THE COURSE
HOLE 1
Anticipation
This 327-yard par 4 hole features an elevated tee-shot to begin your round. For the average golfer, the fairway bunkers do not come into play, but big hitters beware: the bunkers could come into play making a difficult approach shot into the green. Your approach shot must be accurate due to a strategically placed sand trap tucked tight to the right edge of the green. Plus a miss long will result in a water hazard penalty. Once reaching the green you will be pleasantly surprised with the lack of contour to make your putt less stressful. This hole provides the opportunity to start your round off with a birdie, but a wayward drive or approach shot could result in a less-than-desirable beginning.
HOLE 2
Devil's Hill
This is the number one handicap hole on the course. The 312-yard par 4 hole that doglegs right, with a severe elevation change up to a shallow green. A pin-point Tee shot is key. Down clubbing may be beneficial to provide an easier approach shot. Opting for accuracy over distance. With large and numerous trees to the left and right of the fairway, your approach shot needs a high trajectory to overcome the severe elevation change into the green. Distance control is a must with a false front green and deep rough to the back. Once on the green, a severe back to front slope will challenge even the best golfers. An aggressive putt may find yourself chipping for your next shot. Par is a great score for this hole.
HOLE 3
Kelly's Luck
Hole 3, “Kelly’s Luck” is named after Merrill Kelly who was the first golfer to record an Ace from the 237-yard Tee box. With the out of bounds long and right, this tee shot will unnerve even the most accurate of golfers. Off the tee, a miss short is your safest play. A tee shot flown to the pin with a long iron or wood may not hold, resulting in going over the green costing an out of bounds penalty. This two-tiered green has a significant front to back slope with a severe fall off to the right side. This provides a trick finish to a very difficult Par 3. Once again, a Par is a good score.
HOLE 4
Firethorn
This straight 290 yard Par 4 named Firethorn is protected on both sides of the fairway by mature evergreen trees. This is a reachable par 4 off the tee but focusing on ball placement over distance is essential. You will want to leave your tee shot short of the downhill slope beginning 65 yards from the front of the green. A false front with a severely sloping back to front green, forces you to hit a precise approach shot. If you go over the green, your return chip is virtually impossible to hold. Out of all of Sunny Brae’s greens, Firethorns has the most severe slope. Once on the green, your adventures have just begun.
HOLE 5
Precipice
This hole begins Sunny Brae’s version of ‘Amen Corner’, where the next series of holes allow for a chance of lower scores. However, it also is the stretch of holes where the Cedar river comes into play on virtually every shot. This drivable par 4 provides an elevated tee box off nearly 70 ft bluff, putting an extreme emphasis on accuracy. For the average length golfer, the approach shot should leave you with a short iron shot. Again accuracy is key due to the large plush grass traps that surround the entire green. One of the larger greens at course, number 5 offers a 2 tiered green with many subtle breaks that offer a very difficult putting surface. Properly placed golf shots will allow a great opportunity for a birdie. However, penalties abound for wayward shots.
HOLE 6
Cedar Crossing
Hole number 6 offers several different teeing options for 125 yards to 180 yards. But choose wisely, due to the Cedar River dividing the tee box and green entirely, this leaves little room for error. From the nearest tee “Cedars Crossing” provides your best opportunity for a hole in one. 75 of the 105 of the hole in ones that have occurred at sunny brae, happened on Hole 6. This is by far the largest green and it possesses the most severe and frequent breaks of any green at Sunny Brae. With the water hazards and undulating green, a par on this hole is a good score.
HOLE 7
Cedar's Bend
A 300 Yard par 4, named “Cedar’s Bend” offers an intimidating tee shot with the Cedar River directly in front and lining the entire right side of the fairway. Causing slicers serious anxiety,
a miss left is the correct play. However, with large mature trees tucked left of the green, a fine line between left and too far left could cause problems with your approach shot. With a well-struck tee shot your approach shot should be left with a mid to short iron. Due to a severe left to right sloping green, a miss short is the correct play. A miss left or long provides a virtually impossible up and down. A strategically placed grass trap right of the green an accurate shot is a must. With a severe left to right slope, the green provides for challenging putts. Only, the surest golfer will allow for gimmes here.
HOLE 8
Lone Tree
This hole is a straight forward 312 yard par 4 with one lone strategically placed tree in the middle of the fairway. A good drive is essential as the Cedar River lines the entire right side of the hole yet again. A miss left off the tee will result in a severe uneven lie with the ball well below your feet for the approach. Those that are lucky enough to find the fairway should have a relatively easy approach with a short iron to the green. You will want to make sure to hit this double tiered green as it has a significant drop off to the left, back, and right sides. If you find the right tier on your approach shot you should give yourself a really good look at birdie. Miss the green and it will be quite an accomplishment to walk away with par.
HOLE 9
Birchard's Brae
The finishing hole is a 454 yard par 5 that doglegs right all the way to the green. This hole plays much tougher than its distance suggests. The tee shot demands accuracy as out of bounds looms right and several mature trees line the left side of the hole. Big hitters should be aware of the fairway bunker along the left edge of the fairway and a well placed tree in the middle of the fairway that will hinder any attempt at going for the green in two. The layup shot leaves a tough decision of laying up short of the extreme elevation change to the green or trying to advance the ball as far as possible. Again, be aware of out of bounds to the right as it lines the tree line all the way to the club house. Distance control is essential on the approach to the green as it sits carved into the hillside. A miss any place other than short of the green will leave an almost impossible up and down. Leaving the ball below the hole is crucial as the green slopes significantly back to front. A chip or putt anywhere above the hole might result in the ball running off the front of the green. This hole offers is a great chance to finish your round on a high note but possesses enough danger that can also produce high numbers.