Hole #1
519/495/467/448 yards, Par 5 - #5 Handicap
This a great starting hole to get you warmed up. With the
prevailing breeze at your back and lots of space off the
tee, you can grip it and rip it. Big hitters can go for
the green in two, and even shorter hitters will only have
a short third shot to a receptive green. If you can hit it
straight you should leave the green with a good opening
score.
Hole #2
421/403/372/346 yards, Par 4 - #1 Handicap
After warming up on the par five opening hole, you
immediately play into the teeth of the course on the #1
handicap second hole, a dogleg right, 420 yard par four.
Seventy-foot high eucalyptus trees and an in-course
out-of-bounds guard the right side of the tee while water
runs the entire length of the hole on the left side.
You will need to shape your tee shot around the corner of
the dogleg or face a 200+ yard second shot into the
prevailing wind. The approach leaves little room for error
as the lake on the left curls in toward the trees fronting
the right side of the green, narrowing the slot for a
run-up shot to just nine yards.
A good strategy to stay out of trouble may be to play this
as a three shot hole and hope for a one putt. Consider par
a great score.
Hole #3
188/177/143/116 yards, Par 3 - #7 Handicap
The third hole features a split waterfall behind the green
that empties into a stream feeding the lake at the left
front of the green. One of the signature holes of the golf
course, it offers little relief after playing the
difficult second hole.
Playing at 188 yards from the tips directly into the
prevailing breeze, you will need precise long iron or
hybrid play to a green surrounded by water and trees, to
score par on this hole (or a good second shot chip.)
Hole #4
403/387/372/344 yards, Par 4 - #11 Handicap
The fourth hole is a straight Par 4 with no trouble off
the tee. Your approach shot is challenged by tress on the
left and a bunker front right. Make sure of the pin
position – a pin on the back left shelf is difficult to
reach on this medium-deep green.
Hole #5
172/160/128/96 yards, Par 3 - #17 Handicap
Make sure of your club selection on this hole – you might
need one more club than you think. There is a deep bunker
front left, and the green slopes precipitously from back
to front. Despite the #17 handicap rating, birdies are
infrequent here.
Hole #6
286/261/239/235 yards, Par 4 - #9 Handicap
The sixth hole is the first of three consecutive short
Par-4’s. Big hitters can drive the green but you better be
straight. A bunker guards the left front and trees will
block your approach if you stray right. Thick trees frame
the green from behind and can create some difficult
shadows in the late afternoon. Have your greens-reading
glasses on when you line up your putt. The ridge
dissecting the green makes putting more challenging than
you’d think.
Hole #7
282/259/238/221 yards, Par 4 - #15 Handicap
This is the middle hole in a stretch of three short par
fours that offer birdie opportunities and is the first of
two consecutive holes that feature hard doglegs to the
left. You will need to make the strategic decision of
whether to try to cut the corner over the tree line and
drive the green (for a chance at eagle), or play it safe
with a lay-up in the fairway and a short chip to the
green. Both choices have potential drawbacks. A shot at
the green that comes up short may find one of the four
bunkers protecting this approach, while a lay-up in the
fairway that rolls too far may leave you stymied behind
the lone myoporum tree standing guard at the green (note
the flag through the fork in the branches).
Hole #8
292/272/262/236 yards, Par 4 - #13 Handicap
If you haven’t made a birdie on the last two short
Par-4’s, here is your last chance. Big hitters can try
again to drive the green, but trees line the left side of
the fairway, and a large bunker fronts the green. Drive it
straight through the fairway and you may end up in a
bunker leaving you a long sand shot to the green.
Positioning is key if you plan to lay up or a short
approach shot. Check the pin position – you want to make
sure you are on the correct level of this two-tiered
green. Many hopes for birdie on this hole become bogeys
with sloppy play.
Hole #9
471/461/450/410 yards, Par 5 - #3 Handicap
This relatively short par five may look fairly easy, but
it has a dual personality. On a calm day this is a
definite birdie opportunity, but when the wind is up it
can play like it’s 550 yards. With three bunkers and trees
left and right, this green has the narrowest approach on
the golf course. If it’s blowing, settle for par and a hot
dog and a cold one at the snack shack.
Hole #10
455/423/392/369 yards, Par 4 - #8 Handicap
You will turn onto the longest Par 4 on the course, a
slight dogleg right that requires an accurate tee shot to
avoid trees on both sides of the fairway. Your approach is
to a narrow green with a bunker that will catch shots
short and right. The green is one of our most undulating
and slopes from left to right. Open the back side with a
par here and it can portend a great score for the side.
Hole #11
321/277/259/230 yards, Par 4 - #14 Handicap
This may be the prettiest little Par-4 in the Bay Area.
No. 11 has a little bit of everything – water, sand,
trees, even electrical towers – and demands a decision at
the tee to either lay-up in front of the lake that bisects
the fairway or muscle up and drive over it (a 255 yard
carry from the back tees). Either way, a bunker in front
requires accurate distance on your second shot.
If you bail out to the right on your tee shot, you’ll need
to thread your approach between the electrical towers and
over the eucalyptus tree near the green. Add to that the
fact that your target is the smallest green on the golf
course and what looks like an easy hole on the scorecard
can be anything but that. A birdie here can be
electrifying.
Hole #12
210/178/155/132 yards, Par 3 - #10 Handicap
This medium-long Par 3 can play tough when the breeze is
up. When in doubt hit an extra club. The green is a little
shallow from front to back, and the hole is made tougher
when the pin is placed in the back.
Hole #13
407/377/331/312 yards, Par 4 - #6 Handicap
Have your pencil ready – you’ll need to draw your tee shot
around the corner of this dogleg left hole. Large trees
line the entire left side of the fairway, so hookers will
find themselves in jail. On your approach shot, make sure
you club yourself properly as a large cross bunker
fronting the green will catch those who don’t.
Hole #14
537/506/495/469 yards Par 5 - #4 Handicap
This is our favorite risk/reward hole. Playing downwind, a
slight fade will put you in great position off the tee on
this slight dogleg right hole. Depending on how well you
hit your ProV1 will determine whether you blast a fairway
metal and try to reach the green, or choose to layup short
of the creek giving yourself a short but uphill approach
shot. The green runs diagonal to the fairway so make sure
of the pin position and plot your strategy carefully. Card
your par and get ready for four fun finishing holes.
Hole #15
158/138/118/86 yards Par 3 - #12 Handicap
Holes 14, 15 and 16 are our version of Amen corner, but
without the azaleas, slick greens, and Verne Lundquist.
Hole 15 can be tricky as the breezes will swirl in this
back corner of the course. On weekend days you might catch
the aroma of barbecued food from the adjacent park. A
large bunker fronts a green that slopes from front to
back. Hit your tee shot pure and a putt for birdie awaits.
Hole #16
423/393/374/346 yards, Par 4 - #2 Handicap
There is nothing easy on this hole. It’s long, plays into
the breeze, and doglegs left. Huge eucalyptus trees to the
right and left off the tee form a narrow alley for your
tee shot. To the left of the fairway are huge eucalyptus
trees and an in-course out-of-bounds; the center has three
bunkers surrounding the landing area; and anything to the
right will leave you with 220+ yards to get home. Your
shot is to a narrow green that slopes away from you. Like
we said, nothing easy on this hole, but that’s why it’s
the #2 handicap.
Hole #17
136/129/105/83 yards, Par 3 - #18 Handicap
Our shortest Par 3, this hole records lots of
holes-in-one. The green is small with subtle breaks, but a
birdie can be had before you head for home.
Hole #18
361/349/320/289 yards, Par 4 - #16 Handicap
This is a great finishing hole that can dramatically
change the outcome of a match. Although you need to be
careful with the two fairways bunkers that narrow the
landing area to just seventeen yards (260 yards to carry
them), this hole is all about the second shot. A short or
mid-iron will get you to the green but there is plenty of
trouble to avoid getting there. The largest bunker on the
golf course extends up the entire left side of the green
while the front, back and right side are bordered by a
lake and waterfall.
And it’s not enough to just hit the green. With
forty-three yards of depth, two tiers, 6,298 square feet
of putting surface, and a gallery watching from the
clubhouse patio, it’s an easy commute to three-jack city
unless you get it close.
We hope you enjoyed your journey around Poplar Creek, and
look forward to seeing you again soon! |
