Local
Knowledge
“What the Members Know:
The Back 9”
Bowling Green Golf Club • 53 Schoolhouse Road
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 • 973-697-8688
Local Knowledge
Are you familiar with the ins and outs of playing Bowling Green Golf
Club? As with any golf course, there are secret strategies which are
only revealed when one plays the course regularly. These strategies
may not be obvious to the first time visitor. Golfers refer to these
strategies as Local Knowledge and have previously only been
passed down from long time members after befriending them in The
Grill Room.
1. A Look from Above
2. A Few General Insights
3. Hole 10: Below the Hole
4. Hole 11: When front right isn’t
5. Hole 12: No bunkers; when short is long
6. Hole 13: Drivable? Tough read.
7. Hole 14: Left is straight; level is better
8. Hole 15: Depth perception
9. Hole 16: The Toughest 12 in NJ
10. Hole 17: False Front
11. Hole 18: ‘The Road of Honor’; What a Finish
12. The 19th Hole
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Local Knowledge
Today, we are sharing some Back 9 Tips to make your next round at Bowling Green even more enjoyable.
The Back 9 at
Bowling Green
Before specific holes are discussed,
here are a few general insights to Bowling Green GC.
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What the Members know:
The putting green area is the highest location on the course, so take a look at the US Flag located across the practice
green and note the overall wind direction and velocity. Our ‘normal’ prevailing wind direction will show the flag flowing to the right
(from the south, southwest).
Be aware if the flag is flowing to the left, (from the northerly direction).
What this means to you:
--cooler temps, the ball will not carry as normal
--in your face on holes 2,3,6,8,9,10,12,16,17
Pick your club, then add one more!
. . . The Members Know
What the Members know:
The greens at Bowling Green are quite large and unless you pick the right club,
you can be left with extremely long first putts.
For example, the depth of the 18th green is nearly 50 yards which means you could be at the 150 yard marker and have
nearly 175 yards to the hole, up the hill! The color coded flags help, but here is the inside info:
Look ahead and see where the flags are located.
Check out holes #2 & 9 before you start your round. Then look at #6 when on the 5th tee, #7 when on 6 tee, and #8 when
in the 7th fairway, etc. Most of the hole locations can be observed before you ever get to the hole in play. By the way, you can
check out the hole location on #15 as you drive into the parking lot, just
“Try not to let the azaleas and dogwoods distract you!!!”
. . . The Members Know
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What the Members know:
Bowling Green is well known for the sound of an errant tee shot ricocheting
off the red pine trees that define the trouble off the tee.
But where is the trouble at the greens?
Where should the smart missed shot end up? While we’d all like to say, ‘the middle of the green,’ reality sets in. The
average PGA Tour player only hits 11.5 greens per round, so how many do we actually hit?
The place to miss the greens at Bowling Green is SHORT
(except for #4, 8 and maybe 10).
And, all of the greens drain to the front, meaning your pitch shot will be uphill.
. . . The Members Know
Local Knowledge: What the Members Know
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Hole 10
What the Members know:
The opening hole of the back nine at Bowling Green is a tough par 4 that can trip you up. One way to help is to pay
attention to the hole location. The advice is similar to Hole #5, with extra emphasis if the flag is in the front portion of the green.
If the hole location is in the front portion of the green, be sure to stay below the hole. If you end up hole high right, a three
putt is likely. If you end up hole high left, a three putt is likely. If you are beyond hole high, a three putt would be good!
“While playing #10, if the hole location is in the front portion of the green,
STAY BELOW THE HOLE.”
Even if you are short of the green, an uphill pitch will do just fine. Give it a try.
. . . The Members Know
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Hole 11
What the Members know:
The 11th hole is the first Par 3 on the back nine at Bowling Green. Although it is the shortest Par 3 on the course playing
190 yards from the Cornish Tees and only 160 yards from the Club tees, it plays longer into the prevailing breeze.
If the hole location is in the back right portion of the green, pay attention the large bunker and mound located “short and
right of the green.” The tip is that the bunker is not short of the green, but rather goes deep into the green. In fact, the area
beyond that bunker is the middle of the green.
“While playing #11, if the hole location is in the back right portion of the green, aim to the center as a slight miss-hit will
leave you a putt vs. being buried in the face of the bunker.”
Give it a try.
. . . The Members Know
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Hole 12
What the Members know:
1. While playing just 408 yards from the Cornish Tees and 371 yards from the Club Tees, the 12th hole is the most
challenging of the Par 4s on the back nine at Bowling Green. Even with no bunkers to be found, trouble looms
everywhere. Water hazards right, left and center on your tee shot and right, left and over the green on your second shot.
If your drive isn’t long and straight, favoring the right side of the fairway, a very big number is possible. Try this:
“While playing #12, if the drive is not your best, lay up to the 100 yard marker (takes the water out of play).
Then a good wedge shot gives you a chance at par.
And bogey may just win the hole anyway! Give it a try”
2. The other insight on how to play the 12th hole concerns the approach shot. The green complex is entirely in the open,
without trees to provide any shade or protection from the wind. Also, the green is an up-side-down saucer. What does
this mean to you? An approach shot with a mid-iron or more that lands on the green may release over the green,
leaving a difficult up and down. Try this:
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“While planning your approach to the 12th green, allow for a longer than normal run out when your ball lands on the
green. A well-played shot to the front third of the green will release to the middle while a shot to the middle of the green
will release to the back. (If the hole is located in the very front, good luck! Give it a try”
. . . The Members Know
Holes 13 thru 15 are referred to as ‘birdie alley’ by the members. While making three in a row is a rare feat, it most
likely refers to the best chances on the Back 9 to get one!
Hole 13
What the Members know:
1. While watching the PGA Tour week in and week out, a new trend can be noticed with each course being played;
Drivable Par 4s. The 13th hole at Bowling Green would be the hole that would provide the ‘drivable option’ with tee
ground available at 265 yards. It would truly be a risk-reward hole with hazard right and left along the length of the entire
hole.
Don’t get sucked in by the yardage!
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“Despite the urge to get as close to the green as possible, a tee shot to the left center for the fairway leaving a 105–115y
wedge shot is optimal. From that position, a great angle to any portion of the green is achieved.”
2. So, you played ‘smart golf’ off the tee and now have just hit your wedge to about 15 feet from the hole on the 13th green.
You’re looking at your first real birdie chance of the back nine. The hole location is left center and you have an uphill
putt that looks straight or right edge – a green light situation. Let’s take a second look!
“The left side (middle depth) of the green on 13 is influenced by the mound located just off the green. That straight or
right edge putt will move slightly to the right!”
This is one only the old timers know. You may have to miss a few before you believe!
. . . The Members Know
Hole 14
What the members know:
1. The 14th hole is the easiest of the par 5s providing the best opportunity to make a birdie. With the widest fairway on the
course staring at you, it is time to tee it high and let it fly.
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“For those looking for an edge off the tee, hug the bunkers--the closer you can drive the ball along the left side of the
fairway, the straighter (and shorter) the hole plays.”
2. The 14th green is very large and getting your approach shot near the hole is difficult—but why? The reason stems from
the uneven lies that often occur with the third shot.
“To take advantage of this shortish par 5, don’t lay-up to 100 yards (downhill lie). Instead, position your layup to the
level portions of the fairway: short of the cross road (125 yards remaining) or the left side of the fairway (at 70 yards).
This provides the best opportunity to control the distance of the approach shot to this very large, deep green.”
. . . The Members Know
The 15th hole is the last chance in “birdie alley.” Focus in on this local knowledge as the three holes of the round (16 – 18)
provide the toughest stretch on the back nine.
Hole 15
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What the members know:
The 15th hole, while only 354 yards long, has a few subtleties that if known, provide the best opportunity at a birdie.
1. Tee ball positioning is step one.
“Favor the left side of the fairway off the tee as it will provide the best angle and look at this deep green.”
2. The second step in conquering the 15th hole is overcoming deception.
“The portion of the fairway between 160 to 110 yards from the green is uphill. The farther back you are, the more uphill
your approach shot is and the longer it plays.”
“The second deception to avoid on the approach to the green is caused by the front bunker. The raised lip of the bunker
is 10 yards from the front on the green, providing a depth perception problem. Be sure to trust your yardage or you
could have a ‘green in regulation’ but a putt of over 100 feet!”
. . . The Members Know
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The 16th hole is the last of the par 3 holes at Bowling Green, where making pars on all four in known as “The Toughest 12 in NJ”
and you would join an exclusive club that has “Conquered the Threes.”
Hole 16
What the members know:
The 16th hole is another difficult par 3 at 214 yards. While standing on the tee, the green sits down the hill tempting you to
take less club.
“Even though the green is ‘down the hill’ the surface is raised up from the apron-approach. In addition the rough
pinches in from both sides. The result, most balls that land short do not bounce up onto the green. Trust your yardage
and hit enough club to carry onto the green surface.”
. . . The Members Know
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Hole 17
What the members know:
The 17th hole at Bowling Green is a slight dogleg right par 4 of 415 yards that plays longer. A tee ball up the left center that
avoids the pond that begins 280 yards off the tee provides the best look at the green. Even during the driest periods, this fairway
does not provide much roll. But it is the approach shot to the green that most players come up short.
“To have a chance at a routine two putt, the approach shot must carry the entire yardage. Not only does the green
sit up from the fairway, there is a 10 yard false front that will return your shot off the green down onto the apron.
And the pitch or putt from that position is no bargain.
Knowing your yardage and hitting the ball to it seems like a simple concept. Through the years, the collar and
rough over the green has not seen much action.”
. . . The Members Know
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Hole 18
What the members know:
The 18th hole at Bowling Green is a classic 3 shot, 611 yard par five, where a par is very good score and is a great finish to
your round.
1. Here’s a surprise, to have a chance at par, the tee ball must find the fairway. When on the tee, the dogleg left is
apparent.
“The widest landing area off the tee is short of what the members refer to as ‘the road of honor’ about 270 yards
off the tee. A longer drive may be an honor, but the hole turns left and the fairway narrows. A right to left shape of the
tee shot is best following the hole direction and moving away from the water along the right side.”
2. The second shot, ‘the lay-up’ is probably all out. Be aware of the two large trees that pinch in from both sides. If you
have a choice, the best approach on the uphill 3rd shot to the multi-tiered green is from a flat lie.
“The fairway of the 18th hole has a significant downhill section from 135 yards to 175 yards to the green. The
downhill lie makes the uphill approach very difficult to the multi-tiered green. If you have a choice, play to the flat
portion of the fairway giving the best chance of getting the ball onto the correct tier of the green with your third shot.”
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3. The approach shot to the 18th green is difficult, even after two of your ‘Sunday Best’ shots.
“An approach shot that plays a full club more up the hill is only part of the battle. The 46 yard deep green has a
significant rise from right left to reach the back portion of the green.
The back tier is ‘plus 4 yards’ from center on the right and ‘plus 10 yards’ from the center on the left portion of
the green.”
Even with this inside information, pars on the 18th hole are cherished.
. . . The Members Know
Hole 19-The Grill Room
“The Grill Room is the perfect place to have a drink and appetizer, recount the round, and collect on your bets. It’s
your decision if you share ‘What the Members Know’ with your buddies!”
You now have insight to manage your way around
the back nine holes at Bowling Green.
It’s up to you if you share with your friends!
TAKE A LOOK AT
BOWLING GREEN.
YOU’LL LIKE WHAT YOU SEE.
Bowling Green Golf Club • 53 Schoolhouse Road
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 • 973-697-8688