Course Layout

Hole #1

Par 4  Yardages Gold 364, Blue 341, White 321,Red 291 Handicap Hole #1
The ideal tee shot on this straightaway par-4 should definitely avoid the steep slope on the left as there is lots of room on the right. Take one more club on your approach shot to the elevated green and favour the left side of the sloping green.

Hole #2

Par 3 Yardages Gold 165, Blue 157, White 126, Red 108 Handicap Hole # 17
Believe the yardage on this tough par-3 which is well bunkered on the left side. The putting surface tilts significantly from left to right as well as from back to front.

Hole #3

Par 4 Yardages  Gold 343, Blue 313, White 294, Red 273 Handicap Hole #13
Even long hitters should try to leave their tee shot about 100 yards from the green on this short par-4 as a deep bunker short and left of the green will punish those who are too aggressive. Take one less club on your approach and aim for the right side of the green which slopes to the left.

Hole #4

Par 4 Yardages Gold 369, Blue 335, White 290, Red 269 Handicap Hole #11
Aim right at the 150-yard marker on this dogleg-left par-4 which usually plays into the prevailing wind. There’s lots of bail-out room to the right, as well. The deep green is bunkered on the right and is difficult to hold. The key here is reading the putting surface correctly: On the left, it all slopes to the back; the middle of the green has a noticeable hump; at the right-front, the green slopes back towards the fairway; and at the back, it runs away. Good luck!

Hole #5 

Par 5 Yardages  Gold 526, Blue 495, Whites 424, Reds 396 Handicap Hole #7
A well-struck tee shot on this downwind par-5 will run forever along the downhill, plateaued fairway, leaving you with a major course-management decision: Do you go for the green in two (take two clubs less) or layup in front of the green which features bunkers on the left and out-of-bounds on the right and behind? Your choice…but there are more double-bogeys than eagles made here!

Hole #6

Par 4  Yardages Gold 332, Blue 314, White 270, Red 249 Handicap Hole #5
With its blind tee shot and out-of-bounds all down the left, this short par-4 calls for a controlled tee shot down the right side. Avoid the bunker on the right with your approach, aim for the middle of the green, and par is all but certain.

Hole #7

Par 3 Yardages Gold 135, Blue 125, White 105, Red 94 Handicap Hole # 15
Ignore the visual distraction of the pond to the right and in front of the green on this pretty par-3 and aim for the centre of the putting surface.  

Hole #8

Par 5 Yardages Gold 539, Blue 515, White 485, Red 451 Handicap Hole #3
A spectacular par-5 and very familiar to anyone who drives up Horseshoe Valley Road. One of the signature holes at Settlers’ Ghost, it calls for a tee shot that starts at the fairway bunkers on the right and then draws back into the fairway. If you have been skilled or lucky enough to find the optimum landing area, go for the elevated green in two. Anything less than a perfect tee shot leaves a layup to the 100-yard marker and then a short-approach which should favour the right side of the canted green.


Hole #9

Par 4 Yardages Gold 314, Blue 282, White 263, Red 240 Handicap Hole # 9
Don’t even think about going for the green unless you’re pumped and the wind is at your back! There is OB on the left and a pond at the front right. Keep your good round going with a smart play to the 100-yard marker and then a precise approach to the pin. This green can be tough to hold, and beware the swirling winds.

Hole #10

(Par 5. Gold 558 yards, Blue 534 yards, White 501 yards, Red 444 yards. No. 2 handicap hole)This long uphill par-5 is considered by many the toughest at Settlers’ Ghost. The perfect tee shot finds the right centre of the fairway (and not the forest on the right) while the second shot stays between the clumps of trees at about the 125-yard mark.  Take an extra club into the big green and stay out of the bunker on the left and the water behind. Take your par and run!

Hole #11

(Par 3. Gold 158 yards, Blue 145 yards, White 133 yards, Red 105 yards. No. 16 handicap hole)
This par-3 is deceptively difficult and plays every inch of the distance on the card. Hit it short to this elevated green and your ball may roll back 20 yards. Long, and you’re gone. Right or left, bunkered. Correct club selection is vital.

Hole #12

(Par 5. Gold 516 yards, Blue 509 yards, White 458 yards, Red 413 yards. No. 8 handicap hole)
Finally, a breather! A downhill par-5 that should provide a birdie chance for most, providing you hit the fairway. If you’re going for the green in two, keep in mind that it’s downhill, often downwind … and there’s a pond and a bunker on the right. Err to the left!

 

Hole #13

(Par 4. Gold 333 yards, Blue 311 yards, White 283 yards, Red 258 yards. No. 10 handicap hole)
A swooping dogleg-right par-4 where you can bite off as much as you think you can chew…and stay out of the fescue.  Ideally, you will be hitting your second shot from the 100-yard marker to a very resistant green, so get that wedge way up in the air! Out-of-bounds on the left and a bunker on the right protect the large kidney-shaped green.

Hole #14

(Par 3. Gold 180 yards, Blue 163 yards, White 133 yards, Red 106 yards. No. 18 handicap hole)
Back into the wind and although not long, it’s amazing how tough this par-3 can be, even though it’s rated the easiest at Settlers’ Ghost. Well bunkered and with a sloping, grainy green, it doesn’t hand out pars willingly.

Hole #15

(Par 5. Gold 561 yards, Blue 528 yards, White 494 yards, Red 467 yards. No. 4 handicap hole)Aim your tee shot down the right side of the wide fairway and, if you don’t push it into the rough on the hill, you just might be tempted to go for the green in two (but avoid the OB on the left). If not, play for birdie or par with two more shots into the long and narrow green. Whatever your choice, favour the right side of the green with your approach as most shots from there will filter towards the hole.

Hole #16

(Par 3. Gold 152, Blue 142, White 123, Red 108. No. 14 handicap hole)A kidney-shaped green on this par-3 hugs a deep bunker in front, making club selection extremely important if you’re going at a pin in the middle or back left.

Hole #17

(Par 4. Gold 361 yards, Blue 333 yards, White 306 yards, Red 279 yards. No. 12 handicap hole)
Don’t even think about the pond on the right! Aim straight down the fairway as a solid tee shot will funnel down to the 100-yard marker, leaving you with a downhill short-iron approach to the firm green sloping away from you. Take one less club than the yardage calls for and swing smoothly, making sure your ball lands on the front third of the green, no matter where the pin is.


Hole #18

(Par 4. Gold 405 yards, Blue 379 yards, White 353 yards, Red 326 yards. No. 6 handicap hole)
As pretty as it is treacherous, the finishing hole at Settlers’ Ghost is one of the best around. A tree-lined chute defines the fairway, which you must hit to have any hope of ending your round on a positive note. The fairway plunges into a valley at the 150-yard mark and if you’ve hit your tee shot long and straight, you may be rewarded with a roll to the bottom. The elevated green is receptive but make sure you avoid the bunker on the right. Err too far to the left, and you will be faced with a very difficult up-and-down from the hillside.