- April 25, 2024
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The Palm Coast Observer quizzed local golf professionals about which holes are more than likely to ruin your round. Here’s what they said.
Hammock Dunes Club, Palm Coast
No. 7, Creek Course
Par-3, 230 yards from tips (furthest tee box)
Justification: What makes it hard is the yardage. It’s kind of a peninsula green with environmental areas to the left and right side of the green. It makes for a really tough shot — probably the most intimidating shot out there on either course.
Safe play: Not much. There’s more room on the front of the green with a waste area, the grass in there kind of hides the bailout short. But most people are thinking right or left.
-Brad Myers, Head Golf Professional
Riviera Country Club, Ormond Beach
No. 11
Par-4, 425 yards from tips
Justification: You’ve got out-of-bounds right, trees and water left. It’s a tight driving hole into a small green. There’s a lot of trouble on the hole.
Safe play: There’s no safe play because it’s a long hole, and you have to challenge it. You can’t lay back with an iron. You need to challenge it with a driver to set up a medium iron to the green. It’s a hole you have to challenge. It’s the No. 1-toughest handicapped hole on the course.
-Mike Boss, Head Course Professional
Palm Harbor Golf Club, Palm Coast
No. 4
Par-4, 362 yards from tips
Justification: It’s a complete dogleg, a right-hand turn at 200 yards, so you need to place the ball perfectly. There’s out-of-bounds left and through the fairway. Even though it’s not a very long hole, you have to play it right with target golf.
Safe play: Hit a hybrid right down the middle and a wedge into the green. The fairway’s not very wide, but if you set the tee shot up right, it’s a pretty good hole — only 120 yards into a green protected by only one bunker. But there’s lot of intimidation with OB left, OB in front and massive trees to your right.
-Christian Bell, Assistant Course Professional
Grand Haven Club, Palm Coast
No. 3
Par-4, 436 yards from tips
Justification: This hole is a hole that will make or break your round. Unfortunately, it’s right off the front and one of the first few holes you’ll play. On the tee shot, you have to carry it over 230 yards through a dogleg right towards the 150-yard marker. However, if you hit it too far right, you’re in a hazard; too far left and you’re still in play — but now you have 250 yards into the green. If you choose a risk-reward play with your drive, you’ll have 160 yards into a multi-tiered green over a hazard. The tee shot is most demanding part of that hole.
Safe play: (On the tee shot), You want to aim between the two palm trees almost like a field goal. We always say aim for the goal posts, and hopefully you can put it through for the extra point.
-Bill Daggett, Head Golf Professional
The Grand Club, Palm Coast
Pine Lakes Course No. 4
Par-4, 454 yards from tips
Justification: Very long dogleg right and if you go too far left, you’re into the swale snakes and water. There’s a huge waste area on the left that runs along the whole hole and a big greenside bunker on the right. That tee shot is a (handful). The shorter hitter isn’t going to make it to the corner, so he has to purposefully hit it over the bunker just to continue the golf hole. There’s an overhanging tree over that bunker. Oh, and the prevailing wind — it's always against you. It’s a hole that cannot be beaten unless you hit a perfect two or three shots. It’s definitely a nightmare.
Safe play: You’re going to have to hit a driver off the tee and then lay up with 7-iron to 90 yards — kind of a punch shot, a pitching wedge in the middle of the green and two-putt. It’s useless to try and hit a hybrid close to the green.
-Joe Kowatch, Assistant Golf Professional
