Golf Course

South Hills starts with a relatively short, straightaway par 4. But don’t let the yardage fool you, this hole is full of trouble. A fairway bunker guards each side of the fairway narrowing the landing zone for the longer hitter. The green has two bunkers short and one long, requiring precise distance control on the approach.

The number three handicap hole is one of the trickier on the course. A drive positioned on the left side of the fairway will give the golfer the best angle into the green. If the golfer is able to hit this green in two par is no guarantee. The green slopes severely from back to front, and staying below the pin is a must.

The first par 3 on the course is a unique hole. A large tree guards the left side of the putting surface obstructing any poorly hit shot in that direction. A well place shot will give the golfer an excellent chance at birdie.

The first par 5 on the golf course can present quite a challenge but also reward good play. Avoiding one of the three fairway bunkers is a must for success. The long hitters may have a shot at this green in two with the prevailing wind at their backs. The small green is best approached with a short iron or wedge and staying below the pin is a must.

This long par 3 is a good test of golf for even the best players. The tee shot plays longer than the yardage due to it being uphill and into a prevailing wind. Once the golfer is on the putting green don’t let the relatively flat surface fool you, three putts are plentiful.

The sixth hole is a big par 5 that offers many different options. A lake guards the fairway and is reachable from the tee for the long hitters. The second shot is played over the lake to a wide fairway. Golfers will want to keep the ball on the right side of the fairway as this provides a flat lie and the best angle into the green. Golfers want to stay below this pin with the green sloping from back to front.

Hole seven is a short dogleg left par 4 that plays slightly longer than the yardage. The tee shot needs to be placed on the right side of the fairway as anything hit on the left will have an obstructed view to the green. Controlling the distance on the approach can be difficult hitting up the hill and into the prevailing wind. If a golfer can get on this green in two they have a great chance at birdie.

This short par 5 can produce a birdie just as easily as a double bogey. The first two shots need to be played well in order to set up the approach. A lake guards the front of the green which does not have much bail out area. An approach from left of the lake opens up the right side of the green. Ideally the golfer will want to stay below the pin, however with the lake looming so close to the front edge of the green this is rarely the case.

The number one handicapped hole will challenge even the best golfers. Ideally a draw is played off the tee of this narrow dogleg left. If one is lucky enough to find the fairway they are now faced with one of the most difficult approach shots on the course. This small undulating green requires a precise shot in order to stay on the correct level. Once on the putting the surface the undulations can provide for some exciting long putts and knee knocking short ones.

Don’t let the beauty of this hole fool you, it has bite. The water feature left and short of this green may offer a stunning backdrop but it also brings into play double bogey. For those looking to bail outright they are faced with a large bunker and out of bounds right of that. If your ball happens to find the putting surface you will be rewarded with a chance at birdie on this gently sloping green.

This short dogleg left par 4 requires precision. The fairway bends left while sloping to the right requiring exact placement off the tee. Approaching this green up the hill requires a quality shot. Bunkers short left and a bunker right guard the green and will penalize any wayward shots.

Playing as the most difficult hole on the back 9, number twelve offers a number of different challenges. The overall length of the hole is the biggest challenge, while a thick grove of trees down the left hand side will penalize a wayward shot. The approach to this green also poses challenges starting with the likelihood of the ball being above your feet. Bunkers surrounding the green will penalize a poor approach shot.

A good tee shot here can make or break the hole. The average golfer will hit short of the steep hill in the fairway which will funnel the ball to the left leading to a semi blind second shot. But don’t wander too far left as you will be penalized in the trees. Longer hitters will be able to hit their tee shots on top of the hill onto the flat with a good view of the green. This putting surface slopes severely from back to front so staying below the pin is a must.

This long uphill par 5 will test all golfers. The tee shot is no walk on the park; with out of bounds right and trouble left finding the fairway is key. From there the hole opens up and proper placement of the ball to set up the approach is important. Staying below this pin is essential as the green slopes severely from back to front. Three putts are common place here.

This long par three plays into the prevailing wind and is one of the more difficult tests on the course. Getting on this green in one shot is quite an accomplishment but if that is the case a good score is no guarantee. The two tiered green slopes from back to front and will test the best putters. Par on this hole can feel like birdie.

This downhill par 4 starts the road back to the clubhouse. The tee shot is played downhill into a generous fairway. For the downhill second shot proper club selection is essential. Bunkers guard right and left of the green and out of bounds is long. This is often considered the most difficult putting surface on the course and staying below the pin is once again a requirement.

This picturesque par 3 requires plenty of strategy from the tee box. Large bunkers guard the green right and left while the green slopes from left to right. A well placed tee shot will land left of the target and funnel towards the pin, however stray to far left and golfers will be faced with an extremely difficult up and down. This hole is often the pivotal point in a match.

The longest hole on the course sets the stage for an exciting finish. Out of bounds looms all along the right side of the hole inviting even the straightest of hitters. Upon the approach golfers are welcomed to a wide fairway that slopes from right to left often leading to an awkward stance. Once on this putting surface many golfers are deceived by the subtle undulations often leaving wondering what happened.