Play the Course

Description:
The opening hole at SGCC provides a nice handshake to introduce the player to the course. Keep your tee shot right of the fairway bunker and you’ll have a great look into this green. Short is the best miss with your approach as the back left portion of the green slopes away into a tightly mown runoff area.

Description:
One of the tougher tee shots on the course, this hole begs for a slight right-to-left tee shot. Once safely in the fairway, most long hitters can take a crack at the green. Beware though, this green slopes away from the player on the left half much like the first green.

Description:
This hole begins one of the best three-hole stretches in Northern Virginia. If you choose to challenge the group of bunkers on the right hand side, you will gain a good angle and easier approach. However, the prudent play is to lay-up with a club that will keep you short of the bunkers and allow you a full swing into this severely back-to-front sloping green.

Description:
This is a beautiful hole, but don’t let the scenery distract you. They say fortune favors the brave, but there is no shame in playing your tee shot away from the water here due to the kicker slope just right of the green. There isn’t much to the green, just make sure you get there safely.

Description:
You can hit your driver on the downhill tee shot, but the professional staff here recommends you lay-up directly at the fairway bunker and take your wedge in. There is no reason to challenge the bunker as having a fuller wedge into this tough green will give you the best chance at birdie.

Description:
One of the toughest holes here at Springfield, this is a long par three with a green that slopes back-to-front in the first half and front-to-back in the second half. This hole requires something that lands high and soft, so don’t be afraid to take that headcover off and put your pride to the side.

Description:
Another scenic hole, there is a creek that runs down the right side of the tee. Again, there is no reason for the longer hitters to challenge this hole with a driver or even a three wood. Lay-up with an iron or hybrid and take your medicine. The second shot here plays uphill even though it doesn’t seem like it, so club up accordingly.

Description:
The first of two driveable par fours here at SGCC, the eighth hole requires a draw off the tee if you are to have any chance of reaching the green off the tee. The prudent play is to take a long iron and lay-up short of the bunker, which will only leave about 125 yards into this green. Beware though, as this is one of the most severe greens anywhere in Northern Virginia, and missing long will not leave you in a good mood.

Description:
Another tough driving hole, the left half of this fairway kicks left into the rough, so you have to make sure you drive it in the right center. This is another approach shot that plays uphill, so plan accordingly when choosing your club into this back-to-front sloping green.

Description:
One of the more challenging holes on the course, this plays as a par 5 for the ladies and a par 4 for the men. The best line off the tee is down the left side of the fairway and you’ll gain some roll if you can carry the ridge at approximately 200 yards out. There is a creek that starts down the right side of the fairway and the player must cross it on their approach shot to a fun, yet challenging green complex.

Description:
This is SGCC’s signature hole. Just like number 4, don’t be afraid to swallow your pride and play out right away from the water. This green slopes right-to-left, so anything landing on the right half will funnel to a left pin.

Description:
Just like number 8, hole 12 is home to one of the most diabolical greens you’ll find in Northern Virginia. However, the play off the tee departs from the overall strategy of Springfield due to the large tree that covers the right half of the hole. Longer hitters should hit their driver as high and far as they can, while shorter hitters should play it just short of the fairway bunker to leave themselves a good angle into this severe back-to-front green.

Description:
The last par 3 here at Springfield, 13 has one of the gentler greens you’ll find on the course. Beware the grass hollow that lurks just over the middle left of the green that you definitely want to avoid as it has caused its fair share of big numbers on an otherwise benign hole.

Description:
The first leg of the back-to-back par fives, hole 14 has a fairway that slopes hard right to left. If you can find the fairway here, longer hitters will have the greenest of lights to go for it in two. Beware though, as being long on this green is not a good spot - everything slopes towards the dip between the front left and middle-left bunkers.

Description:
One of the strongest holes on the course, recent renovations have brought the carry over the bunkers to 285 yards. Shorter hitters have to decide whether to challenge the bunkers and fit it in the right half of the fairway, or to lay up short and make this a three-shot hole. This green slopes off severely on the right, so keep that in mind when you attack the pin on this fairly large green.

Description:
This hole continues a strong finish to the course and sets up for a left-to-right tee ball unless you’re a long ball hitter that can take an aggressive line over the tree and fairway bunker defining the right side of the hole. The approach shot plays downhill to a green that slopes from back-to-front and left-to-right.

Description:
The second of the drivable par fours here at SGCC, on 17 it behooves the player to get as far up the hole as possible off the tee. The hole widens the further up you drive it, but you will still need to stay in the fairway to control your second shot into this sloped green.

Description:
One of the toughest finishing holes around, 18 requires a left-to-right shape off the tee. If you do not move it enough, you run the risk of finding the fairway bunker, but if you shape it too much to the right you will catch the large trees that guard the right side of the fairway. The green is relatively benign but features a prominent false front and a large runoff slope over the back.