Greetings Golfers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the New Year \u2026 new things need to be done. Such as working on our website. We once had a pretty good website \u2026 but, it got old and boring \u2026 so we went to a sparse, new look a few years ago. It was pretty funny \u2026 but not very informational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, we\u2019ve decided to go the opposite direction – tons of information \u2026 more than you\u2019ve ever wanted to know about DRGC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One new feature will be graphics of each hole \u2026 and a little advice of how to play each hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because you\u2019re obsessing about how to play golf this year \u2026 I thought you\u2019d appreciate some thoughts on how to play all 18 holes at DRGC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re getting first crack at these insights before they go on the website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hole #1 – 371 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A fun opening hole. Though it\u2019s a dog-leg left, trying to cut the corner is not a smart play \u2026 especially on your first shot of the day. Golf is risk-reward. Big risk going left – OB and a bunker \u2026 and it leaves a terrible angle for your second shot. Be smart and just drive it up the middle \u2026 even the right side of the fairway is good \u2026 it will leave you with a straight forward second shot \u2026 probably a wedge in. Don\u2019t be greedy on the first hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #2 – 149 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A deceptive little hole. Though short \u2026 and downhill \u2026 the green is kidney shaped and doesn\u2019t offer much landing room. Long is dead. Be smart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #3 – 401 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A long uphill par 4. Bunkers guard the left about 250 out. If you can bomb it \u2026 fly it over the bunkers \u2026 your shot will be in the middle of the fairway. If you bomb it over the hill up the middle \u2026 you\u2019ll probably be OB right. Most players should try to hit it at the 150 marker at the top of the hill. The second shot is pretty straight forward. Avoid the bunker in front of the left side of the green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #4 – 495 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A reachable par 5. But, danger lurks around the green. The OB on the left juts out short-left of the green. And, water is waiting a little right of the green. If you\u2019re not in control of long second shots \u2026 you\u2019d be wise to lay-up and give yourself a safe and easy third shot. Sometimes the pin is in a little area back right \u2026 some would refer to this as a \u201csucker pin\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #5 – 375 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A fun hole. Many years ago, some guys designated #5, #6, #7 our \u201cAmen Corner\u201d. Definitely not as famous as the real thing \u2026 but definitely a challenge. In fact, one year when we hosted the Women\u2019s State Open, the average score on #5 was six. Too many of the women hooked it into the trees left of the fairway. The smart play is to aim at the hill on the right. The hill is mowed so that the ball will run down into the fairway. Even if you\u2019re in the fairway, the second shot isn\u2019t easy. The green sits up on a hill, and right of the green is a big drop-off. Aim at the left side of the green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #6 – 186 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A straight-forward hole. Bunker short-right of the green \u2026 but not a bad spot if you\u2019re in it. Long green \u2026 can be quick coming downhill. The easiest Par 3 hole on the golf course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #7 – 351 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The trickiest hole on the golf course. OB left and right. And, a water hazard is right of the fairway about 200 yards off the tee. A driver is definitely a risky play. The fairway gets very skinny left of the water hazard. The best play is to the 150 yard marker. Then, the second shot to the green is a fun one. Left of the green is a drop-off, and right of the green isn\u2019t terrible, but not good. This is a good time for a well controlled iron shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #8 – 463 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another reachable par 5. However, you need to go up the right side of the fairway to have a clear second shot to the green. But don\u2019t go too far right \u2026 the water hazard isn\u2019t always full of water, but mud and weeds aren\u2019t conducive to good golf shots or clean shoes. The huge bunker in front of the right side of the green should be avoided. When the pin is on the left side of the green \u2026 the hole is a par 4 1\/2. When it\u2019s behind the bunker \u2026 it becomes a par 5 1\/2. Also, putts break toward the bunker. You can\u2019t see it \u2026 but they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #9 – 353 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another challenging hole. The green has water in front, behind, and on the right. So, it\u2019s vital that the tee shot gets you close enough to an open, short-iron shot. It\u2019s a narrow fairway with woods on the right \u2026 and a couple of big trees and a fairway bunker on the left. Bombers can reach the water and shouldn\u2019t use a driver. And, it gets very skinny about 100 yards from the water. The best play is to hit it past the 150 pole \u2026 but not closer than 100 yards to the water \u2026 and favor the left side of the fairway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #10 – 429 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This used to be hole #1. Not a good starting hole. Too long and hard – especially if the wind is in your face. And especially if it\u2019s Saturday morning. But, it\u2019s a great hole to start the second nine. You should be loosened-up enough to take a rip at it. Tee box seems to line you up at the bunker on the left side of the fairway. Don\u2019t go in there. For most people, it\u2019s a long second shot. Miss the green left \u2026 it\u2019s an easy up & down. Don\u2019t miss right of the green – no chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #11 – 358 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the easiest holes on the course \u2026 but easy to screw-up. Greediness can be expensive. Narrow fairway \u2026 OB left and right. Slight dog-leg left. The smart tee shot is in between the bunker on the right and the 150 pole \u2026 leaving a fairly easy short iron into the green. Or \u2026 try to bomb it around the corner and have a tiny shot to the green. Your choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #12 – 349 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another \u201ceasy\u201d hole. However, the green slopes from front-to-back making for a difficult second shot. So, what is your best shot to hold the green? A full wedge? A full 8 iron? Or can you stop a little 50 yard shot? Answering those questions is the key to how far you hit your drive. Also, coming in from the left means you can\u2019t bounce it onto the green \u2026 you\u2019ll just stay in the swale short of the green. Lot\u2019s of options \u2026 use your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #13 – 336 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hope you\u2019re still using your brain. The pond at the bottom of the hill is 260 yards from the tee box. Some of you can fly the pond and land on the green. The fairway kicks left \u2026 more than it appears. Also, leaving your tee shot half-way down the the hill is not recommended. Some jokers hit an iron to the top of the hill and have a 150 yard shot to the green. Unlike the last hole – this green is flat. Because of the hill behind the green and the little hill in front of the green \u2026 people think it slopes from back to front. Not so. Just an optical illusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #14 – 176 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another difficult par 3. Uphill and short shots kick right into the bunker \u2026 or OB. Plays longer than it looks. The smart play is to the back left of the green. Make par and move on (happily).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #15 – 367 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A fun hole. And scenic. While on the tee box \u2026 enjoy the view. You can see much of the golf course and Lake Wasserman on your back left. Though you can\u2019t see them \u2026 you are surrounded by lakes on all sides. Very cool. But, not cool to drive it into the pond along the left side of the fairway. A smart drive is short of the bunkers on the left \u2026 leaving a straight shot to the green. Drives on the right side of the fairway leave an awkward shot to the green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #16 – 146 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A very difficult hole. But fair. Uphill, so it plays longer than the yardage \u2026 but don\u2019t go crazy \u2026 OB is the road behind the green. The bunker short right is not a good place. If the pin is up front and the green is quick \u2026 a downhill putt is a problem. Sometimes in that situation, I play to an area short left of the green and then chip up to the pin. A shot short of the middle of the green runs back down the fairway. Golf is about strategy and control. This hole is a good reminder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #17 – 314 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n These last three holes are great finishing holes. They are not basic par holes. They offer eagles to double bogeys \u2026 a match can change quickly. This is a drivable par 4. Tom Weiskopf loved these type of holes at the end of a round. Not only was he a great player \u2026 but a great architect \u2026 he understood golf. Well, if you can hit it like Tom could \u2026 go for the green. However, most people should hit it short right of the green \u2026 and leave in an easy wedge shot with a good angle \u2026 and still have a good chance at birdie. Not as much fun as an eagle \u2026 but a lot better than a double-bogey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hole #18 – 527 yards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You made it. Now finish right. A reachable par 5. But, trouble along the way. OB left and right off the tee. OB continues all the way down the left side of the hole. Yet, the OB on the right stops about 230 yards out. However, there is water right of the fairway later on. Not really in play \u2026 but I\u2019ve seen balls go into it. But, playing up the right side of the fairway brings the bunker in front of the green into play. The green is slightly on a hill \u2026 so that an approach shot needs to be one club more than normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A fun hole to finish your round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheers,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greetings Golfers, With the New Year \u2026 new things need to be done. Such as working on our website. We once had a pretty good website \u2026 but, it got old and boring \u2026 so we went to a sparse, new look a few years ago. It was pretty funny \u2026 but not very informational. … Continue reading Website Hole Descriptions and Advice<\/span>
Tom Abts
GM\/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com<\/a>
Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com<\/a>
www.facebook.com\/DeerRunGolf<\/a>
www.twitter.com\/DeerRunGolfClub<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"