|
|
|
|
|
|
Hole #1
Par 4 | Handicap 11
The opening hole on the West Course requires an accurate tee shot due to strategically located fairway bunkers. Approach shots need to be played past the hole to leave an uphill putt. Green is sloped from front to back. A very fair opening hole on a golf course that gets progressively more difficult.
Hole #2
Par 5 | Handicap 1
From the tee you can see the entire Par-5 and how the hole should be played. A good tee shot provides an opportunity to hit the second shot to the top of the hill, leaving a relatively short approach. The split-level green requires excellent distance control to get the approach shot close. Big hitters can reach this green in two, leaving a good birdie opportunity early in the round.
Hole #3
Par 4 | Handicap 3
This short but tight Par-4 that requires accuracy off the tee. The longer the tee shot, the narrower the landing area becomes. Errant tee shots will find the trees and sloping hillsides away from the fairway. Playing anything but a solid shot from the tee here will lead to trouble. This is one hole that needs to be played fairways and greens to make par. Green slopes from front to back, as does the first.
Hole #4
Par 3 | Handicap 17
A beautiful downhill Par-3 that plays slightly shorter in distance than the yardage indicates. The green is guarded by water in front and to the right. The pin placement makes a huge difference in club selection and degree of difficulty. The back pin, from the gold tees, is one of the most difficult shots on the course. Aiming between the flag and left edge of the green should yield a par.
Hole #5
Par 4 | Handicap 9
This hole requires the most demanding tee shot on the front nine with bunkers left and a meandering creek down the right side. The creek then cuts in front and to the left of the green, playing havoc with weak or hooked approach shots. A great Par-4, it requires confidence in your shot making skills. Don't be afraid to lay up to the creek on your second shot if your tee shot leaves you in trouble. Heroic approach shots usually end up with double bogey.
Hole #6
Par 4 | Handicap 15
The tee shot to this Par-4 is easier than at first glance due to the receptive design of the landing area. Aim down the left side of the fairway to avoid catching the right fairway bunker. For your approach, use one more club than the yardage indicates for the uphill second shot. The left pin placement is 5-10 yards beyond the middle of the green. This is a hole where you take your par and move to the next tee.
Hole #7
Par 3 | Handicap 13
This Par-3 requires a solidly struck long iron to reach the green. #7 has probably the most difficult green to read on the entire course. Try to keep your tee shot to the right and below the hole to have an uphill putt that won't break as much from right to left as you think. Par here is a very good score.
Hole #8
Par 5 | Handicap 7
A classic dogleg left that rewards the right to left tee shot with a birdie or eagle opportunity. With out-of-bounds down the right side on your second or third shot, aiming down the left side is the preferred location. Penal greenside bunkering short of the green may dictate a lay-up if your approach can't reach the green. Green has a gentle slope from left to right, favoring the right side of the green will leave an uphill put.
Hole #9
Par 4 | Handicap 5
A very strong finish to the front nine. A left to right tee shot widens the effective landing area due to the right to left slope of the fairway. A large sloping green from back to front requires a precise iron shot. Staying below the hole is ideal but beware, as the green has a large false front. Balls catching this slope will roll 20+ yards back down into a large valley. A par on #9 is a great score.
Hole #10
Par 3 | Handicap 14
The 10th usually has a crosswind on this formidable par-3, making club selection a bit difficult. Hitting your tee shot to the proper level of this two-tier green should be the primary objective of this hole. Finding yourself between clubs? Use the longer one since the hole plays more uphill that you think.
Hole #11
Par 4 | Handicap 6
A high risk, high reward short Par-4. A conservative tee shot with a 3-wood or long iron is suggested for those with a good game going. Long hitters can take a shot at the green or the front greenside bunkers if the pin is in the back. The green slopes severely from front right to back left, so an approach with maximum backspin is suggested, especially if the pin is in the front. This hole is where Ben Hogan closed out Mark Turnesa 7&6 to win the 1948 PGA Championship.
Hole #12
Par 3 | Handicap 18
A long downhill Par-3 that usually plays into the prevailing wind. The left front pin placement tempts you to hit for the flag, but with the green falling off into a chipping swale and sand trap, only trouble awaits the errant shot. The green slopes from right to left and back to front. Short and left of the flag is ideal on this long demanding Par-3.
Hole #13
Par 4 | Handicap 4
From this point forward the course makes a steep change in the degree of difficulty. While not the longest hole, the 13th may be the most difficult due to the blind uphill tee shot and three tiered green. An ideal tee shot should be placed up the left center of the fairway leaving most players a mid to long iron approach. Proper distance control is required to make sure your approach finds the correct tier on this green.
Hole #14
Par 4 | Handicap 16
The fourteenth is the longest Par 4 on the course but plays downhill from tee to green. The right side has more trouble than it appears from the tee. Aiming down the left center off the tee gives you a downhill second shot to a receptive green that slopes severely from back to front. Try to keep your approach below the hole to give you the greatest chance at making par.
Hole #15
Par 5 | Handicap 2
A beautiful par-5 that requires three well executed shots. The tee shot is guarded by a creek on the right and trees to the left. Longer hitters will want to position their tee shot just inside the large tree on the left side of the fairway to have a go at the green in two. Second shots must either carry the creek that crosses the fairway approximately 160 yards from the green or lay-up short. The green slopes severely from back left to front right.
Hole #16
Par 4 | Handicap 10
This medium length Par-4 has a generous driving area that places the focus of this hole on the second shot. The approach shot looks shorter than it plays so sure to check your yardage and trust it. The green slopes from right to left and any approach shots that land on the left side of the green will end up in the chipping area left of the green leaving a difficult up and down.
Hole #17
Par 4 | Handicap 8
Try to draw or hook your tee shot off the fairway bunker to maximize your distance on this double dogleg Par-4. The second shot plays longer than the yardage due to elevation change. Another split level green that requires proper club selection and execution.
Hole #18
Par 4 | Handicap 12
One of the best finishing holes in St. Louis. This long Par-4 rewards good shots and penalizes errant ones. The target off the tee is the left side of the right fairway bunker, which can be reached only with a very long tee shot. Out of Bounds runs down both side so keep the ball in play to avoid a poor finish. All trouble around the green is to the sides or behind the putting surface. A par here will keep you coming back.
|
|
|
|
|
|