An average golfer’s guide to playing Highland Lake Golf Course

RICHMOND, Ind. — I’m an avid golfer. I wouldn’t say I’m good — I’ll shoot bogey golf just about anywhere I go — but I like to play. I’m also cheap, which means Highland Lake is my kind of golf course. Anytime you’re only paying about $1 per hole to walk the course, sign me up.

I know I’m not the only one who thinks this way because I’m never the only one out there when I play Highland Lake. And I know I’m not the only one who still slices drives, duffs chips and three-putts from time to time because that just comes with the love-hate relationship everyone is bound to have with the game of golf.

So, I decided to create a guide for golfers like me on how to play Highland Lake.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m in no position to give golf advice, so instead of shot-by-shot analysis, I’m giving you one or two tips per hole based on my experiences over the past couple of years. Make no mistake about it, this isn’t a guide for golfers who hit every fairway and make multiple birdies every round; this is for the people who shoot for bogeys and celebrate whenever they hit a ball straight.

All that said, from one average golfer to another, here’s how to play Highland Lake based on my last round on July 10:

Note: All yardages are from the white tees.

Hole 1: Par 4, 370 yards

Pretty straightforward hole to get things started. A few trees to deal with on the right side, but as long as you don’t hook your drive left and out of play, you should have a decent chance to be near the green after your second shot.

I had one of my worst slices ever off the tee, through the ninth hole’s fairway and into the rough on the far right, but I was still able to save bogey.

Zach’s tip: Stay in the fairway, and don’t go left.

Hole 2: Par 3, 154 yards

This hole is ever so slightly elevated and deceivingly long, but you should be able to work with anything left of the cart path.

I hit a beautiful-looking tee shot but ended up on the front edge of the green. One club up would have been perfect. I three-putted for bogey from a long way away.

Zach’s tip: Club up off the tee box.

'The next guy at Seton': Braiden Hogg gets basketball stamp of approval from Desmond Bane

Hole 3: Par 5, 496 yards

Highland Lake Director and PGA Professional Wes Widdows said this is a fun hole for seniors because it’s only 387 yards to the hole from their tee box, so there are always chances for eagles. From the whites, you’ll have to really get into your first two shots to reach the green. Once you get there, good luck if it’s a front-pin location. Everything slopes back, so you always hope the hole is toward the middle or back of the green.

I flew the green with my approach shot, leaving me a tricky downhill chip and putt, but I was able to save another bogey.

Zach’s tip: Stay below the hole when you get to the green.

Hole 4: Par 4, 390 yards

Another straightforward par 4 with a slight bend to the right. Not much to worry about with this one.

I popped up my drive and duffed a chip to make my first double bogey of the day.

Zach’s tip: Stay in the fairway.

Hole 5: Par 4, 315 yards

This is the hardest handicap hole on the course, and Widdows said it’s because everyone (myself included) tries to cut the corner by hitting their drive over the trees where the fairway bends about 200 yards out. That doesn’t always work, so you’re left under the trees on this short par 4.

I tried to go over the trees and ended up right under them. Go figure. Another double bogey for me.

Zach’s tip: Don’t be a hero. Just hit the fairway so you have an easy shot into the green.

Hole 6: Par 4, 338 yards

This is another short par 4, and you can’t really go wrong with the tee shot. It does drop off over the back of the green, so unless you’re good at flop shots, don’t fly the green.

I finally hit a good drive, my second shot was just off the green and I got up and down for my first par of the day.

Zach’s tip: Don’t go over the back of the green.

Hole 7: Par 4, 391 yards

This hole is beautiful and straight as an arrow. After your drive, you’re going uphill, so an extra club might help.

I actually listened to my own tips for once and clubbed up for my approach shot, which gave me my first of only two birdie putts of the day. I ended up with a par.

Zach’s tip: Club up on your second shot.

Hole 8: Par 3, 204 yards

This is a long par 3 with a tree overhanging the women’s tee box on the left, making it a tricky tee shot for people who naturally fade the ball like me.

I took the tree out of play by chunking my tee shot, but I was able to recover with a decent second shot and two-putt for bogey.

Zach’s tip: Tee up on the far right of the box to avoid the tree.

Local: Memphis Grizzlies star Desmond Bane returning to Richmond for 2nd-annual basketball camp

Hole 9: Par 5, 488 yards

The first thing you’ll notice while standing on the tee box is it looks like there’s a tree in the middle of the fairway. It’s actually just in the right rough, but it still messes with your head because it’s right where you want to hit your drive. As long as you’re not directly behind it, you’ll be fine the rest of the way.

I drove the ball right next to the tree and ended up lipping out my par putt.

Zach’s tip: Tell yourself the tree isn’t there.

Hole 10: Par 4, 359 yards

Thin fairway with small hills on either side in the rough. Not the easiest of holes.

I sliced my drive onto the 18^th hole and duffed my second shot for a double bogey.

Zach’s tip: Somehow, stay in the fairway.

Hole 11: Par 3, 171 yards

This is an attackable hole with the only trouble being left with a few trees out of the way and a greenside bunker.

This is the only time I’ve ever hit the ball left on this hole, and it went directly into the trees. Somehow, I pulled off a hero shot from there, keeping the ball under the branches, ramping the lip of the bunker and stopping the ball about 10 feet from the hole. I two-putted for bogey.

Zach’s tip: Don’t go left.

Hole 12: Par 4, 359 yards

Another beautiful, straight hole with a lot of open space on the right because that’s the driving range. As you approach where your drive should have ended up, you’ll likely encounter a dozen other balls from the driving range, making for a stressful game of, “Which one of these is mine?” Like the sixth hole, it drops off the back of this green, so it’d be best to avoid that area.

I kept my drive left but still managed to almost play a different ball from the range. Wound up with a bogey.

Zach’s tip: Stay left off the tee to avoid the driving range, and don’t go over the back of the green.

Hole 13: Par 5, 510 yards

Your second shot is blind, and there’s crap on the left, so it’s best to lay up your second shot on the top of the hill so you have a simple pitch shot down to the green. Good chances for birdies here.

I did exactly what I just said you should do and gave myself a tap-in par.

Zach’s tip: Lay up on your second shot.

Hole 14: Par 3, 175 yards

Downhill tee shot that will make you visualize your first hole-in-one. Don’t get too excited; nine times out of 10, you’ll be hitting your second shot from the valley below you.

I found the valley, got on the green with my third shot and made double bogey.

Zach’s tip: Accept your fate so you can celebrate if you actually hit the green.

Hole 15: Par 4, 402 yards

This is a blind tee shot up a hill, but you’ll have an open second shot to the green as long as you don’t hook your drive left.

I drove my ball onto the 16^th hole but had a good look at the green and made bogey.

Zach’s tip: Don’t go left.

Hole 16: Par 4, 353 yards

Another straightforward hole with a thin fairway. There’s a USA windmill just left of the tee box. It’s cool to look at, but that’s about it because you and I both know we won’t listen to it when it tells us which way the wind is blowing.

I hit my best drive of the day, placed my second shot just off the green and got up and down for a par.

Zach’s tip: Stay in the fairway.

Hole 17: Par 5, 507 yards

Another blind tee shot, but you have a marker. You’ll see taller trees on the left and right. Your goal is to split the uprights. Easy going from there.

I missed wide right off the tee but got lucky that it’s so open in that direction. I duffed my second shot but was still able to save bogey.

Zach’s tip: Split the uprights.

Hole 18: Par 4, 381 yards

This is the most beautiful hole on the course and the only area where water comes into play. There’s a “creek” of rocks about 250 yards from the tee box that leads to a pond back and left of the green. When in doubt, it’d be best to club down on your approach shot to avoid the pond. I’ve had multiple rounds end badly because I decided to go for it but found the water instead.

I hit a good drive, laid up with my second shot and had an easy up and down for par.

Zach’s tip: When in doubt, club down on your second shot to avoid the water.

************

I ended my round with an 89, one stroke better than bogey golf, so I’ll call it a win. Plus, I played the same ball all 18 holes for the first time in a long time, so that’s definitely a win.

I hope this guide helps my fellow average golfers in the Richmond area. I’m not chasing Highland Lake’s course record anytime soon, but I can tell you where not to hit it because I’ve been there.

Remember to repair your divots. See y’all on the course.

Zach Piatt is a reporter for The Palladium-Item. Contact him at zpiatt@gannett.com or on Twitter @zachpiatt13.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: How to play Highland Lake Golf Course in Richmond, Indiana