The front nine covers 964 steps, with holes ranging from 75 to 155 yards. Using different tee boxes, the back nine runs 1,261 yards, with the holes ranging from 87 to 198 yards. And there is a wide concrete cart path from start to finish. While you encounter six holes less than 100 yards in playing 18, you also face six that stretch 142 or more. There are also troublesome trees, a winding creek and an island hole.
Water comes into play on seven of the nine holes.
It is difficult, yet fun to play. It's a great place to hone a short game in the daytime or at night, and was an easy choice as The Dallas Morning News' unique course for the 2000 golf section. Along with my two partners, we did it all. Neither professionally educated in golf course design nor certified professionally, you might say Hartline is a master of nine. He is from a family of golf course operators that got its start with the acclaimed Wysong golfing physicians in McKinney more than four decades ago.