Well, as usual with rlslay’s courses, the first thing that you need to bring in with you is your... camera, and this par 72 is no exception, with its colorful trees, vegetation, lakes, ponds and creeks, as you will spend more time gazing at the landscape than playing the course itself !
This Hickory Knob State GC 2012, in fact, is an update of the Hickory Knob v2, released in 2008, and even though it is not rlslay’s toughest course, it is definitely another beauty.
My favorite hole on the front 9, besides the par-5 2nd, with a big lake splitting the fairway midway and an elevated green (slightly to the left), and the par-3 3rd hole, with its gorgeous view of a wide lake behind the green, is the superb left dogleg par-4 4th, with a lake on the left, an uphill tee shot and a second and blind shot way downhill over the lake to reach the green.
This course is rather short and has quite a few holes, where you might be tempted to try to reach the green with your driver, such as on the left dogleg par-4 5th, or on your second shot toward the green on the left dogleg par-5 8th, but strategically-placed bunkers will quickly dissuade you...
The back 9 starts with the right dogleg par-5 10th hole, with a lone tree in the middle, next to a tiny creek crossing the fairway, midway, leaving you with a tough choice if you want to gamble on your tee shot and try to hit it past the water.
The par-4 12th is a nice hole too, with a tee shot over a wide lake crossing the fairway, not too far from the tee box and a second shot over a small creek in front of the elevated green, just like the similar par-4 14th.
Then, after the left dogleg par-4 15th hole and its green, surrounded halfway by a creek in front (and on the left), and the right dogleg par-5 16th, with a big lake in front of the green, you will face the pretty par-3 17th, where you will need to hit a blind tee shot over a lake, with small bushes on the other bank, hiding the view of the green.
You will finish your round with the very scenic left dogleg par-4 18th hole, with its fairway hugging a big lake on the left (with a lone tree near the corner, midway), and a nice approach over the water toward the green, with a beautiful brick clubhouse behind.
And with nice attention to details (benches, gazebos, beautiful paths, etc.), this Hickory Knob State Park GC 2012 is another top-notch course, thanks to rlslay's beautiful design !

Thanks daflyboys for the kind words

The simple things do happen...keep designing

Very nice looking course...the 17th tee at pro level is NOT level... also the course did not play consistently from shot to shot. and i'v hit hundreds if not thousands of shots in all conditions. Now these are just my observations...please keep designing courses...Thanks

This is probably the ptretiest course made for TW08. Alot of hard work went into it. You are the master planter.

I have yet to rate a course 5 stars, and unfortunately did not here either. I wanted too, but the deep rough with out a cut rough, no fringes, and no bridges took it away :(

Picky I know but thats me. Still loved it.

...Bill

As usual, nowhere near enough comments - but those who bothered have summed it up perfectly. Again absolutely gorgeous, Rob...

MASTERPIECE..played dry breezy middle tee fair weather difficult pins...awesome...colorfultrees and bushes...gr8 job planting yhem..nice greens...hiy fairway or penalized...love it..god job on buildings and benches too...really adds to it...one of the best i have played...u designers amaze me...thanx for the effort

Your usual first class work yet again Rob, thanks very much for another beautiful design.

Jacka. hole 7 is my fav!

Agree with all comments.
Right up there with all the excellent designs of late.
The first par three is my favourite hole.
Enjoyed the walk.

I was mesmerised by the view from the first tee and the good news is that the rest of the course is of the same ilk. Can't list all the superlatives. Five plus stars from me.