Hole by Hole Layout | Georgia State Park Golf Courses

Hole by Hole Layout

FRONT NINE:
	Hole 1 – Sugarbeer Par 4 Yardage 376 A good beginning hole with plenty of room on the right. The tees are nestled among the sugarberry trees and offer a good view of the landing area. The 150 yard marker is visible and a good line off the tee is just left of the marker. On the second shot avoid left and long. Recovery is possible short of the green or to the right. Anything left will get you off to a poor start.	Hole 6 – Big Oak Par 4 Yardage 407 A par here, on one of the course's most difficult holes, is well deserved. A perfect tee shot will end up near the 150-yard marker. Go through the fairway and you will find the rough and sprawling limbs of the giant oak in your way. Out of bounds guards the left side. Approach shots must negotiate the front bunker.
	Hole 2 – Short Par 4 Yardage 354 As the name implies this is the shortest of the Par 4’s. The long hitter can go over the bunker and come close to driving the green. There is more room to the left than meets the eye. The place to avoid is the bunker, it’s big and not very forgiving. The approach is to a huge green. It measures 52 yards from the front to the back.	Hole 7 – Hill Top Par 3 Yardage 169 A shorter par 3 that plays much easier to the front hole location. When the hole is placed in the back of the green, it is hard to make yourself use enough club. Don’t miss the green to the right. If you do bogey becomes a good score. Short of the putting surface is okay if the hole is on the front, but if it is on the back, even this becomes a difficult shot. Regardless, this is probably the easiest of the par 3’s.
	Hole 3 – Straight Par 4 Yardage 410 This is a good straight-away Par 4. Avoid the bunker on the right, it’s bigger than it appears. Don’t be frightened by the field on the left for there is ample room in the landing area. Avoid the bunker in the front of the green on the left side. Recovery from here takes a well played shot.	Hole 8 – Cedar Par 5 Yardage 513 When you step on the tee on this hole you are provided with a spectacular view. Take note of the cedar tree along the right side of the fairway. A well-placed tee shot will end up just left of the tree. Be careful of going right at the tree, as you can be blocked by it. A good tee shot will provide the opportunity to reach the green in two shots. If you must favor one side in approaching the green, let it be the right side for the left side can lead to high numbers.
	Hole 4 – Bail Out Par 3 Yardage 229 There is water in front of the green to challenge the brave. There is a bail out area to the right of the green for the faint of heart. From the bail out area, a good chip can still save par. A tee shot into the drink will lead to high scores.	Hole 9 – Chinaberry Par 4 Yardage 444 The longest Par 4 on the front nine provides a double challenge coming home. Not only must you drive the ball long and straight, you must also strike a solid approach shot to an undulating green, guarded by a large bunker on the right and trees to the left. Two good shots and a deserved par will provide the courage you need to tackle the back nine. Hold your head high as you walk to the clubhouse if you finish with a par, witnessed by spectators sitting in the rockers on the porch.
	Hole 5 – Creek Par 5 Yardage 515 This hole doglegs to the right and demands an accurate tee shot to avoid the bunker through the fairway. By the way that is one bunker, not four. The lay up shot is critical to avoid a carry over the cedar trees short of the green. There is a creek that wanders in front of the green to defy the long hitters the opportunity to reach the green in two. A shot into the green that comes to rest above the hole will provide its owner with a challenging putt.

BACK NINE:
	Hole 10 – Uphill Par 4 Yardage 402 Keep the tee shot right of the bunker and then play to the left of the bunkers in front of the green, for the best look at the green.	Hole 15 – Sand Par 4 Yardage 414 It looks as if there are many sand bunkers on this hole. However, there are only two fairway bunkers in the landing area. A line over the left edge of the bunker on the right will find a safe haven. The long hitter will want to challenge the large bunker along the left but should stay away. Out of bounds and a water hazard along that side will teach him that right is better. When the hole is placed on the left side of the green, the approach shot is pretty difficult and trying for the pin can result in reward or disaster. This is not an attack hole, be patient and careful.
	Hole 11 – Pear Par 3 Yardage 193 Although the pear tree doesn’t come into play, it seems to stand guard over the hole. This is a lovely Par 3 provided your tee shot doesn’t stray to the right of the green. A search for the errant shot to the right can find anything from pines to, yucca plant, to wild turkey, (the feathered kind). This is the most scenic of the short holes and a well played shot from the tee will raise your spirits.	Hole 16 – Swamp Par 4 Yardage 445 This begins the inward turn for home. A wide fairway and a relatively flat putting surface offer some hope on this hole. The length of the hole and the disaster lurking for any approach shot hit either short, left or right of the green make it difficult indeed. Should you stray off the fairway with your tee shot, laying up short of the marsh is recommended. Trying to reach the green from a difficult lie or considerable distance is unwise. Par is a great score.
	Hole 12 – Lone Pine Par 4 Yardage 395 As soon as you walk to the tee, you know why this hole is called, “lone pine”. Take dead aim at the pine, surely you can’t hit it. Any ball coming to rest slightly right or left of the pine will be in good position for an approach to the green. Beware the right side, it looks inviting and is a shorter route but stray a little and you’ll pay a big price. Be bold on the approach shot and avoid the bunker in front. Any shot missing the putting surface will make par difficult and probably make bogey a good score.	Hole 17 – Isle among the Sands Par 3 Yardage 203 Make sure the distance is correct on this hole. It is also a hole demanding accuracy. Any shot lacking the above will no doubt result in a difficult bunker shot. A tee shot reaching the green should provide a good birdie opportunity and a pretty sure par as the green is not difficult to read even though it is fairly undulating. Watch for the wind on this tee shot, Successfully determining the strength and direction of the breeze is critical to finding the putting surface with the tee shot.
	Hole 13 – Pot Bunker Par 4 Yardage 440 Although you have a large landing area on this hole, the tee shot is difficult because of the lack of a good visible target. You must take the line to the eighteenth green in the background to find a suitable spot to approach the green. If you can find the 150 yard marker, this too is a good target. The beauty of this hole is the pot bunker right and short of the green. If you don’t have to play from it, at least go over for a look reminiscent of Scottish links. The green also provides adventure. If the hole is on the front, be on the front. If it’s on the back, be on the back. A ridge runs right through the middle of the green an makes for an interesting putt if you have to negotiate over it.	Hole 18 – Big Dog Par 5 Yardage 555 This is not a hole for the faint of heart. If you wish to challenge it, it is equal to the challenge. There is a lake hidden along the left side of the landing area from the back tees. A tee shot aimed to the left of the fairway bunkers must be struck solid and sure. If you choose the route down the left side and find land, the challenge has just begun. The green awaits on the other side of a second lake. Trying to reach this green in two is the ultimate challenge. This hole rivals other great finishing Par 5’s. It is equal to the eighteenth at Atlanta Country Club, Atlanta Athletic Club, Eagle’s Landing, Golden Eagle, Great Waters and even Pebble Beach. Having played those and reaching them in two, I felt the same sense of accomplishment in challenging the “Big Dog”.
	Hole 14 – Long Par 5 Yardage 573 This hole too reminds one of legendary British Par 5’s. It is the longest of the Par 5’s but has a wide fairway to accommodate tee shots and lay-ups. Once again the right side looks inviting, but decline the invitation. Play left center, aiming at the bunker in the distance along the left rough. When you lay-up, it is advisable to stay short of the bunker short of the green on the right side. This is a three shot hole and doesn’t provide many birdie opportunities unless you can hit the third shot close and sink the putt.	Hope you have enjoyed the course. Mr. Williard Byrd did a marvelous job in designing the course and preserving the natural beauty of the land. It is home to the wildlife, a beautiful place we can share with them.