Berkshire Hills Country Club: Golf

The Course

	Hole 1 This is a great opening hole. A good drive to the right side of the fairway will leave a level approach shot to the green. The green slopes back to front so you need to stay below the hole. A par here would be a good start.

	Hole 2 This hole is the first risk reward hole. A long hitter can take driver to reach the bottom of the hill which will give a chance to reach the green in two. But beware, as a hook or slice is dead. The green is bunkered in front and both sides and has a spine running through the middle and falls off on the back.

	Hole 3 The first of the par 3's is a mid-iron to a fairly large flat green. Bunkers in front on both sides grab errant shots, and out of bounds is all the way up the left side. There is a slope at the front third of the green that can cause three putts. Play for par and move on.

	Hole 4 The fourth is another 5 par. A large layup area leaves the player room for angles. The green has a large false front that will repel balls coming up short of middle, but don't be long as the same slope could leave you with a three putt or worst.

	Hole 5 The second par 3 is played downhill to a flat green. The green is well bunkered on the right and a steep drop off is left and long. A lot of members play the 'members bounce' and hit just short on the right side of the green. Par is a good score here also.

	Hole 6 The Tillinghast signature cape hole is around a large pond. Long hitters may gamble but that brings double into play. A safe drive will leave 160-180 yards to the green. The green here is very large and is quite undulated.

	Hole 7 This par three is played very much uphill. The green slopes severely from back to front. When the flag is in front it is better to be short than long. At all cost you must stay below the hole.

	Hole 8 It starts from a shutte in the woods. A drive with a touch of draw will run well down the hill. This leaves 130-150 yards to a large softly sloping green from back to front.

	Hole 9 The ninth hole plays uphill. A good drive still leaves 175-190 yards. For your second shot, play one or 2 extra clubs. The green has a dramatic slope at the front stopping shots that are short. The green slopes gentle back to front and left to right. A par here is a good score.

The Turn; You made it through the front now it's time to score.

	Hole 10 This is a reachable par 5, a well struck drive with a slight draw will catch the slope and run down the hill. This will leave around 225-250 yards downhill to a well gaurded green. The layup area is large but bunkers on left and right make it seem smaller. The green is large and slopes back to front and right to left. Often times a birdie will lose ground.

	Hole 11 This straight away par four has a wide fairway for position. A good drive here will leave wedge or nine iron. The green is very large with a false front and steep drop off long. Bunkers left and right frame the approach. This is a good hole to make birdie.

	Hole 12 Number 12 is a dogleg to the right. A tee shot of 225 yards will leave 125-150 yards to the green. The 12th green is well bunkered left and right and a close cut roll off is long left and long right. The green is very suttle and breaks less than it often looks.

	Hole 13 This par 3 is all about the green. There is a dramatic slope from right to left and some slope from back to front. Bunkers left and right will catch errant shots. Hit the green, take your par and move on as three putts come here often.

	Hole 14 Another short hole where position is key. A 225 yard tee shot will leave a downhill second of 135-150 yards. A long hitter may try and reach the downhill dogleg, but beware as right is trouble and left is dead. The green slopes severly from back to front with the exception of the last 25% which slopes to the back. You might be thinking birdie on the tee but par is not a bad score at 14.

	Hole 15 This is the forth par 5 is another birdie hole. A nice drive up the right side will leave a chance to reach in two. The layup shot is over a creek to a wide landing area. The approach shot plays uphill to a two tier green with a false front as a bonus. Birdies and eagles come here often but doubles and triples can come just as easily.

	Hole 16 This is the last of the 4 pars. It is a slight dogleg left with a wide fairway. A good drive leave around 150 yards to a fairly flat green. The green has very suttle breaks in it with the main slope from right to left.

	Hole 17 The shortest par three on the course plays uphill to a well protected green. A deep bunker left and a large bunker right guard the front of the green. A severe slope on the left and long rough grabs shots just off line. Par here is a good score but birdies are realistic.

	Hole 18 The final hole is the last par 5 this gives the chance for a real big move. Fairway bunkers guard the right and left of the ample driving area. With a solid drive, you are left with 225-250 yards slightly uphill. It's Go time. If needed, the layup area is very large and leaves 110-135 yards to a very large green. The green slopes back to front, but putts seem to move left and right just as much.

If all went well, you shot a nice score of 3 under - 69 or maybe not. At least it's only a short walk to the tavern.

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