COURSE CADDIES :: Celtic Shores :: Hole 8 :: PAR 5


This year’s breakdowns now include video of each hole being played, although your feedback is most appreciated on these designs. How do you play? Share your strategy or Golden Tee Great Shots in the comments below.

All holes will then be available for reference on the Course Caddies page—a bookmark must for the entire encyclopedia! Enjoy, and stay tuned for plenty more.

 

Celtic Shores No. 8


I’ll be honest with you. Since we filmed the Course Caddy videos, my approach on Celtic Shores Hole 8 has changed. I’ve gotten better at the hole since then, although this remains one of 2015’s most challenging designs.

With the wrong setup—a strong wind in your face or a pin tucked near the top of the green—this hole can be a monster. It won’t be a scorecard destroyer, which is the good news.

But walking away with an eagle here can be incredibly challenging.

The name of the game off the tee should be to get as far out in the fairway as you can WITHOUT going into the rough. I repeat… do not over hit the fairway here. If you do, eagle is out of the question. You can hit it straight ahead and far, but it shouldn’t be too far.

From this point, it’s all about sticking the green. Your approach won’t be easy—especially given the slight elevation change—and you should do whatever possible to end up with a putt.

If the pin is in the back of the green, you have a little more room to work with. If it’s up front, you’ll have to use the right amount of power to leave a makeable putt. Obviously your spin choice will depend on the wind as well as the location of the pin. Along those same lines, you’ll likely be hitting anything from a 5-wood to a driver here. The 3-wood is probably your sweet spot, although you’ll have to stray from your comfort zone on occasion to make this work.

As mentioned at the start of the piece, I have since altered my strategy some. While I went for the nook of fairway on the right side in the video posted, that is not what I normally do now. In most cases, I’m aiming straight ahead and trying to manage distance more than placement.

From here, you should be able to access the green just fine.

 

Say you miss the green on your approach; it’s not the worst thing. Knock your chip on, make your putt, take your birdie and move along. Playing for eagle won’t result in catastrophe if you’re off, which is welcomed. Being perfect each time through is another story.

How do you play?