Scorecard
Hole By Hole
Chris Toot, Director of Golf, will take you through the ins and outs of Emerald Lake Golf Club. This course exhibits an excellent mix of easy and difficult holes, and with 4 sets of tees, you can test yourself at your own pace. Using these tips below will help you as you make your way around these famed holes.
Hole 1
An easy starting hole located directly next to the putting green greets you as shake off the rust. A drive favoring the right side of the fairway will set you up for a mid-iron 2nd shot to a receptive green. Avoid the left side of this hole as the driving range is out of bounds and lurks ever-so-closely.
Hole 2
This hole offers a tough test so early in your round. A drive favoring the left side of the fairway will kick down the center and leave a long, uphill 2nd shot. Avoid losing your 2nd shot to the right. It is better to leave your 2nd shot a little short and take your chances with a chip shot. Five is not a bad score on this tough hole.
Hole 3
The shortest Par 3 on the course will get your round jumpstarted. The green is very narrow, so do not worry about the pin placement and get a good yardage to the center of the green. A good two-putt will put a nice 3 on your card.
Hole 4
This tricky, but scenic, hole is much easier than it appears. A tee shot of roughly 200 yards will leave a very short iron in to this green protected by a small pond. This green is the flattest on the course, and offers a great look at birdie.
Hole 5
The first par 5 on the course and the only one on the front side. A drive aimed at the 2nd fairway bunker will leave you with a perfect angle for an easy layup. A generous landing area roughly 80 yards from the green will give you an excellent opportunity to get up-and-in for birdie, or offer a very stress-free par as your really start to sink into your round.
Hole 6
This straight-away, uphill hole can be deceiving. A wide fairway can be easily found, but your 2nd shot plays significantly uphill. Take an extra club and put a good swing on it. This green is also fairly flat, so if you can navigate that tricky 2nd shot, a makeable birdie putt may be your reward.
Hole 7
One of the characteristics of Emerald Lake is the tough finish to each 9. This long, downhill par 3 will test your long irons. The hazard comes into play on the left, so your miss will be the bunkers on the right. Get a good yardage to the center of the green, make a solid 2-putt, and move on knowing you have made an excellent par.
Hole 8
Another tough par 4 starts out with a generous fairway. Aim your tee shot at the pompous grass in the middle of the fairway. That will leave your with a mid-iron to a narrow green with a tricky green complex. Take an extra club, which will leave you in the widest part of the green. Two-putt and run to the next hole.
Hole 9
Considered by many to be the toughest hole on the course, the 9th hole needs to be approached with caution. A stream bisects the fairway causing a layup off the tee. Your 2nd shot is severely uphill to an extremely undulated green. The scorecard may say “par 4”, but a 5 on this hole is very respectable. Do not worry, there will be a few birdie holes on the back nine, so play conservatively.
Hole 10
After stopping by the clubhouse for the best hot dog in Charlotte, you find yourself on the beautifully elevated 10th tee. The only defense this hole has is the fairway bunkers on the left, so make sure you favor the right side. You will find yourself with a mid-iron to an elevated green. This green slopes severely from back to front, so proceed with caution from above the hole.
Hole 11
Here’s your chance. The easiest hole on the course. A wide fairway should be easily found leaving yourself a very short iron to this big, flat green. It’s time to be aggressive!
Hole 12
The hardest part of this hole is the length. This hole requires both accuracy and length. Do not be afraid to lay up short of the green with your 2nd shot with a club that is comfortable. Take your chances with a good up-and-in.
Hole 13
The first par 3 on the backside offers up a chance to put a good 3 on the scorecard. This medium length par 3 has a generous green, so like the others, get a good yardage to the center of the green and walk away with a 3. Do not worry about the pin placement, so those bunkers front and right do not lend themselves to a par.
Hole 14
Take some time to soak in the beauty of our signature hole. This exquisite par 5 wraps around Lake Mitchell finishing on our peninsula green. A drive right of the trees will leave you in perfect position for an easy layup. Take a mid-iron to the end of fairway, and that will leave your with a very short shot over the water. This green is bisected by a few slopes that make is important to find the correct section. With that short iron in your hand, be aggressive. Walking away with a birdie on this beautiful hole will be the highlight of your day.
Hole 15
You head back into the forest for one hole here on the 15th. A tee shot of roughly 200 yards is required to reach the dogleg. Favor the right side of the fairway to avoid being blocked out by the trees. Once you have successfully found the fairway, this hole becomes a birdie hole. You will have a very short 2nd shot to a relatively flat green. This may be the last realistic birdie opportunity on the course, so go for it!
Hole 16
As stated above, the last 3 holes on each side are not for the faint at heart. This loooooong uphill par 3 will test your hybrids or fairway woods. If you miss the green, do not worry, a simple chip on to the green will give you a chance at an excellent par.
Hole 17
The widest fairway on the course greets you off the 17th tee. Your 2nd shot plays slightly uphill, so get a good yardage to the center of the green and take an extra club. This green slopes severely from left to right, so putts tend to be a little faster on this green. A 4 is an excellent score on this hole.
Hole 18
You’ve made it to the home hole. The last hole on the course and possibly the hardest par 5 on the course. A good tee shot favoring the left side will give you the best angle for an easy layup. The hardest part of this hole is the green. This green slopes from front to back, with bunkers surrounding the front and right, and water looming left and long. Make sure you layup to a yardage that you are comfortable with. It is much more important to be accurate with your distance on this hole than your direction. A tough 2-putt awaits, but if navigated correctly, a satisfying par will leave you with one of your best rounds!