| The best way to shoot the lowest number possible at Great River Road Golf Club is to play it safe off the tee. Below is a hole by hole narrative as to "the conservative" way to play to the green (bale out here), and "the gamblers approach". |
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Don't go long; be mindful of the bunker near the front, right of the green.
*Bale out short left
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Up hill and it plays deceptively long, make a birdie here and you'll pick up a stroke on the field; take one more club.
*Bale out short left
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O.B. left comes into play quick.
*Bale out short right
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Very reachable par 4. O.B. left and long and it comes into play real fast. Two bunkers in the front only give a 15' wide roll on opening. The safe way to play the hole is to leave it just in front of the bunkers and chip and putt for birdie. Go for it, as this is the number 1 risk-reward hole.
*Bale out short of the bunkers
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Tight driving hole into a right-to-left sloping fairway. The farther you hit the tee shot, the tighter it gets. Play it safe and leave yourself 110 yards to the green (the flattest and widest point in the fairway). Go for it as this is risk-reward hole number 2.
*Bale out short
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Tight driving hole. Mature pine trees line both sides of the fairway. Whatever you have in your bag, hit it straight. Get in the pines and your only shot is chipping it out.
*Bale out short; the pine trees left and long come into play fast
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Into the prevailing wind, keep it left; the pond comes into play on the left faster than it appears.
*Bale out short left
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Into the prevailing wind, don't go long; big, flat green will help make your birdie here.
*Bale out short
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Severe back-to-front sloping green; keep it below the hole.
*Bale out short
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One of the prettiest tee shots you'll ever hit. Keep it left, as "right is no mans land".
*Bale out left
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Water is 245 from the center of the tee, so plan accordingly. The grain of this green is very deceptive. Your approach shot and your putt will roll hard left-to-right from the front of the green,
*Bale out short
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Hard dog leg left; the smart play is to lay-up (approximately 190 off the tee). This is risk-reward hole number 3, so go for it high and hard left and you might find this par 4 green. On your approach from the fairway, you must stay below the pin!!!
*Bale out short
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140 foot of elevation change down. Depending on the wind, take 1 or 2 clubs less than you might expect. O.B. left comes into play quickly.
*Bale out short
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The owner's favorite hole! You can make eagle or double boogie. A reachable par 5, but water left and trees right that both get tighter the farther you hit it.
You can play it safe off the tee and still get home in three. But a long tee shot in the fairway and you'll have a mid-to-long iron into this long green. This is risk- reward hole number 4. A big tee shot and you have an easy birdie; spray that tee shot and a big number is in store.
*Bale out short right
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Risk-reward hole number 5. A drivable par 4, BUT, Larry's Creek is only 15 feet left of the green and the over-flow from the 11th pond guards the front. The smart play is to lay up and give yourself a 100 yard shot into this rolling green. Or, be a hero and pull out the big stick. Just like the last hole, a birdie or a big number depends on the tee shot . |
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Dog leg left to a island green. If you are not within 150 yards off the tee, save a golf ball and lay up. This rolling green will hold a good golf shot. Don't expect a 100 compression Pinnacle Gold to stop. Play it smart and don't be a hero! Just like the last two holes, your tee shot sets up the hole. If you hit a bad tee shot, lay up.
*Bale out ... there is none, as this is a island green
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Eagles Roost! The Bald Eagles love to roost in the trees that guard the left side of this fairway in the winter months. I guess in their world they are imagining you three putting from the top tier of this green to the bottom tier. Don't go over this green!
*Bale out short
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Up and out of the valley. Play it safe and hit your tee shot to the top of the hill, or be a hero and hit a huge high "Lee Trevino" cut and you'll be right in front of the green. This risk-reward hole number 6. As for the green, keep it below the hole or it's a 3 putt (or more). |
| As you can see, there are six holes that dare you to go for it! Don't if you want to score. But, it's all about fun, and those six holes are part of what makes a trip to Great River Road Golf Club a fun and adventuresome experience. Enjoy yourself! |
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