Course Hole Descriptions
Hole #1: Par 4 Handicap:
#7(M) #11(W) 395 386 380 369
The Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club starts with a medium length, dogleg left par four. The second shot must avoid three green-side bunkers. The green is relatively flat with a slight slope from back to front. Please exit the green to the right for the second hole.
Hole #2: Par 4 Handicap:
#5 (M) #1 (W) 382 342 292 263
The drive must be on the left center of the fairway to avoid the overhanging trees on the right side of the hole. The second shot must clear water hazards in front and bunkers right and left. The green is sloped severely from back to front and towards the front left water hazard. Putts from above rarely end near the hole.
Hole #3: Par 5 Handicap:
#9 489 478 448 441
The lone par five on the front is a dogleg left off the tee. Golfers must be careful not to catch the overhanging limbs on the corner of the dogleg, or drive through the fairway into the trees on the right. The ideal tee shot is a sweeping draw that starts just inside the large pine on the corner and finishes on the left side of the fairway. The second shot is a classic risk-reward shot. Golfers must choose to lay up short of the bunker and on the left side of the fairway or hit a risky shot that must carry the last fairway bunker and avoid the limbs above the bunker to reach this green in two shots. Once on the green, the fun has just begun. This green slopes from back to front except for the back right section which slopes towards the 15th green.
Hole #4: Par 4 Handicap:
#3 412 386 382 289
The fourth hole is a narrow dogleg left par four. Out of bounds impedes the drive on the right side. The second shot must avoid the greenside bunkers right and left. Golfers must also avoid a shot hit over the green with trees and out of bounds long as well. The green slopes from back to front and putts tend to roll long from the back of the green.
Hole #5: Par 3 Handicap:
#15 (M), #17 (W) 182 176 173 165
The first par three on the golf course is very challenging. Requiring a long iron to a fairway wood, the golfer must avoid the greenside bunkers to be successful. The green slopes from back to front, except the back, left portion that slopes towards the cart path.
Hole #6: Par 4 Handicap:
#13 387 380 350 302
The sixth hole has the narrowest tee shot on the golf course. This dogleg right requires an accurate tee shot, preferably a fade. The second shot must be accurate to this small well protected green.
Hole #7: Par 4 Handicap:
#11 (M) , #7 (W) 400 391 365 350
The seventh hole is a straightaway par four. This hole plays longer into the prevailing wind. The drive must avoid the property line on the right side of the hole. Distance control is very important to this two-tiered green. The front tier slopes towards the fairway. The back tier is further divided with the right half sloped to the right and the left half to the left.
Hole #8: Par 4 Handicap:
#1 (M), #5 (W) 419 411 360 311
This dogleg right has a wide fairway. The second shot must carry onto the green as shots hit short will end up in the fairway or one of the three front bunkers. A large, flat green with a slight slope from back to front.
Hole #9: Par 3 Handicap:
#17 (M), #15 (W) 162 145 135 124
The final hole on the front side is one of the most beautiful holes on the Eastern Shore. Played along Taylor Creek, the short par three requires accuracy and a good judge of the wind. The prevailing wind from right to left makes the shot nerve-wracking as many golfers start the ball out over the water hazard and hope the wind cooperates. The shot must avoid bunkers right and left, and a small pond short left of the green. Once on the green, golfers must control their distance well as this green slopes from back to front, severely in the first third.
Hole #10: Par 4 Handicap:
#18 (M), #16 (W) 257 250 248 210
The back nine starts with a drivable par four. Measuring 250 yards from tee to green, golfers may attempt to drive the ball onto the green. Golfers must elevate their drive over the corner trees and carry the front green-side bunker. A more conservative approach is to lay up in the fairway and have a short iron approach. The green is very accessible from the fairway and yields a lot of birdies.
Hole #11: Par 4 Handicap:
#4 404 397 350 341
The eleventh hole is a long slight dogleg right par four. Water is in play on the tee shot with a forced carry of 160 yards and water all the way down the right side. Trees overhang the landing area on the left and narrow the tee shot considerably. Club selection is very important on the second shot to an elevated green protected by three bunkers. Once on the green, putts tend to break towards the creek.
Hole #12: Par 4 Handicap:
#2 416 406 375 369
The tee shot on number 12 needs to carry the first pond and stop short of the second pond about 220 yards from the tee. The longest of drivers may try to carry the second pond, a carry of 250 yards. The second shot must carry to the front of this elevated green. Putting can be especially challenging on this sloping green.
Hole 13: Par 3 Handicap:
#14 (M), #18 (W) 170 161 150 117
A medium length par three, the thirteenth requires the golfer to carry the ball over water and sand to access most pin locations. The green in well protected and heavily sloped in the front.
Hole #14: Par 4 Handicap:
#6 (M), #8 (W) 407 400 350 346
The fourteenth hole is another narrow par four over a small pond. A drive in the fairway allows for an unobstructed approach shot to a green that is protected right and left by bunkers. The green slopes from back to front and towards the creek.
Hole #15: Par 4 Handicap:
#10 347 339 275 269
The drive on the fifteenth hole must carry a water hazard and avoid this hazard as it moves along the right side. Tee shots on the left of the fairway are blocked by the large pine tree that protects the corner. The green is well protected by three bunkers, two short, and one right.
Hole #16: Par 4 Handicap:
#8 (M), #6 (W) 430 400 358 353
Another dogleg right, golfers may choose to cut the corner and shorten this hole. Tall trees protect the corner of the dogleg. Once in the fairway, golfers must clear a small ditch that is 105 yards short of another well protected green with three bunkers and a drop off on the left side.
Hole 17: Par 3 Handicap:
#12 (M), #12 (W)185 176 160 146
Hole seventeen requires a carry over water to a green well protected in front by two bunkers, the left front bunker, and one bunker right. A two-tiered green that is heavily sloped in the front awaits even the best approach. The small pot bunker short right and the deep left hand trap are penalizing hazards.
Hole #18: Par 5 Handicap:
#16(M) , #14(W) 511 506 420 410
The finishing hole is a dogleg right par five reachable in two shots for many golfers. The drive must avoid the bunker on the right side. Long hitters are then challenged to reach this green in two shots. They must avoid bunkers and rough to run the ball onto this par 5 green. Shorter hitters are challenged in the layup area by one fairway bunker on the right. The approach must also avoid bunkers right and left to provide a reasonable birdie opportunity. Once on this large green, some subtle slopes can affect putts not read precisely. Reachable by some but not many golfers.
