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.

Pearl Lagoon No. 9

It’s good to have choices, and on Hole 9 of Pearl Lagoon—a magnificently crafted drivable par-4—you have two distinct options. You can go left. You can also go right.

The reason you can go each way is the giant grass hill/mini mountain placed smack dab in the middle of the tee box.

As a result, you’re going to have to go around in one direction: the question is which?

The answer is complicated, well, sort of.

Truthfully, both ways work just fine. An A-1-type shot from left to right and a C-3 shot from right to left will both get the job done. Picking the directions depends a great deal on comfort, tee box position, pin placement and wind.

Let’s start by the more common route—left to right. In this instance, you’ll have to worry about the hill’s very peak, which can get in the way if you aren’t careful. You can clear it with a high-tee and say a 5-wood, although a normal 3-wood will also crash right into the center.

The danger in this shot isn’t really the mountain, though. It’s the water situated both left and long. Not enough cut… you’re likely getting wet. Too much power… you’re likely getting wet.

Just the right amount of cut and the right amount of club will get the job done. You’ll have to turn right and ensure you get the ball out far enough, but this is a fabulous option.

But wait; there’s more. Going right to left on the hole also works, even though you’ll deal with a far more significant drop off. It’s nothing to be concerned with. You still have to work around the obstacle, but should have no issues doing so.

Shots that come up short of the drop off will actually trickle down and in many cases end up in prime shape.

If you use a higher lofted club and hit the green on the fly, you can also stick the landing without dropping downward. Again, however, the water looms large here. Too much distance, too much cut or not enough cut can result in a hazard ball.

Both methods work, but the name of the game is staying dry.

While eagle isn’t easy, there is a safe way to approach this hole and still give yourself a chance at a two. At the very worst, you should birdie. And that’s not a bad thing.

How do you play?