“A lot of players look at the card and think because it’s short that they’re going to play their all-time best round of golf and end up spending a lot of time in the woods,” says head professional Joan Lovelace of the course at Fairway Hills Golf Club. The Ron Pritchard–designed course —which stays neatly within the bounds of 6,158 yards—doesn’t just get its bite from the woodlands about which Lovelace warns. Water comes into play on 12 of the 18 holes, and the second fairway’s wicked dogleg right and stream-guarded bentgrass green costars with collarless shirts in many golfers’ nightmares. The links wind down with a hope-inspiring 18th hole, where golfers with the right mix of skill and luck can make a birdie.

Adjacent to the course’s bermuda-grass fairways, the club’s practice facilities invite players to warm up with a bucket of balls at the range. A large chipping and putting green allows players to to tune their short games. Lessons with the club’s PGA professionals are also available to help hone games.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-70 course
• Length of 6,158 yards
• Course rating of 125
• Slope rating of 70.1
• See the scorecard
• See hole details
• Five tee options, including one for The First Tee program