Course Layout
Front Nine
Hole 1
A fantastic opening hole!
A wide open tee shot invites a driver off this straight-a-way par 4. A decent drive that avoids the pond short left and the fescue rough on the right will leave a mid to short iron onto the largest green on the golf course.
The green does slope significantly from back-to-front, so keep your approach below the hole to enjoy a chance at a great opening birdie!
Hole 2
This long dogleg par 5 is one of the most difficult holes on the course!
A long accurate drive will best set up what many consider the hardest shot on the golf course, the second shot on #2.
As the fairway narrows with a bunker placed on the right and a stream under the tree line on the left, the second shot must find the short grass to leave a short iron approach.
The large and receptive green slopes from back-to-front and is protected by bunkers in front and on both sides so knowing your distance to the flag is crucial to assure a solid chance at par.
Hole 3
The second par 5 in as many holes, this uphill dogleg left is reachable for longer hitters if their drive can reach, or get past, the hill.
Trees on both sides keep accuracy at a premium, and while most will lay up to their favorite distance, those enticed to go for it will look to use the slightly downhill fairway that leads to another large green.
Be wary of the greenside bunker on the right which comes into play on long approach shots, as well as being above the hole on yet another green that slopes from back-to-front.
Take advanatage of this birdie opportunity as some of the next holes will provide much tougher tests.
Hole 4
One of Brunswick’s signature holes, this long par 3 hole #4 is easy on the eyes, but not on the golf game!
The large pond begins in the front of the tee boxes and runs along the entire right side of the hole. Trees and bunkers protect this large green’s front and left. Be sure to pay attention to the flag for pin placement as well as wind, as it may differ than what you feel at the tee.
Hitting this green is always a better-than-average shot, and par is always a better-than-average score.
Hole 5
While it’s distance may not intimidate you, this par 3’s surroundings should!
Protected by the pond on the right and bunkers in the front and to the left, an accurate short iron is still required to ensure a par or legitimate shot at birdie.
Be sure to pay attention to the break of your putt, as the subtle slope towards the pond can lead to misreads and missed opportunities.
Hole 6
Without question the hardest hole on the golf course (for men,and even for the ladies who play it as a par 5), this long dogleg right par 4 demands length and accuracy off the tee.
Even with a fantastic drive, most are left with an approach that is unreachable, or requiring a strong fairway wood, hybrid or long iron onto the green.
While the green is receptive and unprotected in the front, putts are often missed when not enough break is played or the deceiving back-to-front slope is not respected.
A par or bogey on #6 is a score to be very happy with — a birdie on #6 is a score you’ll tell your grandkids about!
Hole 7
A driver may be too much club on this downhill par 4 that doglegs to the right.
Scattered trees and a fairway bunker on the right, and thick forest (and hazard) on the left, make accuracy more important than distance.
A 200-220 yard tee shot will leave a mid or short iron onto a relatively flat, but small, green that is protected by a false front and bunkers on both sides.
The one place not to miss on this approach is long, where a steep slope runs away from the green and into a lateral hazard. Good course management on this hole will always lead to chances at par and even birdie!
Hole 8
While this straight par 4 invites you to grip and rip it off the tee, a wayward drive could find out-of-bounds on the left or thick fescue on the right.
A solid tee shot will leave a very manageable distance onto this very large green. This is important as the green is very well protected by bunkers on all sides and out-of-bounds long.
Here’s a hint for making an easy par or elusive birdie: do not play too much break on #8’s green as it slopes ever so slightly from back-to-front but many birdie putts have been missed by over-reading the putting surface.
Hole 9
This par 5 might test every club you have in your bag!
Depending on what tees you play, anything from a driver to a long iron could be the play off the tee. Out of bounds runs along the left side of the hole, and the hazard on the right forces an extremely accurate drive. Longer hitters may be tempted to go for the green (either around the two big trees or though “the gap”), but laying up to the 150-yard marker is always the smartest play.
A two-tiered monster of a green awaits your approach in front of the clubhouse and over the beautiful fountain and pond. To have any chance of making a putt, be sure to land on the correct tier which slopes severely from back to front.
Back Nine
Hole 10
The first tee shot of the back nine requires accuracy on this straight, but narrow, par 4.
There’s still work left for par even after a good drive, as the green sits up on an elevated peninsula. Be sure not to miss long or left. The green does have a right-to-left slope that can come into play with certain pin placements, but overall the green is rather flat, and good approaches are often rewarded with reasonable chances at birdie!
Hole 11
This downhill par 3 plays truer to it’s yardage than you might expect.
The elevated tee box does factor in your club selection, but very often a headwind will force you to play more club than originally planned.
With bunkers on both sides and the cart path to #12 running behind the green, the only safe miss is directly short of the green. Once on the putting surface be wary of significant break on various portions of the green. Par is never a bad score on this classic Wayne Stiles par 3.
Hole 12
What you see is what you get on this short par 4.
While most will choose a driver to try and find the rather wide fairway, fescue on both sides of the hole can catch miss-hit tee shots. The approach is deceivingly difficult, with a firm green protected by a false front and bunkers on both sides.
The green slopes from right-to-left on the front portion so landing short and right of the flag usually leads to very good chances at birdie!
Hole 13
This lengthy par 4 has a Scottish feel with multiple mounds taking up a bulk of the fairway.
A narrow chute can be intimidating off the tee, especially with out of bounds threatening to the left and a line of trees guarding the right side.
The approach can be tricky as the fairway does help by sloping towards the green but many “bump and run” approaches seem to run to the back of this back-to-front sloped green. Getting up and down or a two-putt par is something to walk away content with.
Hole 14
A long par 4 for men, which plays as a par 5 for ladies, this fantastic hole welcomes a driver off of the tee, as distance is extremely important for success!
Avoid the trees on the right and forest on the left, you will still be left with a long approach that brings multiple bunkers into play.
The miss is definitely to the right, but even then you’ll be left with a tough pitch or chip onto a green that has a steady back-to-front and right-to-left slope.
Ladies and men both should strive for a five, anything better will usually be better than most!
Hole 15
The last par 3 of your round, this seemingly straight-forward hole cannot be overlooked.
Due to wind and a bit of a false front, many tee shots seem to land short. Choose your club wisely and avoid the bunkers short right and left. The green slopes towards the middle on both sides and is especially slick sloping back-to-front in the front half.
Birdies can be made, but par should not be assumed.
Hole 16
Another Scottish-inspired hole, this par 5 is reasonable in length, but brings wind and fescue rough into play throughout the hole.
The line of trees on the right can come into play off the tee, but most will still choose a driver. A long tee shot that reaches the crest of the fairway mound (or over it) will allow longer hitters to try and reach the green in two.
Regardless of its length, #16’s green provides a challenge in it’s protection (greenside bunker short left and a large blinding mound short right) and unique slope.
The only green that slopes front-to-back on the golf course, it also has a significant left-to-right slope. This often can cause a reasonable birdie putt to turn into a tester for par.
Hole 17
The original finishing hole back in 1898, this short par 4 doglegs left and has a fairway bunker that sometimes comes into play.
While some still choose to hit a driver and leave themselves with a short approach uphill, the smart play may be to leave yourself with a full iron onto a very undulating green.
There are two severe slopes on #17’s green, in the front and to the right. Place your approach shot accordingly and find yourself with a decent chance at birdie!
Hole 18
Originally played as #1, this long par 4 invites you to hit a driver into this wide, links-styled, fairway.
Tree lined on both sides with some fescue to the right, long and accurate tee shots will still need a mid to long iron approach over a large mound to the green.
The extra-tall pin is usually the only reference to the green, and its location can be crucial. A turtle-back green with a false front and a banana-shaped backside bunker puts accuracy on the approach at a premium.
Finish your round with a par and consider the day a success!