The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Inside look at ASU Karsten Golf Course
05.06.2009 | Women's Golf
May 6, 2009
Golf is a unique sport in many ways, but one of the biggest differences between it and others is that golfers are not always directly battling their competition, but instead, the course itself. On the eve of the 2009 NCAA West Regional Championship, the Women's Golf team gives TexasSports.com a hole-by-hole breakdown of the ASU Kartsen Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz., and how each player plans to attack the par-72, 6,286-yard course.
Hole 1 (par 4, 341 yards): senior Caney Hines
"On the opening hole, I plan on hitting my driver down the left side of the fairway. It's pretty short for a first hole, especially for a par 4, and after hitting driver, a pitching wedge or 9-iron should get you onto the green."
Hole 2 (par 4, 323 yards): junior Shannon Fish
"I'm going to hit 3-wood off of this hole tomorrow because there are bunkers protecting the front of the green, and then I should just have a short wedge in."
Hole 3 (par 4, 380 yards): senior Kristin Walla
"I'll tee my ball with the driver to the right side of the fairway because it is a dogleg left and I want to make sure I have a good angle to see the green. A lot of the green is tucked in the back-left corner and you can't see it, it's down sloping, so it will be important to hit the center of the green to give yourself the safest putt to the hole."
Hole 4 (par 4, 379 yards): freshman Nicole Vandermade
"The fourth hole is a par 4 with water to the left of the green, so I'll hit a 3-wood off the tee because there is a reachable fairway bunker for me. That should leave just a short wedge onto the green, but the key for me will be making sure that I stay away from the water."
Hole 5 (par 5, 468 yards): senior Kelley Louth
"This is a par 5 that isn't really long - some people can reach the green in two - but it's important to lay up short to the left because you can still make birdie that way, too."
Hole 6 (par 3, 176 yards): Hines
"Six is the first of back-to-back par 3's on the front nine. It's 176 to the pin, so it's not too long, but a little bit longer than what we usually see for par 3s. Center of the green is a good aim for this one when you're looking for birdies."
Hole 7 (par 3, 155 yards): Fish
"Seven is the second par 3 and it was playing at about 147 (yards) today. I'm going to hit 7-iron off the tee, and placement on the green is also important on this par 3, too."
Hole 8 (par 4, 380 yards): Walla
"This hole has a large bunker all along the left side of the fairway, so you need to tee it up along the right side. It's a fairly simple par 4 if you have a good placement off the tee."
Hole 9 (par 4, 352 yards): Vandermade
"On this par 4, I'll hit either 3- or 5-wood off the tee depending on the wind. There is water to the right, so you need to make sure to hit it dead aim off the tee to avoid the water."
Hole 10 (par 5, 498 yards): Louth
"On this hole, you'll want to hit driver off the tee and then lay up, because there is a middle bunker. This can be a birdie hole, depending on where the pin is."
Hole 11 (par 4, 375 yards): Hines
"I'm going to hit driver down the left side of the fairway, and it should stop right on top of the hill so that I have a good angle at the green."
Hole 12 (par 3, 166 yards): Fish
"Twelve is another par 3 that is playing about 170. There are bunkers on the left side of the green that are important to avoid here."
Hole 13 (par 4, 350 yards): Walla
"This is a short par 4 that you want to play down the left-center of the fairway. A short iron in should get you in good position on the green, but a large part of it is hidden by a front bunker. Fortunately, that bunker is low to the green, and as long as you have a good shot from the fairway, you'll have a birdie opportunity."
Hole 14 (par 5, 488 yards): Vandermade
"This is a pretty tight driving hole, but there is definitely the chance to get on the green in two. There's a bunker in front of the green, so your second shot is pretty important on this hole."
Hole 15 (par 4, 383 yards): Louth
"If you hit a good drive, your second shot should set up well to get you on the center of the green. You want to be in the middle of this green because the possible hole locations are at all four corners."
Hole 16 (par 3, 165/170 yards): Hines
"There is water all down the right side of this fairway, so you definitely need to aim for the center of the green from either tee box on this hole. Club selection will depend on which side of the tee box we are playing from."
Hole 17 (par 5, 537 yards): Fish
"This hole is very similar to the other par 5's on the course. It's important to hit a good tee shot down the right center of the fairway and place your second shot in a good position to hit a wedge onto the green."
Hole 18 (par 4, 370 yards): Walla
"This is a great closing hole that leads you into the clubhouse and faces the lake. You need to aim your tee shot at the left edge of the clubhouse to set up for a long iron onto the green to finish your round."
