Inside the course: Rock Barn Golf & Spa

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Condon/PGA TOUR

The view from the first tee at Rock Barn Golf and Spa.

Sep. 9, 2008

The Champions Tour heads to Conover, N.C., for the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. Here's all you need to know about the course:

Fast facts

Original architect	Robert Trent Jones Jr. (2001)
Course superintendent	Guy E. Hollar
Number of Champions Tour events as host venue	6 (including 2008)
Course ranking	Ranked 19 (out of 30) in difficulty on the Champions Tour in 2007
Par value	72
Yardage history	7,023 yards (2003-2004)
	7,046 yards (2005-2006)
	7,090 (2007-present)
Grass	TifSport bermudagrass (tees, fairways, rough); A-1/A-4 creeping bentgrass (greens)
Tournament Stimpmeter	11 ft
Sand bunkers	89
Water hazards	15
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
Joe Inman
Andy Bean
R.W. Eaks

Year
2003
2006
2007

Round
2nd
1st
1st

Finish
T16
WON
WON

Holes-in-one

There has been one ace recorded at the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn.

Player	Hole	Year
Gil Morgan	No. 9	2005

2007 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole

	The par-4 11th Tree-lined from tee to green and flowing naturally with the terrain, the 11th hole is notable for its attractive setting, but golfers should not let the aesthetic pleasures block out the golfing challenge. Long hitters may want to carry the bunkers along the left side, but the smart players will eventually discover that a well-struck tee shot up the right side will produce the same results. The green is bisected by a deep swale and an accurate approach shot will be critical for par. 2007: 0 eagles, 17 birdies, 142 pars, 63 bogeys, 12 double bogeys, 0 others
Easiest hole in 2007
	The par-5 18th The home hole is a stern test that demands you finish your round with a series of strong shots. Uphill from tee-to-green, the hole finishes dramatically in front of the majestic clubhouse for all to see. Two straightforward shots position you for a short iron approach to a well-guarded green. Err on the long side and your mistake is easily rectified. Miss short in the deep bunkers fronting the green and par from this position will be well earned. 2007: 10 eagles, 124 birdies, 92 pars, 8 bogeys, 0 double bogeys, 0 others

Rock Barn (Jones)			2007 rankings		Last 5 years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. Score	Rank
1	4	436	4.004	10	3.986	10
2	4	476	4.226	3	4.150	4
3	3	187	3.081	7	2.998	8
4	5	568	4.872	12	4.910	13
5	4	415	4.051	9	3.992	9
6	4	451	4.192	4	4.164	3
7	5	507	4.611	17	4.664	17
8	4	335	3.752	16	3.834	16
9	3	197	3.132	5	3.122	5
10	4	431	4.068	8	4.047	7
11	4	451	4.299	1	4.257	1
12	4	375	3.936	11	3.984	11
13	4	433	4.103	6	4.110	6
14	5	573	4.816	15	4.876	15
15	3	150	2.842	14	2.886	14
16	4	389	3.855	13	3.912	12
17	3	190	3.278	2	3.187	2
18	5	526	4.419	18	4.620	18

NOTES: The par-4, 451-yard 11th hole was the 37th hardest hole on the Champions Tour in 2007.
• Last season, the par-3, 190-yard 17th hole was the 10th hardest par 3 on the Champions Tour.
• The Champions Tour pros went low in Hickory in 2007, averaging 35.921 strokes on the front nine and 35.616 strokes on the back. On the par-72 course, where each nine is 36 strokes, that meant they averaged 0.463 strokes below par for three days over all 18 holes.

Course origins

Rock Barn Golf & Spa has the first Robert Trent Jones Jr. course in North Carolina. In addition to the Jones course, it also has a Tom Jackson course and a 20,000 square-foot spa.

The name comes from a local landmark which still stands just east of the property and was built in the 1700s. Rock Barn opened in 1969 and the Jones course opened in 2002. The Jones course was voted the Best New Course in N.C. in 2003.

The No. 3, 210-yard par-3, is Rock Barn's signature hole. The green sits 55 feet below the tees and rock-lined Lyle Creek crosses the hole diagonally tee to green, providing a scenic and challenging golf hole.
-- Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Tournament course history