The Joe and Angie Classic is played at the Frederic Golf Course in Frederic, WI. The course is a par 72 that plays 6,203 yards from the white tees and tips at 6,458.
Hole 1: Par 4, 333 yards
The first hole is a straightforward, short par 4 that doglegs slightly to the right. Trees line the right side of the fairway, meaning a tee shot missing the fairway to the right can make for a tricky approach to the green. A play to the left side of the fairway gives the player an open look to a green that slopes from back to front.
2016 scoring average: 4.00 (13th most-difficult hole)
1 birdie, 9 pars, 1 bogey
Hole 2: Par 4, 358 yards
If the first hole is a straightforward hole, the second offers multiple opportunities to give an opening birdie right back to the course. Tall trees loom to the left, making this dogleg left very difficult to cut. Out-of-bounds lurks to the right, making the tee shot a nerve-wracking one for the left-to-right player…or for everyone if the wind is blowing out of the north. A tee shot about 180 yards will get you to the turn, where you’ll be looking downhill at the green.
2016 scoring average: 4.36 (8th most-difficult hole)
1 birdie, 7 pars, 1 bogey, 2 double bogeys
Hole 3: Par 5, 475 yards
If you complained about the north wind on 2, you get your chance to take advantage of it on the third. A reachable par 5, this hole features a bunker about 240 yards off the tee. Clear that trap and your ball will roll down the fairway and leave you 200 yards or less to a large, undulating green. A bunker short right of the green provides some defense, but players can bail out to the right without much trouble (there is out-of-bounds far to the right). Going over this green is almost certain death.
2016 scoring average: 4.73 (easiest hole)
3 birdies, 8 pars
Hole 4: Par 4, 342 yards
A chance to keep the momentum going after the third hole, hole 4 is a straight par 4 that lacks any real trouble. The left side of the fairway and just off the fairway can get hard in years without an abundance of rain, meaning a drive up the left side can get a significant amount of roll and leave the player with a short short to a tricky green. This green is the first of many greens that will leave players’ knees shaking should they leave their approach shot above the hole.
2016 scoring average: 4.09 (11th most-difficult hole)
1 birdie, 8 pars, 2 bogeys
Hole 5: Par 4, 438 yards
While the tournament can’t be won over the next three holes, it can definitely be lost. Hole 5 is the first of a daunting three-hole stretch that traditionally plays the toughest of any three holes on the course. This long par 4 features a giant sand trap and tall weeds to the left of the fairway and out-of-bounds to the right; even a well-placed drive in the fairway may lead to a downhill lie on the approach. A wide but shallow green awaits your attempt to avoid a square on your scorecard.
2016 scoring average: 4.36 (8th most-difficult hole)
2 birdies, 4 pars, 4 bogeys, 1 double bogey
Hole 6: Par 3, 173 yards
Remember the north wind that can help you gain a stroke on #3? That same north wind might cost you multiple strokes here. One of the hardest par 3’s you’ll play on any course, there’s sand short left that’s almost impossible to get up-and-down from, there’s out of bounds right that, paired with a north or west wind, attracts more than its share of balls, and if you’re fortunate enough to hit the green, a putt (more than one?) over multiple hills awaits. Missing the green short right is actually a pretty decent play and par is an excellent score here.
2016 scoring average: 3.82 (hardest hole)
5 pars, 4 bogeys, 1 double bogey, 1 triple bogey
Hole 7: Par 5, 531 yards
The last of the killer three-hole stretch is the toughest par 5 on the course. A 90-degree dogleg right, you need to hit your drive at least 250 yards in order to see the green on your second shot. Going right means going out-of-bounds in someone’s yard; OB also awaits if you lose your second shot to the right as well. That said, birdies can be had if you put your drive in the fairway as the second shot is downhill to the green. Just don’t be above the hole or your birdie chance can turn into a bogey really quickly.
2016 scoring average: 5.64 (4th most-difficult hole)
1 birdie, 5 bogeys, 2 bogeys, 3 double bogeys
Hole 8: Par 4, 352 yards
While not as difficult as the previous three holes, #8 can certainly bite you if you don’t behave. The fairway’s fairly tight, but a long drive up the left side of the fairway can get significant roll and leave you with a simple approach to a large green. You’re gambling if you go right- you could end up in major tree trouble, but you also might luck out and have your ball roll down through the trees, down the hill and 80 yards from the hole. The only hole where water comes into play, there’s a pond behind the green that collects shots hit with the wrong club. The green’s fairly flat which allows ample opportunity to hit a long, momentum-changing birdie putt.
2016 scoring average: 4.45 (6th most-difficult hole)
7 pars, 3 bogeys, 1 double bogey
Hole 9: Par 3, 148 yards
Finally, a break. This short par 3 features an elevated tee and a green that doesn’t have a lot around it. There’s tree trouble if you go far to the right and going over the green can also be a problem, but for the most part you can take dead aim at the hole- you’re not going to get much roll if you hit the green. Just put the ball up in the air and enjoy the suspense of 10 seconds of hang time.
2016 scoring average: 3.00 (13th most-difficult hole)
3 birdies, 5 pars, 3 bogeys
Hole 10: Par 4, 379 yards
The start of the back nine looks a lot like the start of the front- par 4, slight dogleg to the right, tree trouble to the right side of the fairway. However, the added 40 yards of distance on this hole make this one quite a bit more difficult than its front nine cousin- you’ll be hitting a semi-blind second shot into the most legendary green on the course. Under absolutely no circumstances should you leave your approach above the hole, unless you enjoy putting balls off the green.
2016 scoring average: 4.64 (4th most-difficult hole)
5 pars, 5 bogeys, 1 double bogey
Hole 11: Par 4, 369 yards
A chance to keep a birdie streak going, or a chance to start a charge if your front nine was lacking. This hole’s one of the more wide-open driving holes on the course with a fairway that slopes slightly from left to right. It also slopes downhill after about 230 yards, meaning a bomb up the left side can yield a short approach to an accessible green. Even without hitting your drive in the optimal location, however, you should have a decent chance to hit the green and roll in a 3. That makes the burgers at the nearby food stand taste even better.
2016 scoring average: 4.00 (13th most-difficult hole)
3 birdies, 5 pars, 3 bogeys
Hole 12: Par 4, 326 yards
Don’t let the distance fool you, there are a lot of ways to get into trouble here. There’s absolutely no room to the right of the fairway, and each year those trees on the right side get bigger and harder to hit out of. There’s not a lot of room on the left side either, but at least a miss left still leaves you with a chance to hit the green. However, hitting the green on the fly might be a bad option, as this green traditionally yields much more roll out than any other green on the course. Just over the green is a nasty little downslope; go down there and you’ll be fortunate to get up and down in 3.
2016 scoring average: 4.82 (hardest hole)
1 birdie, 3 pars, 5 bogeys, 1 double bogey, 1 triple bogey
Hole 13: Par 4, 367 yards
Another hole that’s gotten significantly more difficult over the years. A dogleg left, just a few short years ago one could take dead aim at the green and blast it over the saplings or at least have a chance to hit a decent second shot out of them. Now, those little trees are big enough to make a person think twice about trying to cut the corner as more than one ball’s been lost in that grove. Playing a safe shot up the right side of the fairway is the preferred play- just don’t go too far right or you’ll be searching for your ball in the same woods people coming up 12 are searching for theirs. The green is a larger green with the traditional back-to-front slope and while putts can certainly be made here, a three-putt can be yours if you’re not careful.
2016 scoring average: 4.09 (11th most-difficult hole)
2 birdies, 7 pars, 1 bogey, 1 double bogey
Hole 14: Par 5, 490 yards
The next four holes are where the tournament is won. The traditional long-drive hole, this short par 5 features an elevated tee box, a wide fairway and a great chance to get home in two. There’s out of bounds right, but a miss left isn’t necessarily too bad. The area in front of the green tends to get quite a bit of roll, leading to short third shots and potentially eagle putts. If you’re serious about contending, birdie or better here is a must.
2016 scoring average 4.82 (16th most-difficult hole)
4 birdies, 5 pars, 2 bogeys
Hole 15: Par 3, 127 yards
The shortest hole on the course, this par 3 offers a few different ways to get into trouble. There’s thick trees to the right as well as behind the green; miss long and you’ll almost certainly catch the downslope and be looking for a new ball to hit. The green gives this hole some teeth as well, as a creative pin placement brings multiple slopes into play. Many a group has seen their birdie on 14 canceled out with a bogey here.
2016 scoring average: 3.36 (7th most-difficult hole)
8 pars, 2 bogeys, 1 double bogey
Hole 16: Par 4, 333 yards
A chance for the bombers to overpower a hole. Under the right set of conditions, this short par 4 is actually reachable- blast your tee shot up the right side of the fairway and you’ll catch a downslope that will funnel your ball toward the green. In dry years, you might even get enough roll to actually reach the green. Going left will make a second shot tricky but not impossible; going right isn’t that bad either (unless you go way right). The green’s one of the smaller ones on the course and birdies can certainly be had here.
2016 scoring average: 4.18 (10th most-difficult hole)
2 birdies, 6 pars, 2 bogeys, 1 double bogey
Hole 17: Par 5, 481 yards
The last chance to collect an Eagle Club goblet, this short par 5 sets up nicely for the right-handed player who hits a slight fade. The emphasis here is on “slight”, as a more powerful fade will end up in the trees or even out-of-bounds. Hit a drive too far through the dogleg and you’ll be in tree trouble on the other side, taking away any legitimate shot at hitting the green in 2. Like hole 14, the green is very accessible; as long as you stay below the hole you’ll have a chance at putting a circle – maybe two – on your scorecard.
2016 scoring average: 4.82 (16th most-difficult hole)
3 birdies, 7 pars, 1 bogey
Hole 18: Par 3, 181 yards
The legendary finishing hole, this par 3 tends to play a club longer than you might expect. With trees on the right and sand short left, shots that miss in those places can lead to jeers from the gallery and a bogey on the scorecard. Missing short, as long as you’re on line, isn’t too bad; you’ll just hear some creative heckling from the players who have already finished their round. Stick one close, however, and you’ll receive cheers of approval…just don’t leave your birdie putt short.
2016 scoring average: 3.82 (hardest hole)
3 pars, 7 bogeys, 1 double bogey
The Joe and Angie Classic 