Prestwick Country Club Hole Descriptions 

(Click the images to enlarge)

Hole #1, Par 4
The opening hole at Prestwick requires a choice right off the bat: lay back with something less than a driver or challenge the fairway bunker and be rewarded with a second shot of no more than a wedge. The front third of this green is severely sloped back to front, which will likely cause balls played short and with spin to back off the front of the green.

Hole #2, Par 5
This is a birdie hole that gives players options: it can be played conservatively as a three-shot hole or be challenged in two. The former requires a precise drive to the fairway and a delicate lay-up that must miss a fairway bunker. Be wary of going long on your approach as water comes into play behind the green. The latter option requires a drive that challenges the water and fairway bunkers that hug the left side of the fairway. Miss these and you have a chance of reaching the green in two.

  Hole #3, Par 4
This may be the toughest hole on the course. Pick your poison: challenge the creek that runs down the left side or play away and risk hitting your tee shot into the right trees. A good drive leaves you a mid- to long-iron approach to a severely sloped green from back to front with a ridge running down the middle of the green. This hole deserves the number one handicap with par being a great score.

Hole #4, Par 3
This hole should not be taken lightly. Play a mid to long iron short of the pin and you may be rewarded with a birdie. Beware of long and left where out of bounds lurks.

Hole #5, Par 4
The shortest par 4 on the course, this hole gives the player options off the tee. The slight dogleg left has a creek that bisects the fairway at 260 yards. Longer hitters have the option of hitting driver over the creek to set up a short pitch or lay up short of the creek leaving only a wedge. For the shorter hitter, playing to the right side of the fairway leaves a short-iron approach to a well-protected green. The green has a ridge that bisects the middle of the green. You must find the correct side of the ridge to have a chance at birdie.

Hole #6, Par 5
This is a birdie hole, but you must avoid the fairway bunkers on the left. Long hitters have a chance to hit this well-protected green, but laying up to the 100-yard plate leaves your best shot at birdie.

Hole #7, Par 3
This hole has one of the smallest putting surfaces on the course. Tee shots that hit the left side of the green will run off the green. Do not miss to the right of the green where several bunkers are located to catch errant shots. Playing to the middle of the green is the smart play no matter where the pin is located.

Hole #8, Par 4
A downhill tee shot that finds the fairway will give you a good chance at birdie, but a tee shot that misses left will surely find out of bounds. Large trees guard the right side of the fairway and any tee shot finding them will lead to a punch-out short of the green. The green has a large slope from back to front, so leave your approach short of the pin.

Hole #9, Par 4
The last hole on the front nine can be a great scoring chance, but you must avoid the bunkers on the right side of the fairway. Find these bunkers and a lay-up is in your future. The uphill second shot will be played with a short to mid iron and plays a half-club longer than normal. A well-hit approach shot will spin back towards the front of this green.

Hole #10, Par 4
A water hazard comes into play along the left side of the fairway, but beware of bailing to the right because several bunkers are ready to catch any wayward drives. Position off the tee is the key to this hole. The fairway narrows for anyone hitting driver. Avoid the greenside bunkers for the best chance to come away with birdie or par.

Hole #11, Par 5
This hole is the best chance for birdie on the back nine. A well-played drive that misses the bunkers left and right leaves the player the option of laying up or going for the green in two. A lay-up should be played to a full-wedge shot. Any half-wedge shots will have trouble holding this narrow green that is protected by front and back greenside bunkers.

Hole #12, Par 3
The shortest par 3 on the course can be a birdie hole with a good tee shot. Any tee shots long or far left or far right create a great chance for a three- putt. The shortest hole on the course is no easy par.

Hole #13, Par 4
This uphill par 4 may be short in distance, but requires your full attention. Your tee shot must avoid the deep fairway bunkers on the left and right sides of the fairway in order to hit the green in regulation. The putting surface may not look it, but it slopes severely from back to front. Any putt from above the hole played too aggressively will roll off the front of the green.

Hole #14, Par 4
The longest par 4 on the back nine runs slightly downhill. Finding the fairway will be crucial to having a realistic chance to reach the green in regulation. Bunkers protect the right side of the fairway while trees protect the left side. A creek crosses in front of the green and will catch any shot that is not struck well. The putting surface is 45-yards deep and will accept most approach shots. Par is a good score.

Hole #15, Par 5
Don’t let the beauty of this hole fool you: there is trouble everywhere. A creek runs down the right side with out of bounds left and right. The creek continues down the right side of the hole and guards the front and the back of the green. The tee shot at 15 might be the most important of the round as many great rounds have been lost on this hole. Once a good tee shot has been achieved, a well-placed lay-up is next. Longer hitters can challenge the creek that bisects the fairway to leave a short pitch, or the lay-up must avoid the large oak tree that guards the left side of the fairway. Picking the right club for your approach is a must to ensure a par or birdie chance.

Hole #16, Par 4
This dogleg right is the last good birdie chance of the finishing holes; but a good drive is a must. Water lurks down the left side to catch any wayward tee shots and a fairway bunker is positioned at the corner of the dogleg. A short to mid iron will land you on the putting surface which has a back to front slope with the front third being the most severe. Any approaches left above the hole will make for a difficult two-putt.

Hole #17, Par 3
The longest par 3 on the course plays uphill and into the prevailing wind. At least one extra club should be used. The green is protected by bunkers on the front and right side. Do not come up short of the green or your ball will roll 10 to 20 yards back down the fairway leaving a difficult up and down.

Hole #18, Par 4
The par 4 home hole gives the player a choice: challenge the deep fairway bunkers on the left side of the fairway to leave a mid-iron approach, or play to the right leaving a long-iron approach. Beware of playing too far to the right or a small creek will catch errant tee shots. The greenside front right bunker will catch shots not struck well, leaving a challenging up and down. A putt from below the cup gives you the best chance at birdie.