Hole 9 Outward Nine
Par 4
Handicap: 1
Ladies Handicap: 3
The Hole Experience
Hole 9 is the number one handicap hole for good reason. It is a serious test, the kind of par 4 that asks whether you can make a strong decision and then execute it under pressure. This is not a hole for vague targets.
The tee shot should be played to position. Distance helps, but only if it keeps you in the correct part of the fairway. If the angle into the green is poor, the second shot becomes significantly more demanding. Many players would be wise to think of this as a hole where bogey is not fatal and par is a very good achievement.
For the approach, avoid the temptation to take on a pin you are not properly placed to attack. Play to the safest portion of the green and make the putter do some work. A four here is a statement. A five can still keep the round alive. The only real mistake is turning one bad swing into two or three.