Located on a 650 acre estate that used to be a retreat for Diamond Jim Brady and his family as well as a former home of the United States Equestrian Team Hamilton Farm Golf Club features hilly terrain mature trees meandering creeks and high fescue rough The design team of Dr Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry created the 7,140 yard par 72 Highlands Course in 1998 They also built the 18 hole Hickory Course which has the distinction of being the only par 3 design in the United States to have an official rating by the USGA The 451 yard par 4 6th hole is a typical example of the holes on the Highlands Course Called Bull Barn it requires players to hit their drive into generous but semi blind landing zone while there is lots of room to the right the fairway drops down and to the left around three large bunkers From there players must hit off a downhill lie to a green that has several large mounds Shots which land short will likely funnel toward the green but players choosing to attack the flag bring a large bunker on the right into play The Bull Barn itself is just five yards behind the green on the left and plays as an immovable obstruction Safe play often yields pars and nothing worse than a bogey but aggressive play can earn birdies or land the golfer in serious trouble Three of the four par 3s are over 200 yards in length with the third hole called Reach extending 242 yards While the 533 yard par 5 11th hole might seem like a scoring change for a big hitter on paper the hole named Carry plays entirely uphill Players who dare to go for the green in two must not only a powerful tee shot but also a fairway wood approach over a cavernous bunker that guards the left and center portions of the green Players who choose to play the hole as a traditional three shotter can safely reach the putting surface by working down the wide open right side of the fairway Although native grasses line many of the fairways and water features on the course the fairways and greens are 100 Bent grass The course is kept firm and fast and often the greens roll at 12 or higher on the Stimpmeter