Hole #1 is a straightaway par 4. Aim for the left center of the fairway. Approach shots are safe to the right with a large apron that runs behind the fairway bunker. The green has tricky breaks that are tough to see, take your time reading this one. Due to the long green, be prepared to club up. This hole plays long, and there is often a strong headwind. It is 425 yards from the back tee box to the green, making it a bogey hole for many members. Try to lay up short of the right bunker if you feel that you can’t clear the fairway.

Hole #2 is a classic “postage stamp” hole or a short hole with a lot of character, common to golf courses in Scotland and Ireland. While short, the hole puts an emphasis on complete accuracy. Weather conditions, wind, and green receptiveness all make this hole a very challenging short hole to hit an accurate shot. Surrounded by bunkers with an undulating green, Hole #2 is one of Gil Hanse’s favorites at South Fork. The bail out for the higher handicapper is to the right side of the green. Shots short, long or left require the player to hit a highly elevated bunker shot.

 

Play to the left until the approach to the green. There is a hazard to the left of the green and a safety to the right. This is a big hitter that goes into the wind. Try to hit 230 yards down the middle. For a low handicapper, cut the corner off. If you can get it over the bunker, you will have a short iron in. The second shot is a longer iron in. There is a hazard on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side there is a swale, and the fescue comes into play.
 

A par three hole which plays longer than the yardage especially when it’s windy. Take plenty of club and carry the ball to the center of the shot. Short shots will not roll up. This hole is a bit difficult because of a swale in the front which gobbles up the balls so it can be tough to get to the green. There is also a greater distance from the tee box. The fescue makes it difficult for the higher handicap players. There is a tough uphill chip if you don’t get it on to the green. Be careful of the Clubhouse!

 

A par 5, the best risk/reward hole on the course. Safe players will play to the fairway and approach the green from just before the waste area. Longer hitters can either drive over the fairway bunker or play short and carry the out of bounds with a long fairway wood. The bunker can be dangerous unless you can drive 230 over the corner, which is a challenge. The right-side bunker on the corner gobbles up balls. It is a 200-220 yd shot. Most people who fade go into the bunker.

There are many ways to play this hole, you have to play it smart. Hit your second shot within a 9-iron range then you have a nice approach to the green.

The bunker closest to the green protects everyone who tries to get over on their second shot instead of their third.

 

Hole 6 is a difficult par 3. Short or slightly right is safe. Avoid the deep bunkers on the left side of the green. It is a 190-to-195-yard shot from the back tee box.

Most players tend to fade the ball. Everything immediately right of the cart path is out of play.

There is a large bunker just left of the green and two mounds with heavy fescue behind it. The average player wants to play it out left to protect it from going out of bounds, but if you play it too far left you go into the fescue and the bunkers. It’s best to hit a straight ball.

 

A dogleg left, par 4, hole 7 is considered one of the more difficult holes on the course with a 5 handicap. Right of the fairway is out of bounds and the left side is bordered by fescue. The bunker guards two-thirds of the green and gets a lot of play.

Your tee shot is very important here. The safe play is to play short of the left greenside bunker and pitch to the green. The green is deep, and yardage is deceiving, take plenty of club on your approach.

It is like hole 1 in that it can be a challenge to play the ball in the proper place on this fairway. Ideally you want to come in to the center-right side of the fairway so you aren’t blocked out by the bunker. From the back tees, use the large round tree just right of the fairway as your target. From there, your second shot should be a long iron in. You should be hitting it 210-240 yards off the tee if you are a strong golfer.

 

A dogleg right, par 4 that plays short. Hole 8 is considered one of the easier holes on the course. Risk/reward once again. Safe players will play left off the tee with a short iron as an approach. Long hitters may carry from the tee to the green or to the left approach area. Beware of the blind pot bunkers and the waste area.

This hole plays 280 yards straight from the back tees. There is a huge pit in the middle of the fairway where most golfers hit. There are a lot of eagles on this hole.
 

Hole 9 is a great hole and is also considered the hardest hole to play on the Front 9. It is the number one handicap hole. It is a 430-yard par four, so you need a good drive on this hole to be able to carry over the water and go to the pin. The water is the big hazard on this hole. There are a few bunkers 200-220 yards out from the back tees on the right side that catch a lot of balls. To play this hole well, you need a solid bullet to give yourself a good shot. Many people score a bogie or double bogie.

The green is considered the toughest green on the Front 9; there is so much subtlety and it slants towards the water.

It would be smart for the 15 handicapper and above to play this hole as a par 5. Keep the ball left from the teeing area and either lay up slightly to the right of the water hazard or take plenty of club when going for the green. Take the safer approach from the right side of the green.