The square landing spot is not where you should be aiming.  If you’ve got the red distance balls, just pound your driver straight ahead into the rough — you’ll still be able to get on in 2 easily. Otherwise, you can play an A1 or C3 into other parts of the rough.  The rough in […]

The only thing to warn against here is if the pin is tucked in by one of the edges of the star.  If so, make sure you err towards the center of the green so you don’t have to putt through rough towards the pin!  If you have a shorter putt, say 20-feet or less, […]

A very long par 4, but not too difficult with the flat green — make sure to leave yourself a putt. EXAMPLE HOLE-OUT

Some guys are driving this hole with a tailwind using a low-loft driver and the red D2 distance balls!  Even if you can’t drive it, you can consider a big A1 or C3 with roll off the tee to get pretty close to the green.  If you have good chipping skills you might be able […]

You’ll need to hit one of a few green grassy pods out past the fairway in order to reach this green in two.  It’s not easy, and you’ll have to have a good handle on your distances to stick the landing here.  You may also take wind and pin placement into consideration when deciding which […]

There are two possible greens on this par 3 also, and errant shots here have a chance of backing up onto the green because of the backstop created by the hill behind either green. HOLE-OUT FROM THE BACK LEFT BOX TO THE LEFT GREEN HOLE-OUT FROM THE FRONT BOX TO THE LEFT GREEN HOLE-OUT FROM […]

From the front boxes, you can clear the neck and the lake towards the bowl of the fairway, and then it’s a decent approach into the green — here’s an example hole-out from there.  It’s not automatic because it all slopes off into the sand, so try to hit the middle of the green.  Here’s […]

This hole forces you to make another decision based on the wind and pin placement.  Most of the time, you’re fine going left down low.  Your approach will be way up hill, but unimpeded, and wind won’t affect it much.  So, if you go this route, club up one for your approach.  Here’s a hole-out […]

Don’t get confused — there are two greens here and 4 possible tee boxes! HOLE-OUT FROM THE SECOND-FARTHEST BOX TO THE LEFT GREEN HOLE-OUT FROM THE SECOND-CLOSEST BOX TO THE RIGHT GREEN HOLE-OUT FROM THE BACK BOX TO THE RIGHT GREEN HOLE-OUT FROM THE MIDDLE BOX TO THE RIGHT GREEN

It’s best to clear the stream if possible, so you can hole-out like this … but, if you can’t make it, lay up to the right.  Here’s a hole-out from a lay-up in front of the river. The approach shot is not easy — the green is tricky and surrounded by water.  Be extra careful […]

Most guys are always laying up in the same spot, every time, on this hole.  It’s towards the end of the fairway, just left of the orange bush straight ahead.  From here, you can hit either a 3-wood or 4-wood over the hill and under the tree on top of that hill right at the […]

HOLE-OUT FROM THE BACK BOX HOLE-OUT FROM THE FRONT RIGHT BOX HOLE-OUT FROM THE MIDDLE RIGHT BOX HOLE-OUT FROM THE MIDDLE LEFT BOX

This hole can be driveable from the front box, which might only be available in casual play.  It may also be driveable at times from the back box with the right wind and equipment!  Normally, you’re just thumbing a drive out into the fairway, because you don’t gain anything with extra distance — leave yourself […]

This hole can be driveable at times with the right wind and equipment — but, don’t just automatically crank the longest drive you can.  Know the gaps in your clubs and don’t put yourself in a situation where you have an uncomfortable distance into the first green. EXAMPLE HOLE-OUT

From the front couple boxes, you can work a 5-wood backspin around the trees into the green.  Another approach that works is to punch a low-lofted club through a spot in the trees, if you see one.  If you miss the trees, your ball will trickle down onto the green!  Here’s a great hole-out from […]

Again, if you have the D2 balls that add distance off the tee, it makes this tee shot much easier — often times you can simply carry the neck of the fairway instead of having to thread it.  Otherwise, you’ll be testing your accuracy to land in the neck of the fairway if you want […]

This hole is sometimes driveable, especially with the red distance balls.  If you’ve got a friendly tee box and/or wind, pound a 180 drive, usually with backspin, towards the green and hope that you carry!  You can usually try the shot even if you think it’s not driveable, because even if you’re short, it’s just […]

Lots of options off the tee here, but I play to the same place almost every time now.  I like to lay up in front of the lava lake, in line with the hole.  From here, you can lob a 5-wood onto the green, like this great shot (love the bubbling lava)!  A 3-wood may […]

With a tailwind, this green can be really tough to stick.  This hole really tests your mastery of distance — good luck!  I love having the 7-wood and 9-wood here, which allow you to float the ball over the hill more easily. HOLE-OUT FROM THE RIGHT BOX HOLE-OUT FROM THE LEFT BOX HOLE-OUT FROM THE […]

The decision off the tee here can be perplexing!  Initially it appears as if you’d always want to go to the left, but the Golden Tee course designers were kind enough to ensure that if the tee shot strays to the left a bit, it will roll right down onto the lava rock, which is […]

Again — no reason to get fancy off the tee, so poke it out there and nail your approach shot, like this!

Nothing else to do other than lay up and try to hole-out from there.

This should be an eagle for you just about every time — here’s how to attack it: First, if you have one of the tee boxes on the right, line up with the green.  You’ll see a landing area a bit over halfway there.  Sometimes a tree impedes the shot, but either way, this is […]

Low-lofted clubs are a big advantage here.  With a front pin, don’t be afraid to bounce a low-lofter through the sand with backspin. If you have to use a 9-wood, play the wind as best you can to leave yourself a putt, and rarely use backspin. HOLE-OUT FROM BACK LEFT BOX HOLE-OUT FROM BACK RIGHT […]

There are 3 options off the tee here.  Most often, you’ll be laying back far enough to give yourself a line at the green from farther back — usually a 3-wood for the approach.  Here’s a 3-wood hole-out from laying back. If you have a closer tee box that’s lined up with the gap in […]

The best place to be off the tee is just over the water (usually a driver backspin).  From here, you can float a 5-wood over the top of the trees onto the green for an eagle putt!  Here’s a nice 5-wood hole-out from that general area.  If you have a 7-wood, you have even more […]

This should be a pretty good eagle opportunity for you.  If the pin is in the middle of the split green, you goal is to leave your shot pin-high on either side of the split green so that you have a manageable putt. Remember that the shot is downhill slightly, so your drive may travel […]

This hole can be devastating.  As if #16 weren’t enough to ruin your round, now you have to deal with this monster.  Not only that, but it’s a very tough tee shot, and a very tough approach shot, and a very tough putt!  You’ve got dangerous water off the tee on the left, which the […]

This shot just demands that you nail the right distance with backspin.  It’s downhill, so don’t get crazy and blast your drive in the water, especially if you have a tailwind.  Again, the green is separated by a gap, so try not to leave yourself without a clear putt at the pin.  Here’s a crazy […]

Get your drive past the sand down the fairway to leave yourself with a tough A1-type approach into the green.  As with many holes in Golden Tee 2010, don’t leave yourself on the wrong side of the green where you don’t have a clear putt at the hole!  Here’s a great cut-shot after a long […]