During your round at Abbey Springs Golf Club, you're going to find changes in elevation along the course of 100 feet or more. It will provide a vary different experience than you will find on many courses in the Midwest. This mature course is also very hilly and heavily wooded with giant oak trees.

Be prepared to thread your way through those trees along some narrow fairways. You may have to play off uneven lies at times. “From the back tees this can be a pretty challenging course,” says Jack Shoger, head golf professional for Abbey Springs. “But you're also going to find it's one of the most beautiful and breathtaking courses you've ever played. We have four holes overlooking the lake – Nos. 12, 13, 16 and 17. They're so beautiful that they almost make you forget all about golf.”

One of the first major challenges is the par-3 No. 2 (184 yards from the back tees and 153 from the forward). You have to hit your tee shot over a pond to a small green with a lot of slope. “One of the hazards you have to watch out for is a pot bunker on the right front of the green,” says Shoger.

When you take on the par-5 No. 4, you'll be going uphill on a dogleg right to a heavily wooded fairway. There is about 100 feet of elevation change from tee to green. It's a 523-yard hole from the back tees (405 from the forward), but it plays much longer, according to Shoger.

Another outstanding hole on the front nine is the par-4 No. 8, which measures 402 yards from the back tees and 299 from the forward. There is water up the right side of the fairway and water to the left of the green. There are two strategically placed bunkers to the left of the green. This hole requires a very accurate approach shot into the green.

As you head to the back nine, you're going to find more elevation changes than you did on the front of the course. But you'll also encounter some holes with more level terrain, like the par-3 No. 11 (152 yards from the back and 128 from the front), for example.

But after that hole, you head for the tee boxes of No. 12 and come upon one of those views of Geneva Lake unfolding in the distance. This is a 347-yard par-4 (280 yards from the front) that has a dramatic drop down a hillside. The heavily wooded fairway requires you to make a really accurate position shot from the tee. “You need a good first shot,” says Shoger, “because you'll be making a second shot that requires hitting off a tricky downhill lie to a green that is sloping away from you.”

Nos. 14 and 15 are widely considered the two best holes on the course, Shoger says. On the 14^th, a 549-yard par-5 (393 from the forward tees), you get a break from the change in terrain. “It's a downhill hole, so the long hitters can go for the green in two,” he says.

If you hit a long enough drive, your ball will roll far enough downhill, so that you are left with a bit more than 200 yards for a second shot. However, your shot will also have to be long and lofted enough for the last 70 yards to cross a pond just in front of the rather small target green.

Making things even more complicated, just in front of the pond lies a large beach bunker. So if you plan to lay up in front of the pond, you have to stop your ball very precisely, just short of that bunker. “The bunker stops balls from going into the water,” Shoger says, “but it's pretty hard to hit out of the bunker and over the pond to the green.”

Next up is what many consider to be the toughest hole in Southern Wisconsin. No. 15 is a 476-yard par-4 (368 yards from the front). Before you strike your drive, take in the fabulous view and the wonderful floral landscaping that helps set the scene. Then put the view out of your mind and get ready to concentrate.

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“You make your tee shot toward an uphill landing area,” Shoger says, “so you get very little roll. You may hit a great drive, but you're still going to have 200 yards to go to the green.”

You're also hitting along a very narrow fairway to an elevated green that is heavily bunkered; so be sure to shoot straight off the tee. “Par is a wonderful score on this hole,” Shoger says.

Many consider No. 17 the signature hole on the course because of its beautiful oak  trees, landscaping and unforgettable view of the lake. This is a 320-yard long par-4 (276 yards from the front) with a 100-foot elevation change from tee to green. “It seems as if every yard you go forward,” Shoger says, “the fairway drops down another foot so you can carry a lot of distance. But you're going downhill along a fairway that is heavily wooded on both sides.”

Many players standing on that tee can't resist the gamble of striking the ball as hard as they can, knowing that the downhill sloping fairway will carry a ball for a mile. But the smart play is to make a shorter than usual shot off the tee to keep from losing your ball in the woods.

Distances, Rating and Slope at Abbey Springs:
   

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