Course Tour

 

Hole 1

The opening hole is a scorable par 5 that curves gently to the right. While reachable for the longer hitter, it plays as a 3-shot hole for the mid to high handicapper. The green is turtlebacked and falls away in front and back right. On the approach, be sure to miss short or right as there is a large bunker that protects the left-hand side as well as high grass further left. A few well-placed shots will give you a good look at an opening birdie to start the round.

 

Hole 2

A straightaway par 3 that is fairly short. Bunkers guard both sides of this green that slopes back to front. A miss that is long is likely to result in bogey. Keep it below the hole and you will have another reasonable chance for a birdie.

 

Hole 3

The first par 4 of the course is a medium-length hole that angles ever so slightly to the right. Favor the left side of the fairway to avoid trees on the right and give yourself the best angle with your approach. The green can be tricky, especially if the pin is placed in the back left or right portions of the green, which slope away from the player. Bunkers again guard the left and right side. Par is a good score here.

 

Hole 4

Another long par 5 measures 525 yards from the back tees. Trees line both sides of the fairway, but right is the much better miss as it opens up further down toward the green. The green slopes somewhat severely from back to front. Do your best to keep the ball below the hole, especially if the pin is in the front part of the green. The back half of the green levels out a bit but the green is harder to read when the pin is back there! Large bunkers that are deeper than previous holes again guard the left and right side of the green.

 

Hole 5

This par 4 plays slightly uphill that tops out at 368 yards. From the tee, it’s better to miss to the right where there are fewer trees. Keep the ball below the hole on your approach shot and avoid the bunker that guards the front right of the green. Par is a good score but you should have a reasonable chance at birdie with two well-played shots.

 

Hole 6

This is a short par 4 that plays slightly downhill. A very long hitter might try to go for the green, especially because it often plays downwind as well. However, trouble lurks both left and right. The trees are thicker on the left and there is high grass that can’t be seen but is reachable for longer hitters. The green is tough with multiple tiers. Back right is an especially tough pin location to access because the green slopes away from the player. You can be aggressive and make an easy birdie, but you can also easily walk away with double bogey and be left shaking your head.

 

Hole 7

This par 3 deserves two descriptions. The length is very different from the back tees, compared to the other tees. From the back tees, this is easily the most difficult hole on the course. It plays 221 yards and requires an accurate shot just to find the green surface. From the other tees, it is a more manageable tee shot playing around 160 yards. Either way, there is out of bounds to the left, a greenside bunker long left and short right, and high grass further to the right. Once you get to the green, the real fun begins. The green is severely sloped from back to front for the first half so that a front pin requires you to stay short of it. The back right section is nearly impossible to access from the tee because of the bunker that guards it. Play short when the pin is down front and play to the middle of the green when the pin is anywhere in the back half. Make a par and smile as you head to the next tee.

 

Hole 8

The Miami River sits to your left and that’s not where you want to end up. Avoid out of bounds down the left and trees to the right on this short par 4 and you should end up with a good look at birdie. The green is very manageable and as it is the flattest on the front nine. Avoid going long as there is more high grass back there.

 

Hole 9

This is perhaps the most difficult par 4 on the golf course. The Miami River is once again to your left and there are trees that guard the right side. Unlike #8, this hole is much longer and has the most treacherous green on the course. This green is the most severely turtlebacked on the course. Do not go long if the pin is in the front. The back left and right sections are very complicated to read and manage. Bunkers guard the left and right sides. There is no easy pin location. Two putt if you can and move on.

 

Hole 10

This is the longest par 4 on the course measuring at 428 yards from the back tees. Out of bounds looms to the left and trees again guard the right hand side. The green is one of the larger ones on the course. It is sloped from back to front. Avoid going long at all costs. Par is very manageable here despite the length.

 

Hole 11

A large tree not far from the tee box will gobble up any tee shot that ventures to the right here. A fade that starts down the left side of the fairway is the best tee shot to play. There is high grass on the left that comes in close that needs to be avoided. The green is shallow and much longer from side to side than back to front. Long is not a good place to be. A couple good shots should give the player a chance to make birdie.

 

Hole 12

This is a par 3 where the green again slopes from back to front. The length is around 160 yards from the main tee and the hole plays just a bit uphill even though it doesn’t look it. Avoid the bunker left and stay below the hole and you should have another good look at a birdie.

 

Hole 13

This is a true risk/reward, drivable par 4. It plays right at 300 yards from the back tees and the green is hidden as the hole doglegs sharply left at about 230 yards. Trouble lurks all the way down the left side in the form of high grass that will gobble up any and all balls that stray that way. Play a mid-iron down the middle if you are laying up with your tee shot but be careful to avoid the pond that is to the right and somewhat hidden from view. If you are going for it, make sure you carry the trees and avoid going left of the green at all costs. The green is very flat and most putts break less than you think.

 

Hole 14

A short par 3 provides another scoring opportunity as long as you find the surface. There is a pond that looms to the right and going long is not a good place to be. Stay below the hole on this green that is wider than it is deep.

 

Hole 15

This is a short par 5 but still very challenging. The hole doglegs to the left and there are two giant trees about 100 yards out from the green that provide only a very narrow opening. Some players have even taken to playing the entire hole from the adjacent left fairway (hole #16) to avoid having to navigate the trees. Stay below the hole once you get to the green and birdie is very possible.

 

Hole 16

A straightaway, longish par 4 is up next. It measures 409 yards from the back tees. There isn’t too much trouble on either side of the fairway here. Once again, keep the ball below the hole and avoid going over the green as there is trouble lurking in the woods.

 

Hole 17

A well-positioned tee shot should favor the left side of the fairway on this hole. There are trees on both sides, but the ones on the right are much closer to the fairway. Long of the green is the only place you can’t end up. The green has some mounding around the edges but is otherwise fairly flat with a gentle slope from back to front.

 

Hole 18

The home hole is a long par 5 that again should favor the left side of the fairway to avoid trees on the right. A longer hitter can reach the green in two, but most players should lay up to whatever distance is comfortable for them on the approach. Be sure to avoid the high grass on the left. This green doesn’t have too much contour but is definitely sloped from back to front. Avoid bunkers left and right and keep the ball below the hole. If navigated correctly, you should end up with a good chance at birdie to end your day at Miami Shores Golf Course!