Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, site of the LPGA Drive On Championship presented by Volvik, features eight tribute holes, replicas of well-known holes from historic courses around the world. They include No. 4 (the “Postage Stamp” at Royal Troon, No. 8), No. 5 (Muirfield No. 9), No. 6 (Augusta National No. 16), No. 11 (Augusta National No. 12), No. 12 (Augusta National No. 13), No. 13 (Old Course at St. Andrews No. 17), No. 14 (Old Course at St. Andrews No. 1) and No. 15 (Baltusrol No 4). LPGA Tour players find them enjoyable because of how familiar they feel.
“The Postage Stamp, it was actually really funny,” Korda said of the Royal Troon tribute par-3. “We played (Troon) last year. I did not hit that green once at (AIG Women’s Open) and was probably in every bunker possible.
“I've never actually really been out to Augusta and I've never played St. Andrews,” Korda said. “Someday I'll go to those golf courses and be like, ‘Oh, this is a replica of Ocala.’”
Laura Davies’ favorite was the 11th, a near perfect design replica of the par-3 12th at Augusta National, sans the bentgrass greens and Augusta Country Club in the background.
“I think 11 for us, the 12th at Augusta, it's so lifelike,” Davies said. “I've only stood on it once playing. I've stood there many a time watching the guys, but it is so similar it's frightening. It's very frightening actually.”
Co-leader Austin Ernst, tied for first along with American Tour player Jennifer Kupcho, said of the holes, “They did a really good job with a few of them. This is my third time coming here, but think 11 and 12 out here, which are 12 and 13 at Augusta, I've never played Augusta, but they at least look like it. I've asked a couple girls that played the Augusta National Women's Amateur and they said the only difference is 13 at Augusta, the green's a little bit more severe than 12 here.”
Kupcho was one of those women who played at Augusta National. Posting back-to-back 67’s, Kupcho found herself feeling slightly different than the other players.
“They are very similar (to the originals) and the look is definitely very similar,” Kupcho said. “But I think I'm more nervous playing them now than I was (playing the originals) back then.”
)
)
)
)
