Last season, I enjoyed a captivating late-summer sunrise at Hawk’s View Golf Club, resulting in some of my best photography of the year. The round of golf that followed at the regulation-length Como Crossings course was equally memorable, as my full course review describes in great detail.
Sometimes 18 isn’t enough, though, and that certainly was true after I closed out a 78 and was aching for more golf. Unfortunately my schedule didn’t allow for another round that day, which was a shame because Hawk’s View offers a superb add-on option in its 18-hole par three course, Barn Hollow.
This season I made it a priority to re-visit Hawk’s View for more golf and photography, and to do it right this time by playing all 36. With Contributing Writer Rich Bauer joining me on a perfect early summer morning, we photographed the entire property at sunrise and then played both courses back-to-back.
Barn Hollow has a unique spot in the Lake Geneva golf scene as the area’s only par three course, and it offers a collection of one-shotters that are challenging and long enough to deserve a place on a big course. This profile makes it a great place to play for beginners and expert golfers alike.
When Hawk’s View was built in 2001, its 315 acres were sufficient to house more than 18 regulation holes, but a full 36 or even 27 would’ve necessitated routing many holes in close proximity. Instead, about 40 acres on the northern flank of the property were reserved for a short course, leaving the rest of the sprawling land for Como Crossings to shine.
While short courses are certainly in vogue at resorts across America today, 20+ years ago they were considered inferior layouts not worthy of an avid golfer’s time. Around that time, Hawk’s View made the bold decision to install a par three track to complement its “big course,” and I think that decision is now paying huge dividends in the post-COVID boom with short courses being great places for newer golfers to learn the game.
Barn Hollow features a varied and engaging set of par threes, ranging in yardage significantly to provide a real-life test of iron play that you’d normally only experience on a regulation course. With well-bunkered greens and ample water hazards found throughout the property, this is a sound challenge that players of all calibers can enjoy.
Just like last year, we enjoyed crystal-clear skies throughout the morning, perfect conditions for photography and a great day of golf. Clear conditions at sunrise have been hard to come by these past couple seasons, but I’ve had very good fortune in both of my trips to Hawk’s View, with this year’s shoot a smashing success yet again.
After a quick loop around Como Crossings where I fired a 79, I waltzed onto the first tee at Barn Hollow with some swagger, expecting to chase an even par round like I have at other short courses. What I didn’t appreciate yet was the challenge we were in for, with a series of demanding iron shots and tough greens to navigate.
Course Overview
Hawk’s View Golf Club (Barn Hollow)
Lake Geneva, WI
Architect: Craig Schreiner (2001)
Par 54, 2708/2254/1786 Yards
Highlight Holes
With Barn Hollow featuring such a wide variety in yardages, I’ve chosen to split up the rest of this post into three categories: short, medium and long holes.
The Shorties
On regulation courses, you’ll often find that shorter par threes are more heavily-bunkered with steeper slopes in play to add to the challenge. At a meager 121 yards from the back tee, the fourth at Barn Hollow fits the bill with a small green protected by two deep bunkers. An extra club might be needed as the green is located up a gentle slope. After misjudging the distance slightly, I blocked my short iron right into the sand, leading to a disappointing bogey.
At the sixth, you’ll find a similar challenge with another well-bunkered, elevated green demanding an accurate short iron. Playing back into the hill at the northern border of the property, I wisely clubbed up and my 8-iron ended pin high to set up an easy par.
The 12th requires a precise wedge shot to a green flanked by a massive bunker that runs up the entire front-right side. The Dye-esque size of this bunker creates more visual intimidation even though it shoud be easy to avoid. The back-right pin placement we faced set up perfectly for my preferred left-to-right shot shape, and I took advantage by sticking the tee shot to five feet.
The Mid-Lengthers
Two large ponds add character and challenge to the routing, and the first encounter with water comes at the second and third.
The second requires only a modest carry over the pond, but the real trouble here is sand left and right with a narrow entrance to an elevated green. This is a deceptively uphill tee shot, so definitely hit an extra club here.
At the third, golfers must navigate a 148-yard approach to a peninsula green with water short, left and long. This might be the most dramatic shot on site, but a bailout area to the right offers a potential reprieve.
The tenth is adjacent to the property’s other pond, with water prominently in play short and right. If you bail out left or long here, you’ll face a tricky downhill chip with the drink lurking in the background. I love how this hole encourages a more aggressive shot towards the pin, which brings the hazard much more in play.
The Long Ones
The fifth plays downhill to a narrow green, and even though there is no water or sand, there is still plenty of trouble to avoid in the form of mounding and undulations. Playing into a stiff breeze, I was able to step on a 4-iron and roll it back to the pin some 185 yards out, setting up the first of only two birdies on the round.
How many times have you hit driver on a par three course? I don’t recall many occasions myself, at least not since childhood, but on the 16th at Barn Hollow I had to swallow my pride and let the big dog eat. Clocking in at over 230 yards into the wind on the day we played it, I predictably missed the green with driver and proceeded to make bogey.
Closing Thoughts
Barn Hollow was everything I hoped it would be as an add-on to a full-length round. It felt like a full golf experience, not short-changing golfers at all with 18 engaging holes. At the same time, it was a laid-back, less taxing loop that was easy to manage as the second round of the day.
This layout could easily fit into other itineraries, as well, as it could be played as a standalone course with family or could be a nice addition to a greater Lake Geneva-area trip as the only par three course in the area. At a peak greens fee of $30 for 18 holes, it’s an affordable spot to round out your golf adventure.
Regardless of how it fits into your golf agenda, you can be confident that you’ll have a fun experience here, get some good practice and take in nice views of the surrounding hills and countryside.
All original photography in this article by Brian Murphy and Rich Bauer for WiscoGolfAddict.
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