Golf Course
From the Superintendent
Chautauqua Golf Club prides itself on providing excellent playing conditions for our guests while making a positive impact on the environment. We are constantly updating and tweaking our maintenance practices to improve the health of our turfgrass which, in turn, requires fewer inputs of water, fertilizer and pesticides while still providing the playing conditions our golfers have come to expect. Wildlife is abundant at CHQ with deer, turkey, songbirds and birds of prey as just some of the species that may be seen during your round of golf.
We hope you enjoy your time at Chautauqua Golf Club and come back often to see what changes and improvements happen throughout the season.
Hill Course
6,553 Yards | Built in 1994
Xen Hassenplug, who also worked on both the Pittsburgh Field Club and Augusta National Golf Club, designed the scenic Hill Course. This layout features a commanding view of both Chautauqua Lake and the rolling hills of the surrounding countryside and rewards good shot placement. It also features tree-lined fairways, frequent dog legs and small but gently sloped greens.
Scorecard
Hill Course #1
This straight looking par four is no pushover. At just under 350 yards, this hole presents the player with several choices: hit the ball out to the right or try to cut-off some of the dogleg. If the latter, be careful to avoid the trees on the left, to leave yourself with a second shot at the green. A bunker in the front left and a severe drop-off behind protect the small flat green. Slope and grain both run toward the lake (away from the green).
Hill Course #2
The second hole on the Hill Course is a model in deception. Starting at the tee, you are fooled into aiming to the right, making your alignment difficult. Two bunkers protect the right and left front of the green, leaving a narrow opening between them if you were to run the ball on. The back lips of the bunkers are raised, obscuring your view of the green, which is deep enough for your tee shot to be long, instead of short. Trees are a psychological hazard on both the right and left. The green has a subtle slope from back to front with a grain that does the same.
Hill Course #3
Though this hole has a generous driving area, many balls seem to find the trees on the right. This slight dogleg right also presents the player with a choice. Drive the ball long and the landing area is narrow, while shorter there is more room. The green follows the slope of the hill from right to left, and is protected on the left and long by a lateral water hazard. In the fairway, you frequently have a side-hill lie, which promotes a pull or a hook, making it difficult to get close to a left pin placement without going in the water. The slope of the green is toward the lake and toward the fairway, while the grain is toward the lake.
Hill Course #4
This five par is more “reachable” than its yardage suggests. The long hitter can gamble and bite off as much of the dogleg right as he dares by hitting over a large tree to the right of the fairway approximately 200 yards from the white tee marker. However, hit too far right and your second shot is blocked by trees approximately 120 yards from the green. The hole can also be played more conservatively out to the green or it can also be played out to the left. The green slopes deceivingly to the left (toward the lake) and toward the fairway and drops off slightly behind into some bushes and trees. A good chipper and putter will often achieve birdie.
Hill Course #5
The number one rated handicap hole on the Hill Course. The critical shot is the tee shot, which must be long and in the fairway to have a chance at the green. After this blind tee shot up over a hill, the rolling fairway feeds to a green that is protected right and left by two large sand bunkers. However, the front of the green is open and will accept a ball that bounces on. The shape of the green is long and narrow, in the flair of most greens on the Hill Course. The slope of the green is toward the lake.
Hill Course #6
Though this hole only measures just under 350 yards, the real difficulty lies around the green. This narrow green is over forty yards deep, making club choice on your approach critical. Bunkers protect this green right and left and the right side of the green will feed an imperfect approach into the right bunker. Although the green appears to slope toward the lake, putts generally stay true and may even appear to “break uphill.” The difficulty comes in trying to get the ball close out of one of the bunkers on this narrow green. “Getting the ball in the hole” is the real challenge on this four par.
Hill Course #7
At 212 yards, this is the longest and most difficult par three on the golf course. From the tee, overhanging trees block your view of the right side of the green and of the large sand bunker that protects that side. The green is also protected on the left by a bunker and woods that run close to this side. This deep green allows the hole to play many different lengths, but will often be a long iron or fairway wood for most players. The front of the green is open, which will allow players to run the ball onto the green. The green slopes from the back to the front, while the grain runs toward the lake.
Hill Course #8
This uphill five par has many characteristics to earn itself the third most difficult rating on the Hill Course. From the tee, what appears to be a generous driving area is actually guarded by trees on the right and left. This hole is reachable by the longer hitters, while most players will hit a short-iron third shot into the green, which is guarded by small trees in front and behind. Slope is right to left and grain is toward the lake.
Hill Course #9
The secret to this short par four is a well placed tee shot. This rolling downhill fairway is protected on the right by a sand bunker and on the left by tall trees that make this hole into a dogleg left. Trees protect a small oval-shaped green, which drops off behind, leaving a difficult pitch back out of the trees. This level green putts true to the apparent line.
Hill Course #10
Accuracy from the tee is the secret to mastering this 350-yard par four. Trees and brush on both sides of this narrow fairway wait to swallow up an errant tee shot. A long tee shot is an advantage, allowing you to hit a short iron into this small, shallow green. The green is protected in front and behind by the steep bank it is set into, and by trees on the right and left. The Green slopes sharply from back to front.
Hill Course #11
This uphill par five challenges the player every step of the way earning the second most difficult rating on the Hill Course. The demanding tee shot must be long and straight to reach the dogleg. A large sand bunker protects the dogleg in the right corner to add to the difficulty of this tee shot. You must be close to the corner to have a clear view of the fairway, which is guarded on the left by a bunker, on your second shot. The elevated green is protected on the left by a bunker. This relatively flat green putts true and has a grain that goes toward the lake.
Hill Course #12
This scenic downhill par four has a rolling fairway with a generous driving area. A tee shot that reaches the bottom of the hill is rewarded with a short iron onto this elevated green. However, the further you hit, the greater the chance finding the water hazard on the right of the fairway or the deep rough on the left. This large elevated green is protected behind by a steep bank, making chipping back very difficult. The green slopes toward Hill # 11 tee, while the grain is toward the pond.
Hill Course #13
A challenging par three, this 180-yard hole frequently plays into the wind or with a crosswind. You must carry the water hazard between the tee and the green, which has a sand bunker on the left and a steep bank behind to catch an errant shot. This very large green slopes slightly toward the pond and from the left to right. Grain on this green is toward the pond.
Hill Course #14
Accuracy is at a premium off the tee on this uphill par four. The rolling uphill fairway is guarded by trees on the left, which can block your approach shot if you get behind them. Trees on the right are equally as treacherous should you push your shot to the right. Your angle from the fairway into a small green, guarded in the right front by a large maple tree and on the left by out-of-bounds, is the key to making par. The level green is small and narrow with a pear shape.
Hill Course #15
This 150 yard par three plays into a prevailing wind and slightly uphill. The large, deep green is protected on both the left and right front by large sand bunkers. The depth of this green offers many pin placements to challenge the golfer in club selection. Slope of the green is toward the tee and putts roll true.
Hill Course #16
A downhill dogleg left where accuracy is at a premium. This very narrow driving area is guarded left by a group of trees (which the long hitter can try to hit over) and right by more trees and bushes. From the fairway you must hit your approach over a depression. Trees on the right and bushes on the left force you to hit an accurate approach. This level green putts true to the apparent line.
Hill Course #17
This long uphill par five doglegs to the right and is lined on both sides by trees. A generous driving area tempts the long hitter to cut the dogleg and hit the ball as close to the corner as he dares. Your second shot can either be a lay-up to a wide area of fairway (leaving a full wedge in) or an attempt at reaching the green in two to a much narrower landing area. The green is guarded on all sides by trees and slopes from right to left with a grain that does the same.
Hill Course #18
The tee shot is critical to make your par. Though there is ample room to drive the ball, many balls seem to find the woods on the right. From the fairway, you are left with a downhill and sidehill lie, which makes you hit the ball to the right. Control is the key to hitting this tricky green. The green slopes from back to front and toward the first tee of the Hill Course, while the grain of the green is toward the lake. Bunkers protect both right and left sides of this green. This hole challenges the golfer and is a fine finishing hole for this challenging test of golf called the Hill Course.
Lake Course
6,535 Yards | Donald Ross designed
Designed by the legendary golf architect Donald Ross and completed in 1924, the Lake Course is characterized by open tee shots and demanding approaches to small, often steeply sloped greens. Ross designed nearly 400 courses, many considered the standard of excellence for American golf architecture, including the famed Pinehurst Number 2.
Scorecard
Lake Course #1
With trees left and right and a small right side fairway bunker 237 yards from the tee, Lake #1 is a demanding driving hole. To impede your second shot, there are bunkers left and right of the green. A generous green is receptive to the short iron approach. The green slopes deceptively toward the lake and away from the fairway, making this easylooking hole the third hardest on the front nine of the lake course.
Lake Course #2
Don’t let this short par four lull you into complacency; this hole is no pushover. The pines on the right seem to attract tee shots, while the sloping fairway can feed the long hitter left behind a large buckeye tree. Fairway bunkers right can catch an errant pushed shot, creating a very narrow path to the green. Bunkers left and right guard a narrow green that is canted from back to front and toward the lake. As in many Donald Ross designs, a long approach creates a delicate pitch from behind the green.
Lake Course #3
Though not unusually long, CHQ’s “Road Hole” can prove to be a challenging test. Lake #3 tempts the long hitter to go for the green in two. But left to right and a rolling fairway make getting home no easy task. As you approach a very shallow green, a left-front bunker protects that side of the green, making the safe shot to the right. Slope and grain of the green are toward the lake, while a lip in the back makes hitting a long approach shot undesirable.
Lake Course #4
The longest par three on the Lake Course, number four is very stingy in yielding par. Though only 192 yards, this hole frequently plays into or with a crosswind. Should you reach this narrow, sloping green, you will have an even greater task getting the ball to stay on it. Green side bunkers left and right, and a subtle drop off behind the green, challenge the golfer to use his imagination when pitching on. Slope and grain of the green are toward the lake, which makes reading this green tricky.
Lake Course #5
In Lake #5, Donald Ross designed another deceptively difficult par five. At just 466 yards, this hole invites the long hitter to reach the green in two, but a rolling, uphill fairway that slopes to the right, as well as out-of-bounds right, makes the player hit two very precise shots. A safe second shot can be played to the bottom of a gully, which traverses the fairway, leaving a blind third shot (all uphill) to the green. A pond left and close out-of-bounds right provide trouble around the green, which although level, has many undulations to challenge the putter.
Lake Course #6
This 145-yard par three is a welcome break after the difficult par five. However, don’t get too comfortable. The wind can swirl between the trees either holding the ball up (in which case it may find the water), or blowing it long into the trees behind the green. Bunkers left and back right will catch an errant shot. The green slopes toward the pond and the lake, making recovery shots from behind the green and in the bunkers a test in controlling your nerves. The undulating green offers several difficult pin placements.
Lake Course #7
With trees right and left, this long par four requires a demanding tee shot for any hope of reaching the green in two. The uphill rolling fairway rises about 150 yards from the green, making the approach shot blind for all but the longest hitters. Although there are no bunkers, the green is surrounded by trees that narrow the approach, requiring a well placed shot. The slope and grain of the green are toward the lake, causing subtle breaks that are not always obvious.
Lake Course #8
The third of the par threes on the front side, this uphill 150-yard hole plays longer than the indicated yardage. The fairway is linked by trees on both sides and there are two green side bunkers, one in the front right and the other on the left. The double slope of the green is toward the tee and toward the lake, with the grain running toward the tee. As in many of the other holes, there is trouble long of the green.
Lake Course #9
This hole is a long downhill dogleg left par four with a blind tee shot. Wait for the bell signal (to know that the group in front of you is clear), then aim at the green water tank in the distance and let it fly. Trees overhanging right can knock down a poor tee shot, while long and left will lose your ball or leave you with no chance of reaching the green. The ideal approach is from the right side of the fairway to a small, narrow green. A bunker in the right front and a lateral water hazard behind make any approach shot tricky. Grass bunkers on the left and behind will catch many errant shots, but a long approach risks getting wet. Slope on the green is not too severe and from the back to the front.
Lake Course #10
This long downhill par five usually plays downwind, making this hole reachable in two by the long hitter. From the tee, the player should either hit the ball short of the hill or all the way to the bottom of the hill. If your ball stops on this swale, you are left with a difficult downhill second shot. A long rolling fairway, trees right and a water hazard left, combine to challenge even an expert golfer. The small green appears to slope toward the fairway more than it actually does. This small green is protected by bunkers in the front left and right, and by a severe drop-off behind the green, which makes pitching back difficult, especially to back pin placements. Grain is toward the lake.
Lake Course #11
The yardage does not show the difficulty of this hole, as this uphill par four plays into the wind. Its rolling fairway slopes to the right offering many difficult lies. The sloping green, elevated some 30,’ creates a demanding approach. Even a mid-iron approach does not guarantee holding the green. Short of the green, the ball can bury in long grass on the bank or end up in bunkers at the bottom of the bank. Balls that hit the back of the green can end up over the green, leaving a nerve-racking pitch onto a green that slopes toward the lake.
Lake Course #12
This simple looking par three often plays shorter than indicated because of typical following wind and a tee which is elevated some thirty feet. The slope of the undulating green follows the slope of the hill to the left and away from the tee. A sand bunker and trees on the left make the smart play to the right side of the green to feed the ball left to the hole. But don’t play too far to the right because apple trees are there for your ball to hide under.
Lake Course #13
This downhill par five is one of your best opportunities to make a birdie. Though the hole is reachable, this hole features a demanding tee shot with lateral hazard left and trees to the right. From here the fairway rolls down to a second tier, which could leave a downhill lie from about 190 yards. The green, while protected on both sides by bunkers and behind by long grass and trees, is open to running the ball on from the fairway. The green is relatively level with the grain running toward the lake.
Lake Course #14
Though this hole does not appear to be difficult, you will find it doe not yield par easily. A lateral water hazard left dares you to bite off as much as you can chew. Your tee shot should be left of a bunker on the right fairway, because right of this bunker leaves a very long approach to an elevated green. The green is protected on the right by a large overhanging tree and protected left by out-of-bounds. This elevated green is mounded all around, which can bounce your ball into trouble if you miss the green. The slope and grain of the green are toward the lake.
Lake Course #15
This tough little par three is deceptively difficult. From an elevated tee, you must hit your tee shot over a water hazard in front of the green. A steep bank, which can kick your ball back to the bottom if your tee shot is short, rises to the green out of this hazard. However, don’t hit your tee shot too far because the bank continues to rise behind the green, where it ends in the woods. There is not much trouble left and right of the green except the slope of the bank, which makes for difficult chipping onto the green. Slope of the green is from back to front and the grain is toward the lake.
Lake Course #16
The longest of the par fives on the golf course, Lake #16 is a true “three shot” hole. A blind tee shot up over the hill requires you to aim at the middle of three tall trees off in the distance. Three fairway bunkers protect the right side of the fairway on your second shot, making the smart play to the left to set up your third shot. A bunker in the left front and small trees behind frame this large green, which has a slight pitch toward the lake not obvious to the naked eye (grain is also toward the lake). The fact that this hole frequently plays into the wind combined with its rolling fairway makes Lake #16 the fourth most difficult hole on the Lake Course.
Lake Course #17
This uphill par four plays much longer than its measured 387 yards. Its rolling, uphill fairway also slopes to the right, funneling many tee shots into the right rough. From the fairway, an optical illusion makes the green appear much closer than it really is (a fact you will be familiar with when you find your ball twenty yards short of the green). The green is protected by a front-right bunker and depressions left and behind. Severe slope from back to front and left to right make it nearly impossible to get up and down from behind the green. The grain also runs toward the lake, making a two-putt a good goal. Par is a good score here.
Lake Course #18
A single pine tree and a pond on the left and pines on the right make this short par four a demanding driving hole. The rolling fairway dips off the tee then rises again from 150 yards to the green. From the fairway, the surface of the green is not visible except for the longest hitters. A bunker on the right protects this green, which slopes to the right and away from the fairway. Grain follows the slope of the green on this tricky, fast green. An excellent finishing hole to this fine Donald Ross course.
New Local Rules Sheet for Chautauqua Golf Club
Doug Vergith
New York State Golf Association Certified Rules Official
Member, Chautauqua Golf Club
USGA rules apply. Local rules are as listed below. Terms in italics are defined in the Rules of Golf.
- Out of bounds (OB) — is defined by the line between the course-side points at ground level of white stakes. Also, defined by the course-side edge of the entrance road over No. 3 green and to the right of the first OB stake on No. 5. Also, defined by the course-side edge of the Learning Center entrance road over No. 13 green.
- In course out of bounds on the left side of both No. 13 Lake and No. 11 Hill — is OB for those holes only and is defined by white stakes.
- Alternative to Stroke and Distance for a ball that is lost or out of bounds
— For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in a large area between the spot the ball was lost or OB and within 2 club lengths of the nearest edge of the fairway of the hole being played. This location must not be nearer the hole than where the ball was lost or went OB.
Note: This alternative rule applies to general play only and not to play in any club tournament or competition. - Cleaning Ball (when announced as in effect) — When a player’s ball lies in the general area, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced without penalty. The player must mark the spot before lifting the ball (see Rule 14.1) and the ball must be replaced on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).
- Ground Under Repair (GUR) — Is marked with white lines French drains and other drainage areas in the General Area not marked as Penalty Areas are also GUR. Flower beds and decorative plantings are GUR from which relief is mandatory — including the plantings behind No. 13 Lake green.
- Aeration holes — If a player’s ball lies in or touches an aeration hole:
Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. If the ball comes to rest in another aeration hole the player may take relief again under this Local Rule.
Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.
But interference does not exist if the aeration hole only interferes with the player’s stance or, on the putting green, on the player’s line of play. - Immovable Obstructions — All maintenance roads and cart paths, whether paved, stones or bare ground, including any adjacent curbing, rocks, or worn areas. Immovable Obstructions adjacent to, within or abutting each other, such as cart paths, curbing, walls, steps, drains, permanent structures, etc. are considered a single obstruction.
- Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens — Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
The player also has these extra options to take relief when such immovable obstructions are close to the putting green and on the line of play:
Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction (such as a sprinkler head) is:
On the line of play, and is: within two club-lengths of the putting green, and within two club-lengths of the ball.
Exception — No Relief If Line of Play Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable - Seams of Cut Turf (Sod Seams) — If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing:
Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b.
Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.
All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point. - Animal Hoof Damage — Damage that is clearly identifiable as having been caused by animal hoofs is ground under repair from which free relief is allowed under Rule 16.1.[But on the putting green, Rule 16.1 does not apply as such damage may be repaired under Rule 13.1.]
Pro Shop
Chautauqua Golf Club offers the best in equipment and apparel to compliment your game. Stop by our fully-stocked Pro Shop before or after your round and browse through our name brands and logo merchandise.
Our friendly staff is here to serve you and will be happy to help you make tee times, rent golf carts, sign up for club storage, and register you and your playing partners before each round of golf.