Moore's Mill, Auburn, Ala.

Bring your shoehorn and lucky penny to Moore's Mill. This place is tight and full of treachery.

This course, opened in 2001, challenges a player's technical side with countless ravines, marshes and tight fairways. Though it plays at 6,871 yards from the tips, Moore's Mill is not a longball hitter's delight. If you can't hit it straight, your dead meat. Plain and simple. It's like a narrow, winding country road with plenty of scenery along the way. Don't mash the gas and overplay your shots or you'll be adding plenty of penalty strokes to the scorecard.

Built as a public course taking club memberships, Moore's Mill has become semi-private. Part of the exclusive Honours Golf family of courses, memberships are becoming limited.

For those of us not into dishing out a few thousand bucks for an initiation fee, it's best to play Moore's Mill as a member guest. Guest rates for 18 holes is $80 on weekends and $50 on weekdays.

Located near Ogletree Village and the Grove Hill subdivisions just south of Interstate 85, this course is slowly becoming populated by upscale homes. However, these scenic real estate beauties in no way interfere with a round of golf. One would have to be a horrific player to shank a Top Flite through a window. Despite a few high society homesteads, Moore's Mill lies in a very natural setting.

Fairways are lined with creeks, ravines and trees, with some undulation. Landscaping borders on the immaculate with a number of classy rock walls near select greens. Greens are well-kept and challenging.

The difficulty in Moore's Mill lies in its unforgiving nature. With obstacles right and left, one cannot afford to hit the ball anything but straight. Also, there are many instances which the player should lay up. Navigate this place with caution until you've mastered the joint. One bit of breathing room comes in the form of bunkers, or lack thereof. Eighteen holes bring just 28 sand traps and only two holes, the second and fourth, with fairway bunkers.

You get a feel for Moore's Mill's thin nature right off of the first tee, a 529-yard par 5. A narrow fairway, with a creek down the left side and small "fairway pond" to the right offers an excellent shot at a mulligan on your first shot. The fairway actually narrows the closer you arrive to the green.

Whereas the par 3 fifth hole (168 yards) and par 4 sixth (390 yards) offer an abundance of water, its the par 4 eighth (550 yards) that creates frustration. Long holes bring out the heavy hitters in most. That can be a problem here. Don't hit it too far off the tee or you'll plow right into the water, which splits the fairway.

The back nine is equally as scenic and challenging. Another tough hole is the par 5, 522-yard 13th. The landing area off the tee isn't as tight as some, but a hook will send your ball into a muddy creek and a slice will put you into the trees. What you decide to do on your second shot greatly depends on how you hit your first. The creek eventually splits the fairway ahead, forcing you to either lay up or take a daring chance and go for the green. A perfect risk/reward situation.

Moore's Mill's finishing hole (par 4, 447 yards) is as difficult as it is picturesque. The old-school English style cobblestone clubhouse rests beyond the 18th green, giving the hole a St. Andrews look. Don't get lulled by its beauty, though. Another darn winding creek awaits roughly 350 yards from the tee. If the tee shot isn't strong, the player must again decide to either lay up or go for the gusto.

In all, Moore's Mill is among the most challenging courses in east Alabama and could very well rival any Robert Trent Jones course for difficulty.

Aside from playing 18, Moore's Mill offers one of the most advanced golf instruction facilities in the state for all ages.

For more on this club, visit its Web site at http://www.mooresmillclub.com/

Rating (1 to 10)

Amenities: Excellent putting green, nice driving range, top of the line golf school, well-stocked pro shop with attractive clubhouse make this place stand out. Score -- 10

Value: For $50 on weekdays or $80 on weekends, it's on the high end of affordability, and you can get on only if you're a guest of a member. However, you get what you pay for, if you're paying for challenging golf on an excellent course. The difficulty lies in actually getting on the course. Those darn private clubs! Score -- 5.

Fun: Depends. If you're really good and want a challenge, you've got one. If you're an Average Joe and don't need a confidence-killer, it can be frustrating. Fun here is up to the person. Score -- 7.

Conditions: Primo. Of course, I figure it's easier to manage out of bounds areas when they are wetlands rather than woodlands. Fairways in great condition. So were the greens. Score -- 8.

Difficulty: It's tight. It's got water. It makes you think. Grip it, rip it, close your eyes and pray. Greens not as difficult as other joints. Fairways make up for that. Score -- 9.

Overall: It's a shame that few can enjoy this place due to its exclusive clientel, but that's the nature and right of private clubs. Architects made great use of the wetlands and built in a few forgiving holes to make up for the triple bogeys. Score -- 7.8