2013 USBGA Kentucky Regional
Golf Club of the Bluegrass
Pro Tips for Course Play
Hole 1 - Par 4
Short par 4 with slight movement to left. Stay in fairway as errant drive to left has small stand of trees that block view to green and two small fairway bunkers on right side of fairway. Green is protected by small water hazard for errant shot to left of green and bunker on right. Pro tip: Easy swing to get ball in fairway for short iron to green and if you miss short it is an easy chip or bump and run to green.
Hole 2 - Par 3
Short par 3 that requires a shot over water. Large green with two tiers and single bunker way to left. Don't be short as ball can bound back into lake, as green partially juts into lake.
Hole 3 - Par 5
An interesting hole in mostly a "U" shape. Don't try to cut a short route as there is OB and hidden water to protect from this. Aim just to hit the fairway. If you try to go over the trees on right, prepare to be wet or have a 250 yard carry. Second shot is still a fairway shot as there is plenty to work with. Green angles from bottom left to top right with bunker on short right. Left front is easy area for layups to chip from.
Hole 4 - Par 4
Plenty of landing area. Tree line protects entire left side with two bunkers on right only in play for the long hitters. Best position is center or left center fairway. Green has no bunkers but a left pull hits a slope and put you in weeds, while a right push can hit the hill and actually put you on the green!
Hole 5 - Par 4
At first glance this appears to be a drivable hole, but it is has an uphill carry that may fool you. This is a placement shot to just put in fairway for an uphill short chip to green. Drives to right catch bunkers and those left will catch trees. Only the boldest golfers go over the trees for the green.
Hole 6 - Par 5
This is as simple as it gets. Straight away with slight uphill slope. Plenty of fairway, but two bunkers on right of fairway and OB near some homes on far right. Green is angled from front right to back left with bunker in front and one back right. With good drive you can go for it in two, but a nice second shot to short right of green provides easy chip.
Hole 7 - Par 4
This hole has a slight dogleg left. Trees protect left side the whole way and two fairway bunkers on right. Green has bunker to left and large mound in center right to make putting a chore if you land on right side of green.
Hole 8 - Par 3
A short par 3 with the green aligned from front right to back left. Long bunker protects short and left shots. Large mound in center back of green makes back pins tough to putt.
Hole 9 - Par 4
Mostly straight par 4 with plenty of landing area. Errant drive to right of car path can be OB due to driving range, but two bunkers can save you. Best drive is left center to avoid thin tree blocking right side of approach. Long thin green can fool you on pin placement.
Stop in clubhouse which is a converted 1800's farm home. Originally named "Widows Watch" it looks like typical Cape Cod tower where a sea captain's wife may search the seas. Additional outbuildings still stand where once the original kitchen and smokehouse were.
Hole 10 - Par 5
Again, a fairly straight hole but don't have to play it that way. There is a very large "bowl" on the left and center that can catch the long drives or short second shots. Best strategy is to aim for right center or right fairway for long hitters, who then have to just go left of the two trees on right fairway rough to get back into fairway. Average hitters play the center the whole way. Green is protected by bunker on front left and right side, so a font layup usually leaves an easy chip.
Hole 11 - Par 4
This is the second tempting hole, where a long hitter may think of going for it. Slightly uphill it is really protected from those long hitters, with tall grass on right short trees in right rough and deep bunkers on front and entire right side. Being a 90 degree dogleg right hole, the smart player hits straight down the fairway for a level fairway shot at the green and doesn't go over any bunkers at all.
Hole 12 - Par 3
Usually a longer par 3 with a very short carry over some tall grass. The real issue is the long thin green with drop-off to left of green. No bunkers but a two tiered green. Sometimes a short hit provides the best play for a long putt or chip and avoids all dangers.
Hole 13 - Par 4
This is a 45 degree dog leg right. Strategy is to hit to fairway only as long as the plateau. If longer, the lie may be downhill but still a straight shot. Long hitters will try to go over the single right hand fairway bunker and hope to go to bottom of hill for a wedge into the green. Green is protected by deep bunker on front left.
Hole 14 - Par 4
Another tempting hole for the long and very straight. Anything else is trouble if you miss going for the green. The smart player just hits the fairway and has a wedge to green. Water protects right side of fairway and trees or tall grass for a pull to the left. Left front side bunker at green and one in fairway.
Hole 15 - Par 4
A good par 4 with tough green. New houses on right have an OB to right of cart path and small groves of trees can catch an errant left drive. Still plenty of fairway but this hole has devilish green that slopes severely from back to front. Two right hand fairway bunker and one right side green buker.
Hole 16 - Par 3
An average par 3 to an extra large green. Short left side green bunker and long right side bunker protect it. Sometimes seems like it plays a little longer due to size of green.
Hole 17 - Par 4
The number one handicap hole but not long, just keep it in the fairway. Errant drive to right catches tall grass or tree line if very long. Left side has slope to tall grass and two left side bunkers. Green is uphill for second shot with bunker on right front.
Hole 18 - Par 5
A beautiful signature hole with plenty of open space for drive. You'd have to pull it wide left to get to the tall grass. Best drive is center to right center of fairway. Smart players lay up to right of green for easy level chip. Short second shot leaves uphill chip. If long hitters go for it, they may have to go over trees as green is protected by being left of fairway with steep slope in front and left of green, a left front bunker and right bunker.