terrain. One of the best finishing shots around, easing you back to Earth.

 

Playing Southern Star is like staring into the night sky: rich with complexity but defined by subtle simplicity. Nothing feels gimmicky or forced. The hazards challenge not overwhelm, the distances give you everything you need, and the views linger longer than the scorecard.

 

I always leave this course looking up.

Toughest to Easiest:

3, 5, 8, 6, 1, 7, 9, 4, 2 – hardest green #6