TEE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

FRONT

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

BACK

TOTAL

5

3

4

4

5

4

4

3

4

36

4

5

3

4

4

3

4

4

5

36

M

500

185

420

382

586

422

342

185

411

3433

418

515

173

409

386

226

398

360

534

3419

6852

L

445

106

339

346

510

322

287

148

352

2855

337

438

106

347

274

158

344

302

400

2855

5561

1

This par five offers a fine opportunity to begin with birdie or par.  Once the fairway is negotiated with the tee ball, the hole opens up.  Bunkers in the drive area, plus a left side fall off rough area, pinch the drive zone.  Bunkers near the green force an accurate approach, so miss short if at all.  The greens at Glen Oak are of private-club quality, and require the deft assessment and touch of a craftsman.  Number one begins the apprenticeship.

2

The key to number two is gauging the correct distance to the middle of the green.  The horseshoe creek that encircles the green provides a great deal of visual intimidation, as well as hazards before, behind, and to the right of the putting surface. There is bail-out room to the left.  The green is one of the flatter ones, so take advantage of the opportunity to roll one at the hole. 

3

A strategic hole, this ninety degree dogleg runs along OB to the left.  A lake encroaches on the right, and the potential to drive through the dogleg and be cut off from a good angle to the green is a possibility, so . . if you didn't pick up a yardage card in the pro shop, hit three wood.
The green is protected by bunkers, and has trees and shrubs to the right and behind.  Long from front to back, there are tremendous subtle breaks and rolls to the surface.

4

Another solid par four, this hole possesses OB left the entire length of the hole, bunkers around the green, and a slightly elevated, rolling putting surface.  Other than that, it's a straightaway piece of cake. 

5

A true three-shot par five, this hole sets up as visually intimidating from two vantage points.  The first is due to trees down both sides of the fairway.  Those on the left begin early, while those down the right commence later.  The second factor is the water; a big lake on the right and front of the green, and a river to the left.  The green is a peninsula one, extending a finger of land out into the sea.  The green is two-tiered, and is often at the mercy of the wind, which blows hard across this unprotected altar.

6

A dogleg right par four that provides two options off the teeing ground.  The first is to play along the fairway, to the left of the large tree at the bend.  The second is to take the drive over the large tree, cutting the dogleg, and shortening the hole.  The green, nevertheless, will define the hole, as it slopes tremendously from back to front.  A front pin position, located almost in a well, allows balls to funnel to it.  A back position brings forth the possibility of missing long, from which recovery is difficult. 

7

Hero time.  Another strategic hole, wherein the golfer must curb his natural instinct to hit driver from the tee.  A dogleg right around a lake, it is only 200 yards to drive through the fairway.  After the lay-up, attention must be paid to the position of the flagstick.  This long green is made up of three distinct sections, each successive one dangerously closer to the lake.

8

Hero time again.  Straight over the lake, some 180-190 yards, to a well bunkered (front and rear) green.  Much like number seven, the green is a long one, with a variety of sections.  There is no true bail-out area here, only recovery areas.  If you miss the green, you will be tested by rough, the sand or an uphill chip shot.

9

Something of a breather after the previous two holes, this par four doglegs left, with tee, fairway and green at the same basic height.  Some bunkering serves to frame the hole, although it does not extend hazardously into the player's spectrum.  The green is another large one, and is a bit more testing than the two or three shots needed to reach the putting surface.

10

This dogleg-left, par four offers an ample drive zone, with no bunkering to fear.  The green is trapped, and is perched precariously against Smith Road, so do not hit the ball over the green.  The putting surface has its share of rolls, requiring proper speed and line for good results.

11

A double dogleg (right, then left) par five, it skirts a creek/marsh on the right, OB in trees on the left, with traps in the landing area for the final approach shot (2nd or 3rd) beginning some 50 yards from the green.  The green is a large one, with two distinct terraces.  Although the drop from back to front is not spectacular, it is enough to alter putting speeds.

12

Western New York's 12th at Augusta (or Muirfield Village), this par three, some 165 yards, is played directly over a pond to a green set at an angle to the tee (essentially shrinking the depth of the target.)  The wind has a tendency to knock shots down, so be certain to take enough club.  New rock wall fronting gives the hole a truly distinctive look. 

13

Whatever wind you had on twelve will be opposite on thirteen.  OB on left, trees to the right, and a very uneven landing area.  Tee ball is played to the crest of  a hill, then down a swale, and back up to the green.  A bit of a dogleg right, two front bunkers protect this back-to-front sloping green.

14

A deceptive driving hole, this par four aims you to the right from the tee, so double check your alignment before hitting.  A fairway bunker protects the left corner of the dogleg.  The approach shot is one of the more simple on the course, to a slightly elevated green.  Putting is fairly straightforward here, so take the opportunity to try to make one.

15

One of the truly intimidating, water-less par three holes in Western New York.  Two front bunkers and a wafer-thin left side make this green nearly impossible to hit from the tips.  A high, accurate long iron is needed to do the job.  Miss left if at all, as pitching back to the green is a bit easier from that side.  The green is favorable, so give your first putt a run.

16

Another top-notch dogleg left hole, again guarded by a bunker on the left corner.  Do not try to fly it, as trees on the left will block a wedge approach.  Instead, play to the right of the sand, and hit a mid- to short iron in to this large and long green.  Woods await behind, so do not be strong.  Bunkers front left and right punish the weakly struck approach.

17

The first of two high-risk finishing holes.  This par four plays down a narrow fairway with sand right and water left.  A tee ball that reaches the bunker will have no more than nine iron or wedge in to a skull-shaped green.  Bunkers front right and left encroach upon the run-up alleyway.  The green slopes from back to front, and has a tendency to speed up during the good weather, so treat puts with caution here.

18

This par five forces the player into a three shot mentality, unless she/he can carry a driver 250 yards over tall trees, or a three wood 245 yards over a pond.  The common drive is aimed between the fairway bunker right, and the bridge left, usually a long iron from the tee.  If you want to play the hole as it should be played, go all the way back to the Green tee, and hit a fairway metal or driver.  The second shot is aimed at the another fairway bunker, over the rise, across the creek, to the the left, away from the large pond that fronts the green.  The third shot doglegs back to the right, and is pitched to the green, usually a short iron or wedge, depending upon lay-up position.  Even though you must clear the pond to reach the green, take one club less, as the ball tends to fly long on this approach.  This large green can be the scene of many a three putt when not on the proper portion.