Humans have names; stadiums, bridges, and tunnels have names. Bodies of water and race horses also have names. And, yes, even putting greens have names.
Arguably, the most noted international putting green with a name is the “Himalyas”, just a few steps from the St. Andrews Links clubhouse in Scotland.
Stateside, famous putting greens with monikers are “The Punchbowl” at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, “The Gauntlet” at Streamsong in Florida, “Thistle Dhu” in Pinehurst, North Carolina, “Cascades” at Gamble Sands in Washington, “The Hilltop” at Forest Dunes in Michigan, “The Drumlin” at Erin Hills and “The Dancefloor” at Geneva National, both in Wisconsin.
Locally, Deerpath’s putting green in Lake Forest is named “The Lawn”, and attaching a title on their new putting course, Vernon Hills Golf Course calls its green “The Back-9”.
Which brings us to the new sign announcing the official name of the spectacular practice putting green at Shepherd’s Crook in Zion – “The Bellwether”.
Since long ago, it has been common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, thereby designating it the lead sheep. This flock leader was historically called the bellwether, a word formed by a combination of the Middle English words ‘belle’ (meaning “bell”) and ‘wether’ (a noun that refers to a male sheep). Hence the large image of the animal on the Shepherd’s Crook sign.
A second definition of the word ‘bellwether’ is: ‘Anything that indicates future trends’. And this giant putting green is offered to the Shepherd’s Crook golfers before they begin their round as an example or indicator of the challenge that lies ahead on the eighteen firm and undulating greens in Zion.
The Bellwether practice green was unveiled on Saturday, September 2, 2023, and its dimensions are immense, measuring 90 yards long by 30 yards wide. That area’s total is more than 23,400 square feet. Mimicking the Crook’s eighteen real greens, the practice green has multiple ridges and undulations with an elevation change of 8 feet.
The Bellwether at Shepherd’s Crook
Conveniently located adjacent to the south end of the clubhouse, the practice green is a mere step or two from the cart path leading toward the hole number one tee.
For use as a warm-up and acclimation before the start of a round, a post-round need of fine-tuning (or perhaps complete re-tooling), or as a stand-alone practice session, the Crook’s Bellwether half-acre practice green can lead the way to an improved short game.
