Hole #1
Tee off from an elevated tee box to a tree-lined narrow fairway, below. A stout par 4 starts us off as Rocky Run Creek runs parallel to the left and O.B. on the right. The entire right side of Hole #1 is lined with mature trees making it difficult to find the green in regulation. Length and accuracy off the tee are key to reaching this sloped green. Par is a good score on this opening hole.
Hole #2
Hole #2 is unique, with Rocky Run Creek splitting the second-toughest par 4 down the middle. With fairways cut on both sides of the creek, golfers can decide which option is best for their game. A solid tee shot to the fairway on the right side of creek will leave golfers with mid iron into a two-tiered green. The green slopes from back to front so place your approach shot below the pin location.
Hole #3
This is the first of four par 3s on the course, has O.B. along the entire left side of the hole and a slightly elevated large green surrounded by sand bunkers. Hitting this green in regulation does not guarantee a birdie! Be satisfied with a two-putt par.
Hole #4
The fourth hole puts pressure on the golfer to hit a perfect tee shot. Club selection is key on this par 4. Players that hit a long, accurate drive will be rewarded with a short iron into a relatively flat green. Rocky Run Creek is parallel on the left side of the fairway and O.B. on the right. Keep it in the middle and birdie is possible.
Hole #5
Pull out the driver! The fifth hole plays downwind with the prevailing southerly summer wind. Long ball-hitters will be rewarded with a short iron onto one the largest greens on the course. But the green has several undulations that affect the golfer’s approach shot, leaving the ball close to the pin or off the green. Par is a good score on the par 4 fifth hole.
Hole #6
The par 3 sixth is the shortest golf hole on the course. Playing at just 100 yards from the blue tees, this hole tests the golfers short game. With a large green as a target, birdie should be recorded on the card, however the green is deceiving, with subtle breaks making the green a tough read.
Hole #7
The seventh hole is the longest par 5 on the course at 545 yards from the black tees. The hole sets up playing right-to-left off the tees. O.B. runs along the left of the hole, which has a lateral hazard that turns into a direct hazard and divides the fairway in two. Golfers can pull a driver and lay up just short of the direct hazard leaving 210 yards into a slightly elevated green, guarded on the right by a cattail-lined pond. Even though the seventh is the longest par 5, it’s the easiest to score on. Birdie here is a must!
Hole #8
A blind tee shot awaits golfers on the par 4 eighth. A cattail-lined hazard lies directly in the path of the golfers tee shot making it tough to see the landing area. With the hazard running the entire length on the side, right is the best option. The fairway turns slightly back to the left, leading to a back-to-front sloped large green. Find the fairway and be rewarded with a short iron into this hole. Keep the approach shot below the pin for the best chance at birdie.
Hole #9
What a great par 4! This hole features an elevated tee shot over a large pond with a beautiful water-fountain cascading into the water. Mature trees line the right side of the fairway and a lateral hazard lies on the left. Finding the fairway off the tee provides the best chance to make a birdie. The fairway runs uphill to a large green with subtle elevation changes. The approach cannot be short of the green or the ball could run several yards off the green. Play for middle-of-green and make a great putt – but par is good!
Hole #10
The downhill par 5 10th has the golfer making a decision on the tee about how to attack this demanding hole. The question is whether to pull the driver or play it safe. After a downhill tee shot, a direct hazard awaits. It takes a tee shot with a 225-yard carry to clear the hazard, but where your tee shot lands is key. The entire left side the fairway is lined with massive trees and a small pond jets up the right. The tee shot must find the right side of the fairway in order to get a second shot at the green. Anything left of the fairway and the golfer will find it difficult to advance the ball to the green. Punching out is the best option. The hole sharply doglegs to the left where the largest green on the course awaits approach shots. The green slopes back to front, so keep the approach below the pin! Recording a birdie on this par 5 is a sense of accomplishment.
Hole #11
The par 3 11th measures more than 200 yards from the black tees. With the hole lined with mature trees on both sides, hitting a solid tee shot is a must to have a chance at birdie. The green has subtle elevation changes making a two-putt par a reality.
Hole #12
This straightaway par 4 allows the long ball-hitters to show their distance off the tee. Large spruce trees are located on both sides of the fairways but should not affect a center-cut tee shot. The green is sloped back-to-front. Again, leave approach below the pin location. Anything but a birdie on this hole would be disappointing.
Hole #13
A slightly downhill par 4 with a direct hazard at the end of the fairway is waiting to gobble up golfers balls off the tee. It’s best to hit a long iron or hybrid off the tee to the middle-of-fairway. Golfers hit an approach from 150 to 215 yards to a large and slightly elevated green that slopes back to front. Missing this green long or right is not an option. Walking away with a par on #13 is a good feeling!
Hole #14
This hole is the shortest par 4 on the course at just 323 yards from the black tees and 288 yards from the blue tees. Along with being short, the hole runs downwind with a prevailing south wind. This hole requires accuracy off the tee. A cattail-filled slough runs along the left side of the fairway with a tall, no-mow fescue area on the right, also O.B. A well-positioned tee shot leaves the golfer with a very short approach shot to a very narrow and sloped green.
Hole #15
The par 4 15th is a deceiving golf hole. Playing as the third handicap hole, #15 challenges golfers from tee to green. O.B. runs on the right side of the fairway with well-placed spruce trees and a large no-mow area on the left. A wide creek runs directly in front of a severely sloped green. A solid tee shot will leave the golfer with a mid iron approach-shot which has to carry the wide creek and land softly on the green. Close to the pin is a must for a shot recording a birdie, because this green tests the golfers putting. Two, three and even a four putt is a possibility!
Hole #16
The par 5 16th is the hole for which Rocky Run Golf Course is infamous. Rocky Run Creek swerves through this hole, carving out three different landing areas. From the tee, the elevated green appears to be guarded by a giant serpent waiting to squeeze the life out of the golfer that dares to conquer this monster. This is target golf! Golfers have to trust their ability and their equipment. Distance control is the key to conquering this hole. The tee shot sets up the golfers’ decisions for finishing the hole. Most players prefer to lay up with the second shot to a distance of around 100 yards out. Remember, the third shot is all carry to the elevated and narrow green. If the golfer decides to go for it, depending on where his tee shot lies, the ball has to carry 230 yards or so to the elevated green. Once on the green, players face knee-knocking putts. The green is tough to read from all angles. The key is to stick it close. Good Luck!
Hole #17
This hole is another challenging par 3. Playing at 180 yards, the 17th requires players to hit a solid tee shot from the elevated tees to a large three-tiered green. Like most of the greens on the course, keeping the tee shot below the pin is key for chance at birdie.
Hole #18
Often called one of the best finishing holes in the state, the 18th 385-yard, uphill, par 4 has golfers teeing off an elevated tee to a tree-lined fairway. The fairway has a slight dogleg to the left leading to a large green surrounded by huge spruce trees. A solid tee shot will leave players with a long to mid iron to the green. Players should end their round with a birdie.