Shorty's · Hole 7
Back
85
Forward
65
The hardest hole at Shorty's — and it is not particularly close. Hole 7 features the trickiest green complex on the course, with multiple slope directions, false flatness that hides severe breaks, and pin positions that can make a 3-foot putt terrifyingly difficult. At 85 yards, the shot itself is routine. What happens after the ball lands is the challenge.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Your approach strategy on hole 7 must begin from the tee box. Study the green, identify the pin position, and determine which quadrant of the green is the safe zone for your approach. The safe landing zone is the area that leaves the simplest putting line — typically below the hole and on the flattest available section. Sacrifice proximity to the flag for the correct quadrant.
Putting
Read this green from every angle before putting. Walk behind the hole, look at it from the side, and trust what you see — not what the ball's final resting position suggests. The false flatness of certain zones on this green has fooled many experienced putters. When in doubt, aim more outside the hole for break and stroke softer for speed — erring on the side of leaving putts short is far better than running them 5 feet past on a downhill.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The seemingly innocuous looking surface hides significant slope. Do not eyeball the green from the tee and assume it looks simple. Walk it carefully.
- •Pin positions on this green have been selected to test every kind of putt. There is no truly "easy" pin here. Accept that and manage expectations.
- •Three-putts on hole 7 are the most common score on the course. A par here is a genuine achievement. Don't reach for birdie if your ball is above the hole.
Wind Intelligence
At 85 yards, wind adjustments are familiar by now. The added complexity on this hole is that wind can affect not just the tee shot but also long putts on an exposed green. In gusty conditions, stroke long putts during a lull if possible — a gust mid-stroke on a 20-foot putt on a tricky green can blow a good line completely.
Hazard Map
- ▲Multiple-slope green — putts from above any slope inflection point are penal
- ▲Fescue rough surrounding the complex
- ▲Narrow landing zones between pin positions create approach shot precision demands