Sheep Ranch · Hole 12
Blue
531
White
456
Gold
391
Red
291
A links-style par 5 where the ground game is not just encouraged but rewarded more generously than any other hole at the resort. The terrain between fairway and green is designed for bounce-and-run — traditional Scottish links strategy where the ball is played along the ground like a 30-yard putt. Players who resist the aerial approach and embrace the bump-and-run will score significantly better here.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Driver aimed at the center of the wide fairway. The fairway is the most generous on the back nine — use it as a positional platform for the two-shot strategy. In a crosswind, the ball will drift; aim into the wind and trust the drift to bring it back to center. Reaching 270 yards opens up the option to go for the green in two.
Approach
Embrace the bump-and-run on the second and third shots. The terrain between the fairway and green is designed to gather rolling approaches toward the putting surface. Play the ball low, let it run through the short fescue transition, and watch it bound onto the green. Players who chip a high, spinning ball into a firm green with 100 yards still to go will find this hole very difficult.
Putting
The large links-style green reflects the bump-and-run philosophy — it has a natural, varied surface that rewards creative putting. Multiple internal contours produce different conditions in different quadrants. A putt from 40 feet is a birdie opportunity if the read is correct; lag putting is the key to scoring well on this hole.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The bump-and-run works here but requires reading the terrain between fairway and green. A running approach from the wrong angle can bounce away from the green rather than toward it — read the topography before committing to the ground game.
- •Going for the green in two with the wind is tempting but the green is firm and fast — a ball that lands on the back half can run through in downhill conditions.
- •The internal green contours are more complex than they appear from the fairway — walk around the green before putting and observe the slopes from multiple angles.
Wind Intelligence
Hole 12 runs at an angle that creates a crosswind or slight tailwind from the southwest — a relatively favorable position compared to the headwind holes. In a southwest tailwind, the hole becomes the most accessible par 5 on the course and birdie or even eagle is a realistic goal. The bump-and-run in a tailwind condition sends the ball rolling further forward — factor the extra ground run into your layup position.
Hazard Map
- ▲Fescue rough both sides
- ▲Back of green running through in firm conditions
- ▲Complex internal contours rewarding careful reads