GolfTraxx: A fusion of Golf, GPS, Database, Mapping, and FUN technologies

Hole 1

Hole Name

From The Tee Golfers should be warmed up and ready to play as they arrive at the elevated first tee. What you see before you is a medium to long carry down across the Oxbow River Valley, which will come into play several more times throughout the round.

From The Fairway The first drive of the day is a little intimidating, however, the landing area on this 457 to 545-yard, par-5 is generously wide and forgiving. Watch out for the bunkers on the right.

On The Green The hole sets up as a double dogleg and it will take two perfect shots early in the match to hit the green in two.

Hole 2

Hole Name

From The Tee While it’s only the second hole of the day, the golfer is given a huge opportunity to bite off as much of the only man-made lake on the course as you think you can handle off the tee.

From The Fairway It’s a very inviting tee shot. From another elevated tee, the risk is that you’ll need to drive the ball over the water and sand bunkers that sit to the left, but the reward is a short iron onto the green on this 304 to 388 yard, par-4.

On The Green If you’re lacking confidence after the first tee shot – the large bale out area is to the right! But why not have some fun – it’s just a game.

Hole 3

Hole Name

From The Tee The first of four par-3s, takes golfers on a short but unforgettable journey to Ireland. This spectacular hole is cut through a canyon of old gravel spoils leaving little room for error.

From The Fairway Playing from 120 to 230 yards, the green is surrounded by the daunting fescue hills and thick primary rough that will make for a challenging up and down on an errant shot.

On The Green The tee shot is played slightly downhill into the prevailing wind to a bunkerless, raised greensite. The green then slopes back to front, so one more club then usual is a wise choice.

Hole 4

Hole Name

From The Tee If you’re 1-over par or better after the first three holes, architect Thomas McBroom says you’re well on your way to a good score after a challenging start.

From The Fairway From the tee of this 295 to 399 yard, par-4 there are two obvious choices. The fairway is uniquely split by a looming fescue-covered sand and gravel pile.

On The Green The aggressive shot is to drive the ball down the right side leaving a shorter approach shot into the green, but a slice will land in two to three inch thick blue grass rough.

Hole 5

Hole Name

From The Tee A good honest par-4 with the wind at your back. This 348 to 430-yard slight dogleg-left welcomes a driver off the tee.

From The Fairway The ideal shot will be positioned on the right side of the fairway, but to do that you must flirt with the three treacherous fairway bunkers that come into play off the tee.

On The Green The bunkers on the left aren’t reachable, but it’s a much tougher second shot because the green is well guarded by a wicked bunker at the left front and a smaller one back left. Being short right isn’t a bad option here.

Hole 6

Hole Name

From The Tee A driveable par-4, well, maybe. On the scorecard this sharp dogleg-right plays 294 to 382 yards, but in reality, if you’re willing to gamble, it’s just 320 yard from the tips as the crow flies.

From The Fairway The smart player will take out a 3-wood or long-iron, fade the shot up the center of the fairway that slopes away from the contour of the hole and open up the green for an easy approach shot.

On The Green A wedge or short-iron is all that is needed to a sloping, raised green that’s protected front left and right by deep bunkers.

Hole 7

Hole Name

From The Tee With the prevailing wind at your back, this is a grip-it and rip-it 448 to 538-yard par-5 that’s reachable in two for the daring at heart.

From The Fairway The man-made pond that separates the 2nd and 7th holes isn’t in play off the tee and there’s a wide-open landing area that’s tough to miss.

On The Green This hole is all about the second shot. From 200 yards in, the pond skirts the left side of the fairway, while the largest green on the course is tucked around the bottom corner of the pond.

Hole 8

Hole Name

From The Tee The Oxbow River shouldn’t come into play on this 148 to 219 yard, par-3 as you tee off directly over the small valley from a picturesque elevated tee to the well protected green-site below.

From The Fairway There’s one bunker to the left front and a sea of them rising from the front to the back that leave no room for error for a pin tucked into the right side of this two-tiered sloping green that rises to the right.

On The Green Par will be a good score on a hole that’s high on drama and that could be tough on the scorecard.

Hole 9

Hole Name

From The Tee Heading back towards the clubhouse, No. 9 is perched atop the Oxbow River Valley wall that dramatically drops to the right of this demanding 327 to 404-yard par-4.

From The Fairway It’s the hole you see as you enter the course off Oxbow Drive. A big slice and you’ll end up in the wilds, but five devilish bunkers on the right have been designed to catch wayward balls before they’re lost forever!

On The Green Stay to the left side of the fairway and it’s a much easier second shot to a green that’s protected directly in front by a single bunker.

Hole 10

Hole Name

From The Tee After a welcome breather at the clubhouse it’s time for an adventurous descent into the striking Oxbow River Valley.

From The Fairway The challenge on this 334 to 416 yard, par-4 is to take the drive 250-yards over the left fairway bunkers and then let the ball roll down the moderate incline towards the green.

On The Green There’s lots of room if you miss to the right, but three front right bunkers strategically protect this smallish green.

Hole 11

Hole Name

From The Tee Sited in a densely wooded area that’s home to several 200 year-old black maples, No. 11 is the shortest hole on the course measuring just 109 to 175 yards off the back tees. Architect Thomas McBroom, says it’s one of the sweetest par-3s he has ever crafted.

From The Fairway If you’re going to have one dead-solid straight tee shot, this should be the one. A delicate mid-iron must cross the banks of the Oxbow River not once, but twice to a tight green featuring a large run-off area at the front.

On The Green The only safe alternative to the direct route over the Oxbow River is short and right, where a scrambling par remains a possibility.

Hole 12

Hole Name

From The Tee It’s time to have some fun with this exciting 410 to 487 yard, par-5, that could easily be a par-4 except that you’re hitting directly into the prevailing wind and it’s slightly uphill.

From The Fairway As the shortest par-5 on the course, it’s definitely an opportunity to get a shot or two back from par, but be careful of the bunkering in the first landing area.

On The Green If you’re tempted to go for it in two and McBroom is counting on ‘golfers’ greed, you’ll have to deal with a series of six severe bunkers that guard the left and back portions of this sloping green defined by a stunning hedge row.

Hole 13

Hole Name

From The Tee This is the start to a brilliant collection of three consecutive par-4s that are key to scoring well on the back nine.

From The Fairway An accurate tee shot that cuts over a large swath of environmentally protected Savannah grasses is required on this 328 to 410 yard dogleg right.

On The Green While there isn’t a bunker to be found anywhere in this natural setting, the fairway rolls naturally over a series of mounds left behind from the former sand pit into the landing area.

Hole 14

Hole Name

From The Tee A brief interlude is provided by this short, two-shotter playing 264 to 361 yards. The smart player will leave the driver in the bag and opt to hit a 3-wood down the right side of the fairway and then an eight or nine-iron into a green that’s well protected by four bunkers on the left side.

From The Fairway That being said, there’s also the temptation to drive the ball over an enormous fescue-covered gravel spoil pile, a shot of about 270-yards from the back tees, on this dogleg left.

On The Green For those who like to live dangerously it’s a gutsy shot that certainly isn’t for everyone, but it could leave you with a wedge in.

Hole 15

Hole Name

From The Tee Although wide open in appearance this is one of the toughest holes on the course. When you stand on the tee deck, the wind usually blows right in your face as you bear down for the longest carry of the day over a seemingly endless field of Savannah grass.

From The Fairway The correct line to the hole favours the left side, skirting several bunkers punctuated by abrupt towering relict forms decorated in fescue grasses.

On The Green The hole sets up much easier from the left. Those erring on the right side must deal with another nasty patch of tall grasses on the second shot and pretty much fly the ball directly to another raised green that’s protected by a single bunker out front.

Hole 16

Hole Name

From The Tee There’s no chance of getting home in two on the longest par-5 on the course; so don’t even think about it.

From The Fairway The best strategy is to hit two well-positioned shots, not necessarily a driver, leaving a short iron or wedge into the green for a shot at birdie.

On The Green That said, the wind is at your back for the last time and you’ll need to avoid a huge sand trap to the right of a slender fairway landing area on this 481 to 569 yard, par-5. Stay left,

Hole 17

Hole Name

From The Tee Looks can be deceiving, keep that thought in mind on the final par-3 of the day. It’s tougher than it looks.

From The Fairway This 120 to 197 yard, par-3 takes advantage of a natural rise in the land around old spoil piles where the green has been strategically placed.

On The Green The bunkers to the right ascend smoothly towards the green, but McBroom has created a bit of an illusion in the design.

Hole 18

Hole Name

From The Tee The round finishes with one of FireRock’s most spectacular holes. Striking views are provided from the highpoint on the valley wall down into the valley and across towards the green and clubhouse site.

From The Fairway For everyone else it’s a treacherous 402 to 454 yard, par-4 that may prove to be the toughest hole on the course in years to come.

On The Green The last drive, like the first one, can be intimidating. The challenge off this tee is to hit the ball long and far enough that you won’t bring the Oxbow River into play on the second shot.