Lake Course Layout

This 185-yard par 3 will test your nerves when starting your Lake nine. The hole seems so simple being straight away without any hazards, but there is very little margin for error. Trees line both sides of the hole and the green is extremely narrow. It slopes toward the front left corner and almost any putt you have will break considerably. Missing short and left of the green will give you the best chance to chip up and get your par. Never miss long or right and always try to stay below the hole. Keep in mind that a bogey here will not kill your round with the many birdie opportunities on the lake, so don’t take a hot head to the next tee where there is a forced carry over water.

The fairway on this short, 347-yard par 4 is very wide. Unfortunately you must either bail out to the right or carry your shot 190 yards over water. If you hit a driver to have a shorter approach into the green, lay off of it a little or you may find the creek that crosses the fairway 285 yards from the tee. The best shot is right to left starting at the left side of the mound and finishing on line with the bridge leading to the green. Your approach is another forced carry over water with a short iron. Here you will see a lot of people bailing out to the right. This will not only keep your shot out of the water, but also leave you with an uphill chip. The green is very wide and shallow, so it is crucial to hit the right club. Long is of course better then short in the water, but is not a simple up and down. Also keep in mind that swinging hard at a wedge may result in your shot spinning back off of the green into the water. When putting keep in mind that the green feeds back toward the water. Birdie takes two very gutsy shots.

This 484-yard par five plays much longer than it reads on the card since it doglegs severely to the right. It will take two perfect shots to get on this green in two. Your tee shot may be a little scary since there is a 200-yard carry over water. It is best to hit the ball from left to right around the huge oak tree in the center of the fairway. The landing area is very wide, but don’t miss left, because the pond lines this side of the hole. If you choose to lay up, the fairway stays very wide until you get inside of 100 yards, where it narrows out to less than 15 yards leading to the green. From here you will have a downhill shot into a very tiny green. Never go right or you will have a downhill chip from a down slope to a green that is fast and moves away. It is best to be short and left to have an uphill shot to the hole.

At 336 yards, this par 4 is a great birdie opportunity. It is vital that your shot be as far right in the fairway as possible. This makes every pin position accessible on your approach. The best shot may be to aim at the center of the fairway and move an iron from left to right toward the right side. This will leave you with a wedge into the green. If you miss a little left from the tee you will have to hit into the right side of the green to avoid the willow oak that overhangs the green on the front left. Never go long, because a creek crosses behind the green. This hole requires two accurate shots, but can give way to a good score.

This straight-away par 3 is only 159 yards. You are hitting into the largest green on the course. It is very flat and easy to make putts on, so birdie is a very good possibility. Just make sure that you don’t hit short of the green in the hazard that crosses in front. Don’t be surprised if you miss your shot slightly and it takes a hard kick from the fringe toward the trees that surround the hole. The green is elevated and crowned in order to send those errant shots into trouble. Finally, make sure to take into account the flag position, because from the back tee on this large green your shot can play as short as 140 yards or as long as 170.

This straight-away par 3 is only 159 yards. You are hitting into the largest green on the course. It is very flat and easy to make putts on, so birdie is a very good possibility. Just make sure that you don’t hit short of the green in the hazard that crosses in front. Don’t be surprised if you miss your shot slightly and it takes a hard kick from the fringe toward the trees that surround the hole. The green is elevated and crowned in order to send those errant shots into trouble. Finally, make sure to take into account the flag position, because from the back tee on this large green your shot can play as short as 140 yards or as long as 170.

Lake #7 is a 473-yard par 5 that gives you a great opportunity to get a birdie. A drive just left of the right fairway trap that clears the cart path will leave you with just over 200 yards to the green. The green slopes from back to front sharply, so try to be below the hole. A good bailout is right of the hole, because a deep bunker guards the left side. It is usually better to go for the green than lay up, even if you cannot reach, because a pond and sand trap surround a narrow fairway around 100 yards. If you can fly these obstacles, there will be a much wider landing area. With the hole being so short, you have a great opportunity to leave a short birdie putt. This is usually how most good scores are made, because Lake #7’s green is very quick and breaks a mile.

This 167-yard par 3 can be lengthened to as much as 190 yards, so pay careful attention to the yardage markers on the tee. It can be very difficult to put your tee shot close on this two-tiered green, because of its horseshoe shape. Only a narrow gap is provided to bounce the ball on to the green. Any shots missed just left will be kicked down a steep bank where you will be left with a tricky uphill chip. Shots missed right are kicked into a bunker or even a small pond lining the fairway, so the player that can hit a middle iron very high will have a distinct advantage here. The good news is that by leaving yourself on the same level as the pin you will have a flat putt for birdie. This is one of those holes that rewards a solid play to the middle of the green with a very makeable putt.

This is the tightest driving hole on the course. The 390-yard par 4 requires a straight shot from the tee. Trying to work the ball from right or left will only get you in trouble with the trees overhanging the fairway on both sides. Fortunately you can still hit an iron or fairway wood from the tee and be left with a short to middle iron approach. The green is elevated and difficult to run the ball on to, because the slope in front of the green will shoot your ball left or right. Remember that this hole favors a high soft approach. Missing off of the green will leave you a very difficult chip, but going long and left is particularly hard. A shot in the center of the green is safe and usually will leave you with a makeable putt. This is a finishing hole that you cannot fall asleep on. A birdie can be made, but one off shot can ruin your round.