Fazio Golf Tips

Set a Course for Success

Do you want to play like a pro? Get the lay-and-roll of the land with these Fazio golf tips from Senior Leadbetter Certified Instructor, Matt Denzer.

#1 – The main decision on this par 5 is how aggressive do you want to be on your drive. The safe play is at the bunker in the distance, the bold play is to try and carry the water on the left. If you are successful at carrying the water, getting home in two should be no problem.

#2 – Fit your drive in between the bunkers on the left and right and you’ll be faced with a short- to mid-iron. With three separate levels, this is one of the most challenging greens on the course.

#3 – On this severe dogleg to the right, be sure to either stay to the left of the fairway bunker or take enough club to go over it. Careful shots hit too far off the tee can roll into the trees on the opposite side of the bunker.

#4 – One of the most challenging holes on the course. Take your time to hit a good drive on this hole as a good tee shot in play is crucial. From the fairway, keep your second shot left of the fairway bunker — it’s a much longer carry over the bunker than it looks. Short on the third is better than over, as it will leave an easy chip uphill to the green.

#5 – For this short par 3, keep your tee shot right of the greenside bunkers. Shots to the left in the bunkers will leave you a very difficult up and down.

#6 – The key to the 6th hole is to avoid the water on your drive and second shot. The best play on the drive is a slight draw off the fairway bunker. This will leave you a mid-iron shot to a severe three-tier green.

#7 – One of the best par 3s on the property. Here, you will be faced with a long-iron to fairway wood depending on the wind. Green side bunkers to the left and right present potential problems.

#8 – A long difficult par 4, finding the fairway off the tee is the key. If you can hit your drive far enough, you can get a few extra yards as the fairway slopes downward. The green has several levels; be sure not to go long on your second shot, as it will leave a nearly impossible up and down.

#9 – A short- to medium-length par 4. Keep your drive down the left-hand side to give you the best angle into the green. The green is relatively level and should give you a good shot at a birdie.

#10 – Welcome to the back nine! This slight dogleg-left par 4 is pretty generous off the tee. Anything down the right-hand side will leave you a short- to mid-iron into the green. Pay close attention to the slope here, as putts break more than you may think.

#11 – On this difficult par 4, fit your drive between the bunkers on the right and the out-of-bounds on the left. This will leave you a mid-iron to a medium-sized green. Missing the green to the right will leave you with an easier up and down compared to the bunkers on the left.

#12 – A reachable par 5 with a good drive. The key here will be your second shot. The bold play will be a fairway wood over the bunkers and water. The smart play is to lay up to the right; just make sure to stay short of the fairway bunker down the right-hand side.

#13 – On this medium-length par 3 everything is in front of you. Avoid the water left and the bunkers right. A good mid-iron should leave you with a birdie opportunity.

#14 – The best play here on this medium-length par 4 is a slight draw off the right-hand side. The green will present the biggest challenge with two severe tiers. Chipping and pitching around this green is difficult, as the green is slightly elevated.

#15 – Depending on the wind, this can be a great risk/reward hole. If the hole plays downwind, see if you can carry the water and get close to the green. The safe play is a drive down the left and then a short iron to a large green.

#16 – The longest par 3 on the course. Take your hybrid or fairway wood and try to find the surface on this difficult hole. Walking away with a par is a good accomplishment.

#17 – Shaping your drive around the fairway bunkers on the left will give you the best view of the remainder of the hole. Be sure to lay up short of the water on your second, and pay very close attention to the direction of your third, as any shot a little left can roll down the slope on the side of the green.

#18 – A great ending to the day. This difficult par 4 requires a precise long drive to avoid the bunkers and water. From here, hit one of your best mid-irons of the day to this two-tiered green. Avoid the bunkers and you can walk away with a good par to end your day.