Course Details

Staring at the tee shot on #2 is nerve-racking. Playing all of 400 yards from the white tees. The fairway slants left to right towards the green with water running parallel to it. Starting the ball over the edge of the water will cut a lot of distance off your second shot but is a frightening undertaking. Two fairway bunkers are strategically placed down the left side of the fairway to catch any long hitters who try to play it to safe off the tee. Your second shot will most likely consist of a long iron or hybrid with a wide fairway and big inviting green ahead. Water still runs down the right side of the fairway and tall wild grass to the left of the cart path. The putting green is double tiered with the slope running front to back in the middle of the green, leaving flatter surfaces at the front and back areas.

Hole #3 is a Par 3 that has a circular green bordered on the front, left and back side by greenside bunkers. The tee shot is open to the elements and usually plays a club shorter or longer depending on the wind. In addition to the bunkers there is tall grass to the left of the cart path and water directly behind the green. Prior to the middle pot bunker is a peanut shaped approach area to collect all short mishit’s. Shots hit onto the front of the green typically bounce forward since the green gently slopes in all directions towards the middle right section.

Hole #4 is a short Par 4 with an approach to the green over a water hazard. Depending on where your teeing from you may have from a Driver to a 6 Iron in your hand for your first. The pond comes into play on the right side about 130 yards out with the waters edge being approximately 60 yards in front and 80 yards to the right of the 150 Yard Post. Playing it safe and away from the water is a smart play but will also add distance to your second shot and possibly put the fairway bunker into play. Anything at or to the right of the 150 Post will take some yards off your second leaving you with a short iron or wedge. The second shot will be all carry over a water hazard. Bunkers are located in the front right of the green and to the left of the approach. Those bunkers, the pond located in front and another water hazard directly behind the green makes this one of the more worrisome approach shots.

Hole #5 is a monster. Playing over 400 yards from the white tees with a daunting tee shot to start. The fairway slants right to left towards the green making anyone think twice about taking on the water. There is ample room to the right if you want to shorten the carry for the pond but will add loads of yardage to your next shot. Two fairway bunkers are cut into the hills in the right rough for any long hitter who thinks they can take the water completely out of the hole. The second shot, depending where you are, will most like be a long iron or hybrid towards a wide fairway that runs up to the green. To the short left side of the green lies a big bunker that collects balls trying to scoot up to the front edge. The putting green is fairly flat with subtle slopes running from the front and back edge to the middle. A Par on this hole should be considered an accomplishment.

Hole# 6 is the first Par 5 on the scorecard. The fairway has water running down the entire left side and comes to a point just to the left of the cart path. To the right of the rolling hills there is tall grass which makes long hitters think twice about gripping and ripping their tee shot. A good aiming point for this hole is the cart path. This allows for a small deviation in either direction and a possible cart path bounce for more distance. Your second shot from the fairway will have you looking at a small carry over water into big fairway that thins out at around 120 yards with a bunker just in the right rough and a small pot bunker on the left side about 130 yards out. You can play it smart and lay up to the fat part of the fairway at 175-125 yards out or take on the fairway bunkers and have a wedge in your hand for your third. The green is guarded by a big bunker on the front right and a small pot bunker in the back left. The big front bunker is lurking for any pin situated on the right side or back position. The putting green slants from back to front with a substantial slope on the middle right section of the putting surface.

Hole #7 is a beautiful Par 3. The tee shot is all carry over water with a bunker protecting the front left side of the green and a small pot bunker located in the back right. Going left is not an option as the pond stretches all the way to the front left bunker. There is an approach just short of the green and a few undulating hills in the rough to the far right. With the tee box being open to the elements this hole can play a club longer or shorter depending on the wind. The green is fairly flat with subtle slopes running throughout.

Hole 8 is a long but fairly straight Par 5. The tee shot has you hitting to a wide fairway with some undulating slopes. If you are lucky enough to have your tee shot land on a downward slope you could get a good enough kick to at least have the thought of going for the green in two, From the tee, there is trouble in the form of tall wild grass located to the far left and right side of the cart path along with a water hazard positioned to the far right behind #10 green. The second shot is also fairly open, but trees and bunkers come into play the closer you get to the green. Playing a safe second shot will put you from 150-100 yards out and take the trees out of play until your third. Attempting to go for the green in two could put both greenside bunkers into play and open up the possibility of hitting your third from the trees because the green complex slopes towards these areas. The putting green is guarded on the front left and right by bunkers with a small approach area splitting them. Hole 8 is one of the trickier putting surfaces. The front of the green has a steep false front making any Red (Front) pin a chore either putting or hitting an approach shot. The rest of the green slopes slightly downwards and to the left from the back to the middle section. Straight putts come at a premium on this putting surface.

Hole 9 is one of the two Bermuda and Bentgrass mix fairways along with #13. It is a completely tree lined fairway with a ditch/water hazard located at the end. A straight drive is a must on this hole as any off line tee shot may require you to be creative on your next shot. In the right rough there is a drainage trench following the fairway which is considered Ground Under Repair. A Hybrid or 3 wood off the tee is a safe bet to hit the fairway but will leave you with a mid to long iron into the green. A well struck driver should leave you with a short iron or wedge for your second but is a gamble. The second shot has you hitting over a water hazard into a decent sized green with a pot bunker situated near the front left. The right and back sections of the putting surface are usually blanketed in shade since the green is surrounded by forestry and a large Sycamore tree located just to the right side. This makes putting on this relatively flat green a little more complicated as subtle breaks are harder to read.

The tee shot on hole 10 will have you hitting to a fairway that is lined on both sides by trees. The left rough is about 15-20 yards wide. This is important because any errant shot into the left trees can be considered lost. There is little to no room for error on the right side as the rough hugs the tree line but the wooded area is open so if you find your ball you should have a shot at advancing it towards the green. The second shot on this hole is tricky depending on where you are hitting from and where the pin is located. If you are on the left side (especially with a back left pin) you may have to curl it around the left trees to reach the green but beware any ball left out to the right is in danger of catching one of the two bunkers hugging the right side of the green. The putting green is peanut shaped and relatively flat except for the left front edge that slopes towards the middle section. This hole looks pretty straight forward but some deep thought should be taken on your tee shot depending on the pin placement.

The tee shot on #11 looks daunting with trees on the left and tall grass down the right side but the hole opens up after 150 yards to a wide fairway with a fairway bunker just below the visible knoll. The second shot has you hitting into another wide open fairway lined by trees on the left and more tall grass on the right. Depending on your tee shot you have the option to hit a safe layup to the 150 yard marker or try to get within wedge distance. If you are on the left side of the fairway you will have to navigate a small pond in front of the green for your third with a bunker located on the right side of the green. The green is shaped like a peanut offering a wide target but with not as much depth as other green complexes.

#12 is one of 3 Par 4’s that play 400 yards or longer. The fairway has a very wide landing area for most players but for the longer hitters it pinches in right at the bunker with water on the left side. For your second you will want to select a club that will carry the ball all the way to the green as the approach and green is slightly elevated and your ball will most likely not roll out. The green complex slopes downwards back to front with a big grade on the front portion of the green. Try your best to leave your ball below the hole, otherwise you will have a slick downhill or sidewinder putt to follow.

#13 is a short Par 4 giving you options of the tee box. A hybrid or 3 wood off the tee is a safe bet that will leave you with a mid-iron into a elevated green. Hitting a Driver off the tee will get you within range to hit a wedge into the green but also puts danger into play in the form of a bunker on the left and right side, water to the left of the cart path, and small tree in front of the green. The front of the green has a huge downward slope (False Front) that will cause any balls not hit far enough to trickle down and off the putting area. The green complex is elevated making any shot off target funnel down into a low point making chipping very challenging on this hole. Except for the front portion, most of the green is flat but don’t be fooled this green has subtle slopes throughout that will make you think twice when reading your line.

Hole #14 is a risk/reward type of hole. A 3 wood or soft driver is the smart play from the tee box, leaving your with a iron or hybrid to layup to the second fairway with your second. If you decide to hit the Driver, take note that the fairway ends at about 235 yards out with only 20-30 yards of rough before the water hazard and Out-of-Bounds runs down the entire left side and behind the green. A well hit, pin-point Drive could allow you to reach the second fairway but that is also the tightest area on this hole with OB on the left and water on the right. Going for the green in two will require a lofted shot with a long iron or wood that must land soft in order to hold onto this elevated green. There is a large deep bunker located on the front right side of the complex and a water hazard down the entire right side of the second fairway. Depending on your day this hole could either reward you for playing aggressive or have you reaching for your bag fro another ball.

Hole #15 is a Par 3 with two bunkers protecting the front right and left sides. The tee shot is open to the elements with the wind usually blowing across or into your face making this shot typically play one club longer. A large approach is positioned in front of the green to collect any short shots and water is located to the front left of the tee box and directly behind the green. The green complex has subtle slopes that run from the edges towards the middle section of the green.

Hole #16 is a short Par 4 with a slight dogleg to the right. A 3 wood off the tee will take most the trouble out of this hole but will leave you from 140-170 yards out for your second. A Driver from the tee box will allow you to cut the corner and put a wedge in your hand for your second but will also put the trees to the right in play, the fairway bunker just below the left knoll, and a bunker protecting the green from players trying to drive it over the trees.. Your second shot will have you hitting into a fairly large green that slopes back to front with a large bunker situated near the left front side. Out-of-Bounds is located to the left of the green running down the ditch line.

#17 is a Par 3 with trees surrounding the green in a horseshoe pattern. There are three bunkers around the green. A bunker near the front left, a pot bunker at the back left and a large bunker just off the green to the right. There is a descent sized approach positioned in front of the green that allows shots hit short to bounce onto the putting surface. Most of the time you will notice little to no wind around the flagstick but the wind will influence your ball if it is struck above the tree line. The green complex is fairly flat with the back section sloping downwards towards the back edge making a back cup position a tricky putt.

The finishing hole at Great Hope is no cakewalk. This 400 yard Par 4 has you staring at a tree lined tee shot with a water hazard just off the fairway to the right and the left side opening up just past the trees. A well hit drive will have you looking at a mid to long iron over a small water hazard that you must carry all the way to the green because of the upward sloping approach.. A greenside bunker is located just to the right side of the green and the putting surface slopes downward from the back to front. A par is a decent score and will have you celebrating on your way to the 19th hole at the CaddyShack.