I am an average golfer who plays between seven to 10 rounds per year. I enjoy the game of golf because of the challenge of the game along with the enjoyment of being outdoors with friends.

Golf is the most difficult game I know, yet it always seems to allow you to hit just enough good shots to keep you coming back for more. One great shot makes up for a lot of average or poor swings.

I learned early on in life that if you were not a scratch golfer by the time you are 16, you will never make any money at it, so just enjoy the game. Golf is something to be enjoyed by all ages and there are courses almost anywhere you might want to golf.

For the average golfer to enjoy the round, the suggested tees are the white tees. Prior to playing, I was informed the Lakes course tends to feature bunkers short on the right side of the fairways and long on the left side. Going into my round, my goal was not only to keep the ball in play, but to avoid the more than 100 bunkers on the course. I was going to attempt to hit my tee shots toward the left bunkers, hoping to have a nice approach into the green.

The day started off nicely with a tee shot down the middle/right part of the fairway. From here, I hit long into the green and found myself in a tough spot with no shot as I was in thick rough having to hit downhill to the green. This hole definitely needs to be played to the front part of the green.

I found No. 3 to be an enjoyable hole. This hole is a dog leg right with water down the right side of the fairway. On the far side of the fairway bend is a strategically placed bunker that was just daring me. I was able to hit my tee shot just to the right of the bunker setting me up for a nice approach shot slightly over water. Unfortunately, my second shot came up just short hitting the rocks and dropping into the water. The second shot on this hole needs to be played to the left of the green as everything seems to roll right, toward the water.

Playing the white tees paid off on hole No. 4, which was the first par 3. I hit into the middle of the green and made par. On hole No. 6, the fairway appears very narrow. I was able to hit my tee shot over the bunkers on the right side to see a fairway that opens up nicely. My second shot was played to the left, as there is water on the right and I noticed the hole seems to slope toward the water.

The back nine plays shorter than the front nine, and at least on this day, appeared to have more open greens for approach shots than the front nine. Hole No. 13 was interesting. It appeared at first to be a hole you might want to try and reach the green on your tee shot. Upon further review, going for the green on this short dog leg right was too daring a shot. I would have likely just ended up in the wetlands. I played the ball just right of the fairway bunkers which turned out to be a good shot, as the fairway in front of the green was narrow and bumpy. The pin placement was behind the bunker, making my approach shot more difficult.

The final par 3 is No. 17. This is a beautiful hole, all carry over water. I was again happy to be playing the white tees, as the blue tees would have put my tee shot at 221. I do not have that club in my bag.

Playing from the white tees was very enjoyable. The course seemed on the shorter side due to playing these tees, but as I was informed, I was glad when we hit the par threes. What I found enjoyable was being able to hit my short irons into the green as opposed to hitting a long iron and hoping to hit the green and then continuing to hope my ball would stay on the green.

As I found out, there was plenty of sand on the course. What I did not expect was the pin placements for the day were strategically placed to make the holes enjoyable but challenging. Many of the holes made you play over the bunkers to the green which made me glad I was hitting my short irons. The course was in very good shape for this early in the season and was greening up nicely. The greens were of average speed and were very readable.

This course is beautiful, and challenging. I recommend Red Hawk Lakes to average golfers and above. The course is challenging and requires accurate shots.

If you would like us to feature a course, please send your recommendation to smikkelson@dailysparkstribune.com