By Abby Kreinheder
Holiday Valley’s 18-hole par 70 “Double Black Diamond” golf course is officially open! The challenging, riveting, and extremely well-maintained course is surrounded by beautiful scenery.
The course is the perfect blend of mountain and flat terrain, providing a unique challenge for all skill levels. The front nine offers a relatively level course that plays longer, with ponds and bunkers adding to the fun.
“We have 4 sets of tees…great for juniors and seniors. Whatever your skill set is at, you can match that up…anyone can play the course,” said Kyle Benish, a PGA Certified Golf Professional and the Head Golf Professional at Holiday Valley since April 2022.
The first hole is a good starting point, but there is a creek on the left side you’ll need to avoid. It’ll be hard to avoid water on this course! The water elements and sloped green on the second hole will slowly warm you up for the third hole that requires a perfect straight tee shot to avoid a pond on the right and going out of bounds on the left.
Be careful of the big bunker on the fourth hole if you’re a big hitter. The fifth hole is a par 3 and has two bunkers to protect the green. The sixth hole hooks left and there’s a hidden hazard to look out for.
The seventh hole is tough with water on both sides of the fairway. The eighth hole is simple but has new bunkers to navigate. The ninth hole is a make-or-break par 3 with a creek and tough bunkers.
But the real excitement starts on the back nine, which winds its way through the mountains and offers breathtaking views. You’ll need to bring your A-game, though, as the narrow fairways and challenging terrain will put your skills to the test.
Hole 10 is a short Par 3 with a sloped green and two large bunkers. E’ville Corner (Holes 11-13) consists of beautiful tee locations, creeks, ravines, elevations, split fairways, and undulating greens.
You’ll be standing sideways for hole 14 and once again challenged with avoiding a water hazard. You’ll then shoot downhill with a 100-yard drop for hole 15. Next up is a beastly Par 4 for hole 16 followed by the redesigned hole 17 that goes uphill. Finally, hole 18 which follows the woods down the hill on the other side.
The greens are perfectly manicured for a true putting surface that will keep you on your toes. With a length of 6500 yards, the course is longer than it seems, thanks to the challenging fairways and varied terrain. So, get ready for an unforgettable day at Holiday Valley, where every shot is a new adventure!
“Grab a buddy come out and have some fun,” Kyle said.
Golf lessons are available from Kyle Benish which can be booked online. Check out the Holiday Valley website for more detailed information about the course, booking tee times, or to get in contact with any other questions. Rates vary but average between $40-80 a day depending on day, time, front 9, back 9, or a swing at all 18 holes.