Don’t let the overall length of our course fool you into thinking short = easy. Quite the contrary, Smiths Falls Golf Club has been cut out and winds through a wooded area with streams and ponds throughout. Strong Par 3 holes add to the golf test. To score well here you need to hit the ball straight and putt well. The course is picturesque and though difficult, you can be assured that you will walk off the course with a smile on your face knowing you’ve played a terrific golf course!
Hole 1 Par 5
This par 5 opening hole was lengthened by 35 yards in 2008 with a new the green that was moved back and to the right of the old green. If trying to get home in two it is essential that you avoid going too far to the right with your tee shot. The green is slightly elevated and protected by three bunkers out front on the right and left. There is a fourth bunker at the back of the green to potentialy stop shots running through the green. If not able to get close in two, an approach of 90 to 110 yds is ideal into this firm and quick green.
Hole 2 Par 4
The second hole is a long par 4, slight dog leg left, and ranked the number three handicap hole. Teeing off out of a chute, your drive must carry 210 yards in order to surpass the hill and leave you with a mid iron into the green. Coming up short of the hill will require a second shot of 200 yards or more. The green slopes steeply from back to front and is protected by a green side bunker to the right.
Hole 3 Par 3
The first of five of the toughest par threes in the valley this par three typically plays into the prevailing wind. Protected by bunkers right and at the back along with mounding to the left and front, the large rolling green can be hit if you can manage to hit the ball 175-200yards. The green is sloped from back to front but has a couple of subtle mounds that must be read well to assure an easy two putt.
Hole 4 Par 4
Recently lenghtened at the same time as #1, this once short par 4 has now become our third longest par 4. To get your tee shot within 150 to 100 yard mark you are required to hit a tee shot 230 to 280 yards to a fairway that is protected by four bunkers. Going right off the tee is bound to cause problems. A massive bunker awaits your ball. If you happen to fly the bunker thick bush is not far. Your best bet is to swallow your ego and chip the ball back to the fairway. Your work isn’t over if you mange to hit the perfect tee shot. The green is long and slopes away from you on the front part. Many shots find thier way to the back of the green.
Hole 5 Par 4
Another hole with a signature chute style tee off, the fifth hole is a medium length par 4 with a slight dog leg left. A well-placed tee shot will set up a short iron approach. But a large pond to the right of the chute invites wayward tee shots. Long hitters must be wary of two newly placed bunkers on the right side of the fairway. Tall trees line the left side of the fairway and a clump of birch jut out on the left penalizing an inaccurate tee shot. Missing the green right is costly as the natural stream running through the course comes into play on your second shot. One bunker is situated on the right and two on the left green side. A group of trees smothers any ball hit over the green.
Hole 6 Par 4
The sixth hole is a tight par 4 dog leg left with mature poplars and pines lining the left and right side. A good tee shot will leave you a short iron into the green. The two-tiered green requires strategic shot placement as three putts are not uncommon. Hitting over the green will lead you perilously close to boundary lines.
Hole 7 Par 5
The seventh hole is a long par 5 straight away running uphill and then downhill, and ranked the most difficult. A new green was strategically built behind an existing green side pond. The seventh truly has become a second signature hole. The longest of the four par 5’s at Smiths Falls, it is almost unreachable in two shots. Your tee shot must be accurate as trees run up the left and right hand sides. The hole begins to open up in the landing area, which runs at a steep incline. Your second shot must be hit blindly over the hill to a descending fairway. The new green demands an extremely precise approach as players must carry the pond and stop their ball from running over the green. Trees run up the right side and the natural stream swallows missed shots to the left. The green is severely sloped and undulated forcing some very difficult putts.
Hole 8 Par 3
The eighth hole is a long par three running uphill. Your tee shot must clear the stream and avoid the large green side bunker on the right. This hole is more wide open than the other par 3’s but seems to play longer as a result of the inclining fairway and prevailing wind. The putting surface slopes severely from back to front making down and side hill putts a true test of ones touch around the greens.
Hole 9 Par 4
The ninth hole is a medium length par 4 running uphill all the way to the green. Your tee shot must clear the stream and avoid tree lines on both sides. A solid tee shot will leave you with a mid to short iron approach. The green slopes strongly from the back left to the front right. Green side bunkers on the front left and right hand sides protect it. The back of the green dramatically drops off making par a difficult score if the second shot is hit long.
Hole 10 Par 4
The tenth hole is a tricky par 4-dog leg right. Your tee shot must be hit down the center or left of center to avoid trouble and ensure a clear shot to the green. An attempt to cut the corner becomes a very difficult task as thick woods run all the way up the right side. If a player is unfortunate enough to hit their drive right of center, a group of mounds creep out from the right side in the landing area forcing players to play from difficult lies. The green is guarded by a large bunker on the left and woods on the right.
Hole 11 Par 5
The eleventh hole is a medium length par 5 with a slight dog leg – left. Teeing off from another chute, your tee shot must remain in the short grass to avoid any obstacles. Thick woods run the length of hole on both sides. The rough contains a heavy combination of mature and young trees that can cause havoc and reinforce the importance of staying in the fairway throughout the entire hole. There is a large green side bunker on the front right, which swallows many approach shots. The green slopes from back to front and offers a variety of difficult pin positions.
Hole 12 Par 4
The twelfth hole is a narrow par 4 – dog leg left. Your tee shot doesn’t require a driver but must be hit from another tight chute. Missing the fairway can be a dangerous as ditches and thick woods line either side of the hole. The 150-yard marker is your best target off the tee. Number twelve has no bunkers but a large pond rests along the right side of the green and dense coniferous trees cover the left. The green is large, moderately flat, but contains a few hidden undulations.
Hole 13 Par 5
The thirteenth hole is a relatively short par 5 dog leg right demanding strategic shot placement throughout. The natural stream runs all the way up the right side and a ditch with thick woods cover the left. Two ponds creep out from the right into the landing area – long hitters may choose to hit a hybrid off the tee. Players feeling more confident can hit a wood into an area about thirty yards wide between the pond and the ditch. Some very long hitters may be tempted to drive over the pond – a 280 yard carry. The fairway makes a right turn twisting its way behind the first pond. Another pond lurks on the left side gobbling up stray second shots or extremely well hit tee shots over the initial pond. Two large bunkers guard the left side of a difficult two-tiered green leaving some room to miss on the right.
Hole 14 Par 3
The fourteenth hole is the first of three par 3’s in the final five holes. Depending on the direction of the wind, this 185-yard shot can range from a fairway wood to a seven iron. The green is surrounded by dense woods and a large bunker shielding the right side. A seemingly simple putting surface at first glance, players often find putts breaking in unforeseen directions.
Hole 15 Par 4
The fifteenth hole is a long and narrow par 4 dog leg left and ranked the second most difficult. Many players elect to use fairway woods or long irons from the tee, as their first shot must be hit from a tight and lengthy chute. Water awaits any straight drive hit too far clearing the fairway and rough. A penalty ditch and thick trees line the left side. Many players try to shorten the hole by hitting over the trees on the corner. A strongly hit, well placed shot will leave you a short iron into the green. Stray drives will surely fall victim to the dense vegetation or large mass of water. Another pond sits at the left of the green behind two green side bunkers. The putting surface is large and can often be a three club difference depending on the pin placement.
Hole 16 Par 3
The sixteenth hole is a picturesque medium length par 3. Recognized as Smiths Falls’ signature hole, the sixteenth is all carry as the natural stream smothers the entire area from the tee to green. Any shots wandering left will be wet or if you’re lucky fall into the two steep faced bunkers between the stream and putting surface. An accurate tee shot is needed to save par.
Hole 17 Par 4
The seventeenth hole is straightaway par 4 uphill. Five fairway bunkers line the right side of the fairway. This is a good hole to use your driver one last time. A long blast will leave you with a mid to short iron into the green. Wayward tee shots right will likely be swallowed up in the bunkers and stray shots left will be tangled in a series of trees. A thick group of trees stand behind two bunkers to the left of the green. Tall grass and trees flow along the right and in behind the green. Back pin positions are often hard to reach leaving some difficult long putts.
Hole 18 Par 3
The par 3 eighteenth is a superb finishing hole. At 160 yards to the middle of the green, a back or front pin placement can easily be a three club difference. The long and narrow green is surrounded by hazards. A large pond on the left and water running all the way up the right side requires an accurate tee shot. A bunker also protects the left green side as it sits between the green and the pond. This is a hole where matches are often won and lost.
Men’s
| Tee | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 70.3 | 125 |
| White | 68.9 | 119 |
| Red | 66.5 | 116 |
| Yellow | 61.9 | 103 |
Ladies’
| Tee | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 77.4 | 136 |
| White | 75.6 | 128 |
| Red | 71.6 | 125 |
| Yellow | 66.1 | 114 |
