How to play...Cobblestone Golf Course

A hole by hole course management walk through with Ryan Benefield - Owner, Artist, and Craftsman of Linksman Goods

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HOLE 1 — Par 5

This straightaway par five encourages an aggressive tee shot and can be reachable in two with a solid drive. Hills on both sides of the fairway can kick balls back toward the center, especially when the rough is short.

Strategy Notes:

• A confident driver down the middle is the play. The side slopes may help return offline shots back into the fairway depending on the bounce.

• A good tee shot typically leaves 180–200 yards, putting the green in play for a second-shot attempt.

• The green is a two-and-a-half-tier surface: a back tier, plus front-left and front-right sections, with the front-left slightly higher.

• The right side of the green is protected by a bunker with hazard beyond it.

• Hills left of the green can kick balls back toward the surface, but going farther left brings the cart path, tall grass, and potential out-of-bounds into play.

• If laying up, avoid the grass bunker 90–100 yards out. Laying up right of it leaves ~90 yards; carrying it leaves ~50–70 yards depending on pin.

• The greenside bunker is manageable, offering reasonable chances to save par or birdie.

• The back-half pin locations are the most accessible, with fewer tricky contours.

• The front-left quadrant is the toughest; the pin can sit on a subtle bowl that makes balls reluctant to feed down into the hole.

• Missing left around the green is playable if you can elevate the ball softly, as everything feeds toward the right bunker.

• The best miss is short in the fairway for a simple chip.

• Going long risks bringing the right-side hazard into play.

HOLE 2 — Par 4

This dogleg-left par four is the most difficult hole from the Blue tees. The key is positioning off the tee so you can access a green with significant internal movement.

Strategy Notes:

• The fairway is wide, but the real challenge is leaving the right angle for the approach.

• The ideal tee shot is 230–250 yards toward the 150 marker, favoring the left side of the fairway.

• The fairway has two tiers: the right side sits higher but risks blocking you out from the green; the lower left section offers better angles but brings rough and hazard into play.

• Over-drawing the tee shot can put you in rough with tree trouble blocking the green.

• Anything between 210 and 250 yards in the short grass leaves a manageable approach.

• The green has dramatic elevation changes, dividing it into three major sections: a higher right side and a lower left side.

• The left side is the easiest; shots funnel toward both front-left and back-left pins.

• A greenside bunker guards the left but is fairly simple to escape.

• The right side of the green is the most punishing. Front-right and back-right positions sit on different levels, and poor angles leave near-impossible two-putts.

• Contours can help feed balls into good zones if you hit the proper quadrant, but missing in the wrong area makes saving par extremely difficult.

HOLE 3 — Par 3

This par three plays from two distinct teeing areas, dramatically changing the difficulty. From the rear tee behind hole 2, it requires a full water carry and introduces tree framing that influences shot shape.

Strategy Notes:

• From the back tee, it typically plays 175–180 yards with a full carry over water. Wind is often a factor.

• Trees near the tee box restrict lateral ball flight, especially toward left-side pin locations.

• From the alternative tee left of the bridge, the hole plays 140–170 yards with less forced carry but more interaction with bunkering and green contours.

• The front-right bunker wraps along the water’s edge; a smaller pot bunker sits behind the green and should be avoided at all costs.

• Missing long into that pot bunker results in short-sided, extremely difficult shots.

• The most accessible pin is middle-right (or front-middle from the back tee), which sits on the flattest area of the green.

• Front-left and true-left pins reduce landing areas significantly and often require precise distance control.

• Back and far-right pins bring water into play, and the green can be firm, making them difficult to hold.

• Once on the surface, putts are straightforward unless you leave yourself on the wrong tier.

HOLE 4 — Par 4

This is one of the most visually striking holes on the course. The short dogleg-right par four wraps around the lake and requires a forced carry off the tee. Precision and discipline are essential.

Strategy Notes:

• The tee shot requires a forced carry over water. A 210–230 yard shot—often a long iron—is ideal.

• A helpful visual on the left side: a pair of double mounds beside the cart path. Aim at or slightly right of them.

• Missing left is playable unless you push too far into the trees; missing right brings the lake and two fairway bunkers into play.

• Those right-side bunkers sit on a raised “island” area flanked by tall pines and create extremely difficult approach angles. Avoid them at all costs.

• A tee shot that holds the fairway typically leaves 80–90 yards and an excellent angle into the green.

• The green is protected by deep bunkers on the front-left and front-right, both sitting below green level by roughly 8 feet.

• Shots that land middle-left of the green frequently funnel into a collection area on the fringe.

• The collection area is safe unless the pin is back; then you must navigate a ridge that makes getting close difficult.

• Front pin locations are the hardest, especially the tiny tabletop shelf up front where balls rarely hold.

• Middle-right pins sit just behind the bunker and require a carry that lands close to hole-high with spin.

• Back pins are easiest to access but bring the back edge—and the lake close behind—into play.

• Overall, hole 4 rewards smart tee placement, careful distance control, and avoiding the right side entirely.

HOLE 5 — Par 3

This short par three features one of Cobblestone’s most unique greens—shaped like a boomerang with a steep drop dividing the upper and lower tiers. Precision is critical depending on pin placement.

Strategy Notes:

• The hole typically plays 140–145 yards from the Blues.

• The green is a boomerang shape with two major tiers: upper middle/back-left and lower right.

• A pot bunker sits in the front-middle, slightly right; it’s the key visual target similar to aiming at the bunker on Augusta’s 12th.

• For right-side pins, the correct play is to aim over the pot bunker or slightly left of it—never directly at the flag. The marshy lake short-right punishes aggressive lines.

• If you land on the upper tier when the pin is on the lower tier, balls funnel down the ridge toward the lower shelf.

• Middle pins are most accessible but still require precise distance to avoid catching the ridge that sends balls down to the lower section prematurely.

• A bunker left of the green collects shots from golfers who overcorrect away from the lake.

• A tucked bunker sits inside the back-right portion of the boomerang; this is the worst miss because everything slopes away, leaving almost no chance to get up and down.

• Depending on the pin, this hole can be either an easy birdie opportunity or a card-wrecker. Pin location determines everything.

HOLE 6 — Par 4

Although listed as the 17th handicap on the standard scorecard, the MGA ranks this as the third hardest hole due to the number of big numbers it produces. The dogleg-left design rewards conservative strategy and punishes any inaccuracy.

Strategy Notes:

• From the Blues, the ideal tee shot is a 240–250 yard ball toward the 150 marker.

• The fairway begins wide but rises 8–10 feet onto an upper shelf; this is the target landing area.

• Two grass bowls on the left catch many tee shots—one in the fairway, one in the rough. The fairway bowl is manageable; the rough bowl is much more penal.

• Pushing the ball too far through the fairway can block you out with trees left of the dogleg.

• Missing left is “death”—dense trees force a difficult punch-out, and even the punch-out is complicated by fairway contours.

• The approach is to a three-section green: front-left, middle-right, and back-left.

• A deep pot-style bunker guards the front-right, while a string of bunkers frames the entire left side.

• Middle-right is the most forgiving landing zone: the flattest area, easiest two-putts, and reasonable up-and-down options.

• Front-left is the most difficult pin due to severe slopes feeding away from that quadrant. Keeping the ball within 8–10 feet on putts from other tiers is extremely challenging.

• Back-left is accessible only if approaching from the proper angle—ideally middle-right—since the slopes feed away from that tier.

• Birdies on this hole are rare and often win skins; par is an excellent score.

HOLE 7 — Par 5

This par five rewards a controlled fade and demands accuracy both off the tee and on the layup. While the green is reachable in two for some, the tight landing corridors and tree lines require careful planning.

Strategy Notes:

• Favor a fade off the tee, starting up the right side of the fairway.

• Trees line the entire right side and can snag balls that start right and try to draw back.

• Missing too far right brings cart path and out-of-bounds into play.

• Around 260–280 yards, the left side pinches dramatically, with a drop-off into trees and hazard beyond.

• If your drive will finish short of 260, you can hit driver freely. If not, favor the middle-right section to stay safe.

• When going for the green in two, be aware the approach corridor narrows between trees on both sides, creating a chute-like entry.

• The green itself is large and friendly for up-and-downs from most angles.

• If laying up, note that the fairway runs out into a low area and dry creek bed. This terrain is usually playable but soft when wet.

• The green features:

  • A tight front section with bunkers left and right.

  • A broader middle-back-left section that is the most accessible.

  • A tucked back-right section that is extremely difficult to access and hold.

• Long approaches rarely stop near back-right pins; you typically need to be inside ~120 yards to spin it close.

• The front of the green can be attacked via the apron, which allows balls to chase up if struck solidly.

• Overall, the safest scoring strategy is laying up to a comfortable yardage and attacking the middle-left portion of the green.

HOLE 8 — Par 3

Despite being one of the largest greens at Cobblestone, this long par three is still notoriously difficult to hit. Wind, elevation, and green design all contribute to the challenge.

Strategy Notes:

• From the Blues, the hole typically plays 200 yards, but can range from 185 (front) to 230+ (back).

• A significant drop-off separates the green from a flat approach fairway that collects many tee shots.

• The front-right bunkers are magnets—many tee balls funnel toward them. Fortunately, they offer manageable recoveries.

• The green is divided by a spine running from mid-green to the back. This creates distinct sections:

  • Back-left

  • Middle-right

  • Front-right (fed by the middle-right)

• Distance control is the biggest challenge; being on the wrong side of the green can leave 60–70 foot putts.

• Once on the surface, putts are reasonably straightforward compared to other holes.

• Due to length and size, birdies are uncommon and pars are solid results.

• Generally plays as a “par or bogey” hole for most players.

HOLE 9 — Par 5

This dogleg-left par five features one of the most dramatic elevation transitions on the course. Though reachable in two for longer hitters, the shape and hazards make it a strategic hole more than a power one.

Strategy Notes:

• Driver can run through the fairway for longer hitters, making club selection important.

• A 245–255 yard carry (such as a one-iron for the speaker) sets up perfectly short of the fairway's end.

• A gentle draw is ideal; missing right leaves a longer second shot but remains playable.

• Cutting the corner can occasionally catch a speed slot, adding up to 30 yards of roll or even more.

• A great drive leaves 280–300 yards in. Although reachable, most players will lay up due to the green’s design.

• The layup area on the left side is flat and offers a clean look at the green, but it leaves a blind shot due to being well below green level.

• The better spot—if you have the length—is the upper right tier beyond the pot bunkers and the boulder.

• That upper tier transitions into the apron and provides a perfect 30–50 yard wedge with great green visibility.

• The green is narrow and segmented into challenging tiers.

• The front-right is the most accessible location.

• Back-left can be good, but only if approached from the proper angle.

• Middle pins are tricky due to spines and slopes that repel shots.

• Overall, par is a great score on #9; it often plays longer than the card suggests.

• Key misses to avoid:

  • Left off the tee (trees = forced punch-out)

  • Overly deep approaches (steep back drop-off)

HOLE 10 — Par 4

Hole 10 is a strategic short par four where distance control off the tee is more important than power. The fairway runs out, and anything too long brings a long bunker and difficult angles into play.

Strategy Notes:

• This is not a driver hole for most players. A controlled 250-yard tee shot (such as a driving iron or wood) places you just past the 150 marker on a flat, ideal section of fairway.

• Anything shorter leaves you near a wide fairway but brings mounds and rough between 160–180 yards into play, especially on the right.

• Anything longer risks running into a 70–80 yard-long bunker that starts just past the cart path on the right. This leaves a terrible 60–80 yard bunker shot into a narrow green.

• The fairway reopens between 150 and 100 yards, so accuracy off the tee is rewarded with a clean angle.

• The green is surrounded by complex bunkering:

  • A front-right bunker that extends deep and narrows the entry.

  • A grass bunker short-left that the green contours wrap around.

• The green features three main surfaces:

  • Lower front-left

  • Lower front-right (a small peninsula between bunkers)

  • Larger back-middle plateau

• Front-right is the most demanding pin, with a tiny landing area and bunkers everywhere.

• Middle-back is the safest target, providing access to all pin locations and limiting the chance of a big number.

• Front-left pins require judging a slope that ramps down quickly and can leave difficult two-putts.

• This hole is all about smart tee placement and avoiding the right-side bunker at all costs.

HOLE 11 — Par 4

Many consider hole 11 the toughest hole at Cobblestone. It plays like a par five if the tee boxes could extend farther back. Tight landing zones, heavy mounding, and an intimidating green complex frame this demanding par four.

Strategy Notes:

• The hole features an S-shaped dogleg left, forcing a precise tee shot.

• The fairway runs out on the right into marsh and lake, so aiming left is preferred—but large mounds on the left make tee shots that land on slopes nearly unplayable.

• Ideal tee shot distance is 230–270 yards, but accuracy matters more than yardage.

• Tee shots that settle on large mounds often require punch-outs or awkward stances with unpredictable lies.

• The approach is extremely demanding due to the lake running up the entire right side and wrapping around the green.

• A large bunker guards the front-left portion of the green.

• A smaller grass bunker sits back-right near the lake.

• The green slopes significantly and has distinct areas:

  • Front-right (widest and safest)

  • Middle-left (natural collection bowl)

  • Back-right (tight, dangerous section connecting to hole 18’s green)

• The back-right pin is one of the toughest on the entire course. It sits near a narrow connection strip between holes 11 and 18, with water just steps away.

• Missing left can feed into a fairway apron, which actually provides a great up-and-down angle for most pin locations.

• This hole resembles hole 2 in shape, but with much higher penalties for inaccuracy.

• Par here always feels like picking up strokes on the field.

  
  

HOLE 12 — Par 4

Hole 12 is one of the best-designed par fours on the course. It gently climbs uphill with a soft dogleg right and rewards smart shot placement while punishing anything too far right.

Strategy Notes:

• You can run through the fairway on the left if you hit too far through the dogleg.

• A large fairway bunker sits on the right and can be carried by longer hitters depending on tee setup. It’s flat and playable unless you’re against the lip.

• Missing too far right puts you into the trees between holes 12 and 18. From that position, you’re often forced to hit a steeply elevated pitch just to get back to the fairway.

• A good drive leaves 115–170 yards into an elevated green, depending on length and whether you fade around the bunker.

• Many players hit driver here and try to fade over or around the right bunker, setting up a wedge distance of 130–140 yards.

• The green features multiple defenses:

  • A grass bunker short-right that makes those misses difficult.

  • A string of small pot bunkers on the front-left beginning around 50 yards out.

  • A raised backstop of hills from back-left to back-right, usually covered in rough.

• Balls landing in the back mounds often stay because of the rough, but getting close to front pins from back there requires excellent speed control.

• The easiest pin is front-middle, as contours naturally feed balls toward it.

• The green has back-left and back-right tiers; back-left is the trickiest due to severe slopes you must judge on long putts.

• Overall, one of the fairest and best-designed par fours at Cobblestone, rewarding thoughtful strategy.

HOLE 13 — Par 3

Hole 13 is a mid-to-long par three with a long, narrow green and serious trouble for shots that miss left or long. Pin position can dramatically change the difficulty, making it anything from a routine par chance to a demanding test.

Strategy Notes:

• From the Blue tees, the hole typically plays 165–195 yards.

• A pond sits short-left, feeding into a long, narrow bunker that wraps from the front-left all the way to the back-left of the green.

• The safest entry is from the front-right, where fairway runs up to the putting surface.

• Mounds on the middle-right and back-right create uneven lies and tricky bounce patterns.

• Going long is the worst possible miss: the land slopes back toward the cart path and drops sharply toward the woods, leaving almost no recovery.

• Even when the pin is back, do not try to hit anything to the back-third yardage; it’s too risky.

• The front-right is the easiest pin location, with the largest usable landing area.

• Shots to the middle-left must carry the large bunker and land softly on a flatter patch, but missing even slightly right or left of that section brings slopes into play.

• The back area of the green is narrow with strong undulation leading into it, making it difficult to hold even with perfect distance.

• Depending on the pin, the hole can shift from a gentle 170-yard shot to a punishing 190-yard shot where par is an excellent outcome.

HOLE 14 — Par 4

Though it looks straightforward, hole 14 plays much tougher than it appears. Subtle contours in both fairway and green create scoring challenges, making birdies surprisingly rare.

Strategy Notes:

• The fairway is framed by mounding on both sides, which can help funnel slightly offline drives back toward the center.

• After cresting a small hill, the fairway slopes slightly downhill toward the green, offering additional rollout for well-struck drives.

• The biggest danger off the tee is missing right, where the fairway drops toward a dense tree line shared with hole 15. Balls that leak right are often lost.

• If you push a shot right, hit a provisional—finding balls in that brush is unlikely.

• The green slopes back-right to front-left, more severely than it appears.

• Putts from the middle of the green toward left-side pins are faster and have more break than most golfers expect.

• Aiming for the middle of the green is generally ideal.

• Bunkers guard the left side of the green; missing into them leaves tricky splash shots with little green to work with.

• The front fairway apron often looks like a place you can bounce one in, but it’s typically wetter and softer than expected, so balls tend to settle and not release.

• Favoring the right half of the green on approaches is usually safest—mounding on that side can funnel misses back toward the surface.

• Long is trouble: the back drops off toward the trees between holes 9 and 14.

• A seemingly simple par four, but green contours and misses amplify scoring difficulty.

HOLE 15 — Par 5

Hole 15 is a beautifully shaped dogleg-right par five demanding both distance and accuracy. It rewards smart aggression but punishes greedy lines. The fairway, split tiers, and complex green make it a highlight of the course.

Strategy Notes:

• Elevation drops from the tee into a fairway guarded by a large grass bowl at the dogleg corner.

• Ideal tee shot: carry the bowl or stay just left of it, landing around the 250-yard mark.

• Players who can cut the corner have a major advantage. Even slight misses into the right-side pines can still be playable, as the hillside often kicks balls forward.

• The danger is going long-left through the fairway into dense trees. Even though it’s hazard (with relief), the next shot is blocked almost completely.

• After turning the dogleg, the fairway splits:

  • Upper right tier (preferred angle, slightly elevated)

  • Lower left tier separated by a strip of rough

• Long bunkers line the entire left side of the fairway leading to the green.

• Additional bunkering protects the front-right, tightening the entrance.

• The green is long and complex, with a small middle-right shelf that is the most difficult pin to access.

• Back-left is more approachable but brings a dry ditch into play that collects balls and leaves tight lies.

• Long is Lake Acworth—instant penalty.

• The green can produce 100-foot putts due to its length.

• Going for the green in two is often worth it, but you must commit fully to the line.

• Up-and-downs around the green depend heavily on using slopes creatively; many areas funnel or repel balls depending on trajectory.

• Par is common here, but birdie is very available with smart strategy.

  
  

HOLE 16 — Par 3

Hole 16 is Cobblestone’s signature par three — short, scenic, and deceptively demanding. With an elevated tee and a narrow green set against the lake, it produces everything from tap-in birdies to momentum-killing doubles.

Strategy Notes:

• From the Blue tees, it typically plays 110–130 yards, with the teeing area elevated above a narrow, three-tier green.

• The green is bean-shaped and wraps around the right-hand bunkers, with the lake running tight down the entire left side.

• This is one of the most commonly aced and birdied holes — but also one of the easiest to make a 5 or 6 on if you get careless.

• Front pin is the most accessible. The fairway leading into the green allows shots that land slightly short to roll on.

• Middle pin gets closer to the lake and punishes aggressive shots. Balls can land on the green, release, and roll right off the bulkhead into the water.

• Back pin is the trickiest — and also the most fun.

  • The insider play: Do not aim directly at the flag.

  • Instead, aim right, over the bunkers, and land the ball on the fringe.

  • Everything kicks left and funnels back toward the back shelf.

  • Most hole-in-ones to this pin come from this “kick-plate” shot.

• Missing right in the bunkers is recoverable but requires a precise shot onto a narrow tier.

• Missing left is hazard, but you do receive relief.

• Missing long risks rolling toward the stairs and into the hazard area.

• In general:

  • Front = Attack

  • Middle = Caution

  • Back = Use the bank shot

    
    

HOLE 17 — Par 4

A short, downhill drivable par four along the lake — and one of the most pressure-filled tee shots on the course. It can give you a late-round hero moment or derail your score instantly.

Strategy Notes:

• Though listed around 300 yards, the elevation drop makes it reachable with 260–270 yards of carry.

• Wind plays a major role due to elevation; the ball can balloon, stall, or drift dramatically.

• The entire right side is lined with woods — true lost-ball territory. If you go right, you almost always need a provisional.

• The left side borders the lake. Missing left gives hazard relief, but a large tree near the green can block angles.

• The hole is almost always cart-path only, and the fairway is soft, so you won’t get much roll.

• Many players choose a 200–210 yard layup, which leaves 70–90 yards into the green.

• The green complex includes:

  • A narrow front entrance flanked by bunkering

  • A steep rise to a right-front bunker

  • A middle-right section that is flat and very puttable

  • A back-left section with drop-offs on all sides

• Front pin is the most tempting — but also the narrowest landing zone.

• Middle-right is the easiest to access and putt on, but balls can funnel off the right edge.

• Back-left is very approachable if you avoid the lake and avoid going long.

• For layups: aim middle of the green and slightly right of center to stay away from water.

• This is one of the most birdieable holes on the course — but also one of the easiest to walk off with a bogey or worse under pressure.

HOLE 18 — Par 4

A beautiful, demanding finishing par four that runs along the lake. The tee shot sets everything up, and the green complex can swing matches with one mistake.

Strategy Notes:

• From the Blues, it’s absolutely possible to run through the fairway into the hazard if you hit too much club off the tee.

• The marshy lake line runs the entire left side.

• A long, 50–60 yard bunker lines the right side of the fairway, with multiple lips that create very difficult lies depending on where you settle.

• Middle of the fairway — ideally just past the 150 marker — leaves the best angle.

• Right-side bunker misses can range from easy to requiring sideways punch-outs.

• The green is large and protected creatively:

  • A fairway strip runs up the right side similar to hole 8

  • A pot bunker guards the front-right

  • A ribbon of bunkering sits between the green and lake on the left

• The green begins narrow on the front-left, shifts right slightly in the middle, and then expands into a larger back tier.

• The back-right section is the most accessible and safest to play toward.

• Back-left gets extremely narrow and connects to the back of hole 11’s green, so back-left pins bring water and tight landing zones heavily into play.

• The lake left of the green frequently decides matches — misses here often turn birdie chances into bogey or worse.

• Aiming for the middle of the green is almost always the best play.

• Avoid the pot bunker short-right, and avoid chasing back-left flags unless you’re very confident in your distance control.

• A great finishing hole that rewards confident strategy and punishes over-aggression.