I've played it I'd say more than 100 times through high school.
Best round for me was 66 and the worst was...well...listed above
Front side is links style, back is woods.
#1. The center of the green from the tips should be left center of the cart path as it goes over the hill, it's drivable with bunkers right and heather sure to allure any ball gone astray.
#2. If you hit a draw start your tee shot right down the middle of the two fairway bunkers. 260 to carry and you've got fairway for days on the other side.
#3. I always thought it played about a half club longer than is listed in the yardage. Never stopped me from trying to mash on the "right" club and come up short a third of the time.
#4. Nice par 5 that you might think twice about going for in two. Fee free to swing for the fences but watch overdoing it and coming over the top. OB and a corn/soybean field guarded by a wooden fence hinder the search for your wayward ball. Greenside bunkers guard against rolling it up and a 300 yard tee shot leaves you over 250 to carry every inch of the way.
#5. Short par 4 usually into the wind from the southwest. Careful of squirting out to the right because there's a fairly long fairway bunker to catch your ball if you stray right of the fairway for your sand wedge layup.
#6. Wail away, just don't hit that fairway bunker on the left. The fairway narrows to not much right where the bunker is so accuracy is paramount if you want any chance of getting home in two.
#7. Was always a nice easy 8 iron. If you're like me and have a tendency to hit your nice easy 8 iron heavy, you'll be getting a fair test of your greenside bunker skills.
#8. Carry the water anywhere left of the center of the lake and leave yourself an uphill short iron.
#9. A fair par 4 that works well with a draw. Start it up the left quarter of the fairway and leave yourself an 8 iron into the green. Don't miss right, there are bunkers. Don't miss left, there's heather.
#9.5. If they're still using all-beef franks, have a hot dog!
#10. Hope you brought your sunscreen because this hole is a beach! Not really, it's a mid-long iron off the tee and a wedge into the green. Greenside bunkers, heather and you're getting ready to bid farewell to the scottish links side of Darby Creek. Slight uphill shot into the green IIRC and there's a rise just ahead of the green making the actual putting surface blind.
#11. Don't be short, long, right or left. Plays into the wind 90% of the time so that mid iron has a tendency to stick very well if you pick the right one.
#12. Stay on the right half of the fairway for the best angle into the green. Trees right are tighter than the trees on the left. You'll have a downhill lie into the green which will be ~50' under your elevation.
#13. Mid length par 4 with a fairly tight fairway and trees lining both sides. Left half of the fairway if you can gives you the best option into the undulating green protected by bunkers. Humpty bumps down the right hand side in the rough, don't be there unless you're on a dirt bike.
#14. If you can carry the fairway bunker then you're my hero. As far and as right as possible gives you the best chance at getting home safely in 2 but you need a 300 yard carry to do it. I'd start it at the left edge of the bunker and be happy with a 6 iron in. Carry the bunkers, I've been in every single one...be sure to tell them I said hello.
#15. Wouldn't you just know that the fairway narrows near the fairway bunker...really. 300 gets you an easy wedge into the green. Throw a dart and make a birdie.
#16. Safe play is middle right to the green. If there's a sucker pin to the left then I'm a sucker and usually quack my way into the sand on the left thanks to the wind from the right. Not a lot of green to work with if you do that and the further away you are the better you'll be able to place a sand shot with lots of spin. If you actually hit the green as the game intends, the green slopes back to front and don't be above the hole.
#17. Let 'er rip! Another decent par 5 that will be having you wondering "why" when you're walking up the greenside bunker because you hit a 3 wood into it. Simple, straightforward hole that will eat your lunch if they've grown in the rough and I've never had a "member bounce" out of the trees, FWIW.
#18. Pretty straighforward hole. Back into the links world now with heather/undulation to the right. 300 gets you an 8 iron into the green which slopes from back to front yet again. Water left that shouldn't be a problem unless, you guessed it, you hang your iron up and the wind blows it away. Ask me how I know.
I'd even caddy for you but I'll just be getting back from a trip to Naples, FL. With my golf clubs this time
I think you'll like the course. When it's in good condition (now should be PERFECT) it's every bit of country club quality and it's a nice little gem in the middle of Hickville, OH.
