1

Dogleg left with a creek running entirely down the left side.  Play toward the ski lift; it's a free drop if you whack it.  Second shot filters down toward a green protected only by its own swales.  A good drive is all that's needed for a starting par.

2

After driving through the Lodge, this par four, dogleg right, flirts precariously with multiple ponds.  The ideal play is a three wood over, or just a along, the right side pines.  The approach must carry the water, which fronts the green.  The putting surface is difficult, with two distinct tiers. 

3

Three at HV is a straight-forward par four, water down right in drive zone, then trees, with bunkers at green front.  Rt. 219 (OB) down entire left side of hole.  A good drive leaves a mid to short iron in.  Not a difficult green to putt.

4

Four is a misleading par four, sharp dogleg left, around an enormous tree at the corner.  A high hitter can carry the trees from the tee, leaving a short iron to an extremely narrow green (with a concealing front bunker) that slopes away to the back.  If the tee ball is played too far right, the hole effectively plays as a par five.  The green is long, with semi-severe undulations.

5

Five is a flat, mid length par three, played through a chute of trees, to an enormous, round putting surface.  The green offers little resistance, although the extensive length of the first putt may be enough to cause consternation.  Miss straight, as the rough is ample and gnarly.

6

Six is a gambler’s par five.  A sharp dogleg left, do not try to cut the corner too much, as even a successful carry over the pines will fall into the left rough.  Instead, play down the corner line with a right-to-left shot, tracing a curve in the fairway.  The second shot is played to a semi thin green with a hill to the left, bisected by a ridge halfway up the slope.  There is water short and right, in the form of a creek, and a deep swale to the right of the green.  Placement of the tee ball is the key, as even a missed second shot can leave a manageable third.

7

Seven is a gambler’s par four.  The green can be nearly driven, even from the blue tees, but two guardian bodies of water must be avoided left and right.  Bunkers front the green left and right, with the latter being especially deep and nasty.  An iron or 5-metal from the tee will leave a mid to short iron into the green, certainly the safer play.  The green slopes from back to front, so below the hole is the place to be.

8

Eight is a brief affair, so don’t be tempted to kill a drive; you don’t have to.  A nice play from the tee will leave a mid to short iron into a green that is not overly sloped nor bunkered.  This is a birdie hole if you play it intelligently. 

9

The third gambler’s paradise on the front nine, this hole is an extremely short par four, around/over a pond fronting the green on the left.  Hint:  you cannot see it from the tee, so remember that it is there.  The shot needed to reach the fairway is much less than you think that you need, so play less than driver from the tee.  The green, much like number six, is a pie pan, round and large.

10

Ten is the most difficult par four on the course.  Uphill and slightly left to right, the drive simply cannot find a flat resting place, unless you play the hole backwards. . .what?  Yes.  Hit six iron to the shelf, then three wood or five wood to the green.  If not, play driver or three wood from the tee, then hit a long iron of some number to the green.  Be aware that you will be faced with an uphill, ball below your feet lie, which tends to fly dead left after contact.  The green sits in a bowl, with two consecutive bunkers front right.  After the demanding drive and approach, the green is a welcome relief, and two putts or fewer is the norm.

11

Eleven is the antithesis of ten:  down versus up, left versus right, long but short versus short but long.  With the added feature of a creek that must be carried to reach the green, eleven is a heroic hole.  Absolutely kill your drive on this hole, and watch it soar against the Allegheny foothills in the distance.  If you can draw the ball (don’t go too far left—rough and pines), you have the potential to hit short iron in to this long hole.  If not, you are faced with a decision:  go for the green or lay up?  Remember David Toms at the 2001 PGA Championship when making your decision.  The green is usually firm, and does not respond well to low shots.  Two distinct ties make this putting surface a challenge.

12

Twelve is a backyard par three, cozy and familiar.  Slightly uphill, over water and sand, to a smallish green, this par three is no more than 155 yards, even from way back.  Straight with proper distance is the key; do not miss right!  The green slopes from back right to front left, and is speedy.

13

The freakiest par five ever, this 379 yard Unicorn plays 310 yards straight out, then 60 yards over a chasm, all right, ravine, all right, glorified barranca, to a green situated thirty feet below fairway level.  The fairway is as narrow as a bowling alley, so don’t hit driver.  5 Iron, 7 Iron is usually enough to get you out there for a look at the green with your third.  Can you hit your approach short or long?  Both.  Know your wedge distances for this approach!  If you don’t, read Dave Pelz’ Short Game Bible.  The green is not deep, and is fast.  Par here is a mark of excellence and patience.

14

Fourteen is the epitome of a natural par three that relies on nothing but nature for its defenses.  In fact, if the tee were located some thirty yards to the left, it would be the most natural of Redan holes, as it depends on no bunkering, only natural swales and vales.  The green is long and narrow, with a drop of eight feet to the left.  A run-up shot in dry weather is an ideal play here, which explains the earlier Redan allusion.  The back portion of the green tends to repel shots on, so play short of the pin and let the ball bound forward.  A flat green with large, sweeping breaks, two putts are not too difficult to attain.

15

Fifteen is a breath-holding par four with a great local rule.  Downhill, some 330 yards, it is drivable under the proper (dry) conditions, yet never simple.  The fairway bottlenecks as the green nears, slimming down to some ten yards of width.  Sloping right to left, the natural inclination is to play the tee ball toward the hillside on the right, allowing it to roll down toward the fairway.  The ravine and trees left tend to eliminate the other side of the fairway.  If you ball gets caught up in the grass on the hill, you may (assuming that you find it) take a free drop in the fairway, no closer to the hole.  The brief approach shot is played to a well-sloped (back to front) green.  Above the hole is testy, so keep it short of the cup.

16

Sixteen is a wonderful par five that traces the ledge above the Schoolhouse lift.  A natural kick of the ball from right to left claims many a straight tee ball, disposing of it in the lower, left rough.  The second shot is played along the ledge, right of the ski lift, and left of the tree line, leaving a downhill short iron or wedge to a slightly sloped green.  There is an elephant buried in the back right portion of the green, so show proper respect when putting in the vicinity of its resting place.

17

Seventeen is a drop-out-of-the-sky par three, played down the Sunrise ski hill.  It is easy to hit too much club and airmail the green, and to hit too little club, and come up woefully short.  The green slopes away on its slides, and is protected by two bunkers.  Par is an achievement.

18

Eighteen is a signature hole at Holiday Valley, and a fitting way to close the round.  This par five retraces the path of number 16, in the opposite direction, a few yards below the former fairway.  With a natural cant to the right, yards may be picked up, bringing a decision to the fore:  to go or not to go.  A flat lay-up area sits before the creek, offering the opportunity of a short wedge third.  If the player goes for the green in two, the shot must be played high and soft, to carry the creek and hold the green.  Once aboard, the putting surface has a few twists of its own, especially from above the hole.  Be cautious, take two putts and head for the nineteenth hole.