Ulen Country Club

Seldom is it a bad plan to hit the center of greens, especially when they are small and surrounded with bunkers. As a stopped clock is right twice a day, hitting to the center of Ulen’s second is correct only when the hole is there. The long narrow green presents several distinct zones, each of which do not favor a putt which must travel from one zone to another. Missing the green to the left requires a deft touch to clear the bunker and still remain on the green which runs away.

Handicap: Mens 7; Ladies 9

Yardage: Black 160yds; Blue 142yds; Yellow 142yds; White 128yds; Red 120yds

The wide open prospect on this tee is a distinct change from the preceding hole; however, out of bounds lurks on the right, the eastern boundary of the course, and Reynolds Ditch enters the course from there. Nonetheless, the fairway gradually narrows as it slips between the traps framing the landing zone for the second. One of the flattest greens on the course awaits the putter. Leaving this green, one can breathe a sigh of relief because there will not be three tougher consecutive holes on the course.

Handicap: Mens 11; Ladies 7

Yardage: Black 555yds; Blue 532yds; Yellow 487yds; White 487yds; Red 410yds

Mature Pines guard the corner of this dog leg and tee shots which drive through the fairway to the rough on the opposite side are faced with a carry over water to the green on the second. The pond enlarged in the 1995 renovation now reaches out into the fairway and captures shots that are not struck with authority. Club selection for the approach from the center of the fairway can be confusing because behind the green tall pines dating from the opening of the course serve as a windbreak to the prevailing breezes. BIRDIE HOLE!

Handicap: Mens 15; Ladies 11

Yardage: Black 350yds; Blue 330yds; Yellow 330yds; White 282yds; Red 275yds

The green on this Par 3 has two themes: it slopes back to front and left to right. Many times it confuses the putter whether it is a downhill or a sidehill putt or a combination of both. In 1995, the right trap was moved away from the front to its present and the two traps were added to the left.

Handicap: Mens 13; Ladies 17

Yardage: Black 197yds; Blue 177yds; Yellow 177yds; White 140yds; Red 132yds

The sand traps added in 1995 at the turn of this testing dog leg can be avoided, but not ignored. When the prevailing wind is out, the long hitter may have to leave the driver in the bag. The safe line to the left must skirt a veritable wall of giant oaks. If the left trees are found by the tee shot, the only recovery is a chip back to the fairway. The sharp 90 degree turn at the corner rotates the wind from the back to the golfer’s side; a strong wind will move the mind’s target for the approach from the green to its left over one of the deepest bunkers on the course.

Handicap: Mens 9; Ladies 3

Yardage: Black 408yds; Blue 390yds; Yellow 330yds; White 330yds; Red 275yds

The natural right to left contour of the fairway funnels tee shots toward the green. Careful note of the flag position should be made on the tee because a drive on the right side or rough will require a carry over heavy lipped sand traps. If an errant hook does not go out of bounds, it will be caught in the trees on the left leaving only a punch and run approach to the green. The green has elliptical left to right turn which creates a tricky putt for anyone between the hole and its left collar. BIRDIE HOLE!

Handicap: Mens 17; Ladies 13

Yardage: Black 350yds; Blue 330yds; Yellow 330yds; White 280yds; Red 275yds

A generous fairway entices the big hitter to cut loose. A sand trap sits on the fairway’s right edge. Longer tee shots will roll to a stop in terrain leaving an uneven stance. The back of this green has some devilish pin positions requiring the utmost attention.

Handicap: Mens 5; Ladies 15

Yardage: Black 430yds; Blue 416yds; Yellow 416yds; White 360yds; Red 355yds

An out of bounds on the left and a tree line to the right focuses the golfer’s view from the tee to the narrowest landing area on the course. A teeing ground to the right vetoes the big hitter’s strategy to hit over the trees into the 18^th fairway. Flanked by deep sand traps, the green’s right edge and coller will impart a definite left turn to all approach shots upon landing. When the hole is cut in the front, its sharp slope challenges putts from the back to stay on the green if they do not find the bottom of the cup. A Par on #9 will make up shots on the field!

Handicap: Mens 3; Ladies 1

Yardage: Black 420yds; Blue 395yds; Yellow 356yds; White 356yds; Red 350yds

The aggressive tee shot must deal with the pine forest on the right or the sand traps directly in line 220 yards from the tee. The deepest traps on the course flank a two-tiered green which will not reward the approach complacent with merely landing anywhere on the surface. The front tier has an abundance of quick sidehill putts.

Handicap: Mens 8; Ladies 6

Yardage: Black 352yds; Blue 335yds; Yellow 335yds; White 330yds; Red 323yds

Playing down the prevailing wind, this might be the first hole in the two that driver has come out of the bag on the tee. A cluster of sand traps guard the left side off the tee. The green is fully exposed to the sun in the southern sky and the hardening effect of the prevailing wind; shots landing short frequently roll through the green leaving a delicate chip back. Approach shots must land as softly as a butterfly with sore feet.

Handicap: Mens 2; Ladies 12

Yardage: Black 427yds; Blue 410yds; Yellow 390yds; White 390yds; Red 374yds

One of the few uphill tee shots on the course, to carry the ridge means bonus yardage and a lofted iron to the green. The sloping right side of the ridge tends to direct tee shots into the rough and there are several small waves further up the fairway which annoy the longer player who is accustomed to a level “fairway lie.” All putts on this green take a crazy break to the west.

Handicap: Mens 12; Ladies 8

Yardage: Black 365yds; Blue 357yds; Yellow 357yds; White 335yds; Red 325yds

When shooting for the flag, as one must on this shortest hole on the course, a cross bunker located in front of the green makes its location difficult to determine. The right edge of the collar has a “members’ bounce” deflecting balls into the center of the green, which is the narrowest on the course.

Handicap: Mens 16; Ladies 16

Yardage: Black 145yds; Blue 140yds; Yellow 140yds; White 135yds; Red 124yds

Similar to the first hole, but at 35 yards longer, this is a par 5. The dominating ridge which intersects the hole meets a sand trap on the left side and two traps to the left of the green. Errant tee shots will find the trees on either side of the fairway, bringing the creek into play for the second shot. A cross bunker 15 yards in front of the green deceives distance estimates and gathers any second shot that has hope of rolling onto the green. There is ample lay-up area over the creek in front of the cross bunker for the player whose wedge aims to turn the next three shots into two.

Handicap: Mens 18; Ladies 2

Yardage: Black 469yds; Blue 455yds; Yellow 405yds; White 405yds; Red 400yds

The tee shot must thread an opening framed in a row of maple trees. The remnants of the dominating east-west ridge kick tee shots finding the fairway to the right towards the green. A 60 foot tall sycamore with a wide embrace on the left of the green limit approaches to the green for any shots from the middle or left side of this hole. A creek in front of the tee winds down the right side and crosses back in front and along the left side of the green. One of the oldest and nearly level greens on the course. This hole should be named “Spoiler”, since it has spoiled many good rounds with only a few holes to play.

Handicap: Mens 4; Ladies 4

Yardage: Black 350yds; Blue 340yds; Yellow 300yds; White 300yds; Red 260yds

Despite its shortness, this dog leg left is a highly interesting hole. The strategies can be progressively aggressive from bumping an iron down the middle short of the bunkers, to drawing a long iron around the corner of the walnut grove, or booming a fairway wood over the towering walnut trees directly onto the elevated green. The green is well above the fairway and the large sand trap at its front lip requires precise shot-making to get the approach close to a hole which is obscured from view below. The small green contains many downhill and sidehill putts.

Handicap: Mens 14; Ladies 14

Yardage: Black 280yds; Blue 270yds; Yellow 270yds; White 235yds; Red 228yds

Not a hole for the aquaphobic, this is the one tee shot on the course that threatens a golf balls 18-hole life expectancy because of the lake that runs guards the left side of the hole all the way to the greenside. There are spots on this level green which defy the conventional wisdom that all putts break toward water.  Smallest green on the course, with longest club in your hand for the approach.

Handicap: Mens 10; Ladies 18

Yardage: Black 205yds; Blue 185yds; Yellow 169yds; White 169yds; Red 125yds

Emerging through the trees golfers view the fairway rising up the dominating east-west ridge and pointing at the roof of the clubhouse. A drive short of the ridge means a blind approach and very deep, large sand traps bookend this final green. Approaches must carry a moderate incline in the front half of the green to reach a back pin placement. The front slope of the green has the most wicked downhill or sidehill putt on the course; it is so slippery that when the hole is cut there, a player intent on par is wiser to approach short of the green, leaving a chip and short uphill putt for a satisfying finish.

Handicap: Mens 6; Ladies 10

Yardage: Black 407yds; Blue 390yds; Yellow 350yds; White 350yds; Red 300yds

Seldom is it a bad plan to hit the center of greens, especially when they are small and surrounded with bunkers. As a stopped clock is right twice a day, hitting to the center of Ulen’s second is correct only when the hole is there. The long narrow green presents several distinct zones, each of which do not favor a putt which must travel from one zone to another. Missing the green to the left requires a deft touch to clear the bunker and still remain on the green which runs away.

Handicap: Mens 7; Ladies 9

Yardage: Black 160yds; Blue 142yds; Yellow 142yds; White 128yds; Red 120yds

The wide open prospect on this tee is a distinct change from the preceding hole; however, out of bounds lurks on the right, the eastern boundary of the course, and Reynolds Ditch enters the course from there. Nonetheless, the fairway gradually narrows as it slips between the traps framing the landing zone for the second. One of the flattest greens on the course awaits the putter. Leaving this green, one can breathe a sigh of relief because there will not be three tougher consecutive holes on the course.

Handicap: Mens 11; Ladies 7

Yardage: Black 555yds; Blue 532yds; Yellow 487yds; White 487yds; Red 410yds

Mature Pines guard the corner of this dog leg and tee shots which drive through the fairway to the rough on the opposite side are faced with a carry over water to the green on the second. The pond enlarged in the 1995 renovation now reaches out into the fairway and captures shots that are not struck with authority. Club selection for the approach from the center of the fairway can be confusing because behind the green tall pines dating from the opening of the course serve as a windbreak to the prevailing breezes. BIRDIE HOLE!

Handicap: Mens 15; Ladies 11

Yardage: Black 350yds; Blue 330yds; Yellow 330yds; White 282yds; Red 275yds

The green on this Par 3 has two themes: it slopes back to front and left to right. Many times it confuses the putter whether it is a downhill or a sidehill putt or a combination of both. In 1995, the right trap was moved away from the front to its present and the two traps were added to the left.

Handicap: Mens 13; Ladies 17

Yardage: Black 197yds; Blue 177yds; Yellow 177yds; White 140yds; Red 132yds

The sand traps added in 1995 at the turn of this testing dog leg can be avoided, but not ignored. When the prevailing wind is out, the long hitter may have to leave the driver in the bag. The safe line to the left must skirt a veritable wall of giant oaks. If the left trees are found by the tee shot, the only recovery is a chip back to the fairway. The sharp 90 degree turn at the corner rotates the wind from the back to the golfer’s side; a strong wind will move the mind’s target for the approach from the green to its left over one of the deepest bunkers on the course.

Handicap: Mens 9; Ladies 3

Yardage: Black 408yds; Blue 390yds; Yellow 330yds; White 330yds; Red 275yds

The natural right to left contour of the fairway funnels tee shots toward the green. Careful note of the flag position should be made on the tee because a drive on the right side or rough will require a carry over heavy lipped sand traps. If an errant hook does not go out of bounds, it will be caught in the trees on the left leaving only a punch and run approach to the green. The green has elliptical left to right turn which creates a tricky putt for anyone between the hole and its left collar. BIRDIE HOLE!

Handicap: Mens 17; Ladies 13

Yardage: Black 350yds; Blue 330yds; Yellow 330yds; White 280yds; Red 275yds

A generous fairway entices the big hitter to cut loose. A sand trap sits on the fairway’s right edge. Longer tee shots will roll to a stop in terrain leaving an uneven stance. The back of this green has some devilish pin positions requiring the utmost attention.

Handicap: Mens 5; Ladies 15

Yardage: Black 430yds; Blue 416yds; Yellow 416yds; White 360yds; Red 355yds

An out of bounds on the left and a tree line to the right focuses the golfer’s view from the tee to the narrowest landing area on the course. A teeing ground to the right vetoes the big hitter’s strategy to hit over the trees into the 18^th fairway. Flanked by deep sand traps, the green’s right edge and coller will impart a definite left turn to all approach shots upon landing. When the hole is cut in the front, its sharp slope challenges putts from the back to stay on the green if they do not find the bottom of the cup. A Par on #9 will make up shots on the field!

Handicap: Mens 3; Ladies 1

Yardage: Black 420yds; Blue 395yds; Yellow 356yds; White 356yds; Red 350yds

The aggressive tee shot must deal with the pine forest on the right or the sand traps directly in line 220 yards from the tee. The deepest traps on the course flank a two-tiered green which will not reward the approach complacent with merely landing anywhere on the surface. The front tier has an abundance of quick sidehill putts.

Handicap: Mens 8; Ladies 6

Yardage: Black 352yds; Blue 335yds; Yellow 335yds; White 330yds; Red 323yds

Playing down the prevailing wind, this might be the first hole in the two that driver has come out of the bag on the tee. A cluster of sand traps guard the left side off the tee. The green is fully exposed to the sun in the southern sky and the hardening effect of the prevailing wind; shots landing short frequently roll through the green leaving a delicate chip back. Approach shots must land as softly as a butterfly with sore feet.

Handicap: Mens 2; Ladies 12

Yardage: Black 427yds; Blue 410yds; Yellow 390yds; White 390yds; Red 374yds

One of the few uphill tee shots on the course, to carry the ridge means bonus yardage and a lofted iron to the green. The sloping right side of the ridge tends to direct tee shots into the rough and there are several small waves further up the fairway which annoy the longer player who is accustomed to a level “fairway lie.” All putts on this green take a crazy break to the west.

Handicap: Mens 12; Ladies 8

Yardage: Black 365yds; Blue 357yds; Yellow 357yds; White 335yds; Red 325yds

When shooting for the flag, as one must on this shortest hole on the course, a cross bunker located in front of the green makes its location difficult to determine. The right edge of the collar has a “members’ bounce” deflecting balls into the center of the green, which is the narrowest on the course.

Handicap: Mens 16; Ladies 16

Yardage: Black 145yds; Blue 140yds; Yellow 140yds; White 135yds; Red 124yds

Similar to the first hole, but at 35 yards longer, this is a par 5. The dominating ridge which intersects the hole meets a sand trap on the left side and two traps to the left of the green. Errant tee shots will find the trees on either side of the fairway, bringing the creek into play for the second shot. A cross bunker 15 yards in front of the green deceives distance estimates and gathers any second shot that has hope of rolling onto the green. There is ample lay-up area over the creek in front of the cross bunker for the player whose wedge aims to turn the next three shots into two.

Handicap: Mens 18; Ladies 2

Yardage: Black 469yds; Blue 455yds; Yellow 405yds; White 405yds; Red 400yds

The tee shot must thread an opening framed in a row of maple trees. The remnants of the dominating east-west ridge kick tee shots finding the fairway to the right towards the green. A 60 foot tall sycamore with a wide embrace on the left of the green limit approaches to the green for any shots from the middle or left side of this hole. A creek in front of the tee winds down the right side and crosses back in front and along the left side of the green. One of the oldest and nearly level greens on the course. This hole should be named “Spoiler”, since it has spoiled many good rounds with only a few holes to play.

Handicap: Mens 4; Ladies 4

Yardage: Black 350yds; Blue 340yds; Yellow 300yds; White 300yds; Red 260yds

Despite its shortness, this dog leg left is a highly interesting hole. The strategies can be progressively aggressive from bumping an iron down the middle short of the bunkers, to drawing a long iron around the corner of the walnut grove, or booming a fairway wood over the towering walnut trees directly onto the elevated green. The green is well above the fairway and the large sand trap at its front lip requires precise shot-making to get the approach close to a hole which is obscured from view below. The small green contains many downhill and sidehill putts.

Handicap: Mens 14; Ladies 14

Yardage: Black 280yds; Blue 270yds; Yellow 270yds; White 235yds; Red 228yds

Not a hole for the aquaphobic, this is the one tee shot on the course that threatens a golf balls 18-hole life expectancy because of the lake that runs guards the left side of the hole all the way to the greenside. There are spots on this level green which defy the conventional wisdom that all putts break toward water.  Smallest green on the course, with longest club in your hand for the approach.

Handicap: Mens 10; Ladies 18

Yardage: Black 205yds; Blue 185yds; Yellow 169yds; White 169yds; Red 125yds

Emerging through the trees golfers view the fairway rising up the dominating east-west ridge and pointing at the roof of the clubhouse. A drive short of the ridge means a blind approach and very deep, large sand traps bookend this final green. Approaches must carry a moderate incline in the front half of the green to reach a back pin placement. The front slope of the green has the most wicked downhill or sidehill putt on the course; it is so slippery that when the hole is cut there, a player intent on par is wiser to approach short of the green, leaving a chip and short uphill putt for a satisfying finish.

Handicap: Mens 6; Ladies 10

Yardage: Black 407yds; Blue 390yds; Yellow 350yds; White 350yds; Red 300yds