Blackhawk

As was the case with his mentor Pete Dye, architect Rod Whitman isn’t afraid to reshape the land when a site calls for it. But Whitman barely moved any dirt at all when he built Blackhawk on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The opening nine plays up to a plateau, followed by a brilliant back side that returns golfers to the river valley. Highlights include the majestic 11th, a 590-yard par-5 that drops more than 100 feet from tee to green, and the picturesque 12th, a charming par-3 that forces players to carry their tee shot over a river inlet. Most golfers know Whitman for his work at Cabot Links, but Blackhawk’s minimalist brilliance is evidence that he should have been on our radar long ago. Max fee: $125 (Photo: Courtesy)