Golf

Hole Description
The opening hole at Spotswood is an uphill par 5 that dog-legs slightly to the right, with trees bordering both sides of the hole. Longer hitters may be able to go for the green in two, however it will be a blind approach for the risk-reward eagle.

Hole Description
The second hole is a downhill par 3 with a challenging green complex. Bunkers surround the green, with the large bunker to the left protecting wayward tee shots from rolling down the hill.

Hole Description
Shot placement off the tee will determine the player’s success on the dog-leg right third hole. If the tees are on the left tee box, the player should hit a long iron or hybrid through the gap, carrying it around 200-220 yards. If the tees are on the right tee box, the longer hitter may cut the corner and attempt to drive the green, but with trouble to the right, the smart play is to lay up straight down the fairway with a long iron or hybrid and leave a 80-100 yard approach to the green.

Hole Description
The 4^th hole is a straight forward, slightly downhill par 3, with bunkers protecting the left half of the green. Club selection is key here, as the small trees behind the green may penalize a ball that carries the putting surface.

Hole Description
Number 5 is another risk-reward par 5 with multiple elevation changes. The tee shot is straightforward, with a drive favoring the left side of the fairway presenting a better angle to the green. Most players will opt to lay up on their second shot to a level area 80-100 yards from the green, however longer hitters may be able to reach the green in 2 with an iron or hybrid. Protected by 2 deep bunkers, the green slopes aggressively from back to front. A miss long or right of the green can make for a difficult up-and-down.

Hole Description
Favor the right side of the fairway off the tee on the 6^th hole. Tee shots landing left of center will trickle into the rough left of the fairway, with a left miss bringing trees into play. The green slopes from right to left, and the player that leaves their approach above the hole may be faced with a difficult 2 putt.

Hole Description
Number 7 is a long par 4 that usually plays into the wind. It is a straightforward hole that rewards a long drive and an accurate approach. Most players will be happy to walk off of the number 1 handicap hole with a par.

Hole Description
The 8^th hole presents a fairly open tee shot, with a long fairway bunker lining the landing area to the right of the fairway. Past the bunker, the fairway dips down to the right towards the green. The bunkers surrounding the green are relatively deep and may present a challenge for some players to recover for par.

Hole Description
While the 9^th hole appears to be downhill, the final par 3 of the front nine plays relatively flat. A left miss may kick down the hill towards the green, while a short or right miss may find one of the greenside bunkers which are visible from the tee box.

Hole Description
The opening hole for the back 9 presents a unique challenge off the tee. Players who can move the ball left to right have an advantage here, as a straight ball flight down the middle will run out of fairway if carried over 200 yards. Greenside bunkers protect both sides of this relatively flat green, and close approach shots are often rewarded with birdie.

Hole Description
The 11^th hole is a straightforward par 4 with a challenging green complex. The bunker short and left of the green can make for a difficult par save, and the majority of the green slopes back to front. Players should avoid going long and leaving themselves above the hole here, especially if the pin is located on the front of the green.

Hole Description
Club selection off the tee is important on this short, downhill par 4. Many players will opt for less than driver, as the fairway begins to narrow past the 150 post. The area where most players will land their tee shot slopes from right to left, helping keep the ball in the fairway on a good line to the green.

Hole Description
Rated the most difficult hole on the back 9, an accurate tee shot is critical on this dog-leg right par 4. Longer hitters may think twice about hitting driver here, as a straight drive runs out of fairway after 240 yards. A well placed fairway metal off the tee will leave a downhill approach of 130-150 yards to a green that slopes gently from back to front. 

Hole Description
Favor the right side of the fairway on the short par 4 14^th, as the entire hole slopes from right to left. Several maple trees just beyond the landing area may block the player’s line to the green on their second shot. Accuracy on the approach is paramount, as the subtle undulations of this green may stump even the best putters.

Hole Description
The drive is straightforward on the par 5 15^th, however longer hitters should favor the left side of the fairway in order to take the water out of play. For most players, a strategically placed second shot with a fairway metal or long iron will set up a short iron or wedge up to the elevated green. Big hitters may be able to reach the green in 2, but be aware that a right miss will often find itself out of bounds to the right of the green complex.

Hole Description
Number 16 is the longest and most challenging par 3 in the Shenandoah Valley, playing well over 200 yards from the back tees. The green is elevated with steep slopes falling off either side, punishing any shots that miss the green left or right.

Hole Description
The 17^th hole is a straightforward par 4 with an open tee shot. Favor the right side to avoid the left fairway bunker off the tee. Pay close attention to club selection on your approach as any approach that carries the green will likely end up out of bounds over the road.

Hole Description
The final hole at Spotswood offers the player an opportunity to make birdie or better if it is played well. Favor the left side of the fairway to avoid the out of bounds area on the right. Most players will opt to lay up short of the greenside bunkers for a short pitch up to the green, while the more aggressive may attempt to reach the green in two. The green slopes from back to front, and approach shots left above the hole may leave the player with a difficult 2 putt.