NO. 15, PAR 4, 357 YARDS
Hole description: The hole sure doesn’t look intimidating when you look at the scorecard, but read carefully the words of head pro Kevin Mahaffy and you realize that is probably the furthest thing from the truth.

“For people who have a good round going, score starts to creep into their heads,” Mahaffy said. “People start to think about this tee shot a couple holes back because it is a nerve-wracking tee shot. A lot of good rounds go sour in a hurry.”

I’ve faced more intimidating tee shots in my time, but you can certainly find trouble at No. 15. Trees and out of bounds lurk all the way down the right-hand side of the hole, while there is a lateral water hazard down the left. This setup puts a premium on accuracy off the tee.

“There are also the overhanging branches on the right, making (the tee shot) difficult, especially when the tee is to the right,” Mahaffy said.

“This hole takes driver out of a lot of people’s hands, especially for anybody who hits it right to left.”

That lateral water hazard crosses into the fairway about 50 yards in front of the green, giving golfers at least some pause before hitting their approach shot — or their third depending upon the tee shot.

You are also hitting to the smallest green at Orange Hills. There are no greenside bunkers, but any shot off target will roll off the green.

“It (the second shot) is always an extra club, no matter what the yardage calls for,” Mahaffy said. “It’s not an easy green to hold, especially when the greens are firm. The hole requires two good golf shots.”

Played like a pro: Do as I say, not as I do. Mahaffy pulled driver because, as he put it, “I hit a left-to-right tee shot.” The tees were up and he still hit the big club, although it landed in the right rough.

Mahaffy then pulled an 8-iron a little left onto the cart path. After taking his free lift, Mahaffy’s pitch came up short of the green. He then chipped to 8 feet, but missed the putt to finish with double-bogey 6.

Played like your Average Joe: I listened to Mahaffy’s advice and used a 4-iron — a nice draw that landed on the right side of the fairway. But the course was wet and the ball actually bounced a little backward, leaving me about 200 yards away. I figured my 5-iron would come up short of the creek crossing in front and I figured right, except it was a low duck-hook to the left side of the fairway.

I had around 100 yards remaining. Remembering what Mahaffy said about the extra club and taking into account the damp conditions, I tried to hit a three-quarter 9-iron. The shot was good — too good — and it went over the green.

The problem with playing just holes and not rounds is you lack feel around the greens and for a hacker like myself, that is a bad situation. I skulled the chip shot across the green. My next flip shot ended up on the front of the green and I missed the 10-foot double-bogey attempt to tie Mahaffy, ending up with triple-bogey 7.

Register golf writer Joe Morelli will be playing the signature hole at several public courses from around the state this season. If you have a hole to suggest, or would like to participate, contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it