Haas has his favorites When Haas thinks of Glen Oaks, one hole comes to mind.
“I think No. 5 is a beautiful hole,” he said. The 195-yard par 3, with a creek running down the right side and a green framed by trees, also is spectator-friendly. The hillside left of the green is one of the most popular gathering spots during tournament week. “To me, No. 5 would be a good hole no matter what course it was on,” Haas said. “You could put it on Winged Foot, Medinah, Riviera, anywhere, and it would just blend right in.” There are other holes that Haas, a dabbling architect himself, really admires. “The par-3 16th, I really like that hole,” Haas said. “It’s a beautiful hole. I like the 12th. The tee shot at No. 8, I think, is a difficult tee shot. But it’s a pretty hole, with all those native grasses. No. 17 is the most difficult hole, without question. But it wouldn’t be my favorite hole.” The numbers don’t lie No. 17 is nobody’s favorite. In the seven years the tournament has been held at Glen Oaks, the par-4 17th has been the most difficult hole six times. The lone exception came in 2004, when it limped in as the second-toughest. The hole has produced 477 bogeys or worse, just 130 birdies. Only two of the seven winners at Glen Oaks have played the hole even par. “There’s been a lot of drama on No. 17 over the years,” said Ken Schall, the director of golf at Glen Oaks. “This year will probably be the same.” The fairway at 17, nicknamed “Double Trouble,” slopes left to right, but the hole plays right to left. It was the scene of the most pivotal swing in tournament history. In 2006, Loren Roberts brought a two-shot lead to the tee. He left the green trailing eventual winner Gil Morgan by a shot. After a wayward drive, Roberts made a double bogey. Morgan rolled in a 35-footer for birdie. “There should be a hole, late in the round, that really challenges you on the drive,” Roberts said, three years later. Roberts, playing in his third Principal Charity Classic this week, is 21 under par in six official rounds at Glen Oaks. He’s 4 over on No. 17. No. 18, another par 4, follows. “I love 18,” Schall said. “It has a classic finishing hole look to it, going uphill with the clubhouse behind it. You’ve got to hit two great shots on that hole, too. And once you get to the green, your business isn’t over.” But the heart and soul of Glen Oaks is its four par-3 holes, starting at No. 2. “That is the beginning of an incredible collection of par 3s at Glen Oaks,” Schall said. The second hole has ranked first, second or third four times on a list of toughest holes on tournament week. The fifth has been ranked among the five toughest holes in five tournaments. And No. 14 has ranked among the seven toughest holes six times. Only No. 16 has been relatively kind to golfers.
The public eyeAs Jeff McClaran races around Glen Oaks during tournament play, he gets envious as he passes fans sitting and soaking in the action. “There are definitely times when I think it would be nice to kick back and watch,” said McClaran, a volunteer and the tournament operations chair. “Especially at No. 5, where you can get in the shade and watch some golf.” You might find Donald Bishop there. He’s been a loyal fan of the Principal Charity Classic, and often the first one through the gate when it opens. He’s missed just one tournament. “I like to watch the players practice and prepare for the round,” said Bishop, of West Des Moines. “And I’m an autograph nut.” Bishop had never attended a golf tournament until the 1999 U.S. Senior Open at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club, the event that told the PGA Tour that an annual event here might not be a bad thing. “I got to meet Arnold Palmer,” Bishop said. “That was a treat. It gave me chills.” Bishop likes to walk with a select pairing until he gets tired. Then you might find him at No. 5, or the par-3 16th. “And No. 9 is pretty good,” Bishop said. Wherever he lands, Bishop plans to add to his autograph collection. “You’re not a kiddin’,” he said.