Course Map

Reading Your Yardage Book and Course Map

Your yardage book is the most useful tool you have for playing our courses with confidence. It shows each hole from above, with accurate distances from key points such as the tee, fairway bunkers, and the front and centre of the green. The course map on our website offers a similar overview so you can preview the layout before you arrive.

When you open a yardage book page, look first for the scale and the compass arrow. The arrow tells you the hole’s direction, which helps you judge wind and sun position. Numbers on the map represent yardages to the centre of the green, measured from the tee and from 150‑yard (or 100‑yard) markers. Bunker outlines, water hazards, and out‑of‑bounds lines are clearly marked with standard symbols. Trees and elevation changes are often shown as subtle shading or contour lines. By studying these elements before your round, you can decide which club you are likely to hit off the tee and where to aim your approach.

We recommend you keep your yardage book in a front pocket or on your push cart for quick reference. Use a pencil to add notes after each round – for instance, where you tend to miss or which side of the fairway offers the best angle. Over time, your book becomes a personal guide to scoring better on our courses.

Choose the Right Set of Tees

Every course in our group offers at least four sets of tees, ranging from the back tees (often black) to the forward tees (often red). The right set is the one that lets you play a balanced round – reaching par‑4s in two shots and par‑5s in three, while still challenging your short game. There is no shame in moving forward; it often leads to more enjoyment and faster play.

To choose, start with your average driver distance. If you typically drive 200 to 225 yards, a course length of 5,300 to 5,600 yards is likely a good fit. For drives of 225 to 250 yards, try 5,700 to 6, 250 to 275 yards will enjoy tees from 6,100 to 6,500 yards, while longer hitters can step back to the 6,600‑plus yardage. Keep in mind that slope rating and course rating also matter: a shorter but tight layout may play harder than its length suggests. Check the scorecard for these ratings, and ask our pro shop staff for advice – they know the course and want you to have a great day.

No matter which tees you choose, you will find the same hazards and green complexes. The difference is the angle and distance you face. A well‑chosen set of tees lets you enjoy the design as the architect intended.

What the Hole Diagrams Tell You About Hazards and Layup Distances

Each hole diagram on our course map and yardage book includes the locations of bunkers, water, trees, and sometimes internal hazards such as fairway hollows or environmental areas. Look for hazard symbols – usually solid shapes or cross‑hatching – and note how far they are from the tee and from the green. This information helps you decide where to lay up.

• Fairway bunkers: Note the carry distance required to clear them from the tee. If you cannot reach beyond them safely, aim for the widest part of the fairway short of the bunkers. The diagram shows the yardage to the front edge of each bunker.
• Water hazards: A pond or creek may cut across the fairway at a certain yardage. The diagram will show that distance clearly. Your layup should stop well short of the water or fly well over it. Never assume you can carry water that sits at the limit of your longest club.
• Layup distance: Many hole diagrams include a recommended layup zone – often a shaded area or a dashed line. Aim for that zone to leave yourself a full‑swing club into the green. For a par‑5, a layup that leaves you 100–120 yards is a common strategy unless you can reach the green in two.
• Green‑side hazards: Check the diagram for bunkers or water guarding the green entrance. If the flag is tucked behind a bunker, you may want to aim for the centre of the green and accept a longer putt rather than attack the pin.

The hole diagram also indicates distances from the edge of the fairway to the green, and from the 150‑yard marker to the front of the green. Use these numbers to pick the right club for your approach. When you combine the hazard locations with your own shot shape and comfort zone, you can plan each hole with confidence before you even step onto the tee.