Duke University
Golf Club
Durham, NC
Duke University Golf Club was a fantastic course to film and working with the fantastic staff there made the experience wonderful. At Duke University Golf Club there is a lot of angulation, that combined with a significant amount of bunkers and sneaky water makes this course challenging but fun. We suggest talking with the staff there on what tees to play from since this course can play a bit longer than the scorecard may show. Be sure to use the flybys and commentary from the knowledgeable staff to know where to play your shots, take risks, and cut a few corners. Enjoy the challenge that Duke University Golf Club has to offer and be sure to check out the interesting history of the course when you get the opportunity and if you haven't already done so book your tee time and go play some great golf.
Hole #1
This Par 4 dogleg left can be short if you hug the left edge of the fairway, but can play very long if you veer right. Add a bit of extra distance to your second shot since it's an elevated green in order to avoid the massive front right bunker. Though being on the back tier of the green can leave a difficult putt, it's better than adding strokes by short siding yourself in the bunker.
Hole #2
This Par 4 slight dogleg left can be a little tricky and add strokes if you're not careful. Take a little less club off the tee to hit fairway since everything narrows and slopes to the right at the bottom of the hill feeding into rough. On your approach shot avoid left and long at all costs. A miss over the green left will leave you with an extremely difficult chip which can easily run into the front bunker. Get yourself a solid yardage and attack the pin if front and middle but play middle of green for back pin locations.
Hole #3
This straightaway Par 4 brings in to play your first water hazard on the course. Off the tee keep it left and don't be afraid to hit it a bit long to avoid the fairway bunker. Going at the middle of this green is a smart play as trouble falls on all sides. You will no doubt have a tough putt on this green but put a bit more focus on your speed than your line to be safe and secure a two putt.
hole #4
This short par 3 can prove difficult to even the best of players. If you have a back pin location be sure to miss a little left if you do. The two tiers on this green have a significant slope between them and when the greens are rolling fast, can make you thankful for a three putt. With any front pin locations play the middle slope to help funnel it back towards the hole. Trust me, I've seen a hole-in-one played that exact way on this hole.
hole #5
This straightaway Par 4 has one of the widest fairways on the course. Lay it back a bit off the tee to have a great look at the green. The right side of the fairway has a bunker combined with a lot of woods while the left has rough that is much easier to deal with. The back left of this green is the safe play but don't be afraid to risk it here and attack all pin locations since any bunker shot you would be left with is manageable.
Hole #6
The sixth is an open but tough straightaway Par 4. If you can play the right fairway bunker with a slight draw then you're in business. You have two green-side bunkers that come into play on your second shot and a sneaky small but steep slope that can kick any ball much further right. If you hit a long drive attack the pin. If you hit a shorter drive, attack the middle of the green.
hole #7
Your first Par 5 on the front nine will prove difficult, even when trying to play it safe. If you can play a healthy fade off the tee it can give you a downhill kick leading to a big drive. On your second shot pay close attention to your yardage to the creek as it comes into play with any shot you're going to hit. If you are feeling lucky take a rip at your second shot and try to hit the middle slope of this green in order to keep it on the putting surface. Leaving yourself short will obviously not end well and hitting it over the green can leave you a very tough chip.
hole #8
This short Par 3 has a wide green with a right and left tier. Add a little bit of yardage for the uphill shot and be aggressive towards left pin locations. A front right pin location is the most difficult location since you need to hit your yardage spot on in order to not be in the sand. A long look at birdie will most likely be your second shot, but be happy you hit this green.
hole #9
This Par 5 finishes up a tough front nine with a great look at the Washington Duke Inn. If you're a long hitter take less club off the tee to stay away from the severe downslope and having to hit a provisional. Balls that run through the fairway will most likely end up on the downslope in the rough making going for it in two tough. If you can reach the front end of the first fairway then go for the eagle but understand it may lead to a bogie. The safe shot is down the hill towards the second fairway if the pin is in the front. With the pin in the back air on the side of long otherwise you will have a blind uphill second shot. This is one of if not the longest green on the course so a long putt is very possible.
hole #10
Here we have a straightforward Par 4 with a definite birdie possibility. The most ideal shot is a slight fade off the right edge of the left fairway bunker, which will leave you with a mid to low iron into the green. Be sure to avoid misses long and to the right. Hitting this green no matter where the pin position will leave you with a good birdie possibility.
hole #11
This long and challenging Par 5 needs to be played strategically to avoid a high number. Just like the previous hole, a slight fade off the right edge of the left fairway bunker is your most ideal drive. The risk with going for this green in 2 is that the fairway has a lot of angulations and will most likely leave you with a downhill approach shot into a difficult green. Be smart and lay up well short of the creek, which will leave you with a much more manageable shot into the green. Take enough club on your third shot to cover the creek and attack the pin as long as it is not located in the front.
hole #12
Good luck! The safe play is to attack the back left portion of this green. If you want to be aggressive, go for it, but be sure to miss left if you miss at all as a chip shot from the rough leaves a par possibility while the water is at best a bogie. Be happy with a Par here.
hole #13
This short Par 4 requires you to lay back a little off the tee. You can take hit it long up the left side of the fairway, but it’s in your best interest to use less club off the tee and avoid the question of water completely. This green has a bowl in the middle which is the safest shot for both front and back pin locations.
hole #14
This long straightaway Par 5 is a birdie opportunity if you can avoid the woods on the right and left. Take a rip off the tee and go for it in 2 if a long fade is in your bag. With this green shaping left to right, a fade suites it best. Be sure to avoid long as bushes can create an unplayable situation leading to a high number. Leaving it short in the bunker leaves a good possibility of a sandy.
hole #15
Hole 15 is the longest Par 3 on the course and starts off a tough four hole stretch to close the back nine. Pinpoint a solid yardage and take a tad less club. Putting from the front of this green is the best play to give you a run at birdie. It can be a long day at the beach on this one if you're not careful.
Hole #16
Don’t be tempted to try and cut the corner on this sharp dogleg right Par 4 as it will not put you in a better position and just add the trees on the right into the equation. Hug the right side of the fairway with your tee shot in order to have under 150 yards into this green. Not being able to see the putting surface on your second shot can be a bit intimidating. Find a solid yardage and don’t short-side yourself. You got this!
Hole #17
This straight Par 4 narrows the closer you get to the green and may not reward a longer tee shot. If you find yourself with a flat lie, attack the pin and go after your last good birdie opportunity. In any other situation, the middle right of this green is your play to secure a par.
hole #18
The 18th is a deceivingly long Par 4. Try to put whatever effort you have left into your tee shot since this is one of the wider but longer Par 4’s. Focus your second shot on the back, middle portion of the green since the front is narrow and surrounded by bunkers. Avoid bunkers at all cost with any front pin location and avoid over the green with any back pin locations.