Sheep Ranch · Hole 10
Blue
395
White
320
Gold
255
Red
155
The turning point of the round, the 10th hole swings the routing in a new direction and offers a fresh wind angle that provides some relief after the brutal front nine headwind. A well-positioned tee shot sets up a mid-iron approach to a broad, receptive green. This is a genuine scoring opportunity and one of the better birdie holes on the course.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Driver or three-wood depending on the wind. The new routing direction means the southwest wind is now more of a crosswind than a headwind — a significant relief. Aim at the center of the wide fairway. The ground game is again encouraged; a tee shot that releases forward along the firm promontory turf is perfectly acceptable.
Approach
Mid-iron to a large, receptive green. Attack the pin — this is one of the few genuine birdie holes on the back nine. The bump-and-run is effective from any position short of the green; land the ball on the front portion and let it release toward the pin. This green is more forgiving than most at Sheep Ranch.
Putting
The large 10th green is the most forgiving putting surface on the back nine. Contours are gentle and the main slope is a consistent back-to-front. From anywhere in the back half, aim at the front-center and adjust for the subtle rightward lean. A confident first putt is well within reach of a birdie.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The wind direction change can feel disorienting — players sometimes over-adjust to the new angle and pull shots left. Re-read wind carefully from the new tee direction before swinging.
- •The apparently generous green can reject short approaches that land on the false front — take enough club to reach the center.
- •The birdie opportunity can tempt aggressive pin-hunting that leads to a bunker or rough around the green — center green is always the correct target at Sheep Ranch.
Wind Intelligence
The routing change on hole 10 shifts the prevailing southwest wind from headwind to crosswind — a significant and welcome change. In a southwest crosswind, the ball drifts from left to right — aim at the left portion of the fairway and green and let the wind bring it back to center. In an east wind, the crosswind reverses direction — adjust accordingly.
Hazard Map
- ▲False front rejecting underhit approaches
- ▲Fescue rough surrounding green
- ▲Bunker right of green