BY SIMON DUBIEL

Apple Tree Golf Course

Hole No. 12 • Par 5 • 489 yards (White  Tees)

Setup

At 489 yards, No. 12 at Apple Tree gives you an opportunity to get one back. A small pond sits in front of the tee box leading to a wide fairway. If you can avoid the fruit trees left and bunker right, it is decision time. Two bunkers can gobble up a lazy layup shot left, while a bunker guards the front right of the green. The slightly elevated putting surface sits up at an angle, sloping back to front and begging for something coming in left to right.

Risk 

If you are going to raise the stakes, you better have some gamble in you. Although the area around the green can look fairly benign, don’t let that fool you. Anything left of the green brings in a tree line and the bunker right is not ideal either. Awkward lies to a challenging green can quickly throw a wrench in your birdie plans.

Reward

The shortest par 5 at Apple Tree entices you to take a crack at getting home in two. A beautiful left to right approach can give you a look at an eagle, while even a decent miss should still give you a shot to get up and down. If you don’t flush it, short but straight can help pay the bills, too.

Final Call

If you pump a drive into the fairway, you’ve given yourself a starting hand worth seeing a flop with. Action is on you. Sure, you can’t lose much without pushing some chips into the middle, but you can’t win much either. Pull a head cover and let’s go win a monster pot. It’s birdie hunting season. Raise!