Rated the fourth-most difficult hole on the course, the 7th Hole at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club isn’t among the Mike Strantz design’s longer par 4 offerings.
It doesn’t need to be, as it offers plenty of challenge from tee to green and every step in between.
No. 7
Par: 4
Distance: 399 yards (black), 346 yards (blue), 323 yards (white), 283 yards (red)
Handicap: 4
Even if you’re brimming with confidence off the tee with your driver, you might consider leaving it in the bag on this hole in favor of a fairway metal or long iron. First-shot placement here is critical. Miss left and three layers of treachery await, the farther away from the fairway you stray (waste bunker, then trees, then water).
But unless you can hit a high trajectory short iron with precision accuracy on your approach, you’re still better off favoring that left side. Landing your tee shot there leaves the largest green on the golf course fully in play. From the right side of the fairway, the right half of that spacious putting surface is guarded by a massive live oak tree. Landing your tee shot on the left side also gives you the better angle to take full advantage of the large green’s layout, which runs from front left to back right.
Escape this hole with a par or better, and you’ll give yourself momentum as you close out a front nine with a birdie-hole opportunity on the par-5 8th Hole, and the par-3 9th Hole that rates as the course’s easiest.
Next time you’re in town to play Caledonia, stop back at the clubhouse for a post-round beverage or meal – and tell us how you did on this fantastic golf hole. We look forward to seeing you!