Stowe Country Club Detail
This writeup is from the Black tees, which are only 6273 yards. There were times, however, when I felt that perhaps I had bit off more than I could chew... The configuration on both the front and the back is three par 3s and three par 5s.
The first hole is a straightaway par 5. While it's only 495 yards, the green is elevated, so you'll need an extra club on your approach shot. Favor the left side to to take the trees on the right (and the bunker) out of play.
The second hole is a short par 3, playing about 160 yards. It's bunkered both left and right, so take plenty of club (or be very accurate!).
#3 is another par five, playing at 500 yards. Again, it plays to an elevated green, and plays longer than it looks!
#4 is a 175 yard par 3. What you see is what you get, with a bunker (and a drop off) to the left. The green is pretty elongated, so make sure you have an accurate read on the distance to the pin, especially if it's back.
#5 is a continuation on a theme for the par 4s. Both the tee and the green are on big hills, with a huge swale between. Since your approach is always uphill, you're always going to need an extra club.
#6 is like #5, but longer (it's a par 5). There's a big bunker fronting the green, so make sure you have enough club to carry it on your approach shot!
#7 is a 391 yard par 4, mostly downhill.
#8 is a 151 yard par 3. Avoid the bunkers front and right, and this hole can be had!
The ninth hole is a straightaway par 4, playing 403 yards. It has plenty of visual distractions off the back tee, including a forced carry over the junk, and a pond. Since you're hitting into a face of the hill, you'll get no rollout. I hit a really nice drive, and still needed a two hybrid for my second shot (which was also really nice, and which almost reached the green).
The tenth hole is a stiff 190 yard par 3, fron an elevated tee. Other than the distance, and the bunkers left and right, this hole is pretty straightforward.
#11 is a par 5, only 461 yards, but!!! It's all uphill, and is a forced carry off the tee. You should be able to reach the green in three, but probably not in two (if you can, my hat's off to you!).
#12 is a straightaway par 4, playing 387 yards. It's a blind tee shot, since the fairway dives off pretty sharply starting at the 150 yard mark. But it's straightaway, even if you can't see the green from the tee.
#13 doglegs left, and furthermore has a right to left sidehill tilt to the fairway. Therefore, you want to favor the right side of the fairway, so the ground roll doesn't freeze you out behind the corner.
To get to #14, you have to cross the road once you finish putting out (mind the traffic!). #14 is a 486 yard par 5. There is a creek crossing the fairway about where you would expect your drive to come down, so you might want to consider a layup, unless you're one of the "those guys". There's a bunker stretching across the fairway in front of the green to further challenge long hitters.
#15 coming back the other way is a long par 3 (186 yards). It is bunkered left and right.
#16 is an uphill blind tee shot. I hit my drive reasonably well, and was still left with a 2 hybrid for my second shot, which I butchered, and was left with yet another uphill approach with a wedge.
#17 is a straightaway par 4 at just 402 yards. There's a huge dropoff at the green to the bunker on the left side, so favor the right side of the green on your approach.
The home hole is a short par 4 (305 yards) back toward the clubhouse. It's also fairly flat (even though the clubhouse itself is on top of the hill). So, hit it straight, make a good score, and celebrate afterwards!
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