Tips for Playing
Hole #1 Short Fuse.
The first of three rather short par 4’s, which serve to get your game on track. Just keep the tee shot in play, and you should have a short iron to a sloped green.
Hole #2 Whistling Winds.
Hitting from just about the highest point on the course, wind direction will determine club selection. The landing area is pinched with bunkers right and left. The smart play is to lay back, and then a short iron to the long and angled green.
Hole #3 Eye Of The Needle.
The third is your last chance for an opening birdie but with water left and bunkers right, you must thread the needle to have a chance at a 3. Your tee shot should be positioned left and short of the three fairway bunkers. The short approach is to be hit cautiously as water waits back right.
Hole #4 Here We Go.
The course, in terms of scoring difficulty, starts here. Before you is the longest of the par 3’s. Be aware of wind direction. The green also demands your attention. Should you walk away with a 3 here, leave quickly.
Hole #5 Cathedral.
The tee shot for the 5th looks wide, but beyond the landing area awaits hardwood both left and right. A well struck tee shot will favor the left side of the fairway and leave you with a downhill approach shot to the beautifully framed green. Anything right is blocked by the trees.
Hole #6 Marsh Mellow.
The tees carefully rest between the canopy of trees and the wetland which you must carry. A wide landing area awaits your tee shot while the green is cradled in a classic punchbowl fashion.
Hole #7 Surf And Turf.
The shallow green is tightly guarded by deep bunkers and stately hardwoods as a backdrop. Pin position will determine the smart tee shot landing area. With the pin right, take the high left side of the split fairway. With the pin left, aim for the lower right fairway. Long hitters can blast away, right at the green. But avoid the fairway bunker at all costs.
Hole #8 Shepherd’s Hollow.
The short 8th is cut into a thick grove of trees which demands a well struck mid iron to the smallish two-tiered green. Check the wind and select the proper club, you need to be on the proper tier.
Hole #9 Snake Bite.
The closing par 5 plays out of a chute of trees to the open fairway. From the landing area you’ve got three options: Play right of the center fairway bunker for the easier second shot, but you’ll be looking at three greenside bunkers for a difficult third. Play left of the center fairway bunker for the more difficult second shot and the green opens up beautifully to receive the third. Kill it over the bunker and go for the green in two. Beware of false fronts on this green.
Hole #10 Morning Glory.
The par four 10th plays to an uphill landing area. Stay out of the deep bunker left. The approach shot is guarded by a deep greenside bunker and you must be on the correct tier.
Hole #11 Shepherd’s Haven
Beware of bunker right. Everything moves to the right once you reach this long ridged green.
Hole #12 Blind Draw.
The short uphill par 4 starts with you guessing where to hit your tee shot. The green lies 130 yards beyond the two fairway bunkers on the left. A draw played to the lower left fairway leaves a blind shot to this well protected green. Hit to the upper right fairway and you have a great view for your approach. Kill it and you could be on, in the bunkers or face a difficult downhill lie. The decisions are yours.
Hole #13 The Farm.
The long par 4 turns right off the fairway bunker. From the landing area a downhill mid-iron remains to a right to left sloping green.
Hole #14 Brute.
The advice here is just to hit it as hard and as long as you can and still keep your ball in play. The key shot, in spite of its length, is the 2nd shot. Do you attempt to carry the ditch on your second shot? If you play it safe, a very long 3rd shot remains.
Hole #15 Straight And Narrow.
Plays uphill from tee to green. Of special note is the green itself which falls off in every direction. The bunker short requires your undivided attention to proper club selection.
Hole #16 Watering Hole.
This shot is short and dangerous. Check the wind and don’t let this birdie opportunity get away from you.
Hole #17 Shepherd’s Crook.
The dogleg left, par 4 requires a tee ball to be carefully placed around the corner tree. The green is narrow and provides a deceptive yet alluring target.
Hole #18 Devil’s Ditch.
The long road home is a double dogleg par 5. Get your ball between the fairway bunkers and you’ve got a chance to carry the ditch on your second shot. If not, play for position to the landing area short of the ditch while watching the bunkers left. Long ball hitters — kill your tee ball over the left of the two right fairway bunkers, hit the downslope and run. The perched and devilish green is now vulnerable. Beware though, two false fronts.
