George M. Sloan
                     A Mean 18 Golf Course

                         by W. A. Bush

This course has been carefully designed to test your skills in a
meaningful way.  You won't find any 715 yard par fives here, and
no 413 yard par threes.  All holes are realistic, at least to the
point that a birdie is possible on each hole. So are a lot of
higher scores as you will see.  This course features sand, water,
and heavy rough.  You will have to play cut shots and draws.  You
will use every club in your bag.  If you hit a bad shot you will
be punished unless you follow it with a great shot.  The deep
rough and narrow fairways are to U. S. Open standards.  This is a
championship course and has no "member's tees". 
  
If you print out this text I will go along with you and be your
caddie.  You might try to play this course once without my help
and then see if I can save you some strokes next time.  The
course record is 71.  Leave me some mail and let me know what you
think and what scores you shot.  I'll try to update the course
record.  Also if you find anything that you deem unfair or
totally unrealistic let me know and I'll change that. Okay, you
are ready to play.  Good Luck!
                   
                    Par 72  7073 Yards
                       
                          Fore!!!

Hole #1  Par 4  403 Yards  -  Play your shot down the middle.  If
you get too close to the right side a tree will block your
approach to the green.  If you hit a good drive, you should have
no more than an 8 or 9 iron to the green.  Play your approach so
that you leave the ball below the hole or you will face a tricky
downhill putt.

Hole #2  Par 4  448 Yards  -  Drive the ball down the left side
to stay away from the fairway tree or you will have to fade the
ball around it to hit the green.  Your approach will be a medium
iron to a front pin position.  

Hole #3  Par 5  594 Yards  -  Hitting your tee shot into the
fairway is a MUST on this hole.  Aim at the left edge of the trap
and play a very slight fade.  You DON'T want to go right, though.
After a 3 wood you'll have a wedge to a flat green. 

Hole #4  Par 3  128 Yards  -  A simple 9 iron to a small green. 
Stay out of the trees if you want to make a par.  The wrong club
will put you in the pond in back.

Hole #5  Par 4  460 Yards  -  Some say this is the hardest hole
on the course.  Hit a 2 or 3 iron down the left side and you'll
have a 2 or 3 iron to the green.  Don't get cute on your second
shot, just get it over the water, take a 4 or 5 and move on.

Hole #6  Par 5  480 Yards  -  To drive it straight down the
middle aim at the first tree on the left and fade the ball into 
the fairway.  Or you could try to play a risky shot through the
trees.  The second shot from the fairway is a sliced three wood.
Or, you could play through the trees.  The green is reachable but
lookout for the pond in front. 
  
Hole #7  Par 3  226 Yards  -  Take enough club to get over the
water.  The pin placement sets up some very tough putts.  Avoid a
downhill second putt if possible.

Hole #8  Par 5  506 Yards  -  Driving to the right side will give
you a blind fairway wood cut shot to a very reachable green.  The
left side will give you a straight shot but a longer one.  If
you miss the fairway, you'll have to lay up.  The front of the
fairway is about 147 yards to the pin.  This hole will probably
go a long way toward making or breaking your round.  It rewards
or punishes you for gambling.  I've eagled this hole and taken a
9 as well.  

Hole #9  Par 4 464 Yards - You can swing away with a driver and
not hit the river (usually!).  The river will come in to play if
you hit the deep rough or sand.  A long iron will get you to a
narrow green. 

Hole #10  Par 4  352 Yards  -  A short par four that is very
tricky.  Play a cut shot with a driver, 3 wood, or even a 2 iron
and you'll have a wedge to the green (if you keep it in the
fairway).  The small green is guarded by trees, demanding an
accurate approach shot.  

Hole #11  Par 4  430 Yards  -  The drive will set up every thing
on this dogleg left.  Play a slight hook and you will have a 5 or
6 iron to the green.  Cut too much off and you will be in deep
trouble.

Hole #12  Par 4  472 Yards  -  A long hole but plenty of fairway
to work with.  Aim at the fairway trap and hook very slightly to
find the middle.  The approach will be a 3 or 4 iron unless your
drive was bad.  If you hit the back of the green you will bounce
over.

Hole #13  Par 3  126 Yards  -  A wedge or 9 iron to a difficult
pin placement.  The good tee shot should net a birdie.

Hole #14  Par 4  395 Yards  -  This hole features a narrow
fairway surrounded by trees and deep rough.  Get the ball in the
fairway using any wood and you'll have a short iron to the green.
this is the most difficult green to putt on this course.  

Hole #15  Par 5  519 Yards  -  It seems impossible to stay out of
the giant fairway bunker.  Try aiming at it and playing a fade. 
If you hit a good drive a 3 wood could get you home.

Hole #16  Par 4  466 Yards  -  Stay out of the pines on the left!
You want to be in the left side of the fairway or trees may block
your approach shot.

Hole #17  Par 3  195 Yards  -  A 4 iron will get you to this
island green.  Expect a difficult lag putt.

Hole #18  Par 4  409 Yards  -  An easy drive followed by a
difficult 6 or 7 iron to a moated green guarded by a tree on the
left.  Birdies are very difficult to come by here.

  
     
This project is dedicated to my friend Kerry Doll who taught me
about computers and once stood on a course with a very similar
name as this and deposited seven straight balls into a pond in a
vain effort to reach a green.

                                        WAB  7/9/88