Heatherglen Golf Course

The original HeatherGlen Golf Course opened in 1987 with nine holes and was soon expanded to an 18-hole course with a 15,000 square-foot clubhouse. In 1991, new owners acquired what was then a private facility with the intention of turning it into a daily fee public course.

A number of changes began including renovation of five of the existing holes. Then in 1998, 10 new holes were added to the course to create the current layout of three nines. The layout of the original holes has been changed to incorporate the new holes and one of the original holes was removed. Now all three nines start and finish at the clubhouse. You'll also be impressed with the trees that have been added to the course and the ponds and lakes.

Having three nines makes for a golf club with great variety. It's like having three different courses available to you.

The Hills

The Hills Nine is the longest of our three nines where the focus is on distance off the tee. Long hitters can clear many of the hazards here for an easy shot into the green. The fairways here are wide and forgiving, so let your ball fly.

One of the outstanding holes on this nine is the par-3 No. 2 which measures 183 yards from the back tees and 141 from the forward. "It's all carry over water here to a tough green with lots of bunkers," said Slade King, director of golf for the club.

You'll close out this nine with a newly renovated par-4, playing at 372 from the back and 283 from the forward. This is a hole that adds a very special water experience to this nine.

"You need a straightaway tee shot with your driver here to a generous fairway," said King. "Then you second shot takes you to an island green with sandstone walls and water below."

The Creek

The Creek Nine is more of a shotmaker's test with three par-3s and three par-5s. This nine has large greens. So aim to land on the same tier as the pin after you hit your ball or you're going to struggle for par. The Creek is shorter than the Hills so although distance doesn't count as much, you can really score here with some well-struck iron shots.

This nine has two great par-5s, according to King. On No. 3, 476 yards from the tips and 373 from the forward deck, you'll be hitting your tee shot with a fairway bunker in play. After that you'll be hitting your second shot over part of a large lake. Many players have to lay up in front of the lake in order to avoid hitting the water.

No. 9, a slightly longer par-5 at 503 yards from the back and 432 from the forward, requires a tee shot through a chute of poplars into a generous fairway where you'll find more poplars right and left. "This is a risk-reward hole that allows you to go for the green in two," King said.

The Grove

The Grove is made up of holes from the original course at HeatherGlen, but the holes have been arranged in a different order. The Grove has many mature trees bordering its fairways. Contending with these, along with dealing with smaller greens, makes for a narrow course that creates a challenge and is a lot of fun to play.

Among the outstanding holes on this nine are No. 4, a short par-4 measuring 292 yards from the tips and 268 from the front. "You'll want to hit an iron off the tee into the fairway of this dogleg left," King said. "Then take a wedge to the green."

On this hole, you'll be dealing with lots of trees on both sides of the fairway.

No. 5 (379 yards from the back and 255 from the front) is a slight dogleg right with water on the right hand side and a creek that crosses the fairway. The green has bunkers to the left and to the right with water in the back. This hole may require a lay-up shot before you attempt your approach.