Tour of Course

 

Hole #1
The first hole is a slight dogleg left. The tee shot here is important because you cannot see the landing area. For the long hitters, a stream crosses the fairway at 300 yards off of the tee. The green is elevated and well bunkered to capture an errant shot.

Hole #2
This is one of the most challenging holes on the front nine. An uphill, slight dogleg left, par 4 that requires the player to negotiate the fairway bunkers positioned on both the left and right sides of the fairway. The second shot tends to invite players to the left to avoid the greenside bunker. However, a miss left will make for a very difficult par save as the green runs away from the player. Par is a great score.

Hole #3
The first of 4 par 3’s. This green is guarded by a very deep bunker on the left and an old oak tree on the right. The short right hand bunker creates an illusion that the green is closer than it appears. This green runs faster when putting towards the pond.

Hole #4
A short uphill par 4 and a well guarded green. The player should hit a tee shot on top of the hill as far up as possible while avoiding the fairway bunker on the left. This will leave a short iron into the green with a clear view of the putting surface. Keeping the ball below the hole is a must on this green.

Hole #5
This is rated the #1 handicap hole. It is a slight downhill dogleg left par 4 with a stream and pond located approximately 300 yards from the tee. A successful tee shot will leave an approach shot of 150 to 200 yards  to a well bunkered green tilted severely from front to back and left to right. A miss left of this green will almost always result in a bogey.

 Hole #6
This uphill straight away hole looks docile but requires a well placed tee shot to avoid the fairway bunkers on the right and a long enough tee shot to get above the ridge so the player can see the flagstick. This green is guarded on the right side by a deep bunker and the green tilts from back to front. Keeping the ball below the hole is very important on this green.

Hole #7
This par 3 yields the most Holes-in-one of the par 3’s but don’t take it lightly. The green is difficult to hit with a deep bunker guarding the front left and a bunker located on the right side of the green. A player missing this green to the right will test all of his short game abilities to get the ball on the green, let alone make par.

Hole #8
This short par 5 requires a tee shot favoring the left side of the fairway as the ball will roll to the right with the contour of the fairway. The green is small and well guarded by bunkers.

Hole #9
This is the longest of the par 4’s. The fairway is generous however if the ball comes to rest in one of the two fairway bunkers, it will be difficult to hit the green in regulation. The green is well bunkered and has two different levels. Getting the approach shot on the correct level is important.

Hole #10
The tee shot placement is important in order to get a good look at the flagstick on this uphill dogleg right par 4. A tee shot not long enough will result in a blind second shot to this crowned green. A tee shot too long will run through the fairway into the rough or possibly the trees. Keeping the approach shot below the hole on this green is a must.

Hole #11
The longest and the best of the par 3’s. If Hillendale had a signature hole this would be it. The green slopes from front to back and right to left.

Hole #12
The shortest of the par 4’s. A player can hit anything from a driver to a long iron on the tee in order to avoid the trees down the right side and the out of bounds down the left side. The green is long and narrow with bunkers on both sides.

Hole #13
The shortest of the par 5’s gives many players an opportunity at birdie. The tee shot must negotiate two fairway bunkers. If successful, there will be an opportunity to reach this par 5 in two. There is a small pond that guards the front of this green along with 3 greenside bunkers.

Hole #14
This may be the tightest driving hole on the golf course. The hole is straight and the fairway tilts from left to right causing the ball to roll into the right tree line if a player is not careful. The second shot is slightly uphill but there is 150 yards or less into this green.

Hole #15
This is the shortest of the par 3’s and has one of the largest greens on the golf course.

Hole #16
A difficult driving hole as the hole turns slightly to the right but the fairway tilts slightly downhill and to the left. From the middle of the fairway there is a good look at this green but be careful not to leave the approach shot above the flagstick.

Hole #17
This slight dogleg left has a generous fairway but a long narrow green. This is one of the flattest greens on the golf course but gives players the most difficult time when it comes to reading this green correctly.

Hole #18
The tree lined fairway makes putting the ball in the fairway a must in order to negotiate the slight dogleg right and position the second shot for a good angle on the third shot. A well placed second shot will provide a great opportunity with a short iron to hit this green and a possible birdie.