Hole #8 on the MacKenzie course is a tricky par 4 that highlights Alister MacKenzie’s deceptive course design.
Alister MacKenzie is one of the most famous golf course designers in history. Serving as a surgeon in World War I, he learned how create optical illusions in a landscape through trench warfare. He later used this knowledge when he designed golf courses, creating holes that are often trickier than they first appear. The Alister MacKenzie course at Haggin Oaks is no exception, with the #8 hole exemplifying his deceptive design.
The fairway on #8 curves slightly to the left. Most golfers would naturally aim down the right side of the fairway to set up a good approach shot—but there’s a catch! A large oak tree sits on the right side of the fairway, catching balls that naively aimed to the right. It’s better to aim towards the left center of the fairway and avoid this oak entirely.
Once in the fairway, Alister’s deception is at play again. To the untrained eye, the green will appear to be right beyond the front-facing bunker. If you play it how it looks, you will likely land further from the pin that you expected (or even in the bunker itself!). The green is actually a fair distance beyond the bunker. Make sure to measure the distance to the pin with your rangefinder and use the right club accordingly.
Once you’re on the green, it’s important to remember that the green is slightly sloped from left to right. Depending on the position of the pin, you will want to adjust your aim to compensate for the ball curving towards the right side of the green.
If you follow these tips, you should find yourself making par or better on #8 on the MacKenzie Course! Make sure to subscribe to MortonGolfSales for future videos on how to play the MacKenzie course.
