Welcome back to Green In Regulation. This week is about Pine Valley Golf Course in Southington, Ct. Located on Welch Rd. Pine Valley is a public course that is for all level golfers. I played there for the first time about two weeks ago, and I was thoroughly impressed of the layout of the course and how well kept up it was. I’ve played a lot of golf courses over New England and I have to say that Pine Valley was a lot of fun and challenged my game in every way.When I say that this course was a challenge, I’m talking about every shot I hit was a thinking man’s shot. Everything had to be precise and struck well. Off the tee I had to be precise and the shots to the green were really hard because the greens were small and rolling so they were tough to hit in regulation. This course I would recommend to anybody who wants to go out and really challenge their game. This course will also teach you a lot about yourself and how you play golf.
This course would be categorized as a small course coming in at 3,194 yards from the blues. Even though it’s a little shorter the tightness of the fairways and the layout of the fairways and greens make it a lot harder to play. With water on 6 of the 18 holes you can get yourself into a lot of trouble if you’re not striking the ball right.
The first hole of the course is a par 5 coming in at 510 yards and is fairly straight. There are two fairway bunkers on the right side that come into play off the tee some make sure you stay left. Also the left si
de is out of bounds so staying right is the best way to play this hole. The fairway is straight but is tight with trees going up both sides of the fairway. If you hit a solid tee shot you can hit this green in two and its worth going for the green in two because there’s not much risk up by the green, just two bunkers one of the front left and one of the right side. The second hole is par 4 measuring 414 yards and bends slightly to the left with trees on the right and left side. I’ll just let you know now, that most of these holes have trees running down both sides of the fairways. These fairways are tight and rolling which makes your shots harder to hit than playing on a flat fairway. After a tough first two opening holes, hole 3 should help you relax a bit. It’s a par 3 measuring 135 yards, which is below average for par 3’s. There are bunkers on the left and right so go right for the flag. This hole is one of the easiest on the course so take advantage. Hole 4 is 365 par 4 and bends slightly right but is a pretty straight hole again with trees on both sides. There’s no real danger on this hole and is short so if you hit a drive 250 yards or
longer you’ll have a nice easy approach shot to the green and will give you a great chance for a birdie. Hole 5 is also a par, 360 yards and straight. Again this hole is short so if you hit a good drive you should be set up for another chance at birdie. Holes 4 and 5 can be great holes to help your score if you struggled through the first 3 holes. Hole 6 is a lot tougher. When standing on the tee you look out at the fairway and get nervous (I did), because of the water on the left side of the fairway. It’s 311 yard par 4 but the fairway slopes severely left to right down to the water. The trick on this hole to hit a good tee shot is either hit a draw off the tee box or land it on the top of the slope and let it run up the fairway and away from the water. A strong tee shot will leave you in optimal position to have a short chip shot to the green giving you another chance for birdie. If you go right on this hole it’s going to be a long day. Hole 7 is a 524 yard par 5 with water short right and won’t come into play off our tee shot. This fairway goes right and tightens up the closer you get to the green so if your laying up make sure you keep in right down the middle. Again this hole can be hit in two, and is worth the risk trying because there’s not too much trouble up by the green. Just don’t go long because you’ll be in the woods. Hole 8 is a par 3 and is a nice break after holes 6 and 7. It measures about 155 yards with only a bunker on the left front part of the green. Now you want to finish the front nine on a strong note and hole 9 is the 2nd hardest hole on the 
course and you need to play this hole carefully if you want to escape with a par. You’re teeing off over water, but will not come into play unless you hit a dud. The hole measures 420 yards and is a dog leg right. When on the tee you have the option to hit a iron or short wood and that will put you in good position in the middle of the fairway but you’ll have a longer 2nd shot. If you decided to go driver you can, just make sure you play it over the right trees and you’ll have a lot shorter shot to the green. If you decide to do that aim left and have the ball fade back in. If you go too far right you’ll end up in the trees. The green has 3 bunkers one to the left, one in the back and one front right. If you really concentrate and strike the ball well a par is a great score on this hole.
de is out of bounds so staying right is the best way to play this hole. The fairway is straight but is tight with trees going up both sides of the fairway. If you hit a solid tee shot you can hit this green in two and its worth going for the green in two because there’s not much risk up by the green, just two bunkers one of the front left and one of the right side. The second hole is par 4 measuring 414 yards and bends slightly to the left with trees on the right and left side. I’ll just let you know now, that most of these holes have trees running down both sides of the fairways. These fairways are tight and rolling which makes your shots harder to hit than playing on a flat fairway. After a tough first two opening holes, hole 3 should help you relax a bit. It’s a par 3 measuring 135 yards, which is below average for par 3’s. There are bunkers on the left and right so go right for the flag. This hole is one of the easiest on the course so take advantage. Hole 4 is 365 par 4 and bends slightly right but is a pretty straight hole again with trees on both sides. There’s no real danger on this hole and is short so if you hit a drive 250 yards or longer you’ll have a nice easy approach shot to the green and will give you a great chance for a birdie. Hole 5 is also a par, 360 yards and straight. Again this hole is short so if you hit a good drive you should be set up for another chance at birdie. Holes 4 and 5 can be great holes to help your score if you struggled through the first 3 holes. Hole 6 is a lot tougher. When standing on the tee you look out at the fairway and get nervous (I did), because of the water on the left side of the fairway. It’s 311 yard par 4 but the fairway slopes severely left to right down to the water. The trick on this hole to hit a good tee shot is either hit a draw off the tee box or land it on the top of the slope and let it run up the fairway and away from the water. A strong tee shot will leave you in optimal position to have a short chip shot to the green giving you another chance for birdie. If you go right on this hole it’s going to be a long day. Hole 7 is a 524 yard par 5 with water short right and won’t come into play off our tee shot. This fairway goes right and tightens up the closer you get to the green so if your laying up make sure you keep in right down the middle. Again this hole can be hit in two, and is worth the risk trying because there’s not too much trouble up by the green. Just don’t go long because you’ll be in the woods. Hole 8 is a par 3 and is a nice break after holes 6 and 7. It measures about 155 yards with only a bunker on the left front part of the green. Now you want to finish the front nine on a strong note and hole 9 is the 2nd hardest hole on the 
course and you need to play this hole carefully if you want to escape with a par. You’re teeing off over water, but will not come into play unless you hit a dud. The hole measures 420 yards and is a dog leg right. When on the tee you have the option to hit a iron or short wood and that will put you in good position in the middle of the fairway but you’ll have a longer 2nd shot. If you decided to go driver you can, just make sure you play it over the right trees and you’ll have a lot shorter shot to the green. If you decide to do that aim left and have the ball fade back in. If you go too far right you’ll end up in the trees. The green has 3 bunkers one to the left, one in the back and one front right. If you really concentrate and strike the ball well a par is a great score on this hole.The back nine.
Hole 10 is a par 3 measuring 180 yards which is an average par 3 length. This green is small and surrounded by tr
ees so there’s no room for error. Bunkers are on the right side. Next is a 371 yard par 4 and is a straight hole. Hole 11 only has trees going down the right side so it would be safe to play down the left side. This hole is straight out and can be a good hole to birdie or par. Watch out for the bunker of the right side of the green. Hole 12 is a par 5 coming in at 535 yards and is a severe dog leg right which could be tough hole for righties because you want to play a draw off this tee box. When on the tee box there is water right to the left of you but if you stay right or right down the middle then you’ll stay away from the water. If you are in the fairway after your tee shot the rest of the hole is pretty simple. There are trees on the left and right and bunkers on the front left and right off the green. This hole is tough so don’t be as risky and go for this green in 3 and putt for birdie. The next hole is the hardest hole on the golf course. Hole 13 is a 442 yard par 4 and is a dog leg right. The water on this hole will come into play if you hit your drive though the fairway. The water is in drivers distance. My tip is to hit an iron off the tee box to stay away from the water and then hit a long iron to this green, that’s the safest way to play this hole. The green only has 1 bunker and its behind the green so stay short. Hole 14 is another tough hole and is 490 yard par 4 and bends to the right. There are trees down the right side so stay left. There’s water right in front of the green so your second shot has to be precise. If you don’t hit the ball long enough you could end up hitting into the water hazard and adding a stroke to your score. There’s a bunker behind the green, so the trick on this hole is just to make sure you hit a solid second shot to the green. Hole 15 is a nice break after 2 of the hardest holes on the course. It’s a par 3 measuring 185 yards with a huge bunker in front of the green. If you come up short you will be in the sand so your club selection must be exact. 16 is a par 5 and a short 490 yards. This hole is straight with a fairway bunker on the right side and can come into play on your 2nd shot. The green is set behind 2 bunkers so your approach shot is better off being long. This hole can be hit in 2 and again is worth the risk. Hole 17 is a short par 4 measuring 363 yards with not as many trees as the rest of the course. However the green is surrounded by trees and has a green side bunker on the right. Hole 18 is a par 3 and a great way to end. Its 190 yards which is long for par 3’s but there is not much trouble only 1 bunker and it’s on the front left. This hole can be an e
asy par, which is a great way to end your round. At the end of the day this course is a par 71, (36 on the front 9 and 35 on the back). If you struggle through the first nine then the back can help you get your game back on track.
Again I recommend this to any level golfer. I had a lot of fun playing this course and I most definitely will be there again. If anybody plays this course let me know how you did and how you hit certain shots. I’m always interested in hearing how people play certain shots.
ees so there’s no room for error. Bunkers are on the right side. Next is a 371 yard par 4 and is a straight hole. Hole 11 only has trees going down the right side so it would be safe to play down the left side. This hole is straight out and can be a good hole to birdie or par. Watch out for the bunker of the right side of the green. Hole 12 is a par 5 coming in at 535 yards and is a severe dog leg right which could be tough hole for righties because you want to play a draw off this tee box. When on the tee box there is water right to the left of you but if you stay right or right down the middle then you’ll stay away from the water. If you are in the fairway after your tee shot the rest of the hole is pretty simple. There are trees on the left and right and bunkers on the front left and right off the green. This hole is tough so don’t be as risky and go for this green in 3 and putt for birdie. The next hole is the hardest hole on the golf course. Hole 13 is a 442 yard par 4 and is a dog leg right. The water on this hole will come into play if you hit your drive though the fairway. The water is in drivers distance. My tip is to hit an iron off the tee box to stay away from the water and then hit a long iron to this green, that’s the safest way to play this hole. The green only has 1 bunker and its behind the green so stay short. Hole 14 is another tough hole and is 490 yard par 4 and bends to the right. There are trees down the right side so stay left. There’s water right in front of the green so your second shot has to be precise. If you don’t hit the ball long enough you could end up hitting into the water hazard and adding a stroke to your score. There’s a bunker behind the green, so the trick on this hole is just to make sure you hit a solid second shot to the green. Hole 15 is a nice break after 2 of the hardest holes on the course. It’s a par 3 measuring 185 yards with a huge bunker in front of the green. If you come up short you will be in the sand so your club selection must be exact. 16 is a par 5 and a short 490 yards. This hole is straight with a fairway bunker on the right side and can come into play on your 2nd shot. The green is set behind 2 bunkers so your approach shot is better off being long. This hole can be hit in 2 and again is worth the risk. Hole 17 is a short par 4 measuring 363 yards with not as many trees as the rest of the course. However the green is surrounded by trees and has a green side bunker on the right. Hole 18 is a par 3 and a great way to end. Its 190 yards which is long for par 3’s but there is not much trouble only 1 bunker and it’s on the front left. This hole can be an e
asy par, which is a great way to end your round. At the end of the day this course is a par 71, (36 on the front 9 and 35 on the back). If you struggle through the first nine then the back can help you get your game back on track.Again I recommend this to any level golfer. I had a lot of fun playing this course and I most definitely will be there again. If anybody plays this course let me know how you did and how you hit certain shots. I’m always interested in hearing how people play certain shots.
Remember golf is a game of patience and on this course you need your patience. Be patient and the good scores will come.
Remember hit it long and straight.
Video and Photography done by David Rosenblum.
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