By: by Mark Toma
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – The 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference Women’s Golf Championship will be held at The Venetian Bay Golf Club and is hosted by Stetson University and the Central Florida Sports Commission.
The first-time championship at Venetian Bay will provide a challenging backdrop to what is becoming one of the most competitive conference championships in the country. The 10-team field will battle distinctly different looks on the front and back nine as the two have unique natural characteristics. The front nine plays through more of the wooded portion of the property and the back nine with fewer trees and more parallel fairways, gives it more of a links look.
There are 114 strategically placed bunkers and the two finishing holes are great matchmakers or match breakers. The ninth is a short hole that plays back to the rear of the clubhouse on Johnson's Pond. The tee shot offers all kinds of risk reward scenarios with club selection being critical. Play it safe out to the right with a shorter wood/long iron or take it over or around the large cypress trees, which block your line to the green. This potentially is reachable for the bigger hitters but they need to watch the hazards.
The eighteenth is a bit intimidating demanding a well-placed drive with water all along the left through the green and bunkers virtually framing the landing zone. At 405 yards one of these bunkers is not the desired area to approach this lakeside green.
Venetian Bay Golf Club
Hole Descriptions
Hole 1 | Par 5
A straightaway par 5 with a generous landing area is flanked by fairway bunkers on the right and left. Placing you tee shot up the right side allows you to decide to ‘go for it’ in two or lay-up to a manageable yardage for your approach to a two-tier green.
Hole 2 | Par 4
This par 4 will get your attention and play longer than it looks. An uphill, dogleg right with fairway bunkers left and right. The second shot will definitely test even the more skilled player; hitting the right club to an elevated green protected by a large greenside bunker.
Hole 3 | Par 3
A ‘PGA Tour’ quality par 3 from the back tees and the first of our four very unique par three’s here at Venetian Bay Golf Club. Pay attention to the flag on the green to indicate wind direction. The bunker in front of the green will certainly accept any shots not hit solid enough to carry it.
Hole 4 | Par 4
Providing you avoid the fairway bunkers on the left and the OB on the right, this par 4 is a real good birdie hole. After a good drive up the left side of the fairway, you are left with a mid to short iron to a receptive tucked green.
Hole 5 | Par 5
Course management, patience and nerve are going to be tested on this dogleg to the right par 5. If you try to cut the corner too much, you’ll find the lake. Be careful with your next shot also; fairway bunkers left and right in the lay-up zone put a premium on shot selection and make things a little ‘tight’ 90 yards from the green. The palm trees just short of the green just add to the thought process.
Hole 6 | Par 3
After playing five, this hole is a perfect follow-up. A good par 3, the hole has a bunker on the right and mounding on the left and back of the green. Pay attention to the yardage and make the right choice.
Hole 7 | Par 4
You may want to hit driver or three wood off this tee. There are fairway bunkers left and right with a narrow landing area. From the fairway, your approach shot should be nothing more than middle to short iron to a narrow green that is receptive to a good shot. The water up the right side could come into play if you are recovering from a poor drive.
Hole 8 | Par 4
Very simply, aim your tee shot up the left side to this slight dogleg to the right par 4. The mound on the right side will block your view of the green and will not allow you a good look at the hole. Another good birdie hole if you manage your tee shot well.
Hole 9 | Par 4
Be Careful! This ‘shortish’ dogleg to the left par 4 is not something to ignore. For the long hitter, there are fairway bunkers on the left side of the fairway waiting for those that want to cut the corner and a lake on the right side through the fairway. From the tee, the more conservative approach would be a long iron or fairway wood to the middle of the fairway and a short iron to a green that is well bunkered.
Hole 10 | Par 4
Number ten is the beginning of the ‘different look’ of the golf course. This straightaway par 4 puts a premium on the position of your drive in the fairway. The front-left bunker that guards the green makes club selection so important to this elevated green. Par is a good score here on this ‘longish’ par 4.
Hole 11 | Par 5
This is a classic three shot par 5. Bunkers on the left flank the fairway while the direction of the hole moves a bit to the right. Be careful with your second shot; there is another beautiful lake hidden near the green. Three good shots will put you on this large green that slopes toward the water but affords you the opportunity to make birdie.
Hole 12 | Par 3
Tee options will allow you to play it as close as 109 yards. Bunkers surround the two-tiered green and the prevailing winds can play havoc with a poorly struck shot. Make sure you hit the right club to assure being on the back tier that has a ‘back’ hole location.
Hole 13 | Par 4
Stand on the tee, take a deep breath, aim your tee shot up the left side of the fairway, stay committed and make a good swing! Once in the fairway, after avoiding the fairway bunkers on the left and trees on the right, take enough club to reach this uphill two-tiered green. By the way, you want to avoid the palm trees and bunkers short of the green left and right. Now that’s a great par 4!
Hole 14 | Par 4
If you played #13 from the back tee and into the prevailing wind, #14 should be a chance for you to catch your breath but still demands your attention. The fairway is flanked by fairway bunkers on the left; however, your approach to this uphill green will definitely be shorter from that side of the fairway. Bunkers front, back and right of the green makes club selection, once more, demanding to this narrow green.
Hole 15 | Par 4
This par 4 from the back tee is all you want from an uphill par 4. A generous landing area with bunkers to the right of the fairway encourages a good solid tee shot. When the hole location is back right, the front bunker will definitely challenge your game if you choose to take dead aim.
Hole 16 | Par 3
Water front’s the entire green with greenside bunkers adding to the thought of not hitting enough club. This hole plays uphill and the wind can be your friend or foe. Par is great score here.
Hole 17 | Par 5
A generous landing area framed by fairway bunkers followed by an opportunity for risk or reward after a solid tee shot. Three good shots with little risk will add up to a good score. If you need to make up a lost shot or two, going for it in two might be for you.
Hole 18 | Par 4
What a great finishing hole! Place your tee shot in the middle of the fairway, avoiding the five fairway bunkers and water all along the left side; then get ready for the most demanding second shot into another two-tiered green with water on the left and bunkers on the right.
Courtesy of the Venetian Bay Golf Club
