MAKANDA - Despite extreme drought conditions, participants in the Class A girls state golf championship will find outstanding playing conditions at Stone Creek.

"It is in the best condition I've ever seen it," said club professional Adam Shasteen. "It will be optimum playing conditions. The greens right now are the best I've ever seen them.

"We've had a rough summer weather-wise, but the superintendent and maintenance crew have done an absolutely wonderful job."

Players will also find something of a cantankerous course that can challenge course management skills. "Length never hurts, but it's not set up so that length is a huge factor," Shasteen said. "Length is something nice to have, but definitely golf management around this place.

"There are places to miss and there are places you can't miss. You have to construct your game around knowing where you can miss on a hole and where you can't."

It won't take golfers long to find that out.

The second tee presents a real challenge. A par 4 with a severe dog-leg left, the shallow fairway and green are protected by a line of mature trees.

"You have to hit it past the corner, but you can't go too far past the corner and get it out in the rough," Shasteen said. "For a few of the girls, not very many, there is a small percentage that can take a direct line over the trees, but not many of them attempt that.

"That's a risk-reward shot. You hit into an elevated green. It's pretty quick. Everything kind of runs away. The ball tends to skip coming in there. In years past, I've noticed the scores kind of reflect that."

The same types of issues will confront players on Nos. 13 and 18. No. 13 features a narrow, elevated green while 18 is lined by a lake on the right and there is out of bounds near the green.

"Generally, 13 is a real struggle," Shasteen said. "You hit into a narrow, elevated green. You have to be able to hit a high shot that lands soft and they generally have to hit a longer iron, so they have some trouble there."

Being familiar with the course is a real plus.

"Any of the local schools, if Anna or Metropolis make it, it's an advantage," Shasteen said. "They've seen the golf course for a few years now. They have course knowledge that is invaluable."

In past state tournaments, participants played the back nine as the front and the front as the back. Shasteen said the purpose was to have the tournament finish right behind the golf course. That won't be done this year.

"It got to be so confusing," he said.

However, there will be a couple changes on the course.

"The golf course actually does change," Shasteen said. "No. 4, for the daily fee player, is a par 4. The girls will play it from the back tees and they'll play it as a par 5.

"No. 8, for a daily fees player, plays as a par 5. We put the tees up across the water and they play it as a par 4. Those are the only differences."

les.winkeler@thesouthern.com / 351-5088@thesouthern.com / 351-5088