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Springfield starts out with a short par 4, with a premium on an accurate, 180 yard tee shot, favouring the right hand side of the fairway. This will leave the player with a short iron to a fairly large green protected by a yawning bunker front and right of the green. As it is early in the round, try to hit the centre of this green. Pay attention to your partners' putts, as the green slopes sharply toward the bunker.

The second hole is a reachable par five, providing the player avoids the deep bunkers right and left of the fairway. A long accurate tee shot will leave the player a long to middle iron into this deep, yet narrow green. Players not able to reach the green in two, should lay up to the right, to avoid the many bunkers surrounding the green. A premium is placed on your third shot, as this long sloping green often produces three putts.

This short, almost reachable, par 4 again places the premium on accuracy. Take a look at the flag location. A 180 yard tee shot in the fairway, leaves a wedge shot into this elevated green protected on all sides by bunkers. The green slopes severely right to left and back to front. Don't get too greedy with your tee shot as the front bunker is large and deep.

This 110 yard par 3 requires the player to accurately judge the distance of their tee shot, as the green is wide, but shallow. As it is an elevated tee, the hole plays slightly shorter than the yardage. Check out the tree tops and the the flagstick, as the wind plays a large factor in making your club selection on this hole. Shots hit over the back of this green often run down the hill to the fence marking out of bounds.

The first four holes were a good warm-up. The fifth hole is the start of a ten hole stretch that will test the shot making ability of players of all skill levels. From the back tees, this hole measures over 500 yards, into the prevailing wind. Out of bounds along the entire left side of the hole makes accuracy a must. Two well struck shots will leave a short iron into this elevated green, protected by a large bunker front and left of the green.

This 411 yard par 4 is reminiscent of links golf, with the its fairway snaking towards the green through sculptured mounds left and right. An accurate tee shot leaves a medium to long iron, uphill to a smallish, elevated green. The front of this green will remind players of Pinehurst No. 2, as any ball hit in this area will tend to run off the green to the fairway.

One of the most difficult and challenging par 3's you will encounter. This hole measures 199 yards from the back tees. What you see is what you get. Shots missed left and right will require an outstanding chip or bunker shot to save par. As this is the highest point on the golf course, the wind is a definite factor relating to distance and direction. One of the "Bogey Man's" favourite greens, be happy with a par three here.

This 404 yard, dogleg right, par four plays into the prevailing wind. Your tee shot should favour the left side of the fairway to open up the green to a mid iron approach. The large mounds front right of the green will deflect any approach shot hit short. Long approaches to the left will leave a challenging, downhill bunker shot.

The front nine finishes with another long, uphill par 3 to a tiny, elevated green reminiscent of those at Pebble Beach. Depending on the wind direction, this hole can be played with anything from a seven iron to a driver! Tee shots left of this green, or in the left hand bunker, will leave the player with a ticklish second shot to save par. Be happy with a three here.

The back nine at Springfield begins with an indication of things to come. Water comes into play on seven of the final nine holes. This 343 yard, par 4, puts a premium on accuracy. A 200 yard drive, placed between the two ponds on the left, leaves the player with a mid to short iron, over water, to a green protected behind by trees and in front by a deep and narrow bunker.

The eleventh hole is the longest par 5 on the golf course. The tee shot is to a narrow fairway, with out of bounds to the left and trees on the right. Your second shot is downhill to a landing area protected on the right by a large bunker and on the left by grass mounds and out of bounds. This hole is normally not reachable in two shots. Depending on the distance of your drive, try to lay up for a full shot into this green, avoiding the large front bunker. Long approach shots may find the pond behind the green.

Don't let the water intimidate you on this medium length par 3. The water extends from the front of the tee to the front of the green, however, a mid iron shot into the middle of this large green, will leave the player with a good birdie opportunity. Check the wind, as it tends to swirl in this corner of the golf course.

The thirteenth hole is the signature hole at Springfield. This picturesque hole is a 372 yard par 4, requiring the player to cross the water twice. The fairway is larger than it looks from the tee. A straight, 210 yard shot from the tee leaves a middle iron over water to our island green. The wind can be a significant factor in both aiming and club selection for your second shot.

Water is again tee to green on this short par 3. The green slopes sharply back to front and left to right. A front right pin position is one of Springfield's ultimate challenges, with water in front, and a dangerous pot bunker behind. The green is well protected all around, so the premium here is on distance control. Take several clubs to the tee, as the wind here can be an important factor.

Finally! A hole without water. This narrow par 4 requires an accurate, straight tee shot, leaving a mid to short iron into the green. Although this hole is not long, the narrow, meandering fairway requires one of your best efforts from the tee. Get your tee shot on the fairway as your second shot is challenging into this narrow, long green, protected left and right by three large, deep bunkers.

This reachable par 5 plays uphill into the prevailing wind. Favour the right hand side of the fairway, as tee shots may roll off into the rough on the left side of this sloping fairway. If you are going for the green in two, avoid the large grass bunker guarding the front left of the green. A good chance for birdie here.

This 133 yard par 3 again places the emphasis on distance control. This fairly wide green is protected in front by two, cavernous bunkers and woods behind. The green has many deceptive contours, especially on the left hand side. The tee box and green are protected by many trees, so check the tops of the trees for both wind direction and speed.

An exciting finishing hole of 260 yards. Reachable by some players, this risk/reward drive places a premium on accuracy and wedge play. A large fairway bunker protects the left side and an extensive, deep and wandering bunker protects the right side of the green. The water behind the green, although not normally in play, will catch any shot coming in "hot". A good drive, in the fairway, will yield a birdie opportunity to close your round.