The Signature Hole Has Not Been Established

Garry Smits reports on Tom Fazio's latest masterwork, Florida's Amelia National (aren't we about to run out of names you can put next to National?).

You'll be shocked to learn that the course is going to be tough from the back tees, but still playable from the member tees.

"Tom did a very nice job," said 2005 Players Championship winner Fred Funk, who conducted a clinic and participated in an opening-day tournament, along with Fazio. "It's a very good test from the back tees, but it's also going to be a very good member's course."

According to Smits, the only thing left is a decision on the signature hole.

Although a "signature hole" hasn't been established, it might be the 460-yard, par-4 18th, with a series of fairway bunkers down the right side. But the par-5 ninth hole, reachable in two shots for good players, is a twisting, winding beauty, and the parallel par-4 fourth (424 from the back tees) and par-4 fifth (405) form a picturesque pairing.

 The American Society of Signature Hole Comittees (ASSHCom) will have a tough decision on their hands. I say give 'em two signatures, the front nine and the back nine signature holes.

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