HOLE 1
THE SLOT - Par 4 - 360, 326, 276, 245, 245
Most tee shots will “funnel” towards the center of the fairway off steep slopes on the right and left. A drive in the fairway will allow a controlled shot to the proper position on this two-tiered green. Remember to take plenty of club on your approach to this elevated green. An easy par if you don’t three putt.
HOLE 2
THE ridge - Par 4 - 410,370,340,301,301
Only the longest hitters will try to carve a shot over the bunker to shorten the second shot, but a straight drive towards the right side of the left-sloping fairway invites a short iron shot and a birdie putt. Don’t get cute to the right pins, or a bunker fronting the green will grab your ball.
HOLE 3
THE wall - Par 3 - 214,192,151,107,96
Long on the scorecard, but downhill all the way with a 65 foot drop in elevation from the Gold tees to the putting surface. Sand bunkers front right, left and behind the green. A wall of stone frames this green; the first of the visually enticing par 3’s of LedgeStone. The grass bunkers on the face of the hill will capture short shots.
HOLE 4
THE glen - Par 4 - 459,420,385,350,346
This challenging par 4 requires long, shaped shots from tee to green. The dogleg right requires a sliding tee shot from the elevated tee which allows for the extra carry yardage needed to reach the green with a mid to short iron. If your ball stays on the grassy right slope after your drive, put the ball back into the fairway and save a few shots. Be long and right on your approach to the green and you might bump off the hill and into the hole. Heroes have trouble at LedgeStone as peril is lurking everywhere to catch stray shots.
HOLE 5
temptation - Par 3 - 136,126,116,105,95
Although it is just a wedge shot this short, tempting par 3 with the Ozark High Road in the background can be an easy three or a hard five. Just hit the green, two putt and go on. Shots which miss the putting surface find bunkers short and right, out of bounds left or long and who knows what lives down on the right, probably things without legs.
HOLE 6
the mermaid - Par 4 - 404,390,365,309,294
Well-aimed faded drives should miss the lake and find this fairway, which is guarded on the right by Roark Creek. The beautiful white Sycamore trees by the green make a nice target. The deep green requires a club selection to place the ball into two-putt range. Take plenty of club, and don’t pull any shots or you may contribute to the mermaid’s ball collection.
HOLE 7
sycamore - Par 5 - 561,526,465,417,417
This awesome par 5 meanders along the Roark Creek Valley. Tee shots should be aimed at the Sycamore; a little right or left is fine. Cutting some off the left will embolden the golfer to go for the green. To far right and you may have to slice your approach around the trees bordering the right. Hooks find the babbling Roark Creek. An easy hole, but don’t be greedy.
HOLE 8
deception - Par 4 -376, 355, 338, 302, 256
This tee shot must hug the bunker to allow a straight approach to the green. Short bunkering is deceiving. There is 20 yards from the bunkers to the front of the green, but they appear to be on the green edge. Shots pushed right from the teeing ground insure bogies and a score inflating adventure. The green has many subtle undulations, so look at the putts from both sides of the hole.
HOLE 9
straight shooter - Par 4/5 - 439,428,370,337,337
A great finish to a memorable nine. This hole can only be played one straight shot at a time. Tee shots must clear or avoid the fairway bunker on the left, but be short of the right bunker. Slices find Roark Creek, but this lateral hazard may come into play again as you fire a middle to long iron to the green. This green is well bunkered, but a straight running shot will creep onto the green. Two-putt then visit The LedgeStone Grille at the turn for your reward.
HOLE 10
tough love - Par 4 - 422, 386, 342, 300, 299
While this hole may appear simple, it can still teach you a lesson in humility. There is more room down the left than appears from the tee box. A careful approach shot must be taken to this raised green. Visually the greenside bunkers make you want to favor the right. Be careful; you want to avoid the hazard on the right side of this green.
HOLE 11
ruby - Par 4 - 288, 272, 225, 180, 178
A classic short hole and a welcome rest after No. 10. Carry the bunkering with a long iron or fairway wood and all that remains is a flip to the green. Green is uphill and deep, so a birdie putt only comes from well-judged distance control with the scoring wedges. The Bermuda rough on the right smothers any chance for a short putt for birdie. Long hitters must decide if the risk is worth the reward.
HOLE 12
sidewinder - Par 4 - 398, 391, 369, 338, 310
The winding fairway reaches toward a perched green surrounded by bunkers, so the best position to hit the second is from the shelf left of the fairway bunker. The end of the shelf is only 130 yards from the green, so tee shot distance is critical to have a confident short iron shot to the green. Take enough club to reach the green, short shots roll back down the fairway or into the lake. Any shot hit left or right might not be found. Be accurate and play safe.
HOLE 13
the valley - Par 5 - 560, 532, 511, 475, 465
Longest hole on the course, a true three-shot dogleg left. Long hitters testing their luck may cut the corner, but will probably need to lay up anyway. Hooks off the teeing ground will be out of bounds unless a little luck sends them back to the fairway. Negotiate the valley with two well struck shots and fire at the pin on the uphill two-tiered green. Menacing bunkers snag weak approach shots.
HOLE 14
the shelf - Par 4 - 434, 386, 366, 328, 291
The 90 degree dogleg right tempts the player to cut off too much of the corner, so aim to the fairway. Only a middle iron will be used to the green. Don’t miss it right or you will visit the deepest bunker on the course. A shot pulled left may bounce onto the green from the sloping bank. A long narrow tongue of a green should swallow birdie putts.
HOLE 15
the quarry - Par 3 -200, 170, 157, 139, 116
A postcard hole, one you will remember. A dizzying 100-foot drop from the Gold teeing area to the putting surface necessitates a selection of one or two clubs short of the yardage. Best play is a “punchy” shot thrown out over the green letting gravity drop your ball. A possible three putt if you don’t hit the side of the green holding the pin, as a deep thumbprint depression in the center divides the green.
HOLE 16
the big chill - Par 4 - 416, 388, 365, 328, 308
Another elevated tee shot aimed at the two bunkers at the end of this dogleg right. Cut off too much here and either reload, drop at the forward tees or find the last margin crossed because balls that fail to carry the hazard down the right edge of the fairway are rarely found. This beautiful hole is the ultimate in risk and reward golf. Any shot hit short of the fairway bunkers in the fairway leaves only a wedge or nine iron. This is the deepest green on the course, 50 paces from front to back. Be bold and fly it to the hole. A tranquil pond draws golfer’s attention. Don’t feed golf balls to the fish.
HOLE 17
gambler's revenge - Par 3 - 232, 210, 200, 156, 140
Pump up for this long par 3. A four-acre lake will catch all pulls and you may have to play again from the tee, so evaluate your ability and play a smart approach short and right, pitch up close and make a par or bogey. Many good rounds have ended on this hole don’t let your ego cost extra strokes here. Sometimes bogies feel like pars.
HOLE 18
the plunge - Par 5 - 572, 552, 532, 478, 412
This picturesque finishing hole is a long descent that could end under water. A tee shot down the left side will position you for a good lay up shot and better your chances to avoid the greenside hazard. Tee shots down the center may invite you to go for the green, but beware, this is an exceptionally long shot with a remarkable small landing area. The waterfall behind the green is appealing to the eye and constant reminder of how this hole got its name.