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Play Like a Pro

Have you ever wondered how to play like the pros? If so, you are in luck at Martis Camp. Head golf pro Gus Jones demonstrates the correct approach to playing each hole on the Tom Fazio Martis Camp Golf Course in the videos and narrative below.
Individual Hole Descriptions
Hole #1: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 442 Championship Tees – 397

This hole is much wider than it appears. Aim at the bunkers on the left side of the fairway and let the slope pull the ball into the right side of the fairway for the preferred angle into the green. Although the safe shot is to the left side of the green, the green contours will make putting to any hole on the right side of the green a challenge.

Hole #2: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 478 Championship Tees – 367

The ideal position in the fairway is on the right side between the fairway bunkers. A ball hit on the line of the middle of the fairway will gather into this area using the natural slope of the fairway. This green has a defining contour in the front third that, if found, carries the ball to the back third of the green.

Hole #3: Par 3~ Medal Tees – 219 Championship Tees – 195

This hole plays down hill and is often downwind. Plan on using a club or two less than normal. A slight false front can make chipping difficult to a right pin when the player bales right to the safe side. When the pin is back left, use the contour in the middle of the green to feed the ball close to the hole.

Hole #4: Par 5~ Medal Tees – 568 Championship Tees – 552

Aim over the island in the left bay of the waste bunker. There is ample space to the left that is out of view. The shorter line is to hug the bunker on the right; however a ball that finds the bunker will prevent going for the green on the second shot. If laying up to a front pin, play close to the bunkers on the right. If the pin is in the back, play close to the bunker on the left. Reaching the green is easier than it looks as the landing area short of the green allows run up shots. The green is subtle, but deceiving.

Hole #5: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 520 Championship Tees – 452

The ideal line is to play close to the fairway bunker as this shortens the hole. A safe play to the left side of the crowned fairway will leave a very long second shot. The approach is visually much tougher than it plays. The shot is uphill to a hidden green so aim your second over the right side of the left approach bunker. Because of the longer club in, most players will only need to carry the left bunker and the ball will chase up onto the green. Try to favor the left side of the green because of the helping contours and the tightly mown swale right of the green.

Hole #6: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 397 Championship Tees – 387

An ideal location to place your drive would be flush with the fairway bunker and short of the second pinching tree on the right, leaving an approach of 110 to 130 yards to a receptive green. A driver carrying the fairway bunker will leave a very short shot into the green over a large fronting bunker that blocks out three-fourths of the green. If the pin is on the left, play the run up closer to the bunker enabling the right to left contour within the green to feed the ball to the left. This same contour, however, can cause havoc for a front right pin placement.

Hole #7: Par 5~ Medal Tees – 565 Championship Tees – 554

An uphill par five that is reachable by long hitters on a calm day. The ideal line is to the right side of the fairway, as balls tend to kick to the left. The pin location must be considered when laying up. The ideal lay-up to a front or middle pin is immediately in front of the left fairway bunker. To reach a back left pin, players should hit their second to the left of the green leaving a chip that is bunker free. This green generally tilts fairly strongly from right to left, with the back left portion of the green sloping away from play.

Hole #8: Par 3~Medal Tees – 250 Championship Tees – 208

The longest par three on the course plays much shorter than its yardage. The bunker short right of the green is further from the green than it appears. The ideal shot is to aim over this bunker, as it is not necessary to fly it the full yardage to the pin. Pins on the right side of the green may require you to fade the ball on order to have a short birdie putt. This green is large and has a variety of subtle contours.

Hole #9: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 507 Championship Tees – 471

Favor the right side off the tee as balls that end up left of the fairway will be blocked from a direct approach to the green. From a good drive you will be left with a mid to long iron to a very large green with a slight false front and fronting bunkers that seem closer to the green than they really are. There is a deep bail out area to the right of the green; however, getting up and down from here will be difficult. Use the contour in the middle of the green to feed shots to holes cut on the left side of the green.

Hole #10: Par 5~ Medal Tees – 642 Championship Tees – 619

The safe play on this hole is to aim slightly left of fairway bunker on the left and let the slope work the ball in to the middle. A long drive can carry the right side bunkers to catch some extra roll, making this hole reachable. The ideal layup on your second shot is as close to the bunker on the left as possible. Favor the left side when going for the green in two. The back two-thirds of this green generally falls away so shots into this green will need to land well short of the pin placement.

Hole #11: Par 4~Medal Tees – 496 Championship Tees – 490

A tee shot right of the fairway bunker is the safe play, leaving a good look down to the green and a good angle; however, you will have a much longer shot in to the green. There is ample room to the right of this green. Pulling the ball left of this green can lead to a difficult up and down out of the green-side bunker. This green is the largest on the course and has a strong contour in the middle right that can help a player by fee a ball to the back left, but can also add challenge when a player has to putt over the contour.

Hole #12: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 443 Championship Tees – 414

The ideal play is to lay-up just short of the fairway bunker. The green is surrounded by trouble with a bunker guarding the front-right side and a steep drop-off on the left and behind the green. This green can be difficult to hold, so most players should choose to try to land the ball on the front of the green as close to the bunker as possible.

Hole #13: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 461 Championship Tees – 441

A difficult par four, which requires well-struck shots on both the drive and the approach. The ideal line favors the right side, leaving the best angle into this small green. The approach is deceptively uphill and the prevailing wind is not always felt. Be sure to carry the deep, front left bunker. The green has sufficient tilt from back to front to hold shots; however, this tilt will create some slippery putts when you are above the hole. There is ample room right of this green and the pitches from this area are not difficult.

Hole #14: Par 3~ Medal Tees – 170 Championship Tees – 158

The shortest hole on the course plays shorter than its yardage. The hole is downhill and often downwind. Although the fronting bunkers appear ominous, shots need to land short of the pin. Play towards the left side of this green to be safe but beware of catching the tree. Subtle contours on the smallest green on the course make putting a challenge.

Hole #15: Par 5~ Medal Tees – 569 Championship Tees – 538

The cross-bunkers make this tee shot visually intimidating, but the heavily contoured fairway makes a tee shot wide and right of the bunkers the safe play. A shot that hugs the bunkers on the left may crest the hill and take advantage of the downhill slope, allowing the player to go for the green in two. If the pin is in the front, the further you can get up this hole on the right side the better. If the pin is in the back right, you may choose to lay up short and in line with the bunker on the left. If you are going for this green in two, it is not necessary to go straight at the green. Aim at the tree just right of the green and let the fairway contour feed the ball to the left. Being on the correct level of this three tiered green is a big plus.

Hole #16: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 314 Championship Tees – 298

This is a drivable par 4 with ample room if the shot is missed in either direction. Aim your tee shot just left of the rock outcropping to the right of the green. If the shot is missed short and right, the pin placement will dictate what shot will need to be played. This complex green is very narrow and has a multitude of contours. A left tee shot will catch the contoured fairway leaving a pitch shot of less than 100 yards to a shallow green over a deep bunker.

Hole #17: Par 3~Medal Tees – 227 Championship Tees – 170

This spectacular but visually intimidating par three set atop a rocky ridge can be challenged with a shot directly at the pin. Alternatively, it can be approached by landing the tee shot short and left of the green. Although there are saving bunkers right of green, missing them will lead to an unplayable lie. Shots missed left of the green have ample room, but getting the ball close to some pin placements can be very challenging.

Hole #18: Par 4~ Medal Tees – 498 Championship Tees – 468

A tee shot just off the right edge of the left fairway bunker is ideal. A longer drive will have to split the bunkers leaving a short iron into the green but the shot will be off a downhill lie. The approach to this green is over a false front and should avoid the deep bunkers to the right, a bunker behind and a swale to the left of the green. The swale is the safest play; however, a steep slope within the green going away from the player will make chips extremely slippery.

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