Golfers looking for a unique challenge can choose Clover Meadows

Saturday, July 13, 2013

For the past four years, Clover Meadows has been available to me as my primary place for practice. I have been able to just go out on the course and work on different parts of my game, practicing shots in real-life situations that I wouldn't be able to get from a driving range.

The people at the course have always been very welcoming and it is safe to say that Clover Meadows Golf Course has had as big an impact on the development of my game as any human influence or instruction.

CMGC is an 18 hole course located on County Road 1100 South, known to the locals as "golf course road." The course opened in 1988 and is owned and operated by Bob Gerlach. Played from the white tees, it is around 6,100 yards and par for the course is 72.

For people who don't play the course often, they get stumped or have longer approach shots on the course's four dogleg holes. One, 17 and 18 are all holes that the green can be reached from the tee with the correctly placed shot. One and 18 both require high tee shots, both aimed straight at trees. Seventeen is probably the biggest risk of a shot having to clear OB, trees, and make sure your line is good enough as to not hit in the water that is placed in front of the green.

A shot that you draw around the corner or just try and cut the corner a little on any of these three holes is probably the better choice when trying to score well because a tiny mistake can definitely lead to a big number on the hole.

At CMGC, if I just get through holes one through three at one over or better, I feel a sense of relief. Number four is a long, but straight, par three that is an easy par as long as you don't mishit a shot ... it is either long left or short of the green.

My favorite hole on the course is number five, which is a par five. It is a good opportunity to try and get a stroke back because it can be reached in two, giving a chance at eagle. If you don't reach, you are probably left with a shot that is less than 100 yards with a green that is slanted slightly uphill making it easier for shots to spin and stop.

My least favorite hole is number eight. I struggle to hit this green in regulation for some reason and usually end up short with a long shot in danger of being OB or to have a very downhill chip. The green is a very hard one to get an easy up and down on.

Chips and putts have an extreme break on this hole, and more often than not it will break more than you are expecting it to.

The back nine tends to call for less driver and more placed/ laid up shots if you are trying to play it safe and go for a good score. If played from the ladies' tees, there is even less reason to pull out the driver.

For less than 30 dollars, you can ride eighteen holes. The course also offers leagues and early morning choose-ups that the average player can get involved in. Some of the leagues include a couples, men's and women's league.

Some of the older players can play in some of the morning choose-ups which usually start somewhere between 8-9 a.m. There are lots of opportunities to get involved with groups out at Clover Meadows.

For more information on the course, you can go to www.clovermeadowsgolf.com or even call the clubhouse at (765) 795-6001.

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