The Course

HOLE 1

Welcome to the opening challenge: a decent dogleg right Par 5 demanding a blend of accuracy and strategy. If you're in 'Position A' off your drive, you have options for your second shot. Warning, going for it better be straight or the canal creek water on the left, the pond on the right or the water behind the kidney shaped green will leave you scrambling. Laying up also means you have to compete with same. Risk/Reward. Despite the difficulty, securing par is a solid start, rewarding smart play and setting the tone for the round.

HOLE 2

This tree lined, slight dogleg right par 4 starts with clearing water off the tee shot. Club selection is key to mastering this hole as those long hitters might get in trouble with the trees. Protip: Leave the driver in the bag and use a 3-5 Wood or long iron off the box. The reward is a mid/short iron second shot into this green. Mindful play here can save strokes and set up favourable scoring opportunities.

HOLE 3

Teeing off from a narrow shute, this challenging par 4 is another Risk/Reward hole challenging your understanding of yardage and loft. The easy play is taking an iron out to the elbow of this bending 90 degree dogleg... OR, hit over the corner. BUT, misjudge this strategy comes with huge risk; Too short you are in the trees, too long and you are in the trees, not high enough... you're in the trees. Club selection off the box is crucial to scoring. Be mindful of the wind as your second shot is to an exposed narrow and wide elevated green. Good Luck!

HOLE 4

Unless your last name is deChambeau, a 3-5 Wood or Long-Iron might be best off the box as a well-placed drive offers a prime opportunity for a birdie attempt, making precision off the tee the key to success on this hole. On this relatively short and straightforward dogleg left Par 4, the key lies in finding the fairway off the tee. From an elevated tee box, a fairway flanked by a tree line and creek combo on the left and fescue on the right, accuracy is essential to set up a favourable approach to the green.

HOLE 5

Club Selection is key to getting close on this first par 3 with the Tee box nestled against the side of the valley hill, you might not feel what the wind is doing above you. Be mindful of what the flag is telling you on this wide and narrow Kidney bean shaped green.

HOLE 6

Time to let the 'Big Dawg Eat!' Grab the driver and head down this relatively straight Par 5. With the hill and fescue continuing along this hole on the right, long drivers can get a little extra yardage by landing on a downhill speed slot over the hill crest. Allowing you the option to come home in 2. Keep in mind the wind could wreak havoc if you get your ball too high... The exposed green is guarded by two traps on the left-hand side which could take all that talk about eagles and scare away the birdies.

HOLE 7

A deceiving Par 3. Slightly uphill on a green that goes from right to left. Wind coming off the prairies should not be ignored. If you are short, you might have a decent uphill putt. If you are too long then a downhiller is going to test your nerve. Reading the elements & the green correctly is key to winning this hole.

HOLE 8

With one of the widest fairways on the course, this hole initially seems forgiving. Depending on the wind gusts, this hole can either become your best friend, or your worst nightmare - check out the Canadian Flag by the green to gauge direction to help you with navigating this hole. The long creek comes into play on your second shot. Hitting the green is imperative to gaining a few stokes on this decent Par 4. Watch out for the sand traps on the left and back of this green.

HOLE 9

Prepare for the challenging test of the 9th hole. While the hole stretches out ahead to a dogleg left. The ever-changing winds add another layer of complexity, making it a "potential cut the corner" drive. But if you are offline, the row of trees at the end of the fairway will make it almost impossible to make par. Driver might be best to stay in the bag off the tee, it's the second shot that will test your ability. Securing a par here is a notable achievement. The green is guarded by decent traps. Depending on your first half score, head into the clubhouse to celebrate, or drink your sorrows away. (But know: The Hot Dogs are AMAZING).

HOLE 10

If you thought the front 9 was FUN... Welcome to one of the more challenging back 9's Saskatchewan has to offer. The 10th hole favours straight hitters off the tee. The tight fairway, with trees on the left and right, means you need to be straight. Extra long hitters might run out of fairway flirting with the creek and drop off. Your second shot is met with an uphill - almost cliff like green. Take notice of the green's small undulations, a main reason why one-putts here are rare.

HOLE 11

With a drive over the creek, this par 5 hole stands out for its scenic beauty. To tackle it effectively, aim for the fairway from the tee but, avoid the runout and sand trap after the 1st fairway as this area collects a lot of drives. However, reaching the green in two poses a challenge due to the slight dogleg and your approach blocked by a large tree (you can use as a large for a landing area for your second shot), the pond left of the tree usually swallows unsuspecting hitters. The only relief of this picturesque hole is to target the large tiered green. Make sure you are on the correct landing spot or your 1 putt could turn to 3 (or 4).

HOLE 12

Try hard not to focus on the large tree to the left right by the tee boxes as it's the water and the trees on the right you should not take your eye off of. An excellent drive will leave you beside the fairway bunker and a great look at this long green, protected on the other side of the creek with large sand traps around it. This green pushes everything to the water, so be mindful of your speed.

HOLE 13

With the exception of the tree lined fairway and the collection area at the end of the 1st fairway, a relatively easy par 4. The key to this hole is club selection and yardage control to find the fairway. Do both and you have a great mid to low iron into a decently sloped 2-tiered green. Long & left and right are DEAD. Take dead aim at this green, grab your Par and move on.

HOLE 14

A lovely Par 3 hole where club selection is key to hitting this larger green. Hit too short and the pond on the left will leave you dropping an extra ball. Too long and it could leave you with a testy downhill chip/putt. Regardless, its a pretty hole that will hopefully help you celebrate with 'Birdie Juice'.

HOLE 15

One of Long Creek's signature holes, this relatively short Par 4 is both challenging and beautiful. Aim for the single large tree at the end of the fairway and hope to avoid the trees on the left; or if you are long hitter, the pond across the cart path comes into play. The twisted Limber Pine trees surrounding your approach shot show what the effects of the weather and elements have in this valley. Be mindful of the crescent shaped pond on the left or OB on the back of the green.

HOLE 16

We are not sure why this long Par 3 is considered the 'easiest' hole on the golf course. It's a testament to this golf course itself. First, a tee shot over a hedged lined creek, then towards a green that is guarded by not just one but 3 large sand traps, with rough that demands your attention. The green is larger than most, just to give you hope.

HOLE 17

You have officially arrived at the other side of the Long Creek Golf Course's valley. This shorter par 4 has landing area for most players, adding a strategic challenge off the tee. Once past the creek, this dogleg left hole opens up a bit. Be mindful of the bunkers off the right - a good target to aim for, but not go into. It's all uphill from here. Offering a wide approach to a back plateaued green suitable for various shot types. Pins here can he tricky to get close to. Take careful consideration of yardages for approach shots.

HOLE 18

Where The Valley meets The Prairies. Arguably the prettiest finishing hole in all of Saskatchewan, this Par 4/5 not only has a breathtaking view of the area, but if you lose focus here, a large score could leave you gasping for air. This hole is a reason they call it 'Long Creek'. From your Tee you will see a lush creek serpentining throughout this hole. Picking your landing zone yardage is crucial as it could leave you either; in the drink, in the trees or block your approach shot into this large heavily bunker-guarded green. This is a finishing hole stories are made of. Now that you have conquered all 18 holes, tell your friends about us as you now know why Long Creek is a true 'Diamond' Golf Course of the Prairies. See you again soon.