The back nine at Campbell's plays at least 4-5 strokes easier than the front nine. When you hear people talk about course management this back nine is where you really need to use course management. After you have rested walking up the hill from nine there is an easy stroll over to the 10th tee. 

                                                                                           The picture below is of the 10th green in the distance   The 10th hole is a 295 yard par 4 straight away with a large Oak tree smack on the left side of the fairway close to the green with a sand trap just behind it. This green is reachable but I won't pull my driver out on this hole at all. Out of bounds to the left and woods on the right, reachable with a push drive. Depending on where the markers are I will usually play a 5 wood or against the wind a 3 wood. I used to play my ONE iron but I haven't in awhile.

The 11th is a great little par 3 162 yards slightly uphill and you can't see the dance floor from the tee. Left is trouble with tall grass and a bunker guarding the green, right is a cart path and a clump of trees. The back right pin placement is the toughest. 

The 12th is a hole that can be very rewarding and very treacherous at the same time. It's a par 4 330 yards with a large bunker to the left that seems o catch a lot of slight pulls. The right is trouble if you slice at all off the tee. A 5 wood or 3 wood is all you need and if you can hit a 1-2 or 3 iron just keep it straight and you have only about 125 yards left to do a little pin seeking on this vast green. Anything over par is disappointing.

The 13th is a par 4 slightly uphill and a slight dogleg to the fairway which shapes to the left a little. This hole is only 322 yards but can play havoc if you miss the fairway.  I cringe when I see players pull the driver out. Not a good move at all. If you hit it long and straight you have a chance of hitting the cart path and bouncing into the woods. A slight push will leave you on the other side of the cart path and behind a clump of trees dividing the 12th and 13th hole.  This is not my most favorite hole on the course. The pin placement can be very tricky here as a far right pin placement means you need to shape your tee shot to the left and an approach shot that must be right on target.

The picture below is of the 13th with the pin front left.

The 14th is the number 2 handicap hole on the course and it plays it. It's a par 4 395 yard dogleg left with a large hill on the left that wraps around the dogleg. This hill in early spring is playable because the grass is short and when it grows they do not cut it and then this hole plays like 440. You must be able to draw the ball around the corner or if not and you hit it long and straight you could be in the hazard straight out.  If you slice it's a long way home. If you can reach the fairway on your tee shot and are about 150-175 out the approach shot will play at least one club less than normal. It is all down hill. Your approach shot needs to be straight.

The 15th is a 125 yard par 3 over a small stream with loads of tall grassy junk in front of the green and woods to the right. I love this hole as I usually win closest to the pin here. Can be tough playing into the setting sun.

The 16th is again a slight dogleg left par 4 303 yards which is reachable on your drive if the wind and markers are in the right area. I usually play a 5 iron off the tee and I am left with about a 9 iron or wedge into the green. 4 is the norm here. Hit the driver and a slight push will leave you dripping wet.

The 17th looks like the easiest and straightest hole on the planet.  A par 4 305 yards with a large hill on the right with tall grass and woods guarding the left side. All you need is a 3 or 4 iron with another short iron into this sloping green. It slopes uphill from the front up to the back. 3 is good and par is normal.

This hole has done me in more than once. During last years final field day I came into this hole 3 over par thru 16 and I was looking forward to beating my all time best score of 75. With a trailing wind I grabbed my 3 wood hoping to pound it down the middle of the fairway, I topped it and it was a worm burner and it stopped in the rough, I pulled out my trusty 5 wood and proceeded to hook it into the woods on the left. I dropped and now I am hitting 4 and I  skulled it over the green and had to chip back. I am now on the green in 5 and 2 putted for a triple bogey 7. I was devastated as I knew going into 17 I could make par and birdie 18. Never think ahead....

The 18th is a par 5 492 yard dogleg right with out of bounds on the right. A good tee shot should land you within 200 yards and a huge green makes this an automatic birdie. Toughest pin placement here is back left in a little swale that is challenging. Of course I bogeyed this hole this past Wednesday.

All in all this course is pretty good it may be short but if you do not play smart it will beat you. On the back nine I only bring the driver out once on the 18th. I may use it on the 16th if I am way down in my match or the tee markers are on the far right side of the tee box and the wind is blowing left to right or a prevailing wind. 

This reviewer has been playing golf since he was nine and one who truly loves the game.

You only beat yourself, just play the course and play smart and this game can be very rewarding. 

GOLF = Golden Opportunities and Lasting Friendships. +GOLF+ 

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

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