Tips On How To Play The Course
Tips on playing each hole at the Batavia
CC are provided by our teaching professional, Tom Tucker, who has
played the course for 30 years. They might help you shave a few strokes
off your score, so enjoy!.
After each hole number below, there will be a [B] for Blue Tee yardage,
a [W] for White Tee yardage,a [G] for Gold Tee yardage, or an
[R] for Ladies and Juniors Tee yardage. My tips below will be for
play from the white tees. Most of our adult male members play the white tees
at BCC, the challenge is about the same as the blues at most other
courses. Click here
Score Card to view a score card for more yargade information.
The prevailing wind at the course is from the West, which is at
your back on hole No. 1. The course has watered fairways which means
that you will get normal, but not extraordinary, roll on most
tee shots. The BCC greens are generously large and are normally pretty
fast. The grain on these bent grass greens slopes from West to East, which is
from front to back on Hole No.1 for perspective. The well maintained
greens may be the signature aspect of the course. I play at other
courses, both public and private - and the BCC greens hold their own
against all of them - bar none.
Hole 1
B 543 yds. W 533 yds. G 472 yds. Mens handicap: 1
R 448 yds. Ladies handicap: 4
Although hole 1
is rated as the No.1 handicap hole, it plays easier with a prevailing wind
at your back. Into the wind it's a bear of a hole. Favor the right side with your tee shot, there is worse
trouble on the left than the right. A three wood or utility club 2nd shot
should get you to a short iron for your third shot. Long hitters beware
of out of bounds that sneaks into the picture on the left over the hill,
before and alongside the green,
you can't see it very well from the fairway. The green slopes from back
to front, and from right to left. Be very careful of your lag speed
from above or right of the pin, it will be a relatively fast putt.
Hole 2
B 580 yds. W 472 yds. G 467 yds. Mens handicap: 15
R 404 yds. Ladies handicap: 2
Hole 2 is a reachable par 5 for medium to long hitters unless there is a
strong wind in your face. This hole is a birdie opportunity if
you hit a decent tee shot. Favor the right side of the fairway off the tee,
the left rough is a lot juicier than the right. Be aware that
there is water in front of the green, so if you are going for it it's
all carry. If you decide to lay up, figure the yardage to 75 - 100 yards
and the water won't be in play.The green slopes from back to front, and so
does the grain. If the pin is middle to
front, it's an extremely fast putt from above the hole. All side hill putts
break down to the front of the green and pick up speed as they go.
Hole 3
B 170 yds. W 153 yds. G 148 yds. Mens handicap: 11
R 146 yds. Ladies handicap: 10
Hole 3 is a pretty straightforward par 3 unless there is a strong left
to right wind. If the wind is blowing left to right, aim over the
middle of the trap and let the wind move your shot to the middle of the green.
For distance, figure out which club will carry you over the green, then
take one club less and play for the middle of the green. Don't flag
hunt if the pin is on the right side, it's easy to push your shot right and find trouble.
The green slopes from back to front, but the left to right putt is
actually faster than the back to front putt bacause the grain goes from
left to right. Take a par here and be happy.
Hole 4
B 461 yds. W 386 yds. G 368 yds. Mens handicap: 7
R 281 yds. Ladies handicap: 12
Hole 4 plays the full distance, and your second shot will normally play
a little longer than the yardage measures. Favor the right side with
your tee shot, more severe trouble is on the left side than the right.
Even though your approach shot will play a half club longer than it
measures, try your best to leave yourself a putt that is below and left
of the hole. Trust me when I tell you that if you are 6 feet above and
right of the hole, if you miss the putt you'll have AT LEAST ten feet left. It's
an extremely fast putt from above or right of the hole, and I do mean
extremely. After one club championship, a member told me that he hit
four excellent putts on this hole before he holed out, and he wasn't kidding.
Positioning your approach shot for the right putt is very important on
this hole. It's one of my favorites.
Hole 5
B 480 yds. W 388 yds. G 371 yds. Mens handicap: 9
R 288 yds. Ladies handicap: 16
Hole 5 can be a bit tricky off the tee, because the tendency is for
your shot to push right. If the wind is left to right, which is
most of the time, it's easy to find the strand of trees in the right
rough and be blocked out on your approach shot. Worse than that, long
hitters can find the OB past the trees on the right, so the prudent
shot is to aim left of the fairway and hit it long. You'll be past most
of the trouble and should have a playable iron into the green. Short
hitters should tee it up on the right side of the tee box and aim for
the left edge of the fairway. The green slopes from back to front, the
grain slopes from left to right, and it's fairly level from side to side
unless the pin is in the front. There is a little hollow on the front
left portion of the green that will feed your ball off the green, so
playing to the center of the green is the smart play. Pretty normal speed on
most putts, what you see is what you get on this hole.
Hole 6
B 427 yds. W 350 yds. G 331 yds. Mens handicap: 13
R 325 yds. Ladies handicap: 14
Hole 6 plays fairly easy, as long as you don't pull your tee shot into
the hazard left of the left rough. This hole is a birdie opportunity if
you hit a decent tee shot. Add ten yards to your approach shot
to this deceptively elevated green, add another ten if the wind is
blowing hard and slightly into your face. Most golfers leave their approach
shots short because of the elevation and wind. The green is sneaky fast
from back to front, and sneaky slow from front to back. Lag carefully
from above the hole. The grain slopes from right to left, and downgrain
putts are a bit faster than putts into the grain.
Hole 7
B 235 yds. W 169 yds. G 164 yds. Mens handicap: 17
R 143 yds. Ladies handicap: 18
Hole 7 is one of the most challenging 17 handicap holes you will ever
play, especially into the wind. The challenge is in finding the line
and correct distance to hit the tee shot. Add ten yards if there is a
mild wind, another ten if it's strong. The safest line is to take it
over the sand trap left and in front of the green, and play a slight
fade to the center of the green. The green looks flat, but since the
grain slopes from back to front, it's sneaky fast wth the grain and slow
against. Side to side putts generally break towards the front of the
green. Don't pin hunt here, hit to the middle of the green take two
putts, take your par and run!
Hole 8
B 467 yds. W 400 yds. G 355 yds. Mens handicap: 5
R 343 yds. Ladies handicap: 6
Hole 8 is one of the signature holes at BCC. Once you hit over the
pond, there is a creek that slopes right to left diagonally away from you,
about 125 yards from the hole, none of which is visible
from the tee. If you are playing the course for the first time, it
would be a good idea to take a look at what the landing area looks like before you hit
your tee shot. The prudent tee shot is a shot of about 190 yards,
aiming just right of the trees just past the pond. This should leave
you in the flat part of the fairway about 170 yards from the center of
the green. Aim more left if you dare, you'll shave yardage for your
approach shot, but may end up with a downhill lie. Experience in playing
this hole will give you your best line for the tee shot, but the creek
definitely comes into play the more left you aim. With the wind
at your back, long hitters can take a chance
by hitting driver and taking a direct line to the green. Done
successfully, you'll have less than 100 yards in - but there is only a
slight margin for error, with the creek on the right and a hazard on
the left. After your group has hit their approach shots, ring the bell
as you cross the creek
to let the players on the tee know they can hit.The green slopes
slightly from back to front, the grain slopes from left to right,
what you see is what you get on the green.
Hole 9
B 448 yds. W 360 yds. G 350 yds. Mens handicap: 3
R 287 yds. Ladies handicap: 8
Hole 9 is a feast or famine hole. Hit a good tee shot it's a birdie
hole, hit it bad and it's at least a bogey. Favor the right side with
your tee shot, the fairway slopes from right to left a lot more than it looks.
The vast majority of players underclub on their approach shot because
the hole plays deceptively uphill. Add 10 yards to your approach shot
with no wind, 15 - 20 yards if there is a mild wind, 20 - 25 if it's heavy.
Aim for the center of the green, traps guard the right front and left
rear, and there is a hazard on the extreme left. The grain slopes from
back to front on the green, so back to front putts can be sneaky fast.
Side to side putts break mostly towards the front of the green.
One of my favorite holes on the course.
Hole 10
B 386 yds. W 360 yds. G 350 yds. Mens handicap: 8
R 287 yds. Ladies handicap: 3
Hole 10 plays longer than the yardage indicates, it's uphill and normally
into the wind. The fairway slopes from right to left, and there's a
fairway bunker about 190 yards from the tee on the right side. If you can
carry the bunker - which requires about 210 yards of carry in spite of
the actual yardage - aim for the bunker and your ball should end up in
the fairway. If you can't carry the trap, aim left of the bunker and
take what you get. A tee shot missed left is usually better than a miss
on the right. Add 10 yards to your approach shot
with no wind, 15 - 20 yards if there is a mild wind, 20 - 25 if it's heavy.
The green slopes
severely from back to front, and the grain also runs from back to front.
With some pin placements it's almost impossible to 2 putt from above
the hole, so do your absolute best to leave yourself an uphill putt
after your approach shot. Side to side putts will normally break
towards to front of the green then pick up speed very fast, so lag
carefully.
Hole 11
B 415 yds. W 409 yds. G 335 yds. Mens handicap: 4
R 300 yds. Ladies handicap: 5
Hole 11 is another signature hole, as much par 4 as you'll ever want.
The tee shot is of utmost importance here.
With the wind it's not too bad, against the wind it's very challenging.
Favor the right side off the tee, left is death. Although the green
looks like it slopes from back to front, it's actually fairly flat.
The grain slopes from front to back, and that negates some of the slope,
putts uphill actually roll pretty normally as far as speed goes.
Take a par on this hole and run.
Hole 12
B 534 yds. W 524 yds. G 490 yds. Mens handicap: 6
R 451 yds. Ladies handicap: 1
Hole 12 is a birdie opportunity in spite if it's length, as long as you
don't yank it OB left off the tee. The trick to this hole is getting
the yardage right on your approach shot, which will be the 3rd shot
except for the very very long hitter that might get there in 2. The
green is the most elevated on the course, and the wind always seems to
be against, so like holes 9 and 10, add 10 yards to your approach shot
with no wind, 15 - 20 yards if there is a mild wind, 20 - 25 if it's heavy.
The green slopes from back to front, the grain runs from back
to front, and putts from back to front are much faster than they appear
to be. Lag carefully. Side to side putts break mostly to the front.
An easy hole if you hit a decent drive and second shot.
Hole 13
B 154 yds. W 145 yds. G 140 yds. Mens handicap: 18
R 138 yds. Ladies handicap: 17
Hole 13 is a par 3 where you can hunt for the pin if the wind is down.
It plays deceptively uphill, add 10 yards to the actual yardage for
the tee shot, 15 - 20 yards for a mild wind, 20 - 25 yards for a heavy wind. On the tee it
may seem like there is no wind, but look to the treetops for
information. There is almost always wind on this hole that will push the
shot back and from left to right.
If you don't allow for it, you'll be off the green, guaranteed.
A good aiming point for your tee shot is left center of the green.
The green slopes from back to front and the grain runs from back to
front. Putts from back to front are deceptively fast, so once again
lag carefully on these types of putts. Don't be overly satisfied with a
par on this one, you can score here.
Hole 14
B 405 yds. W 397 yds. G 358 yds. Mens handicap: 14
R 280 yds. Ladies handicap: 13
Hole 14 is pretty much what you see is what you get off the tee, but be aware of
the hazard next to the right rough. Hit a decent tee shot
and it's a birdie opportunity hole. When the prevailing wind is heavy
left to right, any ball straying right off the tee will probably find
the hazard. Play towards the left side off the tee, more so if the
wind is heavy. Approach shots tend to run through the green if they
land short and the ground is firm, so either carry the ball to the
green with good spin, or allow for about 25% more roll than you would
normally allow for a running approach shot. The green looks elevated, but it's
much more level than you think. The grain runs from a little
left to right front to back diagonally, and putts towards the back of the green
tend to be faster than they look - so don't be too
bold on perceived uphill putts.
Hole 15
B 410 yds. W 400 yds. G 345 yds. Mens handicap: 2
R 290 yds. Ladies handicap: 11
Hole 15 is probably THE signature hole on the course, it's all you'll
ever want in a par 4 golf hole. Normally playing into the wind, it
requires a precise tee shot into the left side of the fairway, and an
approach shot that stays below the hole. Left off the tee, even in the
left rough, even into hole 14's fairway, is better than the right side of the fairway or the right
rough, because the strand of woods on the right off the tee comes into
play. The green and the grain slope from back to front, and
putts above the hole are very difficult to lag close to the hole. Side to
side putts generally break to the front and pick up speed as they go.
A wonderful golf hole, even if you do sometimes walk off the green
muttering to yourself! If you make par here, take it and run.
Hole 16
B 545 yds. W 535 yds. G 452 yds. Mens handicap: 10
R 413 yds. Ladies handicap: 7
Hole 16 is a fun hole that offers birdie opportunity. When the leaves
are changing color in the fall, it's also one of the most picturesque, scenic views
on the course. Off the tee,
straight down the middle is good, left side of the fairway is better,
but there is OB on the left. You can usually get away with a fade
off the tee too, but the fairway offers the best opportunity for
long hitters to get there in 2. Short to medium hitters should be able
to get their 2nd shots inside of 125 yards. Favor the right side of the
green on your approach shot, OB is left and behind the green.
Approach shots inside 200 yards usually play about 10 yards short,
take one club less than the yardage indicates and swing easy. The back
to front slope of the green and the front to back grain balance out,
although front to back and right to left putts tend to run out a bit.
A pretty easy hole if you play within yourself to get to your
approach shot.
Hole 17
B 190 yds. W 182 yds. G 177 yds. Mens handicap: 16
R 170 yds. Ladies handicap: 9
Hole 17 is a pretty straightforward tee shot that usually plays one club
longer than the yardage. The tee shot will probably be with the same club that
you used - or should have used - on hole 7 on the front side. Fairly
flat green, the grain runs from back to front, so those putts will be a
little faster than normal. Side to side putts generally will break to the
front of the green. Par is a good score, but it can be a
scoring hole.
Hole 18
B 375 yds. W 370 yds. G 337 yds. Mens handicap: 12
R 276 yds. Ladies handicap: 15
Hole 18 is a hole that looks easy but plays tough. Tee shots tend to
stray left into trouble, or even worse - OB. A good tee shot is one
that is aimed right, even into the right rough, and travels about 200
yards. This will leave you a shot into the green. If you can hit a consistent
draw off the tee, go ahead and hit driver and aim for the fat pine tree
next to the grass bunker off the right side of the fairway, about 150 yards out from the hole. Keep in
mind that if it doesn't draw, or if you overcook it, you might end up in
jail. If you are a long hitter, play a straight shot over the
right edge of the trouble on the left, but aim towards the left edge of the fairway.
The approach shot plays short,
so take about 5 - 10 yards off the distance when selecting a club.
There is a little false front on the front edge of the green, so make sure you carry
it if the pin placement is in the front.
Even though the green slopes from back to front, it's not as severe as
it looks and with the grain running from front to back approach shots
tend to run out. Either hit an approach shot with good spin or allow
for some run on the shot. Putts tend to be a bit faster than normal
from front to rear, but most side to side putts still tend to break towards
the front of the green. An excellent finishing hole, and a scoring hole
off a good tee shot.
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7909 Batavia - Byron Rd, Batavia NY 14020
Phone (585) 343-7600 Fax (585) 343-2668
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