WHEN Ernie Els says the final hole of his first golf course design can bring ruin to a round, he means it literally. The two-time US Open champion unveiled his first golf course design in Maryland Tuesday, featuring an 18th fairway that forks around the grey brick ruins of an old farmhouse. Els borrowed ideas from his favorite courses in Scotland and England as well as those where he captured major titles to create Whiskey Creek Golf Club, which opens on June 17 . ”We wanted to bring a flavor of the traditional designs,” Els said. ”I think we have achieved that. You have the opportunity to play a full range of shots and think about your strategy for each hole, not just bang the ball around.” The showpiece is the 547-yard 18th hole, a par-5 offering a chance to reach the green in two and keep a greenside pond out of play for those bold enough to risk a narrow landing zone left of the ruins in the heart of the fairway. ”It’s definitely our signature hole,” Els said. ”It’s definitely unique. You don’t see that much in the US or the world.” Els, who shared second behind Tiger Woods after Monday’s rain-delayed final round of the Memorial, will play in the PGA Kemper Open that starts Thursday in nearby Potomac. The event is played on a course adjacent to Congressional Country Club, where Els captured his second US Open title in 1997.