Sleepy Creek -- by the numbers

By David Williams
Published in Sports on July 4, 2004 7:23 AM

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Located -- 122 Sleepy Creek Drive.

The course is within the village

of Sleepy Creek, which is on

Sleepy Creek Road. Access

Sleepy Creek Road either from

U.S. Highway 117, turning left in Dudley, or following Arrington Bridge Road and turning right at Grady's Barbecue. Sleepy Creek Club Road is 100 yards from Grady's Barbecue. Cross the dam and take a right to the pro shop.

Yardage -- 5,833 from the blue tees; 5,620 from the white tees; 4,601 from the red tees.

Course rating -- Blue, 66.3; White, 65.4; Red, 64.7

Slope rating -- 97

Course highlights

* The signature hole is the opening hole, a 534-yard par-5 from an elevated tee box. A small pond and hill must be cleared with the tee shot to open up to an expansive fairway. Getting on in two is difficult with a watery ditch on the right 100 yards from the green. Bunkers guard the hole in front and in back, and the pin is usually to the left between them. This is the longest hole on the course.

* No. 3 is a dogleg-left par-4. Many golfers try to cut the corner to shorten their approach shot, but tough scrub bushes in the rough will make an errant shot costly.

* No. 4 is a strong dogleg-right, requiring a strong tee shot. Only the boldest will try to cut the corner and shave distance from the approach shot.

* The short hitter can get a head of steam up on holes 5 through 9, the longest of which is the 372-yard sixth hole. The fairways are straight and the rough not too punishing. Watch for the waste area in front of No. 7 green, complete with a watery ditch on the left side. The area forces the golfer to either drive the 329-yard hole or lay up. No. 8 is a wedge's delight -- 115 yards with a big green to land on and only an upswept bunker in front to cause trouble. No. 9 runs downhill and has sand in the front of the green on the left, which usually protects the hole.

* The uphill climb on No. 10 sets up the golfer for the par-5 11th hole, which plays longer than its 472 yards. A good driver can get on in two.

* No. 12 is a tough hole to judge by eyesight, running up the fairway to a dogleg-left that runs down to the green. Many golfers, try to cut the corner, as they do on Nos. 3 and 4.

* No. 13 is another hole to try and shave the left-side corner .It is difficult to keep the tee shot from drifting left or extending your approach shot by pushing it safely right. The green has a ravine on the right side that challenges a long approach shot.

* Par-3 lovers will enjoy Nos. 14 through 16, two shorties with an 256-yard par-4 sandwiched between. We do mean shorties -- No. 14 is 142 yards and 16 is just 115 yards. Work your wedge and hope for a closest-to-the-pin contest here if you are playing a tournament.

* The course ends with No. 17 and 18 -- and they are a workout. 17 is the hardest-rated hole on the course, an uphill drive to a valley with a large pond at the bottom, then a chip back uphill to an elevated green with two bunkers on the right side. Most try to drive the water, but beware -- a short shot will slip back into a watery grave. No 18 is an expansive 300 yards with water on the drive and an oversized green to land on.